Shifting Prices

[misslabeled]

As I gather more experience in the field I am begining to see first hand all the work involved in doing "outcalls."Hence, my prices are steadily rising. I have been counseled by a few well meaning souls to never be afraid to charge what I feel the services are worth. They say.. people who value the massage will pay for it. That it won't fit everyone's price range, true enough, but that it is important to cultivate ones who truly DO appreciate the work and then are willing to compensate for it.Well, that all sounds good and all...but then comes the reality of actually getting the work and then keeping it on a steady basis. I do not want to outprice myself...but also don't want to underprice the intense labor involved either.My lowest price for outcall at this time is $60 (for the clients who first supported the work and faithfully maintain it)...then it went up to $75 to serve different clients...and now recently to $85 (again for new ones). I feel like I'm starting to get a little too pricy...but then again...am I? My hours tend to be gracious sometimes lasting in excess of 90 min. depending on what needs to be done. I don't charge extra when the time goes over because the person did not ask for it. I just do what makes sense to do irregardless of time.I just recently started a new position doing massage in a corporate setting, and some of the new clients are already asking if I do outcalls, gift certificates, parties, etc. I am preparing a newsletter to highlight some massage facts/info/tidbits, as well as list my prices. I vascillate between going for the $85..or playing it safe at the &75 range...$45 for 1/2 hr.  My question is...what do YOU all charge for outcalls?  And also..do you charge more for deep tissue work vs swedish/therapeutic? (I generally charge $10 more at the chiro's office but not at home) and def more for hot stones. I also live in central NJ so there is alot of working middle class folks here.Do you think $85 is within an acceptable range? Most of the clients are within 15-20 miles.

 

[brown9500.v10]

I started out doing strickly outcalls, and theyre hard. I, too, was afraid to charge too much, for fear of scaring people off. BUT, you have to figure in the fact that youre traveling all that way. Travel time, set up time, clean up time, and MORE travel time. Thats TIME you could  be seeing clients. My prices went up for outcalls, and the ones who really wanted an in home visit didnt mind paying. We work hard to get where we are, and is we dont see the value of our TIME, our clients surely wont, either. Best of luck!

 

[christelle]

Shifting Prices

We charge $100 or 110 per hour depending on the city.Base your rates on what local day spas charge. Certainly don't match that - or you will be giving it away.Charge 50% over the known alternative. It is well worth the convenience and compensates you for your time - which really is what you are selling.Stores can stock up on items. Your appointments are perishible, and one spoils every hour you don't work.

 

[chefjoezieger]

I think I wrote it somewhere in these boards, but maybe not.Another way to deal with your outcalls, is to require the client to purchase their own table and provide the linens.  This will keep your wear and tear down.  It will also cause them to invest in something that reminds them of you and most of these types of clients you will require that they book regular appointments (which gives you a better idea of where you are traveling over the next few months).  Some may be weekly, every two weeks, every month, every two months, once a quarter - but it starts to give you a easier grasp if you are performing a lot of out calls.Sam's has a table right now for $199 I think.As far as being gracious with your time.  The only concern I have ever had with that is that people have a tendency to expect it after a while.  And then, when you are really busy and can't do the 1 and 1/2 hour that you never charged extra for, they feel like they got jipped.  Something to think about.  Your clients may be fine though.  Another reason to stop on time, is because it gets you in a routine.  On the very rare occasion I will go over by fifteen minutes (I always make sure to tell the client I feel like I need to give a little more attention to an area, let them know their hour is up and would they mind if I continue at no charge).  On the super rare occasion I may go over 30 mins.Oh, and I think $85 is fair. If they purchased the table, and you were staying on an hour, you may want to consider dropping it down to $80.The luxury hotels are $125 before 9pm and $150 after 9 pm, here.  That is definitely an outcall, so I think you are squarely in range.Hope this helps.

