Day Rates? Need suggestions!

[death]

Hello everyone!

I have a client who I have been working with for quite some time now, who owns his own business. He has asked me about coming to his business and doing massages. He asked me what I would charge for that, and I told him I honestly didn't know, and he told me to think about it.

So here I am. I know he has plenty of money, but I don't want to go way too high and make him feel strange, or make it seem like I am taking advaneforum.xxxe of him.

So have other people did anything like this? Any suggestions for price/hour? I am in Chicago if it makes a difference. Thanks!

 

[D.Russell]

If it were me, I would charge my hourly rate of what I could make in my regular practice, plus any extra travel charges. For instance, if you are going to be working 6 hours. I could do 5 one hour massages in that time. So multiply your 60 minute rate by 5. Then add a travel charge, and/or a convenience charge. After all, you will be travelling to them and lugging your table or chair to their place, along with all your supplies, etc. It's good that you are concerned about charging a fair price. But in actuality, the price you need to charge may look big. They are getting a big convenience by not having to travel to you and being able to do it during business hours.

I don't do corporate or chair massage (perhaps the forum where this inquiry belongs) and some who do will respond with more accurate answers. I think in general if the business owner is paying (as opposed to individual employees paying) then there is a bulk rate charge that might be slightly lesser than for individuals.

 

[anthonyny]

I agree with Pete, that those things into consideration, not the fact the client has money.

 

[Brookie]

It is a good idea to have base rates in mind, so that when people bring a proposal like this to you you have a better answer than "I honestly don't know." This ends up leaving you looking a little unprepared, and at worst the client will assume that your rate is too high for them anyway.

"I don't want to go way too high and make him feel strange" -- I am not sure why you are even thinking this. This is not, or at least need not, be about feelings -- this is a nice easy business negotiation. He approached you asking for a service and asked you how much it would cost. Just tell him! If he would like a different price from what you quote him, he will (or should) make a counteroffer. Decide beforehand if your rate is negotiable, and by how much (ie what is REALLY the lowest you will go).

 

[Zombie Bunny]

I am in Boston and, if the employer is paying, I charge $1 per minute for chair massage for 2hours, $.83/min for 4 hours. If the employees are paying I charge $1 per minute with a guaranteed minimum of 8 people getting 15 minute massages.

I've never done table massage at a business but if so I'd charge what I'd normally charge per hour plus a travel fee. I may consider giving some kind of discount depending on how many massages I'd be doing. I don't mind charging a little less if I know I am guaranteed to do 4 table massages or something. Hope this helps!