Should I include my own time as overhead?
Yes, value your time appropriately. Calculate hourly rate for development, support, and maintenance, then multiply by estimated hours.
Education
Online Course Pricing Calculator
Strategic pricing for your online course success.
Maximise Course Profitability
Balance costs, profit goals, and market expectations to find your optimal price point.
What this calculator does
The Online Course Pricing Calculator helps instructors determine pricing by accounting for overhead costs (development, hosting, support), desired profit, and projected enrollment. By dividing total costs across students, you set sustainable pricing that reflects true value.
How it works
Enter overhead costs, desired profit, and estimated enrollment. The calculator adds overhead and profit, then divides by students to get per-student price needed to break even and reach your profit goal.
Formula
Price Per Student = (Overhead + Desired Profit) ÷ Enrolled Count. Overhead includes platform fees, hosting, design, and support. Ensure enrollment projection is achievable.
Tips for using this calculator
- Include all indirect costs in overhead: platform fees, hosting, software, support hours
- Research competitor pricing in your niche
- Use conservative enrollment estimates
- Factor in marketing costs for student acquisition
- Review and adjust pricing quarterly
Frequently asked questions
What if student numbers grow over time?
Use conservative first-year estimates. As enrollment grows, per-student costs decrease, allowing margin increases or price reductions.
How do I account for refunds?
Factor a 5-10% refund rate into enrollment estimates. If expecting 100 students but 10% refund, calculate as 90 students.