You're about to put a low number on something it took you decades to learn, because charging more feels greedy. Give it five minutes first.
Last updated: October 2026 · By Gen X Still Standing
Price by what the transformation is worth to the person who goes through it. Not by the hours of content. Not by what everyone else is charging. The outcome.
If what you teach helps someone solve a problem that's been costing them time, money, relationships or health, it's worth what the problem was costing them. Not less.
Two reasons. First, we were taught that charging for what we know is somehow arrogant, that knowledge should be freely shared. Second, we compare ourselves to people with formal credentials and assume our street experience is worth less.
Both of those beliefs are costing you money. The market doesn't pay for credentials. It pays for results.
Think about a tow truck at two in the morning. Nobody asks how many years of training the driver had. You're stuck on the side of the highway and he's the guy who can get you home. That's what you're selling. Not your hours.
A price that's too low often signals low value and attracts buyers who never implement. A price that matches the transformation attracts buyers who take it seriously.
One honest gut check. Most people who try to sell what they know never get past a handful of sales, and the people who do well rarely do it on the first try at the first price. Price like you intend to learn and adjust.
And price comes after you know what you're selling and who it's for. If you haven't nailed that yet, start with the free worksheet below.
I spent 30 years building things with my hands. I had to close my company down and start over from zero. So at 53, off YouTube videos, I taught myself AI. I wasn't a tech guy. You don't need to be one either.
Get the free Experience Inventory worksheet. It walks you through the questions that uncover what you already know that someone else would pay to learn, and the one thing to do next with what you find.
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How much should I charge for my first online course?
Price from the outcome. Ask what the result is worth to the person who goes through it, not how many hours of content it has or what everyone else charges.
Is a low price more generous?
Not really. A price that's too low often signals low value and attracts buyers who never implement. A price that matches the transformation attracts buyers who take it seriously.
Should I charge by the hour?
No. Charging by the hour instead of by the outcome you deliver is one of the most common pricing mistakes.
How do I know if I'm underpricing?
Say your price out loud to another person. If you don't flinch, you're probably still underpricing it.
What if my first price is wrong?
The people who do well rarely get it right on the first try. Price like you intend to learn and adjust, and give a price time to work instead of changing it every week.
Educational only. Not business, legal or financial advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed. You're responsible for reviewing anything AI produces. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic or any tool mentioned. Built by a Gen Xer with AI, for Gen Xers.
