Think about everything you spend to run your practice each month: software and tools (scheduling apps, video call platform, email marketing, website hosting), marketing (social media tools, Canva, paid ads if you run them), education (continuing professional development, courses, books, membership groups), admin (accounting software, payment processing fees), and any professional memberships. Don't forget annual costs like insurance or domain renewals. Divide those by 12 and add them in. Most solo sleep consultants find their true monthly overhead sits between $200 and $600 once everything is counted.

If you're unsure, 25% is a safe starting point for most self-employed consultants. The tax buffer isn't your exact tax rate. It's a percentage of your income you set aside so you're never caught short at tax time. How much you actually owe depends on your country, your total income, your expenses, and your filing status. As a rough guide: if you're based in the US, 25 to 30% covers federal self-employment tax plus a basic income tax estimate for most solo business owners. In the UK, 20 to 25% is reasonable for basic rate taxpayers. In Australia, 25 to 30% works for most sole traders. In Canada, 25 to 30% is a common rule of thumb. If you're in a lower income bracket or have significant deductible expenses, you may need less. If you're earning well above average, you may need more. The safest thing to do is speak to an accountant or bookkeeper in your country, even for a one-off session. They can give you a personalised rate and help you understand what you can deduct as a sleep consultant, which often reduces your taxable income more than people expect.

The right number is the one you can serve exceptionally well, not the maximum you can physically fit in. Most solo sleep consultants work sustainably with 4 to 10 active clients per month, depending on package intensity and what else is on their plate. Overloading your roster leads to burnout and diluted results, which hurts your testimonials and referrals long-term. A better model: fewer clients at a higher price point, served really well. Five clients at $800 is the same revenue as ten clients at $400, with half the operational load.

Because this calculator prices by client slot, not by hour. Your fixed monthly costs (expenses + income target) stay the same regardless of whether your packages are 2 weeks or 6 weeks. What changes is how many clients you can serve in a month. A longer package means fewer concurrent clients, which pushes the per-client price up. This reflects the real economics: a 6-week package isn't necessarily worth more to your bottom line unless you're charging more for it. The package length slider is most useful for modelling capacity: if you move to longer, more intensive programmes, you'll likely serve fewer clients, so your price per client needs to rise to compensate.

This is your floor, the minimum you need to charge to be sustainable. Your actual price should sit above this once you account for the value you deliver. A family that sleeps through the night for the first time in 18 months isn't paying for your hours. They're paying for the transformation. Market rates for quality sleep consulting packages typically sit between $500 and $1,500 depending on location, niche, experience, and what's included. Use the calculator to make sure you're never pricing below what you need, then research your market and position your price based on value, not just cost recovery.

Your costs and income needs don't change just because you're new, so your pricing floor shouldn't either. Many new consultants make the mistake of charging low to "build experience," but this creates a client base that expects low prices and makes it harder to raise them later. What you can do differently as a newer consultant: be transparent that you're building your portfolio, offer a small "founding client" discount for the first 3 to 5 clients in exchange for detailed testimonials, and set an expiry date on that discount. Your certification means you're qualified. You're not a student. Charge accordingly.

Raise your price before you feel ready. Most consultants undercharge by 30 to 50%. The key is making the value visible before the price lands. A few things that help: lead with transformation (a sleeping baby, a rested family) rather than deliverables (three calls, a sleep plan PDF). Add a guarantee or a clear support structure so the risk feels low. Raise your rate for new enquiries only. You don't need to change existing clients. Most consultants find that a higher price actually increases perceived credibility.

Sleep consulting packages generally fall into three categories, each with a different price point.

Hourly or single consultations are the entry-level option, typically priced between $100 and $300 per session. These suit parents who want guidance without committing to a full programme, but they're less profitable for consultants since there's no ongoing support or relationship built in.

Standard packages are the most common model. These usually run 2 to 4 weeks and range from $200 to $700. They include an initial assessment, a customised sleep plan, and a set number of follow-up calls or check-ins. This is where most new consultants start.

Comprehensive or premium packages run 4 to 12 weeks and are priced between $350 and $1,500 or more. They include more intensive support, unlimited messaging, in-home visits (if applicable), and are often positioned as a done-with-you transformation rather than a plan hand-off. Virtual comprehensive packages can sit at the higher end of this range if the support level justifies it.

In-home support commands a premium over virtual delivery across all tiers. Provider experience, niche specialism (newborns, toddlers, children with additional needs), and the quality of the client experience all influence where within these ranges you can position your price.