The Sliding Scale: How To Implement a Sliding Price Scale Online

I love writing about the sliding scale and financial accessibility, but I didn't expect that my two previous posts on the subject would not only be some of my most read of mine, connecting me to lovely folks all over the world. There's still a big need for resources on the sliding scale and financial accessibility in business so I'm working on expanding my original posts into a bigger community course (i.e. a donation-based course on sliding scale, financial accessibility, and thinking about money in a way that makes sense for you and your community). If that sounds like something you're interested in then sign up for my newsletter for updates.

In the meantime, I wanted to write a short post on one of the questions I've been getting again and again: 

A sliding scale sounds great, but how do I implement one on my website?

First of all - great question! There are a few options that I've used myself and come across online. Of course, anything you choose to do depends on the type of platform you're using, so I've tried to keep my recommendations general enough to allow for their usefulness across multiple platforms. However, no matter how you end up offering a sliding scale online, a lot of the success of your clients using the scale in a way that benefits you both is by being clear about your expectations and parameters of use. You can learn more about these things in the first, second, and third part of the sliding scale and financial access series. Now, on to the practical bits!

image via @ninaluong

Managed vs Unmanaged

If your platform allows it, the easiest way to implement a sliding scale is to list multiple price tiers for a single item with each price corresponding to one part of your sliding scale. There are two variations to this: the unmanaged sliding scale and the managed sliding scale. An umanaged sliding scale would mean that you offer your service from $0 on up without restrictions on either end (i.e. someone can pay $5 for a service while another person pays $65 and there is no minimum or cap to what someone can pay). You'll sometimes see this type of sliding scale called "Name Your Price" or "No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds." Some online shop platforms allow a Name Your Price option, but if yours doesn't a workaround is to use a third party platform to set up a donation button for your services where folks choose their own price that way. I have a donation button set-up on my support the work page if you want to see an example of this (and some questionable poetry).

I have used the unmanaged sliding scale model both online and in-person in the past and found that clients have found the amount of un-guided choice to be very stressful which is why I tend to use a managed sliding scale. A managed sliding scale involves listing a few prices that you choose and that reflect different points on your sliding scale (i.e. $5 for the low end of the scale, $10 for the middle, and $15 for the top end). Managed sliding scales can be as wide or narrow as you like and you can see an example of a wider sliding scale on my Begin With the Breath course and a narrower sliding scale for my Solace course. You can also check out my old listing for my Samhain Oracle where I listed out dollar amounts from $1 to $21. I talk more about the managed sliding scale and why I like it over here.

image via @jorae

Discount Codes

The other way to offer your sliding scale online is to list one standard price and then offer discount codes for folks to use to access different parts of the sliding scale. I first learned about this technique within the world of knitters  (specifically through Jessa Maed who now offers access to discount codes once you sign-up for their mailing list which is a great way to build a newsletter community). You can see an example of a sliding scale accessed via discount code on Francoise Danoy's Aroha Knits page (also, you're welcome, dear readers who are also knitters and who have not yet discovered Francoise's or Jessa's knits). I recently used this technique for my annual fundraiser - where I sold a series of ebooks - and on the backend it was super easy to implement and folks seemed to find it easy to use. Here is the language that I used on my listing:

• Check out my Sliding Scale Guide below to help you find the price for you. The suggested price is $9. You are invited to pay less or pay more as you are able.

• The current listing price is set at $12 which is the Pay-It-Forward price.

• Use the coupon code JOYFUL to purchase at $9.

• Use the coupon code ABUNDANT to purchase at $3.

image via @dirtjoy

The Language of Your Scale

The language we use around money, financial access, and our sliding scales is one of the ways you help folks not only understand your own values, but a way to help folks feel empowered. I'm always adjusting the language on my course sales pages as I learn how to more clearly articulate how to use the sliding scale, why I use the sliding scale, and the feeling of confidence I hope folks feel when they're engaging with my sliding scale. It is a constant work in progress and I even spent a long time trying to figure out for this post if "managed" versus "unmanaged" was too formal and binary but then reminded myself that I can use the language I have right now and adjust again in the future.

