Pricing - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[hazool]

I have been running my business for about 8 months in bulgaria. When i first moved here from the uk i started with low prices to get my first clients. Those clients are still with me and are very happy with the outcomes of being my clients. my yoga classes are 90% full and my client list is full for personal training. So i am very happy. But,,, and there always is a but! I need to be making more money from the personal training as my start prices were way to low. This was my mistake due to not knowing the market here when i began :? . So the question i would like to ask is.... How to go about increasing prices with out offending exsisting clients! :roll:

Thanks Haze x

[megfit]

Hi Haze!

Congratulations on your success! This is NOT an uncommon problem.

Your first strategy, of course, is to make sure that anyone who now contacts you receives your updated rates.

I am guessing you want to raise your rates on your existing clients? You first need to determine what is a fair increase that you will still be happy with. Then you need to make sure to inform each client in a personal way that will let them know that although you care about them, you are still also a professional running a business.

Decide when you would like your increased rates to go into effect. Next decide if you would like to increase your rates on your current clients up to your new stated price, or will you provide them with a step-wise increase.

For instance, it's not unusual to raise rates 10%, but beyond that, at one time, may cause people to not only balk, but feel insulted. There is that danger that the sense would be you sucked them in only to switch your rates (bait and switch).

So, if your new rates are higher than 10% above what you began charging, perhaps you can inform current clients that in January rates will be XX and in March (or June) your rates will be XX.

Then, the best suggested approach for your current clients is to let them know in advance that you will be bringing them a notice of some changes. Then write a letter, personally signed, and present it to them at the end of a session, letting them know that you must raise your rates and this explains it all to them. And then let them know you are happy to discuss it with them at any time. If you present your rate increase to them early enough, they can decide if they want to stay with you or not. But most important is you have shown them respect in not just surprising them with this, and you have made it clear you are available to discuss it with them.

What is NOT unusual is for most clients to stay with you and value your services MORE! I still remember the first time I raised my training rates. Not only did every client stay with me, but in the things they said afterwards made me realize that they valued my services more and took it more seriously!

Margie

[hazool]

Hi Margie,

thanks for your responce. it has been so helpful to me. now i can see a way forward where before i felt lost, as by nature and with the yoga mind set i almost feel bad taking any money at all. but as you so rightly put it i am running a business. time for a new business plan me thinks. Your words have given me the confidence. Thanks again Margie :wink: Peace and respect Haze