Every figure on this page comes from a public page we opened in September 2026, linked in the Sources section. Prices change, so treat them as reference points and always get a written quote.
What drives the cost
- Trainer seniority: a master trainer or senior industry practitioner commands a higher day rate than a generalist facilitator.
- Customisation depth: adapting an existing program is quicker than building cases, role plays and tools from scratch around your context.
- Number of days: longer programs cost more in total, though the per-day rate is often lower.
- Group size: open programs are priced per participant; in-house batches are usually priced per day, so cost per head falls as the batch grows, up to the size that still allows practice.
- Travel and stay: in-person delivery outside the trainer's base city adds flights, hotels and local transport.
- Assessments: pre- and post-assessments, 360° feedback or psychometrics are often billed separately.
- Content licensing and IP: licensed global content can carry per-participant material fees and limits on reuse.
- Language: delivery or materials in regional languages may need extra design and translation time.
- Certification: programs that certify participants, such as train the trainer, add evaluation and credentialing work.
Typical pricing models
| Pricing model | How it works | Published examples (as listed in September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Per participant, open program | You send individuals to a public batch with people from other organisations | ISTD Certified Train The Trainer Program (3 days, online): ₹17,000 + ₹3,060 GST for non-members; ₹12,000 + GST for members. IIM Bangalore "Creating High Performance Organisations" (5 days, in person): ₹1,20,000 non-residential or ₹1,47,500 residential, excluding GST. |
| Per day, in-house batch | A provider runs a private batch for your team at your venue or live virtual | KnowledgeHut estimates ₹35,000 to ₹1.25 lakh per day for classroom and ₹25,000 to ₹1.25 lakh per day for virtual delivery. BYLD Group says specialist leadership and behavioural programs typically range from ₹50,000 to ₹3,00,000+ per day. |
| Per project or learning journey | A fixed fee for a designed journey: needs analysis, sessions, reinforcement and evaluation | Varies by scope. Bodhih quotes each engagement after a needs analysis. |
| Package or subscription | Prepaid training hours, trainee slots or per-user platform licences | Edstellar lists packages such as Starter (6 months, 120 trainee slots, 64 training hours) without public prices. Udemy Business lists its Team plan at US$360 per user per year for 2–50 users. |
| Pay per assessment | Credits bought in advance and spent on assessments | AssessAll: ₹30 per credit, pay-as-you-go from 10 credits; 1,000 credits for ₹27,900. |
Industry estimates above are those providers' published views, not audited market data. Use them to sense-check quotes rather than as a price list.
How to budget: a worked example
The numbers below are hypothetical inputs chosen only to show the method. They are not prices from Bodhih or any other provider.
Scenario (hypothetical): 60 first-time managers in one city, trained in three batches of 20, each batch attending a two-day in-person program.
| Line item | Hypothetical input | Hypothetical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Facilitation | 6 training days × ₹60,000 per day | ₹3,60,000 |
| Trainer travel and stay | One trip, batches run back to back | ₹50,000 |
| Participant materials | 60 × ₹500 | ₹30,000 |
| Pre- and post-assessments | 60 × 2 × ₹250 | ₹30,000 |
| Subtotal | ₹4,70,000 | |
| GST at 18% | on the subtotal | ₹84,600 |
| Total | ₹5,54,600 |
In this hypothetical case the cost is about ₹9,243 per participant, or about ₹4,622 per participant per training day. Add any internal costs, such as venue, meals and participants' time away from work.
To compare with an open program, multiply the per-participant fee by 60 and add travel for staff. The break-even point is usually where in-house delivery starts to win, and it arrives sooner when you need content tailored to your context.
Ways to reduce cost without cutting impact
- Build internal trainers. A Train the Trainer certification or an SME to trainer program lets your own experts run repeat batches.
- Go blended or virtual. Live virtual training removes travel and venue costs, and blended learning moves knowledge content to self-paced modules so live time is spent on practice.
- Use microlearning for reinforcement. Short follow-up nudges are cheaper than a second workshop; see our microlearning design workshop.
- Assess before you train. Pre-assessments show who actually needs which skill, so you train fewer people on the right things. Bodhih's assessments run on AssessAll's pay-as-you-go credits.
- Start with a needs analysis. A training needs analysis stops you paying for programs that do not address the real gap.
