how much to charge

[Kay]

I would like to charge $45 per hour. There is a business that offers massage, skin and nails on the same corner that I am looking into. They charge $39.00 for a massage. I would be working out of an established shop that sells metaphysical supplies and offers card readings. The massage portion would be an additional service for this shop. Would I be better off charging $39 since there is another business so close that has a huge sign offering massage for $39?

 

[some girl]

how much to charge

You need to charge an amount that is going to allow you to be able to pay your bills. Do you homework about the other massage biz. Are they busy at that price? What type of massages do they offer?

 

[LocalBoy]

how much to charge

You need to also find out if you're offering something that they are not. Most of the $39 places give a 50 min massage, do you do a full hour? Do you offer things that they don't? Hot packs, hot towels, a certain modality that you're trained in?

If you are offering a better product then you don't need to match their price. The steak house next to a McDonald's doesn't offer a $1 menu to compete.

Angie

 

[ahhao]

how much to charge

If you are offering a better product then you don't need to match their price. The steak house next to a McDonald's doesn't offer a $1 menu to compete.

Awesome analogy! :

 

[Pompal 09.]

how much to charge

Looks like I'll be getting a massage! Thanks again for the awesome advice. Love the steakhouse, Mcdonalds analogy. I wanna be the steakhouse

 

[vlost1]

how much to charge

Also, $39.99 may not include the tax, and may be a 'new client' only type thing. Just make sure to fine tune your own fine print in case your $45 doesn't include tax.

 

[sunflower16]

how much to charge

Another thing you may consider is the issue of tips/gratuity. If you don't except tips, but they do, then the client might end up spending more there on a massage including tip then they would with you with your higher fee.

 

[Bad Apple]

how much to charge

Charge as much as people are willing to pay. Start high and you have room to drop down with special offers and discounts to promote your business and get people in the door. Starting at a low price gives you nowhere to go for offering additional financial incentives. It is much harder to start low and then try to raise your rates later.

Consider how people perceive prices. It's largely subjective. If your regular rate is $80/hour and you offer a reduced rate of $45/hour, that's a pretty good deal, right? If people are willing to prepay for 3 or more massages, they can get a special rate of $60/hour from you and it's still a good deal. (Get the idea?)

That other business? Well, they charge $39/hour because that's how much their work is worth...

 

[Molly]

how much to charge

You need to also find out if you're offering something that they are not. Most of the $39 places give a 50 min massage, do you do a full hour? Do you offer things that they don't? Hot packs, hot towels, a certain modality that you're trained in?

If you are offering a better product then you don't need to match their price. The steak house next to a McDonald's doesn't offer a $1 menu to compete.

Angie

In my town I see independent MT's charge between $55 - $65 for an hour. It's mostly $55. Massage Envy is $49, Elements $55, and Hand and Stone is $49 and thats for the 50 minute session. What I did when I began my business was start at $65 and add value to my session. I love hot stone massage! So, all of my sessions include hot stone to some degree. Because it had become very natural for me, it's not "extra" work for me. I clean the stones inbetween each session and even that I have got down to a science. In addition I learned Ashiatsu last year. Even though we are incouraged to charge more I decided to keep it at the same rate because to me it's win-win if I do it. Its easier on my body and I can do more massages than I could without Ashi. At least 1/2 my sessions are mostly Ashi with some hot stones(my combo).

So I guess I am "cheap" for what I offer, but it's more than the other MT's around me. Most likely I will be raising my rates in 2012

On a side note: the day I started renting my room from my chiropractor both he and my office manager said $65 is too high! The other MT was actaully charging $45. I told him that I am not back down from my rates and I would be fine. He only motivated me to prove him wrong. I exceeded my business goals. The office manager told me that in the 8 years she's been there, my business has grown faster than any other of the previous MT's. I have been there 20 months. For the past year I have been at or above my personal goals and now I have realized it's time to make it higher.