Another vote for 60 days.
Again, unless you want to debate every single cost you’ve had with each and every boarder, I would not go into details. Prices go up over time, it’s the real world.
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I think 30 days (though I’d do a calendar month to make it easy for people to remember, so October 1st) for lesson rates is fine.
However, if you have boarders and you want them to give you notice of a month, then you ought to give them two months so they have time to consider the changes, potentially explore alternatives, and still be able to give you 30 days notice should they decide to move.
Otherwise they could leave prior to the increase without giving 30 days notice as it is a major change in your contract that must be approved by both parties - unless your contract is written such that boarders just have to take whatever increase you impose.
Once a boarder pays for the first month of increased board, that can be considered acceptance of the contract alteration.
You’d need to look at your contract, but 60 days is reasonable for board and training.
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A few weeks to thirty days notice would be ideal $20 is cheap for lessons. I pay that as well and would be fine with less notice than that because my trainer is awesome, and totally could, and should charge more!
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My barn raised board prices in the winter. They tucked letters onto everyone’s stall front giving 60 days notice (standard practice to ensure everyone receives it in writing).
I appreciated the long heads up - it didn’t break the bank, as it was a fairly small increase, but always better to be able to budget for it.
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OP you could use this in your favor by initially charging the new rates for the new trainer and new students. But offer your current students an opportunity to bridge the rate increase by offering them current rates for a period of time (60/90/120 days?)
Do this only if they pay in advance, if they accepted the offer this would put instant cash into your operation, also let the current have time to digest the rate increase.
If they wished not to buy in to the old rates then automatically increase their classes
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I would write a simple letter and hand it to every client. Have a list to check off or put each on in an envelope with name so you know who you handed it over. Lesson students sometimes miss a lesson and you don’t want to get confused thinking you gave all Tue 6pm lesson students a letter when you didn’t. By handing them the notice you know they got the notice and it gives time for them to look it over and ask questions. I would also be more inclined to a 60 day notice or go with Jan 1 effective date. This gives boarders time to assess.
Related to clanter’s suggestion, you can raise the rates for newcomers effective Sep 1 and Jan 1 for current clients. I have also had people ‘grandfathered’ into old rates. I’m grandfathered into my trainer’s rates from WAY back when she first started teaching so I get a HUGE deal.
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There is no right answer, only wrong answers…and some will find lots wrong with how you do it, no matter how you do it.
I think more notice is better than less notice. 30 days is probably plenty of notice. 60 days is even better.
I think how you notify people depends greatly on how you currently doing your communicating with them about dates and rates and all that.
If the lesson students show up and look at a book or a notice board to see what horse they are going to ride, a sign there is a great way to get the pricing information topic out there. Also have a hand out so each student can take it home so their parent can know too.
For boarders put a notice in their board bill.
For everyone, bring it up verbally at their next lesson. Yes, it will be uncomfortable. Just say it - Suzy, here is a paper with all the information on it, we are raising the prices here at Lesson Barn. As of October 1st your private will be $30.
No reason to say ‘change from $20 to $30’. They can do that math if they want. Just say what the new price is.
I do agree with the comment above, that books of lessons already purchased do not get an additional fee.
Edit to add: I like Ajierene’s idea above about putting the notice letter in a labelled envelope so you can be sure to tell everyone.
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It’s August 20. Make it effective OCTOBER 1.
Email everyone. Print out simple letters and hand them to your students, too. Post it on the board same-day so they all know that Oct 1, rates are ABC.
Short sweet and to the point
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This. October 1, email, PRINT letters, hand them out, post on board. We recently had an email issue with a very good client changing emails and she forgot to contact the barn, I also have at times had issues receiving emails so I really like to cover all bases. Plus face to face time is always good, when possible. If someone is MIA, follow up with a phone call. 
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You have every right to raise your rates- I would contact everyone in writing- letters- emails- and give them at least 30 days notice- it does not sound like your rate increases will cause an exodus but if some leave just remember everyone has budgets and respect their decisions.
As a client, I would want to be told in person, first. And then follow up with written info, it whatever format (if it’s just lesson rates you are changing, FB is fine, once you talk to everyone first. If there are people you don’t see regularly enough, call/email.
Dealing with the money aspect can be awkward, but I would always much rather be told in person.
