Pricing and Payments

Prepayment for 

• 4 weeks  

• 6 weeks

• 8 weeks

• et

Price per Session

• $10  per Session  

  • • x 4 Week Sessions = Total $40  per person

      • • x 4 participants = $160 

        • x 5 participants = $200

    • x 6 Week Sessions = Total $60 per person

      • • x 4 participants = $240

        • x 5 participants = $300

    • x 8  Week Sessions = Total $80 per person

      • • x 4 participants = $320

        • x 5 participants = $400

• $20   per Session

  • • x 4  Week Sessions = Total $80  per person

      • • x 4 participants = $320

        • x 5 participants = $400 

    • x 6  Week Sessions = Total $120 per person

      • • x 4 participants = $480 

        • x 5 participants = $600

    • x 8  Week Sessions = Total $160 per person

      • • x 4 participants = $600

        • x 5 participants = $800

• $30   per Session

  • • x 4  Week Sessions = Total $120 per person

      • • x 4 participants = $480 

        • x 5 participants = $600 

    • x 6  Week Sessions = Total $180   per person

      • • x 4 participants = $720 

        • x 5 participants = $900 

    • x 8  Week Sessions =  Total $240 per person

      • • x 4 participants = $960 

        • x 5 participants = $1,200 

• $40   per Session

  • • x 4  Week Sessions =  Total $160 per person

      • • x 4 participants = $640 

        • x 5 participants = $800 

    • x 6  Week Sessions =  Total $240 per person

      • • x 4 participants = $960 

        • x 5 participants = $1,200 

    • x 8  Week Sessions = Total  $320  per person

      • • x 4 participants = $1,280 

        • x 5 participants = $1,600 

How to Pay for Sessions

• Stripe Payment Links / Stripe Checkout 

  • • no cost, directly from bank?

• Zelle

  • • no cost, directly from bank?

    • 
      

• Pay Pal

  • • % fee

several direct operational costs, facilitator compensation rates, and access models need to be factored into the equation.

1. Facilitator Compensation & Effective Hourly Rate

If you or trained facilitators lead these circles, calculate the actual hours invested beyond the circle itself:

• Session Length: A typical circle runs 2 hours.

• Pre/Post Overhead: Add 30–45 minutes per session for Zoom setup, room management, follow-up emails, and participant check-ins.

• Effective Rate Formula:
  $$\text{Effective Hourly Rate} = \frac{\text{Net Revenue per Session}}{\text{Total Session + Admin Hours}}$$

  • Example: A 4-week, 5-person cohort at $20/session grosses $400 ($100/session). Over 2.5 hours of total time per session, the effective gross rate is $40/hour.

2. Payment Processing & Platform Overhead

Payment platforms take a percentage plus a fixed transaction fee on every ticket:

• Stripe / PayPal: Typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

• Ticketing Platforms (Eventbrite, Ticket Tailor, etc.): Eventbrite adds an additional 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket unless absorbed or passed to the buyer.

• Net Revenue Impact: On a $40 payment (4 weeks @ $10/session), Stripe takes $1.46 (3.6%). On Eventbrite, fees can exceed 8%–10% if not using an embedded zero-commission checkout.

3. Attrition, Absence, and Minimum Viable Quorum

Empathy Circles require a specific group dynamic (ideally 4–5 participants) to function properly:

• Minimum Viable Cohort (Break-Even): What is the minimum number of paid participants needed to launch the cohort? (e.g., "Circles launch only if at least 3 participants register; otherwise postponed/refunded").

• Absence / Make-Up Policy: Because circles are prepaid in blocks (4, 6, 8 weeks), establish whether missed sessions are non-refundable or if participants receive credit toward an Empathy Cafe or future cohort.

4. Tiered Pricing & Equity Tiers (Sliding Scale)

To balance financial sustainability with accessibility, many peer-support programs structure pricing across 3 tiers rather than a single flat fee:

Under a 5-person cohort model, having 1 Benefactor ($40), 3 Standard ($20), and 1 Community ($10) yields $110/session ($440 for 4 weeks) while guaranteeing an accessible seat.

5. Multi-Week Commitment Discounts

If you want participants to commit to longer containers (which deepens relational safety and cohesion), consider structuring a small progression discount:

Immediate Setup Checklist

1. Set Quorum Thresholds: Define whether 3 or 4 paid sign-ups constitutes the go/no-go line for launching a circle.

2. Select Ticketing Mechanism: Choose between direct invoicing (e.g., Stripe Payment Links / PayPal to avoid Eventbrite platform percentages) vs. an event ticketing portal.

3. Draft Missed-Session Policy: State clearly on the registration form that prepaid block registrations reserve the seat for the entire series and are non-refundable for individual missed weeks.

Missed sessions are non-refundable 

Here is clear, ready-to-use policy language to include directly on your registration forms and confirmation emails to set expectations and protect group cohesion:

Registration Policy Copy

Commitment & Attendance Policy

Empathy Circles depend on the consistent presence and shared trust of every participant in the group. Because each cohort is limited to a small group (4–5 people) and your registration reserves a dedicated seat for the entire series, prepaid series are non-refundable, and missed sessions cannot be refunded, credited, or rolled over.

If you know in advance that you will miss a session, please let your facilitator know as early as possible so the group can plan the circle structure accordingly.

Why This Policy Protects the Offering

• Locks in Operating Viability: Facilitator compensation and overhead are guaranteed once the cohort launches, regardless of last-minute individual schedule conflicts.

• Encourages Full Commitment: Paid peer-support groups have significantly higher attendance rates when participants know missing a week carries no refund or rollover.

• Preserves Small-Group Dynamics: Empathy Circles rely on an exact quorum (typically 4–5 participants); the policy emphasizes that signing up is an active agreement to support the container for the others.

Implementation Next Steps

• Add a Required Checkbox on Checkout: Include an un-checked box that requires agreement before payment:

  • "I understand that this is a prepaid series and that missed sessions are non-refundable."

• Include in Confirmation Email: Restate the dates, times, and attendance commitment in the automated welcome message sent immediately after payment.