In-home pilates sessions: how to price, book and run them well
The short answer
In-home pilates works when the price covers the whole visit, not just the hour on the mat. Charge for travel, keep buffer time before and after each session, approve each request before taking payment, and share the client's address with the teacher only when needed.
In-home pilates sessions are worth offering when the price covers the full visit, not only the time on the mat. Charge for travel, keep buffer time around each visit so it never clashes with studio classes, confirm each request before charging the card, and share the client’s address with the teacher only for that session.
Who books in-home pilates sessions?
Home sessions attract people for whom getting to a studio is the main obstacle:
- Busy professionals who would rather pay more than lose an hour to commuting.
- New parents who cannot leave home easily.
- Older adults and people in rehabilitation who prefer a familiar, quiet space.
- Small groups of friends, family or coworkers who want a private class together.
For a studio, in-home sessions extend your reach beyond your neighbourhood and put teachers’ free hours to work. They also introduce your brand to people who may later join a class.
How should you price an in-home session?
Price the whole visit. A teacher who spends 60 minutes on the mat and 50 minutes driving has given you almost two hours.
A simple method:
- Start with your studio private session rate. For example, CA$95 for 55 minutes.
- Add travel time at the same hourly rate. If the round trip is about 40 minutes, that is roughly CA$65 more at a CA$95 hourly rate, or a smaller fixed travel fee if you want to stay competitive.
- Add direct costs. Fuel, parking, transit fares.
- Set zones. A flat fee for the closest areas and a higher one further out is easier to explain than per-kilometre pricing.
| Zone | Travel time (round trip) | Travel fee example |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Up to 30 minutes | CA$25 |
| Zone 2 | 30 to 60 minutes | CA$45 |
| Outside zones | Over 60 minutes | On request |
Small groups make home sessions more efficient. One trip, several people. Charge a base price for the first person and a reduced price for each extra person, so friends can share without the session becoming cheaper per hour than a solo visit. For more on rates, see how to price private pilates sessions.
What equipment should the teacher bring?
Plan the session around what travels well. Mat pilates with small props covers a lot of good work:
- A mat (or two, if the client does not own one)
- Resistance bands and a pilates ring
- A small soft ball and light ankle or hand weights
- A foam roller, if the teacher has space in the car
Large apparatus such as a reformer usually stays at the studio, unless the client owns one. If they do, ask for the model before the first visit so the teacher can prepare. Keep a short kit list per teacher, and check it after each visit so nothing is left behind.
How do you stop home visits from clashing with studio classes?
This is where most studios run into trouble. A teacher finishes a 10:00 home session across town and has a class at the studio at 11:00. On paper the calendar looks fine. In reality the teacher is stuck in traffic.
The fix is to treat travel as booked time:
- Block a buffer before and after every home visit. Thirty minutes each side is a sensible starting point in most cities.
- Keep home visits and studio classes in the same calendar so the buffer actually prevents other bookings.
- Group visits by area and day where you can. Tuesday mornings in one part of town is easier than zigzagging.
- Set a minimum notice. Asking for 24 hours ahead gives the teacher time to plan the route.
Should the client pay before or after the session?
Before, but only once you have confirmed. Collecting money at the door is awkward and leaves you exposed to last-minute cancellations. Charging the moment a request arrives is not ideal either, because you may need to decline it.
A clean flow:
- The client picks the session type, time, number of people and enters the address.
- They see the full price, including any extra people, before sending the request.
- They save a card, but are not charged yet.
- The studio and the teacher each confirm they can do it.
- The card is charged and the session is confirmed.
- If the charge fails, the client gets a payment link with a deadline before the slot is released.
Saving the card and charging on approval works for sessions booked weeks ahead. A temporary hold on a card would not: Stripe notes that holds on online card payments usually expire after 7 days (checked October 2026).
How do you protect the client’s address and privacy?
A home address is sensitive personal information. In Canada, privacy laws such as PIPEDA expect you to collect only what you need and protect it.
Good practice:
- Collect the address for the session only, not as a permanent field on the client’s profile.
- Show it to the assigned teacher only, and only from confirmation until shortly after the session.
- Ask for a phone number for home visits, so the teacher can reach the client if they are lost or late.
- Keep it out of group messages and shared spreadsheets.
What should your in-home session policy say?
Put the rules in writing and show them before the client books. A short checklist:
- Service area and travel fees by zone
- Minimum notice to book (for example 24 hours)
- Free cancellation window (for example until 24 hours before)
- What happens after that window: the payment is kept
- What the client needs to prepare: floor space, a clear area of about 2 by 2.5 metres, pets in another room
- What the teacher brings and what the client should have
- Late arrival: the session ends at the scheduled time
- Health questionnaire or waiver before the first session
Also check that your liability insurance covers sessions outside the studio. Many policies do, some need an add-on.
How elastudio handles in-home sessions
elastudio’s private sessions (from the Starter plan) let a member choose to have the session at the studio or at their own address. The member sees the full price, including the price per extra person you set, saves a card on your own Stripe account and is charged only after both the studio and the teacher approve. You can keep travel time free before and after sessions held outside the studio, so a home visit never collides with the teacher’s classes.
The address is stored on that session only, never on the member profile, and the teacher sees it, with the member’s phone number, only from approval until shortly after the session. You set the minimum notice, approval window and free cancellation window. Busy times from teachers’ Google Calendar are coming soon.
Make home visits a planned service, not a favour
Set zones, price the travel, block buffers and confirm before charging. Home sessions then stop being a scheduling headache and become a dependable part of your income.
Compare plans on the pricing page or see all features. Questions: support@elastudio.app.
Questions people ask
How much more should an in-home pilates session cost than one at the studio?
Enough to cover the teacher's travel time and costs. A simple method: add the travel minutes to the session length, price that total at your hourly rate, then add transport costs.
What equipment can a teacher bring to a home session?
Mat work with small props travels well: a mat, resistance bands, a small ball, a ring and light weights. Large apparatus such as a reformer usually stays at the studio unless the client owns one.
Should in-home sessions be paid in advance?
Yes. Save the client's payment method when they request the session and charge it once the studio and teacher confirm. It avoids collecting money at the door and protects you from last-minute cancellations.
How do I keep home visits from clashing with studio classes?
Block travel time before and after each visit in the same calendar that holds the teacher's classes, so nobody can book the teacher during the drive.