For me, it's important to try and tie the concept of my scale and pricing to the greater Worts & Cunning learning community, so I use words like "support" and "community supported" to describe different levels of my scale (you can see this in action for my Solace and The Plant Ally Library courses). I also use the concept of Pay It Forward in my sliding scale because it feels empowering to folks who have the means to not only access a course they want to take but help others access it, too. Here is the current language I use for my sliding scale:

• Standard Membership: The actual cost of the course

• Supported Membership: For students on the low end of the sliding scale

• Extra Support Membership: The most supported membership price for those on the lowest end of the sliding scale. (This is only available for part of the year - see details below.)

• Pay It Forward Membership: Cost of the course plus a little extra to help create access to the course

Through my sliding scale I hope to communicate to folks that I want to support their ability to access my work and want them to feel welcomed in from the start of their journey as a student in my courses. As you create and adjust your sliding scale its important to not only keep in mind the financial parameters of the exchange but what you're feeling about your sliding scale and how people are using it as well as how you hope those accessing your sliding scale might be feeling.

Expanding and Contracting Your Sliding Scale

At different points of the year, I extend my sliding scale options for folks who need extra financial support and this allows me to create deeper access in a way that is also sustainable for my business. I announce sales, extended sliding scale, and payment plans at the end of one calendar year for the next calendar year which helps to reduce feelings of scarcity or pressure buying. For example, twice a year you can access Solace, which is a $36 course, at an "Extra Support Membership" of $12. I make sure that information is posted about this year round on the FAQ as well as the Creating Access section of the Solace sales page.  

Either version of a managed or unmanaged sliding scale (or a mildly managed sliding scale to be more accurate) can have boundaries put in place including limits around how many tickets, sessions, products or whatever it is that you offer are available at each price point. I go into this more on my post How to Make the Sliding Scale Better for You & Your Clients but essentially with a managed sliding scale you can say that three spots are available at $5 versus five spots available at $10 while a unmanaged sliding scale might look more like three spots are available at the $5 and under option and five spots are available within the $6 to $10 range and so on. I host my classes through teachable and they allow you to cap enrollment for different price points and I'm sure other online course hosts offer the same. I especially like creating these boundaries with my sliding scale for my in-person offerings where I have to cover expenses like travel, renting a space, class supplies, and so on.

I've expanded and contracted my sliding scale through the seasons for a few years now and I enjoy the rhythm of knowing that I can create more access in as stress-free and sustainable a way as possible. As you experiment with what works for you, know that your sliding scale and the way that you exchange money for resources and define your pricing is a living energy within your business that needs to be honored, changed, and adjusted as needed. 

Some questions to consider when incorporating a sliding scale into your practice:

Why do I want to use a sliding scale?

What form of sliding scale feels the most supportive to me and my community? 

What worries me about using the sliding scale?

What excites or interests me most about using the sliding scale?

How does using the sliding scale support my ability to create a sustainable and values-aligned practice?

How do you want a possible client to feel when they are learning about and participating in your sliding scale?

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These are the easiest ways I have seen the sliding scale implemented online, but let me know in the comments if you do things a different way. This post was inspired by questions left in the comments of my previous sliding scale posts, so if you have questions about the sliding scale, implementation, and financial accessibility in general, leave them down in the comments and I'll get to them as I can.  

Thank you for all of your support, encouragement, and kind words about my work around the sliding scale and especially for letting me know that so many of you have found it useful. That's the best feedback and I hope you find the system that supports your ability to thrive in your work. 

As we imagine a culture beyond the confines of capitalism, I hope that you’re able to access these visions of a more just and more kind world with greater ease and steadfastness. May our acorn dreams be the trees which shelter our descendants.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤ Thanks, friends. ❤

How to Make the Sliding Scale Better for You + Your Clients

It’s been a few years since I wrote about the sliding scale and it’s time to write that long awaited follow-up post that’s been percolating in the back of my mind. I’ve also written about ways that I focus on creating access and not scarcity in my marketing.

