Sliding Scale

[mIsTy bEeBeE]

Hi my name is Milo.  I want to put my massage prices up but am not sure whether to stick to a flat rate or try a sliding scale option, giving clients the option to pay what they can really afford.  Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Sliding Scale

My personal opinion...I'd set a standard rate and if you have a client you feel needs your services but can't afford it, deal with it then. I wouldn't advertise it though.

 

[Funnel]

I agree with Sadiedawn. Set a fair price for your standard rate and then if due to certain circumstances a person can not afford your regular price and you feel the person would benefit from MT then "negotiate" a better price for that client only, if you have to.But you know, I've been there and done that and it was not good...When I first graduated from MT school I tried to offer a sliding scale, I negotiated with each client who asked for a sliding scale price, a price that I thought would encourage the client to make MT a regular part of their healthcare... and was Very Affordable for them. What I found is that while I got "sad stories" in the beginning about their financial woes and why they deserved a special rate... They would not stick to agreement of 2 massages per month and would come in 3 months later and want the same rate, etc. And in the end would show up for an "emergency massage"6 months later, because they were really hurting... in a new car.Now, I am not trying to be nasty, but I'm still driving the car I was thinking about replacing before I took that money and went to massage therapy school over 6 years ago.  It's nice to make massage more affordable for those who really NEED it. But make SURE they NEED it and are really financially in the straits they say they are. It's just to easy for people to take advaneforum.xxxe of us IMO, because we MT generally have a very "caretaking" and "giving" attitude. IMO, you would be better off to show them how they could "earn" a massage by referring other clients to you. (For instance 1 referral = $5-10 worth of massage.)And this way no client feels bad because their friend gets the massage cheaper than they do. You know what they say... "Word of Mouth is the best advertising!"And if you feel the need to "do a good deed", why not give a couple massages per month or the cost of a couple away to a good cause? This would not only help people who probably need bodywork very badly, but also gets your name out into the community. Plus, such a donation might even be tax deductible. Check with your accountant to be sure!  Either way, I'm sure you'll work it out.

 

[Frog]

Thanks guys for your opinions.  I have decided to forego the idea of using a scale and will set a standard rate instead.  I wanted to give my practice a point of difference from other clinics but I realise that my POD should be based on service etc rather than on price.Em