pricing options, looking for feedback pls

[Curtislj]

So many great posts, thanks. I totally agree with Dave and YFChoice. I want to have 5 minutes between clients so they don't feel rushed, so I don't feel rushed, so there is a chance to talk and get to know the client, offer stretches, etc. The main reason that I love to do massage is the people! I want to get to know my clients and I feel that the more you know about them the more you can help them. Also, if you have a few minutes to talk and listen it makes them feel more cared for and special as a client. That's my take on it, anyway.

Dave, great point about not charging less for more frequent appointments. I was only thinking of it in terms of an incentive and you brought a whole new perspective to it, thanks.

 

[Morgan Babes :P]

As far as companies dumping paying for their employees because the rate is higher than if the employees paid themselves.....again, no problem. The companies I target are so wellness oriented....they really care about their employees and they show it. They're not concerned about the cost........they don't want their employees to have to pay.

Don't kid yourself. All companies are concerned about cost. If there were not, you would have no trouble charging the rates that we charge.

My original point about charging the company less than what you would charge for employee paid is not that companies would dump the program.

Firstly, what companies do all day long is cost/benefit analysis. If employee-paid rates are lower, and it is up to the MT to organize, schedule and manage, then the company will eventually wise up, re-imburse the employees and let the MT deal with the headaches. They won't dump the program, just make it cost less and easier for them.

Secondly, employee-paid means you won't always be 100% occupied - even with your 5 min cushion - so charging less per hour PLUS you will have fewer clients per hour = lower overall income.

In essence, the company is buying in bulk -- you are there for 4 hours and paid for every minute. Employee paid is buying the convenience size, and there is no guarantee of how many you will have per hour. Convenience never costs less because it is more costly to provide.

R&R, I wish I could charge the rates that you do. But this is Salt Lake and a lot of business here is dependant one way or another on the Mormon religion.....so I have to contend with not only touch issues, but money issues. .

Be careful.... substitute any other religion or ethnic group for the word Mormon and see if you find what you wrote all of a sudden might seem offensive. It is to me.

We work all over the country, and find "touch" issues in nearly every market. It is not exclusive the LDS.

Plus, it seems to me we have an unusually large number of therapists (incl. a lot of new graduates) who seem intent on competing to see who can charge the least. I've had a number of them approach some of my companies and offer their services at almost 40% of what I charge.

Ah, yes. Therapist on Therapist crime...the great race to the bottom. The schools need to do a better job on business education and the impact of low pricing.

 

[emarceMeape]

As far as companies dumping paying for their employees because the rate is higher than if the employees paid themselves.....again, no problem. The companies I target are so wellness oriented....they really care about their employees and they show it. They're not concerned about the cost........they don't want their employees to have to pay.

Don't kid yourself. All companies are concerned about cost. If there were not, you would have no trouble charging the rates that we charge.

My original point about charging the company less than what you would charge for employee paid is not that companies would dump the program.

Firstly, what companies do all day long is cost/benefit analysis. If employee-paid rates are lower, and it is up to the MT to organize, schedule and manage, then the company will eventually wise up, re-imburse the employees and let the MT deal with the headaches. They won't dump the program, just make it cost less and easier for them.

Secondly, employee-paid means you won't always be 100% occupied - even with your 5 min cushion - so charging less per hour PLUS you will have fewer clients per hour = lower overall income.

In essence, the company is buying in bulk -- you are there for 4 hours and paid for every minute. Employee paid is buying the convenience size, and there is no guarantee of how many you will have per hour. Convenience never costs less because it is more costly to provide.

R&R, I wish I could charge the rates that you do. But this is Salt Lake and a lot of business here is dependant one way or another on the Mormon religion.....so I have to contend with not only touch issues, but money issues. .

Be careful.... substitute any other religion or ethnic group for the word Mormon and see if you find what you wrote all of a sudden might seem offensive. It is to me.

We work all over the country, and find "touch" issues in nearly every market. It is not exclusive the LDS.

Plus, it seems to me we have an unusually large number of therapists (incl. a lot of new graduates) who seem intent on competing to see who can charge the least. I've had a number of them approach some of my companies and offer their services at almost 40% of what I charge.

