Published on · By GREATER
How much to charge at your jiu jitsu academy: memberships and class packs
Many jiu jitsu academies set their prices by looking at what the place down the road charges, then go years without touching them. Here's a simple method for setting your membership fees: start from your costs, compare yourself with your area and offer the plans your students actually use.
1. Start with your numbers
Add up what the academy costs you each month: rent, utilities, insurance, mats and equipment, coaches, accountant, software and what you want to pay yourself. Divide the total by the students you actually have, not the ones you'd like to have. That figure is your floor: charge less and you lose money.
2. Check your area (but don't copy)
Look at the published prices of nearby academies and martial arts gyms. The point isn't to be the cheapest, but to know where you stand and explain what you offer: a black belt coach, a wide timetable, a competition team, kids classes.
3. Choose a few plans that are easy to understand
- Unlimited monthly: your main plan. Simple to charge and to explain.
- Monthly, 2 days a week: for those who can't come more often.
- Quarterly or annual: with a small discount, in exchange for commitment.
- Class packs: for people who travel or work shifts. Give them an expiry date so they don't pile up.
- Family or kids: a discount for the second family member helps get parents on the mats.
Three or four options are enough. With ten, students hesitate and you get tangled up when charging.
4. Sign-up fee or not?
A sign-up fee helps students commit and covers onboarding, but it also puts off those who are on the fence. You can charge it and waive it during specific campaigns (September, January) or when someone joins with a friend.
5. How to raise your fees without losing students
- Give at least a month's notice and explain why.
- Keep the price for students on an annual plan until they renew.
- Raise it a little and more often, rather than a lot all at once.
- Tie the change to an improvement (a new timetable, new mats).
6. Pricing is pointless if you don't get paid
The perfect plan fails if half your students pay late. Automatic card payments and seeing at a glance who's up to date mean you don't have to chase anyone at the end of the month.
Frequently asked questions
Is a monthly membership or class packs better?
Monthly memberships give you steady income and are the foundation. Class packs work as an add-on for people who can't come regularly.
How often should I raise my fees?
Review them once a year. A small, well-announced increase goes down better than a big one after years without changes.
Sources: GREATER's own method; app features (accessed 27 October 2026).