How to pay yoga teachers: per class, per head or a hybrid
The short answer
Yoga studios usually pay teachers in one of four ways: a flat rate per class, a rate per student, a base rate plus a per-head bonus above a set number, or a share of class revenue. The hybrid balances security for the teacher with risk for the studio. Whatever you pick, put the rules for subs, cancellations and employment status in writing, with advice from an accountant.
Yoga studios usually pay teachers in one of four ways: a flat rate per class, a rate per student who attends, a base rate plus a per-head bonus above a set number, or a share of class revenue. The hybrid balances security for the teacher with risk for the studio, but what prevents most disputes is a clear written agreement.
What are the common pay models?
| Model | How it works | Upside | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat per class | the same amount per class, full or empty | predictable for both sides | the studio carries all the risk of an empty room |
| Per head | an amount for each student checked in | teachers earn as classes grow | unstable income, discourages new slots |
| Base plus per head | a floor per class plus an amount per student above a number | shares the risk | needs clear monthly maths |
| Revenue share | a percentage of what the class earned | aligns incentives | hard to work out with memberships and packs |
Revenue share suits workshops, where each ticket belongs to one event. In regular classes, where members pay monthly and attend many classes, it is hard to say what any one class earned, which is why flat and hybrid models are more common.
What does that look like in numbers?
An example for a 60-minute class at three attendance levels. The figures are illustrative:
| Attendance | Flat CA$55 | CA$7 per head | Hybrid: CA$40 + CA$6 per head above 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 students | CA$55 | CA$28 | CA$40 |
| 8 students | CA$55 | CA$56 | CA$58 |
| 14 students | CA$55 | CA$98 | CA$94 |
Notice how each model changes the incentive. On a flat rate, the teacher earns the same whether the room is empty or full. Per head, a small class pays very little and scares off anyone opening a new slot. The hybrid’s floor protects the teacher, and the variable part rewards filling the room.
Before choosing, run the numbers at your average attendance and check the studio still sits above break-even.
What about new classes?
New slots take weeks to fill. On per-head pay, a teacher who agrees to open a 6:30 class may earn very little at first. A common fix: pay the flat rate during the test period for the new slot, say six to eight weeks, then move to the hybrid.
How should subs and cancellations work?
These cause the most friction. Write down:
- Who finds the sub. The teacher, the studio, or both, from a list of approved names.
- How much notice. For example, 24 hours, except in an emergency.
- Who gets paid. Usually the sub is paid under the class rules and the regular teacher is not paid for that class.
- Studio cancels at short notice. Paying the base rate to a teacher already on their way is fair and common.
- Holidays on the calendar. No class, no pay, agreed at the start.
- A class with nobody booked. Decide in advance whether the teacher gets the base or the class is cancelled with notice.
What else belongs in the agreement?
A simple one or two-page agreement heads off most arguments:
- Pay model and rates
- Pay day and method
- Sub and cancellation rules
- When and how rates are reviewed
- Workshops and private sessions: how revenue is split
- Use of the teacher’s name and photo in promotion
- Notice period for leaving the timetable
How often should rates be reviewed?
One review a year, on an agreed date, works better than scattered negotiations. In the review, look together at the teacher’s average attendance, how long their students stay, and any price change at the studio. If you raised membership prices, it is fair for part of that to reach the people teaching. Some studios also set clear steps by years with the studio or by training completed, which shows teachers how to grow with you. Whatever you decide, write the next review date into the agreement so nobody has to ask awkwardly.
Employee or contractor?
This is a legal and tax question, not just a money one. Whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor generally depends on how the work actually happens (who sets the schedule, who supplies the tools, whether they can work elsewhere, whether they can send someone in their place), not only on the title of the contract. The tests differ between Canada and the US, and between provinces and states.
Getting it wrong can mean unpaid source deductions, benefits or penalties later, so it is worth a short professional conversation before the first cheque goes out. Talk to an accountant or employment lawyer before deciding, especially if a teacher teaches many classes a week only at your studio. Keep records of classes taught and payments made; they help in any later conversation.
How elastudio helps
In elastudio, check-ins are recorded for every class, and from Growth the teacher pay report works out what each teacher earned in the month. From Starter, swapping the teacher for one class takes two taps and members see the change, so cover is on record rather than lost in a group chat. See how it fits yoga studios.
Write the rules down before next month
Choose a model, run it against your average attendance, and put everything on one page signed by both sides. See what is included on features and compare plans on the pricing page. Questions are welcome at support@elastudio.app.
Questions people ask
What is the fairest way to pay yoga teachers?
Many studios settle on a hybrid: a guaranteed base per class plus a per-head amount above an agreed number. The teacher has a floor and earns more as the class grows.
Who pays the substitute teacher?
Usually the studio pays the sub under the same rules as the class, and the regular teacher is not paid for it. Agree in advance who finds the sub and how much notice is needed.
Do teachers get paid when a class is cancelled?
It depends on who cancelled and how late. A common rule: if the studio cancels at short notice, the teacher gets the base rate; holidays already on the calendar mean no class and no pay.
Should yoga teachers be employees or contractors?
It depends on how the work happens in practice, such as control over schedule, tools and exclusivity, not only on what the contract says. The rules differ between Canada, the US and each province or state, so check with an accountant or employment lawyer.