Tell clients about a rise early, and give them time to think. These three emails are a starting point.
The order of the email
- Progress first. Use a real result from their log.
- The reason, in one sentence of your own.
- The new price and the date it starts.
- An offer to talk.
How much notice
Coachway says to give at least 30 days. Gymkee also says 30 days, and 60 for rises of 15% or more. Check your own terms first, because they may set a notice period.
How big a rise
Coachway suggests 5 to 10 percent for a yearly rise. For a rate frozen two years or more it suggests 15 to 25 percent. New clients pay it at once. Existing clients pay it at renewal.
Email 1: a client of 12 months or more
Subject: Your coaching fee from [date]
Hi [name],
Over the last [number] months you have [one result, taken from their log]. Thank you for the work you put in.
From [date] my fee will be [new price] instead of [old price]. [Your reason, in one sentence.]
You stay on [old price] until [date], if you want to give that.
If you have questions, reply here or book a call and we will talk it through.
[Your name]
Email 2: a client of under 12 months
Subject: A change to my fee from [date]
Hi [name],
You have done [sessions] sessions since you started, and [one result from their log].
From [date] my fee will be [new price] instead of [old price]. [Your reason, in one sentence.]
If you would like to talk about it first, reply here.
[Your name]
Email 3: existing clients kept on the old rate
Subject: Your fee stays the same until [date]
Hi [name],
My fee for new clients is now [new price]. Your fee stays at [old price] until [date].
On [date] it moves to [new price]. I will remind you [number] days before.
Thank you for training with me. Reply here if you have any questions.
[Your name]
Check the sum before you send
Take a rise from £100 to £110, with made-up numbers. You break even if you lose up to 9.1% of your clients. With 20 clients that is about 1.8 clients.
The break-even loss is 1 minus the old price divided by the new price. The client retention calculator shows how many clients a rate of leaving costs you.
Where Trainersight fits
Trainersight shows each client's sessions and bests. The progress line comes from the log.
Get the Word and PDF files
Trainersight is not open to new coaches yet. Try the sample dashboard, or leave your details and hear when it opens.