 

[Britannia Boy]

Shifting Prices

I do agree about staying within the time frame. I believe its just as important as never cutting an hour short & charging the same. Then my mind turns to when a client is late & you have somebody else scheduled afterwards & don't want to disrupt their schedule.I have gone over time on certain clients before. I have done the same as TexasGal... asked them if I might take a few extra minutes, as 'such & such' could really use the additional work. I do tell them there is no additional charge. Most of the time I am accutely aware of how time flows within my treatments. Sometimes my inner clock is so 'on the button' that I chuckle to myself when I glance at the clock to check how I'm doing.Here's something to consider. If you are not a new therapist (I say this because its common for new grads to have a small struggle with time limits for their massages), and you constantly go over your hour, why not seriously think about booking and pricing your services for an hour & fifteen minutes? Who says we all have to stick to 60 minutes? I knew a gal way back when that only did 90 minute sessions. Its how she marketed her practice.When I sit for a moment & interview or catch up with any changes a client is experiencing, if I think I'm going to be on the back body for a long time, I tell them that if their in agreement, here's what we'll do...etc. I always make sure that they are part of the decision making process. I might be the MT, but its their hour. That way they really cannot feel slighted if I focus my work where they feel its needed. I let them know that the 'front body' might not get equal time in this politically correct world, but that I will work those areas with complete attention/intention, so that even the brief work is meaningful.Tracey, when I first began the shift from outcall only to salon/some outcall work, I was in the same boat as you. I decided it wouldn't be fair to have competition between both of my biz practices. I set a date, and told everyone (both sets of clients) that prices would move to XperX on Jan 1st. Everyone of my regular outcall clients (no kidding) said, "it's about time you gave yourself a raise!" And I felt really peaceful that my work 'here' was valued the same as 'there'.When I open my new place in February, I will be adjusting all my prices by $5 across the board. As soon as I'm in a binding contract, I'll start letting my clients know. I haven't given myself a raise since Jan 2002, so I feel the increase is marginal. When I did that first increase, it was a much larger difference, but it still went over well.Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[Rusty]

Shifting Prices

[quote author=Tracey link=board=bus;num=1097115777;start=0#0 date=10/06/04 at 19:22:57],facts/info/tidbits, as well as list my prices. I vascillate between going for the $85..or playing it safe at the &75 range...$45 for 1/2 hr.  .[/quote]If you are asking if $75 would be acceptable then to me, it seems that $75 is what you will settle for.I would set $75 as my outcall fee PLUS a travelling surcharge from $10-$20(or whatever fee).You would then be getting your $85, not feeling slighted and it should cover your travel(15 miles).Robyn

 

[Pompal 09.]

My partner is a psychotherapist, and a psychologist, and both of those professions charge on a 'session' basis.  A session is exactly 50 minutes, giving ten mins organising and paperwork time out of the hour that the client pays for.  Running over time would just not happen with most therapists in private practice in those fields.  There is something that is 'containing' for the client, and helps them feel safe during vulnerable work - they know exactly how long the session will last.

 

[Tesco - very little help]

Shifting Prices

I failed to mention something, and I think it is important to this topic, is: the reason I generally would "go over-time" in a rare instances.

I really do have to agree with jay that the client should "know exactly how long the session will last".

In the circumstances where I "went over", it has usually been discussed prior to the visit or if necessary while the client was on the table (as mentioned previously).

If, while on the table, most likely because the client truly needed the extra work - and usually a client like this is someone who has been coming to me for a very long time (more often than not - those times have been with clients who come weekly or bi-weekly and the work is more than a luxury for them and they would have a "flare-up that occured).  