What my sliding scale looks like now as opposed to when I started my business is very different. I’ve grown, I’ve examined (and continue to examine) my own hang-ups around money and fears about financial stability alongside being a good activist, and what follows is hopefully some useful insight. There still isn’t a lot of resources about the sliding scale or using alternative payment methods for services and goods out there. If you have some favorites, please let me know in the comments. If you’ve found what I’ve written to be useful please feel free to use the language from this post with credit on your own page and resources. I’ve made some really amazing connections with folks through these posts and I would love to continue on the conversation through continued resource sharing.

So let’s get into it!

Photo by Annie Spratt

The disadvantages of the sliding scale.

The biggest disadvantage of the sliding scale is that folks will take advantage of it.

Most of the time it’s not entirely on purpose - in the US we have very little education in our school system and culture around money, class, service value, and fair wages. Class is a big one and folks are not only unaware of what class they belong to currently (as opposed to when they were kids or the class that their parents belong to but not them) but of any class privilege they carry. When the scale has been used incorrectly it’s often by folks who have more than enough money to pay full price yet they have purchased at the lower end of my sliding scale. As opposed to my students and clients who have far less money who typically pay the full class price or a higher percentage of their income than their financially better off peer. It’s a frustrating dynamic and it’s a whole other post about why that happens, but if you’ve been offering the sliding scale for any length of time you’ve probably experienced this.

I want to take a moment here to say that it’s ok to feel frustrated when someone takes advantage of your sliding scale. Feel your frustration, make adjustments as needed (suggestions are below) but also realize you have to also accept this as part of the risk of a sliding scale offering. If it feels more emotionally draining to offer a sliding scale - don’t do it. That’s really ok. The purpose of creating accessibility in our offerings is not to create unneeded stress or complication in our lives but, instead, to help everyone involved in the transaction feel more empowered. 

Not getting paid fairly.

Other disadvantages of the sliding scale include not getting paid enough for your time because you’ve set your scale too low - but this can be adjusted to make sure that this doesn’t happen (again, details below). Usually this takes a bit of trial and error that can feel stressful if you’re pulling in way less money than you should in the meantime. 

It stresses people out.

Finally, the sliding scale can really stress out some people when they go to use it. While this isn’t entirely your responsibility to manage you can make the sliding scale feel less scary and intimidating to people who don’t want to “mess it up” when figuring what price they should pay. I’ve definitely stressed out about using the sliding scale as a consumer before which is why I feel invested in helping my community not feel that way - so I share what makes it easier for me and my clients below.

Photo by Annie Spratt

What I have found to be really useful versus what I don’t do anymore.

I offer a managed sliding scale.

I no longer offer a completely open sliding scale (i.e. a sliding scale of $0 - $100 that folks can choose any amount from). What this means is that for any one of my classes or one-on-one offerings there is a limited amount of tickets at each price along the sliding scale. I typically offer about three different ticket prices for a class, though for some classes I offer a broader range and others I offer only two price differences. So when you go to purchase a class ticket from me you’ll see something like the following:

Tickets : The Plant Sabbat is offered at a sliding scale. The actual cost of the class is $35 and tickets listed below that price are limited. Please read my sliding scale guide below before purchasing a ticket.

3 tickets are available at $20
5 tickets are available at $30
Unlimited tickets are available at $35

I calculate the ticket prices offered and the amount of tickets in each bracket available based on my hourly wage that I’ve set for myself as a teacher, space rental or online hosting fees, supplies and materials, and any additional costs that may arise (such as the research that goes in before and after I meet with someone for a herbal consult). Setting up a managed sliding scale like this does a number of things:

1. It helps make sure that I get paid fairly.

2. It’s transparent which helps folks make decisions more mindfully. Folks are less likely to just choose the bottom option if they see that there are limits.

Overall, I’ve found this to be a much more sustainable way of offering different price levels for class or service than what I had been doing before. I have a bit more control and I usually end up being paid fairly. The whole process feels way less stressful than it used to.

EDIT: I now offer a pay-it-forward price that is a few dollars above the actual cost of the class. I let folks know that if they purchase a class ticket at this price that they are supporting financial accessibility for those folks lower down on the scale. I’ve gotten a great response to it and folks really like being able to join my class while easily contributing to my ability to make that class open and accessible to more and more folks.

