HELP! How much should I expect to pay to rent a room???

[Meagan]

I'm looking into renting space at a nice location with a Chiro, Acupuncurist, ect. they have a very small massage room possibly for rent and this would be my first "real" office. I have worked at a spa for 2 years and am looking for something more independent.

I will prob. only work part time (new baby) like 9-3 daily. I will provide e/t and just be renting the space. I live in S. Florida if that makes a diff.

I am going in tomm and want to have some good ideas going in.

Is $300-$350 a month the right amount to pay. How should I work out refferals from the chiro? give him a flat fee for whoever comes to me?
I do have my own clients but not too many- but I would want to do my own advertising to my community and just be based out of this space.

Please help!!! I really want to just start on my own already.

Thanks so much.

 

[carly123houleis]

$300 to $350 isnt bad no matter what part of the country you live in.

Why should you pay the chiropractor anything for referals?? You are already paying him rent! Will he be paying you for referals to him? jmho

 

[chefjoezieger]

chanmutt,
If you are paying the chiro rent, you would not pay him for any clients who he refers to you. (They're not allowed to do fee splitting.)
Maybe once he's referred a couple clients to you, you could send him some flowers or a nice note to his office staff or something. Or do something nice for him at the end of the year, but in there would be no monthly stipend paid to him other than your rent for the room.
A friend of mine was renting a small room (9x11?) from a chiro, and she paid $300 per month, but it also included use of the common areas... and part of a closet for record storage. Hope that helps!
She recently moved out and is now sharing space with a reflexologist just a few blocks away. Sounds like she's really happy with the new space.
If you are only going to be using the space part time, you might consider that as well.

 

[cultura_10]

thanks SO much guys for responding.
k- so only rent it is.
Maestra- what is better about the second arrangement for your friend? is it that working in a chiro setting is frustrating?
this seemed more like a wellness center with the chiro at the helm.

we spoke breifly on the phone and he asked if i wanted to work hourly or not. I told him I would prefer to pay rent and do my own thing.

the room was really small, but i don't mind since it is a good location and a proffesional place. I really just want a legal place to work out of and to get my own clients.

crossing my fingers that the interview goes well tomm. will post with details

Chani

 

[2010]

Chani,
Yes she worked at a wellness center that was ran by a chiro. She had a pretty good working relationship with the chiro. (He's my chiro too.) And he encouraged both of us to go to MT school... as a matter of fact he wrote both of us letters of recommendation to the directors of our MT schools. When she left, she left on good terms. She's the best MT he's ever had there, he told her so on her last day there.
My friend's space was small for the type of work she did (MFR). In addition, the space was not properly insulated and sound proofing was not an option. (Her husband had gotten permission from the chiro, and bought all the supplies, but the construction of the building wouldn't allow it to be done. And they just couldn't justify ripping out and rebuilding the walls!)
Sorry I couldn't tell you what's nice about the new place, I haven't been there yet. I was her very last client on her last day at the chiro's office.
It was my best session with her ever. So we sort of felt like we were ending her time at the chiro's office on a very high note!

 

[Rhymhey]

I agree that $300-$350/month is low all over the country -- try to keep it $300 if you can, of course! If this includes your clients accessing the bathroom and the waiting area, plus if there is any street-level presence and the chiro is known (so you can advertise that you're in his building), it's a steal. (For comparison, I may just be paying the lowest rent on this board at $226 for a small 2-room suite w/sink, in an old and funky building that has probably been mortgage-free for decades.)

Just make sure you can move around the table. My treatment room is so small, with the sink in the corner, that I have to use very precise table placement to be able to get my stool around it -- I even rehung the door to swing outward, just to buy myself the extra inches. If you can't work in it, it's no bargain.

 

[Maira]

I pay $350 a month for my space in a Laser Skin center, it is a pretty big sized room with a small closet. I also have my table, a small desk (so I can do my own business-related things in my room), filing cabinet, trolley, etc, with still plenty of room around my table. I think it is a good price for the space (though I haven't yet gotten too many clients from the laser skin part of the business and am hoping to accumulate more from them soon). Unfortunatly, in my second year my rent is expected to go up to $400 (though hopefully I will be making a lot more money by then, if they up the rent much more than that, I will probably find work elsewhere). They also include me in their radio advertisements, tv advertisements, etc, though I, of course, make my own business cards and brochures. I would definitely not give the chiropractor anything; you are already paying the rent! Part of the benefit of being in that building is getting those referrals.