Ah, yes. Therapist on Therapist crime...the great race to the bottom. The schools need to do a better job on business education and the impact of low pricing.

R&R, the only thing I agree with you is, that the schools need to make a more concerted effort in teaching business.

I am not naive. And I don't kid myself. You do know a lot about business principles, and I understand those principles.......but I'm not so sure I like the way you do business. I've been doing chair massage for 7 years and have been very successful doing it my way. I am making a good living and I have an extremely loyal group of clients. I exercise the principles of business that work for me.......but I think that I am also successful because I am a good massage therapist with good people skills.

I'm glad you work all over the country. But I live here in Salt Lake City and I think I have a better understanding of what works in this city than you do. I did not say that there are not touch issues elsewhere....I merely said that it is one of the hurdles I have to come up with.

I should have expected this from you......I in no way was making any effort to offend the LDS religion. I was simply stating that money and touch are issues when working in an environment that is still predominantly LDS. I've been here 10 years and live just fine in this community. No one else was offended by that statement.......why were you? Who are you speaking up for?

I'm relatively new to this forum but I have been reading for years. You could really impart some great information to people about business. But you seem to have a problem when someone is successful even though it's done against all of your principles. Why do you go after people just because they disagree with you? Just because you can talk doesn't make you right. You don't just disagree. You belittle.

I'm old enough not to care about the crap that you throw at me, but you do a disservice to new people who are really looking for some decent information.

Why was I your target this time? Was Breathe too tough on you? (my apologies Breathe for using your name.....nothing but great respect for you)

 

[Perassolforem]

YFChoice - right on. I have agreed with pretty much everything you've posted. I am very grateful that you post on this board because you've given me confidence in how I want to run my business. Ever since I've started asking people what they think about ideas I have about how to do business, inevitably someone will reply in the vein of RelaxandRejuvenate. Like you said, I am sure these people have a lot of valuable information they could pass on but there is always this air of condescension, even annoyance, if something is suggested that is different from how they do business. There is no one way to conduct any business, especially this one. I think that if you have a good head on your shoulders, good massage skills and people skills, and charge a price that is fair for yourself and your clients then business should be fine. As cliche as it might sound, I got into this business to help people and I don't ever want to lose sight of that.

In asking my questions on various boards I have been surprised when people get annoyed with my questions or even offended! They are just questions! I think it says much more about the person who answers questions that way then about the questions themselves.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Thanks again for your posts YFChoice, they are valuable to me.

 

[b_dracula]

I should have expected this from you......I in no way was making any effort to offend the LDS religion. I was simply stating that money and touch are issues when working in an environment that is still predominantly LDS. I've been here 10 years and live just fine in this community. No one else was offended by that statement.......why were you? Who are you speaking up for?

Having married into the Jewish traditions, you will have to forgive me if my antennae go up when I hear "money issues" being associated with a particular religious group. Are the LDS lacking in money (not my experience) or are they loathe to spend it? But if your chair clients pay for this for their employees and are not concerned about the cost of taking care of their employees, where are these "money issues?"
In the future, I will do the unexpected and allow such comments to go unchallenged.

But you seem to have a problem when someone is successful even though it's done against all of your principles. Why do you go after people just because they disagree with you? Just because you can talk doesn't make you right. You don't just disagree. You belittle.)

I don't disagree with success. You are obviously successful doing things as you see fit. And I hardly "went after" you. What I did, was point out some issues for Kiri to consider, that may be contrary to your blanket statements such as businesses not worrying about the cost (go back and read your post, "They're not concerned about the cost........they don't want their employees to have to pay."). They may work for you, but just as my ideas are not for you, yours may not be for her, or others who look for guidance.

I'm old enough not to care about the crap that you throw at me, but you do a disservice to new people who are really looking for some decent information.

Sorry if you feel disagreeing with you is crap thrown in your direction. Maybe you should take a look at the thickness of your own skin before suggesting I lack the muster to put up with Breathe.

Are we reading the same forum?

Hmm, this is giving me a lot more to think about.

I get what you're saying about rewarding the employer for paying. Everything you said makes a lot of sense.

I really appreciate your replies, you've given me quite a bit to think about!Thank you

Clearly a disservice is being inflicted on the OP.