The other essential component to a managed sliding scale system is to explain it to your clients as simply as possible. I tend to be wordy in my writing so this has been an ongoing work in progress. As you can see in my description above I tell folks to take a look at my sliding scale guide which can be found as part of the course or offering description and reads as follows: 

A Quick Guide to the Sliding Scale

While I encourage you to read my full thoughts on the sliding scale, here is a very brief rundown:

The top price class ticket is the actual cost of the class. If you choose a ticket price below the top tier you are receiving a discount.

The middle price is for those who are able to meet their basic needs but have little-to-no expendable income. Paying for this class may qualify as a sacrifice but it would not create hardship.

The bottom price is for those who struggle to meet basic needs and paying for this class would still be a significant hardship.

The Pay-It-Forward price is a few bucks above the actual cost of the class and that extra money goes towards supporting scholarships as well as future free and low-cost classes. Essentially it's an opportunity to not only take your class but also support your fellow community members while you're at it. Sweet!

Since creating this shorthand guide, a limited amount of tickets in each bracket, along with setting up a culture of openness around money in my classes (more on that below), I’ve found folks using the sliding scale accurately and in a way that feels empowering. Establishing and sharing the actual price of the class has been key as well as distinguishing between something that is a financial sacrifice versus a hardship (which I go into more depth here). 

image by author

I’ve set up a culture in my classes where money is not scary but fun to talk about.

Talking about money is awkward especially if you’re collecting money at the door as opposed to online sales. I try to be as clear about expectations as possible by stating when, where, and how class money will be collected (for example, sometimes for donation based classes I collect at the end of class) so that folks aren’t stressing about what to do around payment. I let folks know the range of prices and the actual cost of the course (all of which has been posted on my website ahead of time). I establish a “lucky” mug or teapot as the receptacle of abundance for collecting money; I look folks in the eyes and thank them genuinely for whatever they’re able to give (which can be hard sometimes when you know someone is underpaying you, let’s be honest. But it’s also a practice in compassion and gratefulness that you choose to take on when offering the sliding scale or hosting donation-based events). With my magickal crowds we even say a little spell between us for abundance - because that’s how my Witch kin are like and I love it. 

Making money fun to talk about is always a work in progress and I’m learning as I go along - let me know how you make money an easy thing to talk about in the comments below. I would love more ideas and inspiration!

I don’t discount my services.

I’m going to make an assumption here, but it’s based on years of observation of the herbal and magickal communities I run in (which is made up of largely queer, folks of color, gender-rebellious, and womxn-centered and femme folks). I bet that for most of you reading this, you’re already offering your services or goods for a discounted rate. Because you’ve underpriced it, because we don’t talk about money and fair wages, and because many of us would have a hard time defining what a fair wage is to begin with. Because our global market ranges from the super exclusive, hand-crafted artisan objects to “cheap” slave labor produced items (and there are plenty of times when those two areas cross-over). Then throw in social pressure, scarcity complexes, the continuing impact of childhood trauma, and some pretty unhealthy ideas about success and whether or not you’re allowed it as an activist and of course we’re confused about money and pricing.

I used to discount my services all the time. And I still felt bad all the time about charging folks and not earning enough (ugh, that’s a vicious thought cycle). Offering my services at a discount didn’t mean I made more or got more folks purchasing my remedies or classes. Nor was this behavior something that I expected my peers to do - that’s where my mindset began to shift. If I didn’t expect my peers or those I was serving to get underpaid in their work, why did I persist in this expectation for myself?

Part of my shift away from offering discounts all of the time (which, the not-so-secret secret is that I do offer a discount - but only those who sign-up for my newsletter and the very occasional seasonal sale), was realizing that I didn’t want to be running a discount emporium of magickal goods, but a space for starry-hearted community to grow. That meant I needed to get paid fairly so I could reinvest in readers like you and the community I interact with daily.

What I realized is that I would much rather be able be able to write quality, in-depth blog posts that reach a lot of folks for free than give away my classes to one person at a time. If I’m getting paid fairly for my teaching work, then I feel more able to give in my writing and in other low-cost or free services. Being able to pay my bills and save money means that I can actually offer more for free because I’m not stressed and counting pennies at the end of each month worried about paying rent and putting food on the table.

