Can't afford massage

[Marlee]

Hi everyone,

I have a question that maybe someone can help me out with either from personal experience or any ideas they might have.

I have two clients that I have been seeing weekly for about a month now. They both have problems in their upper back/scapula area and the treatments I have been giving them really help. Unfortunately, the treatments aren’t as long lasting as I would like. One client I know it is because she has a few herniated discs. We’re working to solve that problem now. The other, I haven’t been able to pinpoint a source.

The problem is that they both have mentioned that they can’t afford to see me every week. One client pays 40 dollars for an hour session and the other $30 for a ½ hour session. Both clients are operating under a pretty big discount already. I would never want people to stop getting relief because they couldn’t afford it, yet I have to pay the bills and my schedule fills up quick. I feel so bad; I just don’t know what to do. I have thought about some type of trading, but both their jobs aren’t really something I need at the moment. If trade was an option, how might I approach asking what they could “provide” without sounding like a weirdo.

Sorry to have such a tough question, I know people have probably encountered this before so I was wondering what you did in order to make it fair for everyone. Thanks for the help!

 

[Breakfast Clubber 4.0]

Have you considered doing a barter with them? Does either of them have a skill or hobby that you could utilize? I have bartered legal svcs from a local attorney, chiropractic work, etc. Once, a client in a particular monetary pinch gave me loaves of homemade bread each week for a month plus some really great homemade jams, jellies, etc.

That isn't gonna help pay the bills, but, it does help them give a value to your services and helps them maintain their dignity at being able to give you something they "do" in exchange for your work.


.......... just a thought

 

[dashhound_91]

Do you have any sort of referral "reward"?
Let them refer to you and for every ____ massages referred by them, they get a massage.

Robyn

 

[Gentleman]

I have found that you cannot be overly concered about clients finances. They really can afford massage. It goes back to priority. Keep your current rates. You will eventually resent these clients for not paying you what your worth. I rarely give monitary discounts. I know my clients can afford me. I hear about their trips to Europe and Hawaii and all the cruises they take. If they are hurting bad enough they will come up with the $40 to see you. I don't know how long you have been in the business, but the longer you are you will realize you can't do everything for everyone. There are limits. Clients are going to come and go. If they really can't afford you they will go elsewhere and you will replace those clients who have no problem paying you what your worth. Just my 2c/