While I usually agree with Rick, we have a difference here. Expect to pay between $40k and $50k for flight training PPL - CFI. Anything less than $40k is very suspect in my mind and anything more than $50kish is unnecessary. I have just gone through this conversation and research with someone else, so I think these numbers are pretty fresh.

I am not promoting this school, but here is a very complete, fair, and I think reasonable cost expectation http://www.ahart.com/newWeb/flightCo...l_Programs.pdf. This is a 250 hour course that I think, based on three years of managing a large flight school, 85% of students can complete. Here is a fair cost for CFI/CFII/MEI http://www.ahart.com/newWeb/flightCo...ITrng07.07.pdf. These costs would be a good benchmark for a small FBO/Academy type school. You will find this school Wright Flyers will show similar costs.

No matter where you go, keep your money in your pocket. If the school insists on the whole check up front, run. They should be willing to accept a situation where you fund the account with $3000 or $4000 and keep a minimum balance of $1000.