If you’re in a similar place, I recommend starting by assessing what you already give away for free - your blog posts, newsletters, volunteering in your community, the emotional labor in relationships (personal, professional, familial, and community-based), webinars, videos, and more. Celebrate what you already give and place value on it. When folks ask for freebies point them to the free content on your website which you know is good, quality stuff. I’ve never had someone email me or tell me in person how great it is that I had so many discounts back when I was constantly offering them. What actually has happened is I get regular feedback from folks saying how appreciative they are of the length and scope of free resources I offer on my site - which feels really good because I want folks to feel like their getting quality information that is of use in their life. That’s what I look for in other businesses and it feels good that I’m also providing such a service.

Photo by Annie Spratt

Other systems of exchange beyond the sliding scale.

Author's Note: I've added a number of new suggestions based on some great feedback I received over on instagram on what other folks use to create equitable systems of exchange. Thanks to everyone who have shared their ideas and insights making this conversation all the better! 

I like the sliding scale a lot but it can be tricky to manage. The closest alternative to the sliding scale (i.e. something which alleviates the burden of upfront cost of a course) that I use regularly are payment plans. I used to customize payment plans for each person that asked me for one and that turned out to consume way too much of my time and pulling me away from my teaching and writing. I used to also offer a discount on top of my payment plans (which I was already paying additional transaction fees) because I worried that if someone needed a payment plan that they also needed a steep course discount. This isn’t true - if someone needs a payment plan they just need an extended period of time to pay. Sometimes a discount would be helpful, but it shouldn’t be assumed. Again, be mindful of devaluing your services.

I now offer a standard payment plan for everyone. I worried way too much about doing this but in the end I have more people successfully using the this new payment plan than ever before. And since it is standardized and automated there is no extra work for me. Of course, in all of these systems there are exceptions and special cases where I offer custom payment plans, but those are once or twice a year at most instead of all the time. 

Donation-based with or without no one turned away for lack of funds (NOTAFLOF) is another option. Donation-based is similar to the sliding scale but usually far less formal. I occasionally hold donation-based events where money is collected at the door or end of class as opposed to online. One has to accept that you might get paid very little - if at all - at donation-based NOTAFLOF events. Alternatively, you might get paid great. Why I still offer donation-based NOTAFLOF classes is because they are some of the most accessible classes I teach (one can attend for free) and they can be great for community building. One dynamic that I’ve observed with donation-based events is that they can really stress some participants out. There can be a lot of apologizing and explaining as to why someone is giving a certain amount - all of which tends to invoke a lot of shame around money, worth, etc. That’s why it’s so important to be as clear and no-nonsense as possible (with some levity added in) when talking about money and the collection of it at the class. 

Creating multiple offerings and items at different price points is another great option. I do this in my shop and it feels like an easy way of making my work accessible. So, I offer ecourses ranging from $3 to $297. Folks who aren't able to afford my ecourses at the moment can join my patreon where they get access to my ebooks and other community gifts which are filled with the same love and spirit I put into all my work.

Collect community donations to supplement discounted or free offerings. Flat out donations are wonderful - especially when you can find a regular benefactor(s) - and there's also the option for applying for community grants for small businesses that might allows you to discount services. I can't speak to finding and applying for grants but I know that other herbalists have successfully done this in the past. What I have done before is have a ticket on my sliding scale that is $2 to $10 more than the actual cost of the class. I let folks know that the extra money goes towards supplementing the discounted costs of lower priced tickets as well as scholarships. This works best when you have a healthy conversation and understanding of class privilege and using money as a tool of justice happening in your community and amongst your clients. Especially when you pitch it as an easy way to do a "good deed" by more or less throwing some money in the "tip jar" when purchasing your own ticket.

You can also have a base-package that is accessible through the sliding scale with fixed-price add-ons. I really like this idea actually - everyone gets a great foundation of care at a price that they can afford and if they want a little or a lot more they can decide to make that investment. 

