Hello! I’m sharing a conversation here from 2020, started by Laurie Z. Baron, about what to charge for online groups. It was a worthy discussion then and perhaps due for an update about what our practices are now in 2025.
Laurie started the conversation this way, “As so many workshops move online, I think more about what other people are charging than when we all had local norms to look at. I don’t want to undercut (of be undercut by) other AWA workshops, which now are all pretty much open to anyone, geographically speaking. Specifically, I’ve been charging $60 for a 90-minute, 4-week workshop that has been repeating since April. I consider this a sales basement rate, because of Covid and to make it easy for people to keep coming (and they have). If it continues in the new year, should the rate go up? And I’m working on a model for a memoir workshop that would meet for longer sessions less often for a long time–maybe a year’s commitment. It would involve a lot of prep work for me. Figuring fair pricing for that is really hard. Hope some of you can share what you are charging and/or some way to build a fair price structure.”
The comments were:
 Vicki Pinkerton |
Hi Laurie. I have been charging $15/per 2 hour session. I know many charging the same but I know others charging more. I have been doing 2-hour sessions to which I only invite 7 people, 8 including myself and really feel rushed. This summer I tried doing 4 longer sessions, 3 hours, but I used the same number of prompts, I just gave longer write times and only had 6 people. I did charge $20 for those and they were very successful. I didn’t find it that much more work and it was much more relaxing for me. I believe the world can support several models with many different price structures. As you build your client list you will find that your participants are very loyal to you. As I build my list I can see a time that I might regularly charge more but with covid and other factors, my group is grateful for the prices I charge. I am looking forward to seeing where others come down on this. | November 10, 2020 12:48 pm |
 Carol Teal |
Similar, I’ve raised my price to $20 for 2.5 hrs on zoom limited to 8 writers but giving a price break even on that if people are in need of it. Groups run for 6 weeks and if there is room I allow people to enroll on a per week basis. But I do encourage the commitment so the group is stable. Still working on growing my email list so these groups will fill. | November 14, 2020 2:40 pm |
 Laurie Z Baron |
Thanks, Vicki and Carol, for your comments. So far, I charge the most of the three of us–and it feels low to me! I think we have to hold two values in tension. It’s good to recognize that people are stressed and many are strapped in the pandemic. I’m really proud of AWA facilitators for trying so hard to keep offering our service, which is needed more than ever in this moment.At the same time, I keep in mind Pat’s consistent urging not to undercharge. What we do has value, and people won’t value it if we don’t. There’s a real tension between these values now. It would be great to hear more perspectives on this! | November 16, 2020 8:24 pm |
| Vicki Pinkerton |
I agree with you Laurie and am working at raising my price for the new year, spurred on in no small measure by this chat…however I’m not sure I can jump my prices up with participants who are used to paying 15/session. I was already thinking that moving in one jump to 20/session is a lot and that maybe I need to take it slow. I’m still wrapping my head around it. Thanks for your insights. V | November 16, 2020 8:35 pm |
 Patricia Philippe |
In September, I started offering 1-hour workshops on Zoom by donation. I stopped doing that because people would register and not show up. It’s not about the money but the time and energy investment I put into planning the session. I moved to a tiered pricing model offering various options including a free ticket to my 4-week series for a BIPOC attendee. She did not attend.
I haven’t done workshops in person so I don’t have any comparisons to make. However, my perspective is that it doesn’t matter what platform the workshop is on. As a facilitator, we still have to prepare for the workshop, manage the dynamics and invest our time and energy to facilitate. With Zoom we also have to deal with any technological glitches. I understand that it is a pandemic and many are struggling financially. Yet for some of us these workshops provide the only income right now. Where i’ve landed is to offer myself in service in a way that is also of service to me. I charge based on the effort and value I offer. $25 for a 1-hour workshop. $100 for a 4-week, 90-minute per session workshop. $50- $65 for a 2-hour book discussion/writing workshop since I have to read the book and come up with prompts based on specific themes. These prices feel good to me so I will stay with this plan until I am guided differently. Lastly, I would offer that there is more flexibility when you charge more at the onset. I’ve learned that it’s hard to move someone to a higher price when they’re used to it being free or a specific amount. Charging higher allows you to offer discounts or holiday specials depending on registration. I hope this helps. Good luck! Patricia |
Hi Laurie, Here in Portland, Oregon, I started with $30 for a 2-hour online workshop, but after the first year, lowered my rate to $25. As a new workshop facilitator, I had difficulty filling weekly workshops, so I switched to a once monthly workshop with a 6 month commitment ($150) and it filled and has continued to fill. I keep the group to five writers plus myself so everyone has time to share and respond. Having a regular group builds a sense of community. I offer a pay by the month option (PayPal invoice), and offer to waive the fee if cost is a barrier to participation. Hope this is helpful! Hannah Kuhn, http://www.wildfernwriters.com