Thread: Monthly VS session fee schedule

What works best for you? I'm toying with monthly (where people are less apt to commit) or by the session (where people commit, but some can't afford the whole amount or newer students seem to think it's costly).

The studio where I teach offers a whole session fee and a punch-card fee. Obviously the session fee is cheaper than the punch card fee, but gives people more payment options. I still get mostly people signing up for the whole week series.

I do session fees, but I allow some students to pay in installments. I took classes all through college I would have not been able to afford to go if my teachers hadn't let me pay in installments so I offer the same to my students now. It is a bit more to keep track of, but it hasn't been a problem. I generally run my classes in 2-3 month session increments, but the price doesn't seem to scare anyone away.

I do full session and weekly drop-in. Since I take credit cards, most people don't mind paying up front. The full session is also cheaper (essentially one class free), and I give an extra $10 off if they pay a week before the session starts (so I can pay my studio rent up front).

I recently switched from 2-month sessions to 4-month sessions, and most people still pay in advance.

For newbies, I let them decide at the end of the first class. If they're not sure it's for them, they can pay by the week. If they like it, they can pay for the full session that night.

I ofer a monthly OR session rate
(the full session breaks down to the best price per class)

I also offer a drop-in rate is for movement and drill classes,
But my choreo classes are by the session only.

Mine pay per session. Usually per ten weeks. I ocassionally allow payment in installments for long term students

I always do it per session (except for drills class). Two main reasons:

1) I can run a new class up the flagpole and if only 2 people sign up, cancel it & refund them or move them to other classes. Instead of having to show up week after week and exhaust myself teaching classes for no money. (and a bunch of other reasons why financially I don't think I could run my studio on drop-ins or cards).

2) Education. I need to be able to plan a curriculum and build each week on what was learned before.. which means I need a clear place to start from scratch (this is your posture... this is your hip) again. For me, 6 weeks works well for beginners. More advanced students often spend 2-3 session completing a block of subject matter or a choreography.

3) Student retention. When students have prepaid for a session, and know that anything they miss WILL be a big deal because there's a tight 6-week currriculum, they make a real effort to be there. It becomes a habit to come to class, rather than something they do IF they feel like they have time. They're happier with their progress and become long-term students more readily.

One option I've considered, for cash flow reasons, at my studio, is to continue teaching in 6 week sessions but offer my long-term students the option of monthly payments by credit/debit card. So they would pay the same amount over the year but not have to remember to re-register every 6 weeks. I *might* even offer students a discount for doing it this way... it would certainly even out my cash flow a little and save me trips to the bank.

I've also considered an unlimited # of classes per week price, but I think some of my classes would become overcrowded and I have an obligation to provide space for folks who registered for that class. I have a few folks who pay for 4-5 weekly classes, and I try to price it comparably to an unlimited class card at a yoga studio when people do that. This is my compromise, so far I think it's working.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

2) Education. I need to be able to plan a curriculum and build each week on what was learned before.. which means I need a clear place to start from scratch (this is your posture... this is your hip) again.

I deal with that by not taking new students after the third week of the session. They can pay week-to-week or for the full session, but they have to join early enough to get the basics along with everyone else.

I have a one class drop in rate (highest, obviously), a full session rate (lowest. 4 sessions per year of 11-13 weeks each) and a "partial session" rate, for those who know they'll miss due to work/vacation etc (7 classes, to be used within the session. Just a little higher than the full session).

I do either monthly or by the session
(offering a discount on the pay by session - which is 8 weeks, or 2 months).
I offer a quarterly rate (lowest price - as I have them coming for 24 classes vs. just 4 or 8)

I also have a drop-in rate (higher than the per class breakdown of the monthly rate) for regularly scheduled 'ongoing classes'. My choroegraphy classes run for the same allotted 8 weeks - but are a specialty class and offered at a sessional rate only.
Choreo classes CAN be included as one of the sessions and can also be done concurrently, so long as student has completed at least my my first 2 sessions or can 'test out' that they know and can competently execute basic BD movements/layering (as my choreos are for advanced beginner /intermediate and higher - and I do not want to be holding other students up while I break down or teach movement to a newbie)

I use the monthly option for my student troupe because we don't have set sessions. I tried it for my regular classes, but it didn't seem to work as well. I could only get people to come for the month and then the second part of the session was missed. Very strange. So now I've gone back to a session fee structure. It's less of a financial risk for teachers and studios.