Setting your session fees in India: a simple framework

A sustainable fee comes from three numbers: what you need to earn, the hours you can really work, and what your practice costs to run. Start there, then check it against what feels fair to your clients.

Work backwards from your month

• Decide the monthly income you need from your practice.
• Add your regular costs: rent or room hire, software, supervision, insurance and professional fees.
• Set something aside for taxes and for quieter months. Ask your accountant what applies to your practice.

Be realistic about hours

Few therapists fill every hour. Sessions are only part of the week: notes, admin, supervision and time to recover between clients. Count the hours you can sustain with care, not the hours that exist.

Do the simple sum

Your needed monthly income plus costs, divided by the sessions you can realistically run in a month, gives a minimum fee per session. Treat it as a floor, not a target.

Give each session type its own fee

A first consultation usually takes longer and needs more preparation than a follow-up. Many practices set separate fees and lengths, for example a longer first session and a shorter follow-up, and show both on the booking page.

Plan your kindness

If you want to offer reduced fees, make it a defined number of slots rather than an open-ended favour. It protects your income and makes the offer easier to give.

Review once a year

Revisit your fees yearly and tell existing clients in good time before any change. Predictable, gentle increases are easier on everyone than rare, large ones.