How much do you charge?

[Simonsays]

My SCORE counselor has been on my case a bit about the fees I charge-$80/hour. I did a lot of research and called a lot of MTs in the area to determine that $80 is in fact the going rate in my area. But because I am new, and her MT charges only $60 she thinks I should drop my rates. I take her advice with a grain of salt because she always wants to compare me to a spa, and I am a solo practitioner. She also didn't like the name of my business and thinks that it is unprofessional to work barefoot. So, massage community--what d you think?

 

[86% Barbie]

you forgot various rates well over $80 which apply to a surprising number of folks here

 

[honey2]

Actually, I tried to input over $80, but the poll only accepted 3 choices for some reason. ???

 

[pinkprincess]

I don't do hour sessions. Mine our 1.5 to 2.0 hours for $125.00 For me I just can't get into the flow in less time. that being said if I did charge for an hour it would be $85.00

Jason

 

[daleyjem]

I'm a sole practioner in a city of around 50,000 -
I'm @ $50/hr. That seems to be the lower end of the 'going rate' around here. Other sole prac are at $45 - $60, but you can get an hour at a salon or spa for anywhere from $50 - $80. So I feel that $50 is where I am comforitable being at.

You have to charge what you feel you are worth! If that's $80, and you can get that, why the heck not?! Good for you!!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Actually, I tried to input over $80, but the poll only accepted 3 choices for some reason. ???

You should be able to add another option. If for some reason it won't let you and you want to add a 4th option, contact a mod and we can add it for you.

Angie

 

[Cloe Scott]

You have to charge what you feel you are worth! If that's $80, and you can get that, why the heck not?! Good for you!!

:iagree:

Ella, I am all for charging what YOU think your sessions are worth. Just because you are new doesn't mean you should drop your rates below the going rate in your area.

A while back this MT contacted me through my email on my website and we exchanged a few converstations. I do mobile massage and charge $100 & up. She basically said the same thing to me. It was ok for HER to charge a $100 doing outcalls but since I was still "new" as a therapist it wasn't ok for me. Well, I did NOT take her advice and I still have clients that pay me what I ask.

 

[xzc426]

Unfortunately I wonder if an established MT telling a new MT what to charge is about insecurity. My hourly rate is $65, I've been an MT for 10 years, a new MT I've mentored a bit (not about pricing!) opened her practice a couple months ago with an hourly rate of $65. Frankly I'm glad to see it. That's about the going rate around here for a good MT. There are so many new MTs around my area now charging $35-$45 in their stream of "specials" that I think it makes the profession look a little cheap.

The 30-year MTs around here charge about $85-$105/hr. The highest rates, for the most astounding work, are $160/session, sessions last as long as they need to (1.5 - 2 hours), and if you don't get helped, you don't pay.

 

[Jonn Musacha]

It was ok for HER to charge a $100 doing outcalls but since I was still "new" as a therapist it wasn't ok for me.

Sounds like she should be lobbying to unionize MTs!

The worst massage I have ever paid for was at a 5 star resort from someone who had been there 12 years.

Neither experience, nor training, nor certifications guarantee quality or value. They may predict it reliably, but one does not = the other.

Charge what you think you are worth and what you can find clients will pay.

 

[Kyra]

I think I'd see if I could find a different SCORE counselor. What good advice can someone give you if they don't listen to you? Your practice can't be compared to a spa. What kind of SCORE counselor suggests not getting the going rate? :shock: She doesn't like the name of your business? It sounds like she has control issues. :roll:

 

[adia]

I have been licensed for 4 years, doing massage for 10. I charge $65 for an hour. Spas here start at $75/hr and other therapists are around what I charge.

Yeah, I'd say that counselor sounds like she needs some counseling. (Though I must admit I don't know what a SCORE counsellor is).

 

[SleepyJ]

I have been licensed for 4 years, doing massage for 10. I charge $65 for an hour. Spas here start at $75/hr and other therapists are around what I charge.

Yeah, I'd say that counselor sounds like she needs some counseling. (Though I must admit I don't know what a SCORE counsellor is).

SCORE is a group of small business counselors that is generally very good. http://www.score.org/index.html

 

[Jamie in hiding]

I'm with the previous posters - if your new practice is thriving and providing you with the income you desire, you're working as much as you want and people are paying you without complaint - go for it and fire your counselor! :

If however, you're starting out more slowly than you'd like, you're not making as much as you reasonably need to and you have a lot of people who are grousing about the rates perhaps she has a good point.

What IS your business name and why does she think you should change it?

As for practicing barefoot - it may be some type of legal issue for hygiene and depending on your typical demographic, it may very well be thought to be unprofessional. Doesn't bother me though.

 

[Rosemarie K]

For table work, I am charging $40/hour for onsite because that's the going rate where I am.Sick but true. However, I am going to be concentrating on corporate massage and fair & festival work in the future and am looking at $1/minute with a minimum of 10 minutes for fairs & festivals, and $60/hour for on-site work with a minimum 2 hour booking.

 

[skymodog]

Hi Ella, I am mostly a mobile massage business. I try to charge no less than 100 dollars for an hour but have most of my clients scheduled for 90 minutes @ $120 -$150 (depending on travel time, and depth of pressure) I am probably at the average end of the scale for mobile massage in this area. In my home I charge $60-70 an hour, $90-100 for 90 minutes.
Thanks to your post, I now know what a SCORE counselor is!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Well I wouldn't say thriving just yet, because I'm still new: new in my area (7 months), new in my office (2 months), new to marketing, etc. But the clients I have are loyal and never complain about the price. Most of them started at an hour and now book 90 minutes. And thanks to some comments on this board, I let clients know that I don't expect tips (but I still get them).

 

[Saul Fox]

When I started out a little over 3 years ago, I let an MT in the area persuade me to price my work well below what I thought it was worth. Finally January 1st, 2008, I initiated my second price increase in that time period and I finally have a rate that satisfies me. Started at $45 for an hour of Swedish, $55 for an hour of Ashiatsu. Now at $60 per hour no matter what, which is a substantial increase for Swedish in a short period of time. I have one client who whines. She has more disposable income than 95% of my clients. If she goes elsewhere, it won't bother me.