Striking the right balance: what should I charge for autism training?

As someone who has been providing autism training for over 25 years, I’ve seen the value that quality training can bring to organisations and individuals alike. For the past two decades, I’ve delivered autism training within a structured organisation, receiving a salary while the organisation charged fees for the training I provided. But now, I’m stepping out on my own—running my own business and delivering training directly to those who need it most.

While the excitement of entrepreneurship is real, there’s a challenge that has been weighing heavily on my mind: What should I charge for my services?

It’s not just about covering costs or making a profit—it’s about ensuring that the individuals and organisations I want to help are able to afford the training they need. I want to reach the right people: parents, carers, foster carers, volunteers, and the organisations supporting them. These are the people who are often working on the front lines of autism support and making a huge difference in the lives of autistic individuals.

Yet, I also understand that this is a delicate balance.

If I charge too much, I risk pricing myself out of reach for those who could benefit from my training the most. It’s crucial to keep the cost low enough to be accessible to the very people I aim to support. After all, many of these groups are on tight budgets, and the organisations supporting them often don’t have large funds to spare.

If I charge too little, I run the risk of undervaluing my expertise and experience. After 25 years of working in the field, I know that my training isn’t just a standard workshop; it’s the result of years of experience, research, and lived understanding of autism, particularly as a parent of an autistic son myself. The value of this insight should be acknowledged and compensated accordingly.

There’s no denying that many are profiting handsomely from the autism sector, and it’s easy to feel that the market could drive prices higher. But for me, that’s not the goal. I don’t want to make a huge profit—I want to ensure that my services are affordable and accessible to those who need them the most.

For me, it’s about finding a balance. A balance between ensuring I’m fairly compensated for my time and expertise while also making sure that the training I offer doesn’t become inaccessible to the very people who stand to benefit from it.

So, what’s the right price? It’s something I’m still figuring out, and I’d love to hear from others who’ve navigated this journey. How do you find the balance between what you charge and the value you provide?

Let’s have a conversation. Share your experiences and insights—let's learn from each other.