Mobile charges vs Clinic charges

[roderick_young]

After reading a thread about charges for Hot Stones therapy I am intrigued by a remark that was made in one of the posts 'clients should expect to pay significantly more for a mobile therapist than for a treatment in a clinic.'

Is this the general rule accepted by most therapists!?
I have a clinic at home but also offer a mobile service. I do not charge anymore for mobile treatments. Don't people normally expect to get things a little cheaper from mobile professionals?
I would have to say I find mobile treatments a trial what with all the lugging around of equipment so I don't reduce my prices but I can't match my clinic environment and balance the petrol charges with not using electricity/ burning oils etc in my clinic.

I would be really interested in how other therapists work and what clients expect.

TTFN XXX

 

[deduceit]

Hiya Cirrus,
I charge the SAME for mobile and if I client asks why it isn't cheaper, I tell them why, eg 6 trips to the car, driving to said appointment and driving back. That soon shuts them up!

I made a comment on another thread saying that in the USA they charge MORE for home visits.

 

[Tori ?????]

Hi Daisychain

That's good to know. I know I will never be Sir Alan Sugar's next apprentice because I always give to much away (according to my husband that is). But I have learnt over time to respect that I am running a business too.

I quickly learnt that some clients have no interest in the energy (physical, emotional, spiritual etc) it takes to do what we do and are quite happy to keep taking from you and then resent parting with their money (this is when I found grounding myself was essential) and then there are those clients who always want to give you more. In fact a lovely elderly couple I am treating weekly not only round the treatment costs to the nearest fiver but bring me gifts every week like apples, broad beans, magazines, (how sweet is that ).

As always TTFN
Cirrus XXX

(I must say these forums are quite addictive.)

 

[paulcrsm]

I charge the same price whether in the clinic or mobile.
In a clinic you have rent and lighting etc to pay out
When mobile you have petrol and time between clients to take into account
I dont charge more but I do BIG up the mobile service - people are apparently happy to pay more for some services at home such as personal trainers but not apparently mobile therapists, beauty therapists or hairdressers.

 

[Eathan]

Look at it this way Tescos etc charge £5.00 to deliver groceries to your door. So a £5.00 premium for your services is fair. Surely?

 

[DutTipuct]

My tutor advised that it would make sense to charge more. You are giving the same treatment time but as said above, you have to load/unload your car plus travelling to and from your destination. By the time you have spent doing all the little extra's, you may have been able to fit in an extra appointment at home and have earnd £25 or whatever you charge.
She also taught us not to call ourselves "mobile". She said to advertise ourselves as offering "personal proffessional service in your own home"

Lisa xx

 

[bryanhughjr]

I charge £10 more per hour for mobile treatments and find clients are happy to pay this as when they are in their own home they don't have to get in the car and drive after their treatment. I charge the £10 not only for petrol but for the time taken to get to the client, and the wear and tear on myself lugging a couch and equipment about. Without the extra £10 I would not offer home visits, it would not be worth it. As it is I will only consider them if I am satisfied the client has a quiet, relaxing room for me to work in or the treatment won't be worth the extra money for them.

 

[fitjjnzb]

Hi ya

I do mobile work as well as working at a clinic. I charge the same fee for clinic or mobile work because its easy to calculate and charge, and I take both situations into account. Exception would be travelling more than 20 miles to a client from my home. Then I would add a surcharge. 20 miles radius is nothing to me when you consider i would have to travel 10 miles at least to the nearest cinema. Joys of country living!

For my little very "cheap to run" Japanese car, its more cost effective to run the car 20 miles than rent a room for the hour. This is balanced by the fact I do much more work at the clinic. Horses for courses!

As a added note, I generally work in different areas on different days to make it more time effective (and sometimes more cost effective).

Cheers

Reiki Pixie

 

[ddrzclar]

It all sounds really healthy and diverse.

It's good to see there is plenty of scope out there for us to be individuals. It is one of the things I love about our profession and a reason why I chose it over orthodox medical training.

Thanks for your responses it's always very comforting getting advice from your peers (gurus & newbie's alike).

 

[gina68]

LisaG - just wondering why your tutor advised to avoid the use of the word mobile?

 

[DrLove]

Personally, I wouldn't dream of not charging more for a home visit.
It's quite a lot of extra hastle, you can't necessarily give the same level of service, and it takes up time you could be seeing someone else, I also want them to see me more at my convenience (on condition that I'm open at suitable hours). And don't forget that you are more at risk in someone else's hose too, you have less control, and will feel less able to escape at need. Cost of rent shouldn't really come into it unless your 100% mobile; because you're paying that rent regardlessOh, and don't under-estimate the cost of running a car, it's far more than just fuel; a fairly average hatch-back will cost about 60-70p per mile.
Personally I used to charge 150% my normal fee because, by definition I'd be seeing them outside of my clinic hours; and add a mileage fee (£2 for every 5 minutes or so). I lost my car in the floods and we're trying to live without one now; so my charge has gone up to 200%, and it's up to them to transport me (send a taxi or a spouse).

 

[carmineqqe]

i charge more for mobile treatments because once you take into account time to travel to the client, set up, do the treatment, pack up and drive back, you could have in that time maybe done another client. Within 5 miles I charge £5 extra. The next 5 miles will be £10 extra and anything more than will be a flat £20 extra. 10 miles is not far but when you take into account how much traffic we have, i need 30 mins to drive that 10 miles.

 

[naguero]

I started out as mobile because there was no way I could afford to rent a room anywhere and also dont have room to see clients at home. I also offered a mobile service because it is something I have appreciated myself at various times when the children were younger - my hairdresser still comes to me which is great when it is raining..

it also depends on your client base - if you have enough clients coming to your clinic then of course you can charge more for home visits and also ask for payment in advance (another thread I know but it makes my point)

it is all about finding your niche in the market -

 

[Brody Polley]

the suggestion by LisaG's tutor of using the phrase "Personal Professional Service" made myself and hubby think of Miss Whiplash or Belle de Jour
I think I will stick with the word mobile -

 

[Susiepolls2008]

we charge five pound on top of our prices, especially with the cost of fuel these days!

 

[beamer]

And don't forget that by going to the clients place, you are benefiting them. They are saving their time, and money on fuel, parking etc, so you should be able to sell them that a small premium to your clinic charge is justified.

 

[Jamerson]

the things tutors prescribe amaze me! everyone understands the term mobile and I agree with hemelgirl the other phrase is far too vague. i'll continue to use the word mobile.