3 things Studio Owners Regret...

Last year I asked studio owners to name ONE thing they regretted doing in their time of owning and operating a music school. 

I received over 100 responses, but EVERYONE repeated the same 3 answers. 

Here they are... 

1. UNDERCHARGING AND OFFERING DISCOUNTS

MOST studio owners and teachers undercharge for lessons.

Maybe you've had customers who blatantly told you they think lessons are expensive.
Maybe you've lost a student or two from parents saying they "can't afford" taking.

Here's the thing:
​Music Lessons are NOT supposed to be cheap! 
If you cheapen your value, you'll receive students and parents who don't value and respect you and your expensive equipment. You treat people how to treat you.                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Studio owners who increased their lesson prices and stopped giving discounts, said they: 

1. Found themselves more organized from simply not having to keep up with multiple tuition rates! (Don't underestimate the time and chaos that is added when you have multiple price options with multiple students...ESPECIALLY as your studio grows!)
2. Received BETTER students. Again, you treat people how to treat you. 
3. GREW more! Most students continued to take lessons after they raised their prices, and their studio was seen as more reputable and valuable in their area. The students that left after the price increase? Well, they weren't going to stick around much longer anyway and this was just an easy excuse to go.  

2. CHARGING PER LESSON, AND
​OFFERING FREE TRIAL LESSONS

Charging per lesson is simply unsustainable.

Studio owners who switched to charging per month or even per semester were better able to make a living off of teaching! They worried less about paying for their studios and life.

The less time you have worry about getting paid, the more time you have to focus on being a better teacher and providing MORE value to your studio and students.                                                                                                                                                                                   
​Regarding FREE trial lessons: Some studios started charging for trial lessons while others omitted them altogether. Both groups found peace of mind and little to no push back when they started getting PAID for their time. 

Once you decide to get paid in advance for your time, you'll find students skip less and take your time more seriously. 

3. CATERING TO EVERYONE/ 
ALLOWING STUDENTS TO OPT OUT OF POLICIES

You created your policies, and they are there for a reason!
Stick to them and they will protect you.

You treat people how to treat you, remember?                                                                                                                                                                                 
When studio owners started sticking to their policies, they were able to focus on their businesses. They stopped getting bogged down with individual requests.

Once you start to say, "no" to special requests, parents will respect your policies and stop asking for exceptions to the rules. 

To summarize: 

​Do not undervalue yourself or your studio!

You need to take care of you, your studio, and your teachers and staff.

You should be paid and paid well for your services.

You need to protect your time and do what you need to do in order to focus on the things that matter most. 

-shane and shauna

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We talk to people all the time that are overworked and overwhelmed.

Learn the path that has set many teachers, just like you, on the road to more money, less work, and rediscovering their passion.