The following suggestion is about making the extra money you need to create more free and low-cost services. Some folks use Patreon and donation buttons on their site. I actually support a number of folks through Patreon with small monthly donations (which comes out to only a few bucks a month - something that is easy for me to do and since it's automated I don't even have to remember to do it.) Patreon (or a donation button) can be akin to buying your favorite artist, writer, witch, creative, etc. a cup of tea each month or a bigger investment which usually means you get special access to subscriber-only content. Do you use Patreon or a donation-button on your site? Have you found it to be helpful? I've considered opening a Patreon account with video-based content for subscribers - what do you think? Would you spend a few bucks monthly to get access to videos by me? Let me know in the comments. Edit: I use Patreon now - learn more about why I chose to create one.

Photo by Annie Spratt

Additional Thoughts

You don’t have to offer a sliding scale, donation-based services, or payment plans to be a “good” activist.

There is something radical in naming a price that reflects the actual value of what you do and sticking with it. That is an act of social justice, too, and should be honored. There is enormous pressure within activist communities to act in a certain way and lose sight of what is actually radical, loving, sustainable, and kind. Charge what you’re worth and revel in it.

Investigate your own money story.

This is a big one. Most of us in healing and magickal businesses will stress out about how to price our offerings if we’re not doing so currently. There’s a root cause to money stress and it can be really useful (and liberating!) to discover and release. There are countless folks out there talking about money and money blocks. If you’re looking for a place to start check-out Hadassah Damien’s Ride Free Fearless Money. She describes her work as “money hacks and economic real talk for weirdos who are too smart to fully trust capitalism” - so that describes a a lot of you. More resources I found via Erica of Haus Witch after originally posting this article are Jessie Susannah of Money Witch, Cheryl Rafuse of Howl Content, and Jennifer Armbrust of Sister. I've not worked with any of these folks but they are recommended by many who center what they do in inclusivity and intersectionality.

Learning about class, capitalism, and the intersections of privilege and oppression we all carry within these systems is really important. But when I began to get real curious about my own money story is when steady and sustainable change in the way I do business emerged. Because it’s not really about money, is it? It’s about us and how we value ourselves and each other. Figuring that out and what blocks you from valuing yourself and what you do in the world means that you become better equip at changing the world for the better - because you realize that you’re worth changing for. And if you’re worth changing for than others are worth changing for too. Money and exchange of services can be a useful tool for change and exploring your personal money story is one way to discover how to use that tool effectively.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

If you find a resource on the sliding scale or money alternatives that you really like approach the original writer if you can quote their work on your site. Folks do this with me all the time and I think it’s great - you have permission to use any of what I’ve written here or elsewhere on the sliding scale on your site with credit. Find resources, share them, use them appropriately, and celebrate the hard work of others so that you don’t have to spend extra time researching or writing about something that feels big, overwhelming or not your area of expertise. Use what’s out there so you can get back to doing what you’re called to do in the world - hopefully a little more informed and confident in how you’re doing it.

I know that how I’m doing things is working for me and my community because I feel less stressed and more confident about what I’m offering, I’m able to explain it easily, and, most importantly, my students and clients talk about how easy it was for them to navigate while also got them thinking about money, cost, and their own financial situation in new ways. My hope in writing these series about running a business within the healing and magickal markets is that you’ll find the right systems for you, too, instead of struggling with ones that don’t work. Because who has time for that? There’s too much tea to be drunk…

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, including any other sliding scale pitfalls, alternatives, and triumphs, as well as your favorite resources on managing money and overcoming money blocks (preferably ones that are progressive and inclusive of LGBT+, femme and womxn folks, and folks of color). I look forward to commiserating on our money mistakes, celebrating your creativity, and generally making this conversation around money in our communities waaaaay easier.

The Sliding Scale: A Tool of Economic Justice

Class and economic justice are topics that lots of folks struggle to talk about in the United States because most of us aren't educated in schools or the culture at large to talk about money, access to resources, and what class actually is. Class, of course, cannot be understood as an isolated experience, but is part of the complex interactions of race, gender, ability, privilege, sexuality, and the myriad of identities we all hold. I think the sliding scale is a great way to begin a conversation about class because it frames the discussion from the standpoint of access. I wrote this article, in part, because it was really hard to find any online resources about creating and using a sliding scale. So, these are my thoughts, and they are a work in progress. In future articles, I will talk more about the realities, upsides, and pitfalls of using the sliding scale model as well as how to figure out if such a model is sustainable for your business. Please feel free to share, cross-post, and incorporate information (including the graphics) from this article onto your site - I just ask that you give credit to keep the conversation going. 

