Every class one might take or sign their kids up is going to be paid for somehow. There are some real advantages to paying for these types of services and classes by the month, versus by the lesson, for the service provider AND the student! Here is what we think:
Better For Your Budget:
Billing for classes and lessons by the month is obviously better for the business. But keep in mind, the business is thinking about their client’s budget as well! Business owners have monthly expenses, and we know what its like to have to keep track of a budget, so we know that offering a flat rate is ultimately better for everyone. If a business charges by the number of lessons per month, that amount is always changing because sometimes there might be five classes versus the typical four. And sure, perhaps that might seem appealing at the time, but I am guessing that most people like to know something is going to cost the same amount each month so they can budget accordingly.
Better For Your Schedule:
Generally, businesses like Piano Teacher Girl, that offer a flat rate for their lessons and classes also offer makeup opportunities should you miss a class for vacation or sickness. Knowing that you have a set number of classes available each month that you paid for should give you some piece of mind that you are getting your money’s worth. And having makeups available is like getting a gift of time and more opportunities to take the class! I have a toddler and have her signed up for a gym class and a swim class. Even though we have had to miss a couple days, knowing that I have makeup classes available to take whenever I need to come up with an activity for her one day is truly an amazing gift! I don’t even feel like I’m missing something if we have to skip a week because I know the class I paid for is still available to take at a future date. If you pay for classes individually, sure, you do save that money, but ultimately you will spend more time nitpicking on dollars without enjoying the benefit of extra TIME to enjoy that class. As we all know, you can’t get time back, but money comes and goes.
Better For Your Sense of Belonging:
Paying a flat rate for a class helps you see yourself or your kid as part of the class, versus just dropping in most weeks out of a month. There is something important to one’s perception of an activity when they know they are part of a regular class instead of just paying for weekly services. It may be a subtle difference, but I think it is an important distinction to look at a service as an experience where you have committed to something on a monthly basis, versus just considering it as a transactional exchange of money for someone’s time. I like feeling like my kid belongs at The Little Gym and Watersafe, instead of me just paying for a number of classes per month at these businesses. And because a business can count on a certain number of students each month paying a regular fee, they can also do more as a service provider and make the family and student feel like they are part of a community.
Better For Your Peace of Mind:
Paying a monthly fee to a business ensures you have a regular spot with a teacher or in a class. And for classes that have limited enrollment, this is a key issue for everyone involved! A perfect example is a daycare. Yes, your child may be sick one day and won’t be able to attend, but since daycares have to abide by specific teacher to child ratios, you are paying for a very coveted spot in the daycare’s roster. Businesses rely on billing this way so they know what they can expect to bring in financially each month, but parents should breathe a sigh of relief knowing that a monthly payment is ensuring they are keeping their spot in their kid’s daycare. As many parents know, good daycares are not always easy to find, and paying a flat rate ensures you keep your precious spot!
These are a few of the reasons why we think its better to go with a business that charges a flat rate per month versus by the lesson or class. We’d love to hear your thoughts, and if you would like to schedule a trial lesson (before signing up for monthly classes!), feel free to visit us online for more information here.