Pianotech

Question:  If you were charging $200 for a basic tuning appointment in 2016, what would you have to charge today to keep up with inflation?

To match the standard U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) cumulative inflation rate of approximately 39.1% between 2016 and 2026, you would need to charge $278.26 today.

Pricing Metric	Inflation Index	2026 Equivalent Rate
Standard CPI (All Items)	39.1% cumulative	$278.26
Core CPI (Excluding Food & Energy)	~35.4% cumulative	$270.74
Market-Rounded Rate	Adjusted for standard service fee increments	$275.00 -$280.00

• 
  Regional Variance: In major metropolitan areas with higher growth in housing and labor costs, local inflation over the same 10-year period often averages closer to 45%- 50%, which would translate to a target rate between $290.00 and $300.00.
• Operational Expense Shifts: Transport, fuel, equipment, and insurance costs have increased at rates slightly higher than general inflation, making $275 to $300 a realistic benchmark to preserve your 2016 profit margins.

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David Love RPT
www.davidlovepianos.com
davidlovepianos@comcast.net
415 407 8320
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Nice breakdown. Looks pretty on point to me.  A see a lot folks (piano teachers included) trapping themselves from hitting their mark if they don't gradually go up a minimum 5% every year with the rest of the world.  We know our prices and have then memorized, but the average consumer doesn't and is already expecting prices to go up every year, or at least won't be surprised if they do go up. (That is if they even notice at all).  

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Matthew Walworth
A.M.O. Pianos
Lebanon, TN 37087

Nashvillepianotuning.com
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"To match the standard U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) cumulative inflation rate of approximately 39.1% between 2016 and 2026…."

To say it another way, if you're still charging what you did a decade ago, you've effectively given yourself a 39.1% pay cut. I don't know of anyone who would continue working for the same company if their boss gave them a 40% pay cut one day. I don't think self-employed folks should accept that from their boss, either. 

To Matthew's point, I almost never have clients complain about price increases. It's a part of life, and everyone understands the reality of dealing with inflation. In my business, when a customer leaves or doesn't have me back, it almost always has to do with their life circumstances changing (they lost interest in the piano, their kid moved out, etc.). Over the past decade, I've only had two clients tell me they couldn't afford the moderate annual price increase. It seems like most everyone else had other reasons that had nothing to do with anything within my control.

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Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
www.FromZeroToSixFiguresBook.com
www.PianoCraftTechnicalSchool.com
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