Price Increase Options

[country girl]

How do you put your prices up? Do you send out a standard letter? Should you give reasons? I am going to keep it the same for those paying in ten week blocks...so that they get a discount. Also I give a sibling discount...should I put theirs up or keep them the same ...as for them paying in five weeks is a similar amount.
I am trying to overcome constant invoicing for some...by the time they pay for one set of five...I need to bill them the following week for the next....and I thought this might be an incentive. I only have one weekly payer...and they always interupt my previous lesson to pay....although I have started ignoring them or just nodding as they put the money down.
What do you all do? Any advice gratefully received.

[sbhoa]

I usually give out a small note detailing new fees and date they begin.
My teacher puts a big notice on her notice board over the piano.

[upbeat]

I send out a letter at least one month before increasing fees (I usually do it in September each year so the fee gradually increases, rather than one big hike).

I don't think you need to give reasons why. People expect fees to increase, as they would with anything else they pay for.

I send out invoices monthly (this way I only have to prepare one lot of invoices at the same time each month - I used to charge every five lessons, but it meant I was constantly having lots of paperwork. Things are much easier to manage now).

[country girl]

I've never really understood a sibling discount; just because they are in the same family, it takes the same time and effort to teach them as any other student?

David

yes I agree but it was a sort of good will gesture... does anyone else do it?

I send out a letter at least one month before increasing fees (I usually do it in September each year so the fee gradually increases, rather than one big hike).

I don't think you need to give reasons why. People expect fees to increase, as they would with anything else they pay for.

I send out invoices monthly (this way I only have to prepare one lot of invoices at the same time each month - I used to charge every five lessons, but it meant I was constantly having lots of paperwork. Things are much easier to manage now).

How does doing it monthly make it easier..and what about when they miss a lesson....doesn't that throw them out...oh hold on...do you invoice them in arrears?

[sbhoa]

and what about when they miss a lesson....doesn't that throw them out...oh hold on...do you invoice them in arrears?

I charge a month in advance.
Missed lessons are paid for and if it's me that has to cancel (or I choose not to charge for some reason) they just pay me a week later. I don't send out invoices, people usually keep track of when they have to pay next and this works as I don't havbe many students. With a larger number monthly invoices would probably be more efficient all going out the same week with (hopefully) all payments received in the same week meaning only one trip to the bank a month.

[upbeat]

How does doing it monthly make it easier..and what about when they miss a lesson....doesn't that throw them out...oh hold on...do you invoice them in arrears?

Yes I do invoice them in arrears (any missed lessons tend to be swapped to a different time though if possible - missed lessons are payed for like Sbhoa). When I first began teaching I used to send out an invoice in 5 lesson blocks but when I started getting more pupils they were all being invoiced at different times and it was getting ridiculous. So quite quickly I got into monthly invoicing and life is so much easier (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[country girl]

How does doing it monthly make it easier..and what about when they miss a lesson....doesn't that throw them out...oh hold on...do you invoice them in arrears?

Yes I do invoice them in arrears (any missed lessons tend to be swapped to a different time though if possible - missed lessons are payed for like Sbhoa). When I first began teaching I used to send out an invoice in 5 lesson blocks but when I started getting more pupils they were all being invoiced at different times and it was getting ridiculous. So quite quickly I got into monthly invoicing and life is so much easier (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Do you let them off a lesson if they give 24 hours notice?

[Dulciana]

How does doing it monthly make it easier..and what about when they miss a lesson....doesn't that throw them out...oh hold on...do you invoice them in arrears?

Yes I do invoice them in arrears (any missed lessons tend to be swapped to a different time though if possible - missed lessons are payed for like Sbhoa). When I first began teaching I used to send out an invoice in 5 lesson blocks but when I started getting more pupils they were all being invoiced at different times and it was getting ridiculous. So quite quickly I got into monthly invoicing and life is so much easier (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Do you let them off a lesson if they give 24 hours notice?

I know this wasn't my question, but I'm answering anyway! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
If they pay in advance it's easier to get out of giving them a lesson off for any reason. Not that we just want as much money out of them as possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) , but we can't just have them turn up when it suits them, and allow them to think it's okay as long as they give notice! (In reality it will be the short notice cancellations that are likely to be more genuine - food poisoning, or whatever.) Mine all know that the further in advance they tell me about something important, the more likely I'll be to be able to reschedule - but I make no guarantees. I just do my best. It's usually easy to tell if a last minute 'sick' call is genuine, but if it's at your discretion rather than in tablets of stone, then all you have to say is "I'll fit it in if and when I can. Thanks for letting me know." And I do fit it in - unless I think I'm being messed around in which case I just let it go.

[sbhoa]

How does doing it monthly make it easier..and what about when they miss a lesson....doesn't that throw them out...oh hold on...do you invoice them in arrears?

Yes I do invoice them in arrears (any missed lessons tend to be swapped to a different time though if possible - missed lessons are payed for like Sbhoa). When I first began teaching I used to send out an invoice in 5 lesson blocks but when I started getting more pupils they were all being invoiced at different times and it was getting ridiculous. So quite quickly I got into monthly invoicing and life is so much easier (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Do you let them off a lesson if they give 24 hours notice?

