Genie,

It isn't that you "can only teach beginners," it's that you "specialize in getting people started right."

We are thinking about lessons too. My theory is, charge the going rate for your area, period. The value you give is the same as the value someone "better" gives-- 1/2 hour or whatever of focused, caring attention. You can either move someone forward in their skills or you can't, and that's the actual job, not being a virtuoso yourself. YES, send them onto someone else once they have learned all you can teach, but when they get there, they will still be paying the "going" rate, and they will be replaced in your schedule by new students who heard how much fun their friends were having, and who will be eager to pay whatever you charge.

If you wait till you build up a clientele to raise your rates (when you see how much work it is to teach, and how good you are at it), you will not be able to raise the ones you have already started, and you will not be able to charge more to their friends who they refer to you without a lot of weird feelings.

Discounts for prepaid schedule-filling packages, now, or for referring people who will prepay packages, that's another story.

BTW, would your nursing hime clients let you teach at their place so you could have students everywhere you go and get more out of your driving?

~Susan