Should I Post My Tuition Price on My Website?

Over the years, I’ve received this question from many teachers,

Do you think it’s a good idea to post my tuition and prices on my website?

I think this is a wonderful question and I want to first say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with putting your rates on your website. This makes it easy for inquiring parents and students to find information and usually, the easier it is to find information, the better it is for everyone. As a mom, I personally would prefer service providers to put their prices on their websites. I’m a busy mom. I don’t have time to make a bunch of phone calls.

But consider…

The One Drawback to Posting Tuition Prices

piano lesson price on my websiteIf I put my piano lesson price on my website, I am giving prospective customers the opportunity to dismiss the idea of lessons without first making certain that they know exactly what the benefits are of studying with me! Yes, I might have my offerings posted on my site, and even wonderful pictures of students have a great time learning (which I strongly recommend). But, you know how people skim. There is a great chance that if I have my price posted, their eyes will be immediately drawn to the price (You don’t blame them do you? You always want to know the price of things first too!) rather than noticing the benefits of study, what you offer, how in touch your studio seems, etc.

Even top quality families will frequently look at price before benefits. Remember that many families have no idea what a great piano teacher really is or what they are looking for, so the only language that we all seem to speak is price!

piano lesson price on my websiteDon’t get annoyed! This is an opportunity!

Personally, I’d rather prospective families be very excited about all the offerings I talk about on my site and then call to find out the price because that gives me yet another chance to tell them about the “complete tuition package” they are getting (see and download the free brochure). It’s easy to get annoyed when “How much do you charge?” is the first question. But, look at this as an opportunity to tell them about what your tuition includes first and then answer their question in the context of the wonderful benefits of studying with you. And if you have a further opportunity to meet them in a future interview, you can give them this free tuition brochure:

One Exception to Not Posting Price:

Though there are many reasons you might post your price (please understand that I am NOT saying you shouldn’t). But one reason is…

If you have a waiting list a mile long and don’t need new students at all, then by all means put your price on your website. Again, there is nothing wrong with posting your price and this will just help weed out anyone that is not serious about investing in what you are offering.

But if you need students, I’d probably err on the side of providing everything they need to know on your site and encourage them to call for your price. Then, use that phone call or email inquiry to sell them on your offerings, your warm and friendly disposition, and your contagious enthusiasm for teaching piano!

One Last Thought

As you might remember if you took the “Marketing, Taxes, Business Entities, and Liability” online workshop (it’s still available for purchase), Generation Y typically does not prefer to talk on the phone. Therefore, make sure you have alternative ways for parents to contact you on your website, like an easy contact page or email address. Whether or not I decide to post piano lesson price on my website, I just have to be aware of the possible drawbacks this creates.

So again, this post is not to say, “Don’t post your price,” but rather, “Whatever you do, be honest about the implications!”

READ MORE:

10 thoughts on “Should I Post My Tuition Price on My Website?”

  1. It is just kind of different thoughts. I believed putting the price on your website also is depend on your location too. I’m kind of feel that put the price on the website doesn’t necessary draw attention to your customers. For the past 15 years, I put the tuition on my website. What I have found is that putting the price is convenient for the customers. So that they don’t need to pick up their phone and call. or open their email and write an email. But there are going to end up with two results, #1. When we make things too easy for the customers, which is going to draw the ones that is not really serious in piano learning. Which is end up their are not going to take it seriously when it comes to practice. #2 It is going to drive them away if they found that your price is not compatible to others.
    Another thing that I’m disagree on is that teaching piano is like an education. Education is different than other business. But we have treated it as a business but not an education. I believed this is the reason why most of the piano teachers are encounter many difficulty in their teaching. I believed we are a educator. And we need to educate people to respect us. I am just have different point of view. Thanks you for bring this point up.

  2. You have some great points, Joy. We actually agree though on the convenience part. That’s why I said, “As a mom, I personally would prefer service providers to put their prices on their websites. I’m a busy mom. I don’t have time to make a bunch of phone calls.” I’m definitely about convenience. And Generation Y does not like to talk on the phone. It’s just that not everyone thinks about this drawback even though there are many others to consider, as you point out.

    Thanks for contributing to the discussion. I hope teachers read your comment!

  3. A few years back I did post tuition rates on my website. In the last five years or so, four shopping center “schools of music”
    have opened in my community. I discovered their tuition was lower, and potential clients would call, even interview, then ask for discounts to compete with these “schools”. I removed the tuition info, and each summer, I tweak and update the website info. I still lose clientele to those competitors, but mostly because I only teach piano, NOT voice, guitar, flute, yoga & drums.

    I have found that parents who are interested in quality music instruction for their kids and not merely something “fun” to fill that leftover free afternoon, do not mind taking the time to make a phone call and gain information. My class is small, but I have wonderfully dedicated, encouraging and involved client parents.

    Thanks for all you do , Wendy1

  4. Wendy,

    I agree with you here; especially the point about not giving potential piano parents a reason to dismiss you before you even have a chance to meet them. Your website is your FIRST IMPRESSION and you only have one chance to make a first impression. I think our websites should keep that point in mind. The goal of the initial contact, whether through the web or a phone call or an interview is to get the potential piano parent to like you and feel comfortable with you as a person/teacher. BTW – You newsletter always has good information for teachers. Thanks for the time you take putting it together.

    Best,
    DS

  5. I have my tuition prices on my blog, albeit about 3 years out of date, which is inexcusable. But the whole purpose is to make sure I get only the students who want me and only me, and my tuition price is an important part of the package. If they are looking for a bargain, they are not my students.
    And, yes, I have a waiting list so long that I don’t even bother with it. But I didn’t when I started posting my prices.
    I have no problem positioning myself as expensive, although I’m not particularly high compared to similar teachers. There are plenty of people who can pay for it and those are my students.
    If I were living in a broke-ass community where everyone is hunting up change to pay for groceries, I wouldn’t do this. But I also wouldn’t live in a place like that, because I don’t want to be broke myself.
    Yours, Megan

  6. In my opinion it depends on the situation. On one hand, indeed as you said for some people a price might be a reason to dismiss. But what if you are a popular teacher (or a music school) and you want to filter out prospects who are looking for low-cost tuition? If you get several such calls per day and you spend a few minutes speaking to each person to better understand their needs etc., it could easily accumulate to an hour or even more – time well wasted.

    So each one should consider all the options and the implications and then choose whether they want to post the price online.

  7. Wendy,

    I attended one of your Business Solutions years ago in Pensacola, FL and it made such a positive impact on my studio. One recurring question from parents, which I do not remember if you addressed, is “Do you give a discount for 2 or more students from the same family?” I did give several “family” discounts last year for the first time and it was a mathematical mess when tax time came around. Can you give me your thoughts on this question?

  8. Wendy Stevens

    Hi Elise,

    Ah yes, that’s a great question. I have never given family discounts because I always putting the same amount of teaching energy into every student, regardless of what family they are from. I don’t think there is anything wrong with giving multi-child discounts as it certainly helps families out. One thing that you could do though is to give the discount in the last month. So calculate what your discount would be for the additional child for the whole year, and then take that amount off the last month of tuition. Then, they are motivated to stay with you because that discount only happens if they continue the entire year. Another thing you could do is to not charge a registration fee for the additional children which results in a discount, but not a change in their monthly flat rate.

    But again, you don’t have to give discounts and you shouldn’t feel badly about not giving them if that is what you decide to do.

    I hope that helps!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


By using this Site you agree to the Privacy, Terms & Conditions, which explain how we use information you submit.

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top