Want to know my updated thoughts on the sliding scale including troubleshooting and alternatives? Come this way. I’ve also written about ways that I focus on creating access and not scarcity in my marketing.

Offering a sliding scale for classes and products comes from a desire to create multiple access points for the wild and big hearted creatures called to learn from us. I have always strived to offer products and services at a variety of price points as well as multiple free offerings throughout the year, including keeping my online programs purposefully inexpensive (you can find all my courses here) so that folks from a diversity of economic backgrounds might take part. In meditating on what tools I could use to create multiple financial access points that would reflect the multiple economic realities of my students, I use a sliding scale system for some of my products and services. 

First, if you're unfamiliar with what class is and why it matters, please visit classmatters.org to learn more and check out the additional resources listed at the end of this post.

The sliding scale is a tool that allows for a product or service to be obtained at multiple price points based on the circumstances of the purchaser. Typically, the scale will be set in a chart and some form of income verification is provided by the purchaser to an authority figure who determines where on the scale the purchaser falls. This method allows folks who would most likely be priced out of something to have the chance to take part in it. It also seeks to address the systemic inequalities of class in our culture.

The sliding scale represents the idea that financial resources, including income, are not and should not be the only determining factor in whether or not someone can access services/care/etc. Service providers and institutions usually offer sliding scale because there is a commitment to serving individuals and/or communities that would otherwise not be able to afford the services. Often, these organizations actively seek external funding to establish financial stability and fill in the economic gaps that sliding scale does not provide for. For a small business like Worts + Cunning Apothecary, I do not receive any outside funding to supplement sliding scale discounts, so I must take into account what I am able to offer and still be able to support my family. I'll talk about implementing a sliding scale in your own business in future posts.

For a sliding scale to work it relies on the principles of truthfulness, respect for complexity, and accountability. I do not ask for income verification. I trust my students and clients to be honest. Community thrives when accountability is a central value, because that is where trust grows and depth work can be done. Teachers deserve to get paid and students deserve classes which recognize the multiple realities of economic access and privilege that exist.

Recently, someone shared with me the idea of sacrifice versus hardship when examining access. If paying for a class, product, or service would be difficult, but not detrimental, it qualifies as a sacrifice. You might have to cut back on other spending in your life (such as going out to dinner, buying coffee, or a new outfit), but this will not have a long term harmful impact on your life. It is a sacred sacrifice in order to pursue something you are called to do. If, however, paying for a class, product, or service would lead to a harmful impact on your life, such as not being able to put food on the table, pay rent, or pay for your transportation to get to work, then you are dealing with hardship. Folks coming from a space of hardship typically qualify for the lower end of the sliding scale. I find the idea of sacrifice versus hardship to be a very useful nuance when talking about class and access because it recognizes and respects that paying for something might still be a challenge even if it is just a short-term one, while giving appropriate space for those who are dealing with financial hardship.

Here is a general guidelines about how I currently price my sliding scale and to help you determine where you fall on it.

• The highest dollar cost reflects the true cost of the class or service. It is the cost that the practitioner would charge all students in the absence of a sliding scale. If you have access to financial security, own property or have personal savings, you would not traditionally qualify for sliding scale services. If you are able to pay for "wants" and spend little time worried about securing necessities in your life, you have economic privilege and power in our community. This price is for you.

• The middle cost (when there is one) reflects the practitioner's acknowledgement that paying the full cost would prevent some folks from being able to attend, but who do not honestly find themselves reflected in either descriptions for the highest cost or the lowest. If you are struggling to conquer debt or build savings or move away from paycheck to paycheck living but have access to steady income and are not spending most of your time thinking about meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care, child care, etc., you belong here. If you, however, can ask others for financial support, such as family members, partners, or friends, please consider using those personal resources before you use the resources of the sliding scale and limit opportunities for others.

