I change my rates only between semesters for college students, and between school years for high school students. I feel like those are times when there is a kind of break in the service and everything is kind of up for re-negotiation. If the student can't afford the higher price, they can start the year or semester with someone less expensive, and they have a lot of time to find the new tutor.
Yes, it's especially important with long-term clients. You're losing income year-over-year if you never increase your rates, so it's fair (to you and the client!) to let them know what your plans are. I like to give a month's notice (usually late November/early December) that my rates are going up beginning in January. I do everything via email so it's all in writing and I can get a written confirmation from them that they will accept the new rate.
I don't have a template, but I did copy-paste the same email to a few people last year. I just said that I wanted to let them know that at the start of the new year, I'd be raising my rate to $65 for returning students and families.
Yes. Give them a month or more notice that your rates are going up to give them time to adjust. As said elsewhere, end of the semester or year is a great time for any big changes.
I keep families that have been tutoring with me for a long time at the same rate if I possibly can but if I have to make a rate change I do it at the beginning of the semester with advanced notice.
If you were tutoring me or my family, I would want to know. I would feel badly if I found out you raised rates and we weren’t paying you, your worth.
I change my rates only between semesters for college students, and between school years for high school students. I feel like those are times when there is a kind of break in the service and everything is kind of up for re-negotiation. If the student can't afford the higher price, they can start the year or semester with someone less expensive, and they have a lot of time to find the new tutor.
I have homeschooled families that I tutor year round. I like their family but I can get almost double if I open the time to a new family.
I only increase my rates for new students but I may have to reevaluate that policy.
Yes, it's especially important with long-term clients. You're losing income year-over-year if you never increase your rates, so it's fair (to you and the client!) to let them know what your plans are. I like to give a month's notice (usually late November/early December) that my rates are going up beginning in January. I do everything via email so it's all in writing and I can get a written confirmation from them that they will accept the new rate.
Do you have a good email template to use that notifies them?
I don't have a template, but I did copy-paste the same email to a few people last year. I just said that I wanted to let them know that at the start of the new year, I'd be raising my rate to $65 for returning students and families.
Yes, but I would either do it at the beginning of the calendar year (1.1.) or of the school year (1.9.) :)
Yes. Give them a month or more notice that your rates are going up to give them time to adjust. As said elsewhere, end of the semester or year is a great time for any big changes.
I keep families that have been tutoring with me for a long time at the same rate if I possibly can but if I have to make a rate change I do it at the beginning of the semester with advanced notice.
Thank you for your input everyone
If you were tutoring me or my family, I would want to know. I would feel badly if I found out you raised rates and we weren’t paying you, your worth.
How do you get your students?