- Ask about group discounts. ISTD, for example, lists 10% off for three participants from the same organisation, and IIM Bangalore lists 5% for three or more.
Measuring ROI
The Kirkpatrick model evaluates training at four levels: reaction, learning, behaviour and results. The Phillips model adds a fifth level that converts results into money and compares them with the full cost of the program.
Phillips ROI is calculated as net program benefits divided by program costs, multiplied by 100. The hard part is isolating the effect of training from everything else, so agree the metrics, baseline and method before the program starts.
Pre- and post-assessments give you clean level 2 data, and manager check-ins at 30, 60 and 90 days help with level 3. Our training evaluation workshop shows L&D teams how to build this into every program.
Frequently asked questions
How much does train the trainer certification cost in India?
Published fees vary by provider and format. ISTD lists its three-day online Certified Train The Trainer Program at ₹17,000 plus ₹3,060 GST for non-members, and ₹12,000 plus GST for members, as listed in September 2026. Its three-day Certified POSH Trainer Program is ₹12,000 plus GST for non-members. Bodhih quotes its Train the Trainer program per engagement.
Is GST charged on corporate training in India?
In most cases, yes, at 18%. GST reforms from 22 September 2025 set a standard rate of 18% and a merit rate of 5%, and commercial training and coaching continues to be taxed at 18%. Some vocational training by recognised bodies is exempt. ISTD's current brochures, for example, add 18% GST. Check your invoice treatment with your tax adviser.
What is the typical per-day cost of in-house corporate training in India?
Published industry estimates are wide. KnowledgeHut puts classroom delivery at ₹35,000 to ₹1.25 lakh per day, and BYLD Group says specialist leadership and behavioural programs typically range from ₹50,000 to ₹3,00,000+ per day. Trainer seniority, customisation, travel and assessments explain most of the gap, so compare like with like.
Is virtual training cheaper than classroom training?
Usually, because you avoid trainer travel, venues and participant travel. KnowledgeHut's published estimate for virtual delivery starts at ₹25,000 per day, against ₹35,000 for classroom, with similar upper limits. Virtual sessions also tend to be shorter, so you may need more of them. The saving is mostly in logistics rather than facilitation fees.
Is it cheaper to send staff to open programs or run an in-house batch?
For a handful of people, open programs are usually simpler and cheaper. Once you have a full batch with a shared need, an in-house program often costs less per head and can be tailored to your context. Run the numbers using the worked example above, including travel and time away from work.
How much should a company budget per employee for training?
There is no official benchmark for India. KnowledgeHut's published estimate is ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 per employee per year, but your figure should come from your priorities. Start with the few roles where better skills would move business results, fund those properly, and use lower-cost formats such as e-learning for broad awareness topics.
How does Bodhih price its programs?
Bodhih quotes each engagement after a needs analysis, because duration, customisation, format, location and assessments change the cost. Its AssessAll assessment platform is the exception with public pricing: ₹30 per credit on pay-as-you-go. To discuss a quote for your team, share your goals and audience through our (/contact-us/).
Sources
- ISTD, Certified Train The Trainer Program brochure: https://www.istd.in/files/programs/Certified-Train-The-Trainer.pdf
- ISTD, Certified POSH Trainer Program brochure: https://www.istd.in/files/programs/POSH-TTT.pdf
- ISTD home page: https://www.istd.in/
- IIM Bangalore Executive Education, Creating High Performance Organisations (Batch-25): https://eep.iimb.ac.in/course/creating-high-performance-organisations-batch-25/
- KnowledgeHut, "How Much Does Corporate Training Cost in India?" (5 May 2026): https://www.knowledgehut.com/blog/enterprise/corporate-training-pricing-india
- BYLD Group, "Top 11 Corporate Training Companies in India": https://byldgroup.com/blogs/top-corporate-training-companies-in-india/
- Edstellar, corporate training pricing: https://www.edstellar.com/corporate-training-pricing
- Udemy Business, plans: https://business.udemy.com/plans/
- AssessAll: https://assessall.com/
- GST Council / PIB, recommendations of the 56th GST Council meeting (3 September 2025): https://gstcouncil.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-09/press_release_press_information_bureau_0.pdf
- Bajaj Finserv, GST on educational services: https://www.bajajfinserv.in/gst-on-educational-services
Last reviewed · Bodhih Training, Bengaluru