• The bottom cost represents an honest acknowledgment by the teacher and practitioner that there are folks whose economic circumstances would prevent them from being a part of classes if there was not be a deliberate opportunity made for them to access services at a cost that is reflective of their economic realities. If you struggle to maintain access to needs such as health care, housing, food, child care, and are living paycheck to paycheck or are in significant debt, you belong probably belong here and you deserve a community that honors your price as equal an economic offering as the person who can pay the highest tier. Even when the lower tier is still prohibitive, I will work with folks to offer extended payment plans and other solutions.

Typically, there is a limited amount slots for products, services, and classes offered at the middle and lower end of the scale. Please be mindful that if you purchase a price at the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford the higher ticket prices, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. Being honest with yourself and your financial situation when engaging with sliding scale practices grows strong and sustainable communities. It also respects the work of teachers and creators, like myself, you have families to support and rent to pay. Additionally, when I am paid fairly, I am able to invest more time and resources to free and lower cost offerings.

In the spirit of access and supporting those who appreciate visual learning tools I've created a graphic to illustrate how the Worts + Cunning Apothecary sliding scale works. Above you'll find a graph illustrated with three bottles (click to enlarge). Each bottle contains sentences that describe a person's current financial experience and class. The bottle on the far left is full of beautiful green potion representing the upper end of the sliding scale spectrum. Folks who identify most with the statements in the far left bottle qualify to pay for class tickets at the upper end of our sliding scale. The middle bottle represents folks who sometimes can pay for the upper end of the sliding scale, sometimes the middle, and sometimes the bottom half (depending on how many sliding scale options are available). The bottle on the far right represents the lowest end of the scale and folks who qualify to purchase class tickets from the bottom of our price spectrum. 

For ease of reading, here is the text from each of the bottles in the above graphic:

Top of the Scale (or the left bottle):

• I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic* needs

• I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs

• I own my home or property OR I rent a higher-end property

• I own or lease a car

• I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs

• I have regular access to health care

• I have access to financial savings

• I have an expendable** income

• I can always buy new items

• I can afford an annual vacation or take time off

Middle of the Scale (or the middle bottle):

• I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them

• I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs

• I own or lease a car

• I am employed

• I have access to health care

• I might have access to financial savings

• I have some expendable income

• I am able to buy some new items & I thrift others

• I can take a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden

Bottom of the Scale (or the right bottle):

• I frequently stress about meeting basic needs & don’t always achieve them

• I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs

• I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing

• I do not have a car and/or have limited access to a car but I am not always able to afford gas

• I am unemployed or underemployed

• I qualify for government assistance including food stamps & health care

• I have no access to savings

• I have no or very limited expendable income

• I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them

• I cannot afford a vacation or have the ability to take time off without financial burden

* Basic Needs include food, housing, health care, and transportation.
** Expendable Income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.

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At the end of the day, the sliding scale thrives on trust. Trust is a pretty amazing thing. I trust you to be honest in your assessment of your economic reality. Since the sliding scale is a tool of accountability, it is an ongoing conversation and I remain committed to helping folks figure out how to talk about their own economic experiences, since it has been such a helpful language to learn on my own journey. 

Do you use the sliding scale in your practice?
How do you employ it and does it work for you?
Do you use other economic equity tools?
Comment below!

Additional Resources

• How to Make the Sliding Scale Better for You + Your Clients

• I really enjoy additional language for the scale developed by the folks at Embracing Equity

• Beth Maiden’s My Business is A Garden is endlessly inspiring.

• Ride Free: Fearless Money Management Sliding Scale Discussion

  • Check out Hadassah Damien's exploration of the sliding scale which includes a number of sliding scale examples for everyone to learn from.

• Read Patty Adam's of Durham Healing Arts and Yoga for Queers + Misfits thoughts on the sliding scale and donation-based classes.

• Check out Kammaleathahh Livingstone's Tip It Forward program to make sure bodywork and massage can be available to everyone.

• Working Definitions of Class

• Where We Stand: Class Matters by bell hooks

• Class Matters: Cross-Class Alliance Building for Middle-Class Activists by Betsy Leondar-Wright

Please feel free to share, cross-post, and incorporate information (including the graphics) from this article onto your site - I just ask that you give credit (my name, Alexis J. Cunningfolk, and link to this post) to keep the conversation going. Because we need to keep talking about money, equity, and how we make it better for all.