I know this wasn't my question, but I'm answering anyway! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
If they pay in advance it's easier to get out of giving them a lesson off for any reason. Not that we just want as much money out of them as possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) , but we can't just have them turn up when it suits them, and allow them to think it's okay as long as they give notice! (In reality it will be the short notice cancellations that are likely to be more genuine - food poisoning, or whatever.) Mine all know that the further in advance they tell me about something important, the more likely I'll be to be able to reschedule - but I make no guarantees. I just do my best. It's usually easy to tell if a last minute 'sick' call is genuine, but if it's at your discretion rather than in tablets of stone, then all you have to say is "I'll fit it in if and when I can. Thanks for letting me know." And I do fit it in - unless I think I'm being messed around in which case I just let it go.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
The amount of notice doesn't really make any difference to whether missed lessons are to be paid for, it just makes it easier to reschedule with more notice.
If you can afford time off work without pay at somebody else's discretion then it's up to you.
They don't get credited for missed swimmimg and dancing classes which are paid in advance. And there's no chance to reschedule for those either.

[upbeat]

How does doing it monthly make it easier..and what about when they miss a lesson....doesn't that throw them out...oh hold on...do you invoice them in arrears?

Yes I do invoice them in arrears (any missed lessons tend to be swapped to a different time though if possible - missed lessons are payed for like Sbhoa). When I first began teaching I used to send out an invoice in 5 lesson blocks but when I started getting more pupils they were all being invoiced at different times and it was getting ridiculous. So quite quickly I got into monthly invoicing and life is so much easier (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Do you let them off a lesson if they give 24 hours notice?

I know this wasn't my question, but I'm answering anyway! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
If they pay in advance it's easier to get out of giving them a lesson off for any reason. Not that we just want as much money out of them as possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) , but we can't just have them turn up when it suits them, and allow them to think it's okay as long as they give notice! (In reality it will be the short notice cancellations that are likely to be more genuine - food poisoning, or whatever.) Mine all know that the further in advance they tell me about something important, the more likely I'll be to be able to reschedule - but I make no guarantees. I just do my best. It's usually easy to tell if a last minute 'sick' call is genuine, but if it's at your discretion rather than in tablets of stone, then all you have to say is "I'll fit it in if and when I can. Thanks for letting me know." And I do fit it in - unless I think I'm being messed around in which case I just let it go.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
The amount of notice doesn't really make any difference to whether missed lessons are to be paid for, it just makes it easier to reschedule with more notice.
If you can afford time off work without pay at somebody else's discretion then it's up to you.
They don't get credited for missed swimmimg and dancing classes which are paid in advance. And there's no chance to reschedule for those either.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) In answer to your question, no I don't (except at my discretion) but I will try and reschedule the lesson if possible. It means students will think twice before deciding to cancel because they want to go to their friends house, or have a dentist appointment etc... (often things that could easily have taken place on another day). Now lessons take priority, not the dentist!

[maggiemay]

If they pay in advance it's easier to get out of giving them a lesson off for any reason. Not that we just want as much money out of them as possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) , but we can't just have them turn up when it suits them, and allow them to think it's okay as long as they give notice! (In reality it will be the short notice cancellations that are likely to be more genuine - food poisoning, or whatever.) Mine all know that the further in advance they tell me about something important, the more likely I'll be to be able to reschedule - but I make no guarantees. I just do my best. It's usually easy to tell if a last minute 'sick' call is genuine, but if it's at your discretion rather than in tablets of stone, then all you have to say is "I'll fit it in if and when I can. Thanks for letting me know." And I do fit it in - unless I think I'm being messed around in which case I just let it go.

Yes, yes, yes !

Short notice cancellations may be more genuine - but they are also more likely to result in a wasted lesson slot.

[jenny]

I've never really understood a sibling discount; just because they are in the same family, it takes the same time and effort to teach them as any other student?

David

yes I agree but it was a sort of good will gesture... does anyone else do it?

Yes, I do. I teach two sets of siblings and give a discount for the younger child in each case.

[pianodub]

I've never really understood a sibling discount; just because they are in the same family, it takes the same time and effort to teach them as any other student?

David

yes I agree but it was a sort of good will gesture... does anyone else do it?

Yes, I do. I teach two sets of siblings and give a discount for the younger child in each case.

I teach lots of siblings but don't give any discount. My argument would be that I think my fees are reasonable and as David said I spend just as much time and effort on them as on other pupils. Its all about what you are comfortable with though...a friend of mine charges far more than I do and has said she thinks I charge too little, but I wouldn't feel right charging what she does. If I was charging what she does (£15 as opposed to my £12.60) I might give a small discount. I also know that my pupils are all quite well off so there is no real issue for them in paying termly. If there are several members of one family (three or more) I tell them they can opt to pay in two installments. Most don't though.

Be business like but don't do anything or introduce rules/fees you don't feel you can justify and you won't go far wrong.

[susiejean]

I send out 2 bills a year. I bill for 4 lessons at a time, in arrears, so every payment is exactly the same. The bills have the appropriate payment dates on them, and people either copy it in to their calender/diary, or stick it up beside their phone. It takes in to account holidays, so they are still paying for 4 lessons no matter what. Never have any problem, although twice people tried to pay me a week early. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[jenny]

I send out 2 bills a year. I bill for 4 lessons at a time, in arrears, so every payment is exactly the same. The bills have the appropriate payment dates on them, and people either copy it in to their calender/diary, or stick it up beside their phone. It takes in to account holidays, so they are still paying for 4 lessons no matter what. Never have any problem, although twice people tried to pay me a week early. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Sorry, I'm a bit confused. You bill for 4 lessons at a time, but you send out bills twice a year???