Understanding Traditional Hourly Pricing

Hourly billing is a common starting point for many executive function coaching businesses, primarily due to its simplicity. You calculate your costs, add a desired profit margin, and arrive at an hourly rate.

Example: If your loaded costs (coach time, overhead, marketing, etc.) are \$60/hour and you want a 40% profit margin, your rate might be \$100/hour.

Pros:

• Easy to calculate and understand.
• Flexible for clients needing inconsistent or ad-hoc support.

Cons:

• Limits Income: You only get paid for the time spent in a session, not preparation, follow-up, or the value delivered.
• Client Focus on Time: Encourages clients to watch the clock rather than focus on the outcome.
• Difficult to Scale: Revenue is directly tied to billable hours, making it hard to grow significantly without hiring more coaches.
• Doesn’t Reflect Value: Coaching outcomes (improved grades, independence, reduced stress) are rarely tied to a fixed number of minutes.

While hourly rates might work for introductory sessions or very specific, limited interventions, they often leave significant revenue on the table for comprehensive executive function coaching programs.

Leveraging Package-Based Pricing Models

Moving to packages or bundles is a critical step for most executive function coaching businesses looking to scale and increase per-client value. Instead of selling time, you sell a defined program or set of sessions aimed at achieving specific milestones.

Packages offer numerous benefits:

• Increased Commitment: Clients are invested in a longer-term journey, which improves consistency and outcomes.
• Predictable Revenue: You have a clearer forecast of income.
• Easier Sales Conversation: You sell a solution or transformation, not just hours.
• Opportunity for Higher Value: You can price based on the total value of the transformation provided by the package, not just the sum of the hours.

Types of Packages:

• Fixed Session Blocks: The simplest form. E.g., an 8-session package, a 12-session package. Price is typically a slight discount off the hourly rate, encouraging clients to commit.
• Outcome-Oriented Packages: Structured around achieving specific goals within a timeframe. E.g., “Semester Success Package” focused on improving study habits and grades for a school term, or “College Transition Prep” for high school seniors.
• Tiered Packages: Offering multiple package options (e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold) with increasing levels of support, session frequency, or included resources (parent sessions, school communication, assessments).

Example: Instead of \$150/hour for 10 hours (\$1500 total), offer a “Foundations Package” for 10 sessions over 10-12 weeks, plus a parent debrief and goal-setting session, priced at \$1800-\$2200. The perceived value is higher than just 10 hours.

Presenting these tiered or complex package options can be challenging with static PDFs. A tool like PricingLink (https://pricinglink.com) specializes in creating interactive pricing experiences where clients can see package details and optional add-ons clearly, making selection easier and more professional.

Exploring Subscription and Retainer Models

For ongoing support or longer-term client relationships, consider a subscription or retainer model. This provides consistent, recurring revenue and ensures students have access to support as needed over an extended period (e.g., a full school year).

Subscription models typically involve a fixed monthly fee for a set number of sessions per month (e.g., 4 sessions/month) plus potential benefits like:

• Priority scheduling
• Brief check-ins via email or text between sessions
• Access to member-exclusive resources or workshops
• Discounts on additional services (like parent-only sessions)

Pros:

• Highly predictable monthly revenue.
• Builds deep, long-term client relationships.
• Ensures consistent support for the student, which is often needed for lasting EF skill development.
• Easier cash flow management.

Cons:

• Requires a clear service definition for the monthly fee.
• Needs careful management to ensure clients feel they are getting value consistently.
• May not be suitable for clients only needing short-term intervention.

Example: A “School Year Support” subscription for \$800-\$1500 per month, including 4 sessions, limited email support, and quarterly parent check-ins. This locks in significant annual revenue per client compared to session-by-session booking.

Implementing Value-Based Pricing

Value-based pricing is arguably the most powerful pricing strategy but requires the most confidence and a deep understanding of your clients’ desired outcomes. Instead of pricing based on your costs or time, you price based on the perceived value the coaching provides to the student and family.

What is the financial or emotional value of:

• A student moving from failing grades to Bs and Cs?
• A reduction in daily homework battles and family stress?
• A successful transition to college independence?
• The ability for a student to manage their own schedule and tasks without constant reminders?

These outcomes often far exceed the cost of the coaching in the long run.

To implement value-based pricing:

1. Deep Discovery: Conduct thorough initial consultations to understand the family’s specific challenges, their desired future state, and the impact the current issues have (stress, financial cost of tutoring, limited future opportunities, etc.).
2. Define Clear Outcomes: Partner with the family to define measurable goals and the desired transformation.
3. Frame Your Solution: Present your coaching program not as a series of sessions, but as the direct path to achieving those specific, valuable outcomes.
4. Price Based on Value, Not Cost: Your price should reflect the significant positive change you facilitate, not simply your time or internal costs.

Example: A coaching program aimed at helping a high school senior successfully manage executive function challenges for college readiness might be priced at \$4,000 - \$7,000, regardless of the exact number of sessions, because the value of successfully navigating college and future independence is perceived as being worth far more to the family.

Communicating this value effectively during the sales process is key. Using a tool that allows you to visually connect program components to outcomes and present investment options clearly can significantly aid in value-based selling. PricingLink (https://pricinglink.com) helps structure these offerings so clients understand exactly what they are investing in and the options available.

Incorporating Add-ons and Bundling

Regardless of your primary pricing model (packages, subscriptions), offering add-ons and creating bundles is an effective way to increase average client value and provide customized support.

Relevant add-ons for executive function coaching might include:

• Parent coaching sessions (separately or as a bundle)
• School consultations or advocacy meetings
• Specific assessment tools or reports
• Booster sessions after a core program concludes
• Group workshops on related topics (time management, study skills)
• College application support specifically focusing on EF skills

Bundling core services with popular add-ons can create premium tiers that are more attractive than purchasing services á la carte. This uses pricing psychology principles like anchoring and tiering.

Presenting these core options, tiers, and add-ons clearly so clients can easily understand and select what they need is vital. Static quotes often fail here. A tool like PricingLink (https://pricinglink.com) is purpose-built for allowing clients to configure their service package live, seeing how add-ons affect the total price, leading to increased transparency and potentially higher average order values.