If it had been discussed previously, then this is usually because something happened to interrupt their previous session - maybe the was a situation where I was on the phone with an insurance company* when they came in and was unable to begin their session on time (I really hate not to start on time), and I provided the prior session for the entire hour, BUT, I felt I did not give proper service because I felt "off kilter", or something like this.  As well, it may be because I would like to do something nice for the client because they have sent me multiple referrals.  An example on this one:  I have a doctor who is a client and also referrs a very large number of people to me.  When I have the extra time, I like to add on 15 or 30 mins. to her visits as a thank-you. Most of the time, I can only give her the hour she booked, but sometimes it just works out right.    On occasion, I may send a gift basket to her office, but her schedule is so busy, that when she actually gets the time to stop, it is a wonderful way to say thanks, because I know how much she needs the work.  It is never expected, and when the opportunity arises it is graciously accepted.

I thought it would be good to post this, in case someone had some questions in their mind as to what circumstances lead to "going over".

So, while I am not an advocate of it, I do think there are instances.

I work a 5 day week and in the past year I have "gone over" maybe 6 times.  So, that would give a good idea as to what I call "rare".

This has been a excellent thread.  Thanks for all of the comments.



* insurance company - I don't take insurance, but I do have a number of clients who get re-imbursed for their expenses and therefore I sometimes have to make a call as requested by the company.  Currently and for the past 12 years, I just get very high blood pressure when being required to deal with them (ins. co.) and therefore the "off-kilter" statement.  Maybe some day I won't get so intense about that whole thing.  

 

[crissysmith4u]

Shifting Prices

Do you think $85 is within an acceptable range? Most of the clients are within 15-20 miles. YES

 

[J-Charm]

I really appreciate all the valid points raised in this thread - MOST HELPFUL. Hearing from other therapists who have already gone through this process of pricing their services lends confidence, rather than shooting darts in the air to see what comes back...thank-you.Yes, "going over" has always been an issue with me...even in school. My instructor used to rant all the time, even deducting points from my testing on the practical (I am typically 15 min over.) When I worked in the spa environment...I had no choice but to stay within the 50-60 min time range. Actually, it was a good experience to help me gauge my time better. However, I must admit, though I am generally mindful of time with most of my clients, there are just those occasions where I loose all concept of time (please forgive my naivite.) Sometimes it is like going on a journey, and I will attest that these folks are quite rare. But it is like the energy just dances and I simply respond and move with it. I will stop short of likening it to a trance-like state.. but will say it IS quite powerful when it happens. Those are the rare times when the sessions go over in excess of 90 min. I agree however, that it is a responsible decision to be conscious of the client's time as well as my own, and to give the client the option, should the occasion arise, to CHOOSE wether they would like more time/work given. This helps us BOTH to be mindful of each other's time and not take the services for granted...yes - I like that. ))))I also like the idea of using the term "sessions."  This offers me a little more room not be too constrained by "exact" time. But I do agree, it is important to set some form of guideline to let the person be aware of how long the sessions are apt to go for. I think 1hr/15 min. is about what falls into an appropriate time frame for a session.I remember when I first graduated, I used to charge people $25. I thought at that time - THAT was expensive. It has been a steady climb over the course of 2 yrs to finally recognize that - yes...people will, and DO, pay for a quality massage - and that I can ask for such by providing that. (I am still learning this)Stepping into the independent contractor/self-employed status does, I must admit, open a new "fear factor" in that it often lends itself to the incessant self-questioning.."can I actually do this.. literally charge THAT amount...and still survive?"Well, I am surviving (surprised)...and people seem to be willing to pay more than even I expect. Raising my prices to faithful clients..I will admit will take some more doing on my part...but merits deeper consideration. I am glad to hear that other one's didn't abandon ship when given the price increase.I am not yet at a point where my days are filled w/ appointments, so I guess that is an important factor in all this. When I am in the corporate setting w/ back to back appointments...no...I cannot go over in the slightest. Also holds true in the chiro's office when appointments are scheduled in succesion. It's those singular appointments where I am prone to going over.The weekly time is slowly begining to fill, and I suspect that as it continues, I will be more accutely aware of conducting my services more in-tune with father time.Yes...$85 does sound appropriate....smile.