Training Course Pricing Calculator 2025/26
Set profitable prices for in-person and online training courses in 2025/26. Enter your delivery costs, material costs, facilitation time and target margin to calculate the minimum viable price per delegate and recommended commercial price.
Key Inputs
- Course format: half-day, full-day, multi-day, online (live) or online (self-paced)
- Maximum delegates per session
- Venue cost per session (£) — or nil for online
- Facilitator/trainer cost per session (£) — your rate or freelance hire
- Materials per delegate (£): workbooks, certificates, platform access
- Marketing cost per delegate (£)
- Target gross margin (%)
What You'll Get
- Total cost per session (£)
- Cost per delegate at full capacity (£)
- Minimum price per delegate to break even (£)
- Recommended price with target margin (£)
- Break-even occupancy rate at recommended price
- Annual revenue and profit at different occupancy assumptions
Important Notes — 2025/26 Rates & Caveats
UK training course pricing benchmarks 2025: half-day in-person professional training £150-£400/delegate; full-day £300-£800/delegate; multi-day (CPD accredited) £800-£2,500/delegate. Online live courses: £97-£497. Online self-paced courses: £47-£997. CPD accreditation fees: £300-£1,000/year through CPD Standards Office or equivalent. HMRC treats training course fees as standard-rated for VAT (20%) unless the provider is an eligible body (certain further education colleges and universities enjoy VAT exemption on education).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPD accreditation and is it worth it for a training provider?
CPD (Continuing Professional Development) accreditation validates that a training course meets a recognised standard for professional development. The CPD Standards Office, CPD Certification Service and sector-specific bodies (CIPD, CIMA, Law Society) accredit training. Accreditation typically costs £300-£1,000/year per course and enables employers to claim CPD hours for their staff. Accredited courses command a 20-40% price premium and are preferred by corporate buyers with mandatory CPD requirements.
Is training VAT-exempt in the UK?
Most commercial training providers charge 20% VAT on course fees — training is standard-rated for VAT purposes. Exceptions include: eligible bodies (certain colleges, universities and non-profit education providers) which can exempt tuition from VAT; and some vocational qualifications delivered by regulated awarding bodies. If your training leads to a recognised qualification through a regulated awarding body, a VAT exemption may apply — seek specialist VAT advice as the rules are complex.
How do I price an online course for the UK market?
UK online course pricing depends heavily on the topic, depth and your authority in the market. Entry-level awareness courses: £47-£97; intermediate skill-building: £97-£297; advanced or certification-linked: £297-£997. Professional/corporate-focused courses (project management, HR, finance): £497-£2,000+. Test pricing with a launch offer at 50-60% of full price to gather testimonials, then raise to full price. Evergreen courses with automated delivery have very high margins as delivery cost per additional student is near zero.
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