New mentors often copy a number from a peer and then discount it "until they feel ready." Readiness is not a feeling; it is a scope. If you can name the transformation of a 60-minute session — a hiring scorecard, a GTM sequence, a portfolio critique with next actions — you can charge for that transformation. If you cannot name it, do not lower the price. Tighten the offer.
A workable starting point is to price against the cost of the mistake you prevent, not against the cost of a video course. One avoided bad hire, one cleaner fundraise narrative, one week saved on a launch calendar is worth more than a modest session fee. Publish the rate. Hidden pricing reads as either shame or bait.
Protect the hour. Require a goal at booking. Use async answers — video or a short document — for repeating questions so live time stays scarce. Mentors who become FAQ bots quietly resent their learners; learners feel the resentment even when nobody says it. Infrastructure should carry the repetition. You should carry judgement.
Platform fees are a cost of collection, not a reason to race to the bottom. Wisdomwave Hub takes 15% on paid transactions so payouts, scheduling, and disputes are not your second job — there is no mentor subscription on top. Raise your rate when demand consistently fills the next two weeks. Lower it only when the offer is wrong, not when you had a quiet Tuesday.
You set the price, the calendar, and the format. That is the point of a professional marketplace rather than unpaid "coffee chats." If you are listing a profile, write the outcome in the first two lines and put a number next to it. Ambiguous generosity burns out faster than honest rates.