Clinic Rental Rates

[untompony]

Hi

I'm a therapist working on the south coast with a purpose built therapy room at home that I share with my partner.

I am looking to rent a room at a clinic for one day a week mainly because it can get a bit lonely working at home but also because a new clinic has opened in my locality and it would be an opportunity to reach a different group of potential clients.

Having applied to the new clinic I have been informed that the rates are 30% of the therapists fee. Client payments are taken by the clinic and then paid to the therapist at the end of the month less the 30% clinic rental charges. I have not worked on the basis of delayed payment or that high a rental charge before - is this normal/reasonable for the south of england??

Another issue this would raise for me is that I would have to increase my charges at the clinic in order to cover the rental although I would keep my fees for clients I see at my home clinic the same. Has anyone else done this - if so what problems if any did you have?

Ah soo many questions..if anyone has been in this situation I would appreciate your comments.

Lovenlight


xx

 

[rickrudge]

Hi Earth, welcome to the forums.

IMO that is a definite no no, just leave it well alone, it is not worth the time and effort

 

[trekkie]

Thanks for your thoughts Paul - I have to admit my business head says do it to get more clients but my intuition says dont touch it!!!

Any other views out there??

 

[Pompal 09.]

I wouldn't touch it either. I might, however, ask to negotiate a rate which might be more acceptable - 30/70 or less! If you are only able to work 4 days a month, but have to wait that month to get paid - seems a bit daft to me. I had an excellent arrangement with a nat. health clinic, where I worked one day per week. I invariably managed to see at least 5 clients on that day. My daily charge was £25. It had to close down, however, after just a year, as the other therapists were not getting much business and the owners could not keep up with the mortgage repayments (IMO they had also invested too much money in stock that sat on the shelves looking sorry for itself!)
Does this clinic intend to book clients on your behalf? I think if your business at home is already up and running, but you upped your prices for the clinic clients, and they found out - you may lose custom, or they may beat a path to your home clinic instead!

 

[Thymarlach]

at the clinic where I am - I can either pay £30 for half a day or 30% depending on how many clients I have - which is great if I have only got 1 client that day - once I have built up a more regular workload I can pay the room rate so from that point of view it sounds fair to me however my clients pay me and I then pay the clinic - when I started I did have to put up my prices slightly but I charge the same for the clinic or home visit

will the clinic be helping you with advertising or booking clients in for you?

 

[let it snow!]

I think that is a pretty good deal!!

I am also on south coast, and I pay 50% of my takings to the clinic, getting paid the balance at the end of the month.

When I started at the clinic four years ago, I couldn't afford the rental rate, which is £25 per session (either am or pm) without having any clients, so I opted for the percentage rate. This covers all my reception cover, room, all oils/waxes, couch rolls etc. I have my own table and towels. It also enables my clients to be able to pay via credit/debit card, something that the therapists who rent the room cannot offer.

It has suited me to carry this on, as I have the flexibilty to chop and change the days and times I work to suit me and my clients, and to fit around my children's school holidays etc. Some weeks I work three sessions, another maybe only one.

I am just about to renegotiate terms with the owner, and will probably go for a sliding percentage scale.

Karen

 

[Brett E]

30% sounds quite reasonable. If you change £50 per hour, that's £15 an hour. What if there are no clients? Do you still have to pay?

 

[JeUvd73]

no - thats why it works for me - no client no pay - you cant pay a percentage of nothing

50% is exessive - do they get the clients for you? for that I would expect everything to be included - towels, couch etc

 

[larpaborgow]

Some interesting replies - the point about different rates at home and at the clinic is one of the issues that concerned me.

The clinic does have an agressive marketing programme however the therapists pay for their own individual adverts. Basic equipmnent is provided in the rooms however I would take my own towels etc.

On reflection, to be honest I think I am concerned about losing clients to the clinic if another therapist of my modality stepped in if I did not take up the room. They also would have to charge £10 more than my home rate in order to cover the rental costs - what are your thoughts on the potential of this for a loss of clients.

Of course I realise that my clients come to me because they like my approach as a therapist but will they be tempted by a clinic that has boutique type rooms and is a fashionable place to go....any comments on this??

Hmm its certainly throwing up a lot of food for thought! )

 

[Tony Trunkhill]

Hi Earth

It sounds like the clinic is onto a good thing, you pay for everything, they then put the money you have earned into their bank account to get some interest and keep their cash flow healthy, whilst you presumably run on an expensive overdraft to keep going.

Not good business sense from your point of view, also if you are willing to put your prices up to work there, then you should also be willing to put up your prices at home, you still have overheads there, advertising, heating and cleaning etc.

Some people like a clinical environment whilst others like the more friendly approach offered at home, there is a lot of people out there, so plenty of work to go round everyone

 

[Cody Knopp]

I so agree with Paul, in that the clinic are on to a good thing, and also that there are alot of people 'out there' so losing clients to a clinic setup would probably not alter your current business... And I definately would not want to pay the fee they are asking and then have to take my own linen..... what a cheek!

 

[magick]

Hi ya Earth

Sometimes I wonder if some (not all of course) clinics know that there is a good supply of therapists (esp. in bodywork) to screw. Always another one (reiki, reflex, aroma, massage person) around the corner to fill the space.

I think a sign of a well run clinic is that they give you at least a month at a low rate to allow you to see if you can attract clients and generally feel happy in working there. Such an investment to me is good business practice and would have a positive knock on effect. Ethical business can be profittable in the long term.

Therapy centres seem to be cropping up everywhere, just like health food shops in the 80's. Where are these health shops now, unless being brought up by H&B (cheeky pixie joke).

Best Wishes

Reiki Pixie