Second that. But start it on the first of the month, so it would be Nov 1st. It just is easier and more traditional if you do it effective the first of the appropriate month instead of mid month.
No on FB or posting it in the barn bulletin barn at this point. some kids see it and spread the headlines without the details in panic and your phone will blow up. E mail and a nicely worded notice with the bill as noted upthread is the best and most businesslike way to handle it and you should also personally speak to each client and be sure they understand, Obviously if you have any packages out there or boarders at the old rate, you need to allow them to bow out without penalty once Nov 1st rolls around, that’s should be plenty if time to use up any prepaid lessons or board and find another place to lesson or board without rushing.
Your reasons are very valid but you sound a little defensive, don’t go down that rabbit hole. You simply cannot give quality instruction and other services at existing rates. Like any other business. No need to feel bad or apologize, you aren’t doing anything requiring an apology. It’s easier on everybody to be honest and hold firm without feeling you owe anybody any apology or blindsided anybody with a 60 day notice. Somebody is always going to be an asshat, that’s their problem.
Been in boarding barns for 50 years. Gotten everything from no notice to 60 days. 60 days worked best for the barn client groups, less drama, more thoughtful behavior on both sides. And no panicked rushing.
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Are you only charging $30 for 45 minutes? Up from $20 for 45 minutes? Do I read that right? If so, you’ve been under-charging and some will be angry that you’re getting closer to market rates. That’s ok, don’t worry about that. You may lose some customers. That’s ok, don’t worry about that.
You do you, be firm and consistent in your messaging. “I’ve improved the facilities over the last year and will continue to make improvements as my business grows, and when and where it makes sense my prices will reflect those changes. I look forward to seeing you in your next lesson!”
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Yes, I’m very cheap ! I’ve been able to get away with it because I own the farm, all the horses are mine and I already had most of them, and my husband and I both have non horse full time jobs. What I’ve realized though is I am undercutting myself and not always breaking even.
My options were $20 for 45mins or $30 for an hour. Group or private. I changed it to $25 for a 45min group and $35 for a 45 min private. I decided to only increase by $5 because I have a lot of families that have multiple kids riding so a $10 increase really becomes $20 a week. We have a 3 weeks before “fall session” begins so that’s when I said the new prices will go into effect. I don’t make students buy packages so if they want to wait a few more weeks before starting at the new price they can.
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Still quite cheap.
Consider the $10 increase, and offer multi-student families a discount.
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some free advertising my daughter did when she had a summer riding camp was to provide a Tee Shirt with farm logo as part of the registration and contact info for the farm and the program were on the back … the kids were required to wear the shirts during lessons which meant they also worn them to lunch or where ever else their parents went …it was common to see the kids at the mall or elsewhere.
A local news paper picked up on her summer camp because of seeing a young girl wearing the shirt, the article written was very complementary
She changed the shirt’s color each year for a couple of reasons, primarily to make sure the kids were wearing a decent shirt and secondly to encourage the kids to continue in the program.
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Write up a simple letter saying effective (30 to 60 days from now), rates will increase to $___. Don’t apologize for it, you are running a business, not a charity. Don’t try to justify or explain it either. If anyone asks in person, that is when you can say “well, since installing the ring and jumps, it became necessary”. Keep it under $50 if you can, that seems to be the number most people can swallow. Anyone that wants to complain about a $30 increase can cut out McDonalds twice a month and there it is. Don’t be bullied into making exceptions and don’t let anyone threaten to leave if you “make them” pay more. I had a girl come into my barn the other day and point blank ask me if I would let her pay $50 less than my rate because that was all she could pay. Well, I admire your balls (sort of), but, NO. Suddenly she was ok with full price.
Good luck.
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If rates are written into your contract’s you will need to update everyone’s contracts to reflect the new prices.
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Just send each client a email indicating the new rates and when they are effective. No need to stress about it. Business do it all the time, everyday.
2 months is kind. Forget Facebook, some people don’t use it or consider it a useful method to do anything, especially business. I’m old school, I’d send a real live note, paper/stamp etc. and let your customers know the rates are going up. You can give an explanation (improvements etc…note, what you consider an improvement may not reflect an “improvement” to people taking lessons…just saying). It’s a business, prices go up, don’t apologize.
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