$20 a hour massages to pay for school

[Pompal 09.]

Hey... before I type anymore I just want everyone to know I am aware that $20/hr is very cheap for a massage and some customers may have an impression that cheap price equals cheap quality. I usually argue about my idea with other MT's and bodywork business owners frequently. However... it works and I am looking for ideas based on inexpensive massages...I live about 15-20 minutes from 3 small towns. The towns don't have much in them, they are mostly residential towns. I have a nice massage table I built and a pretty nice massage room. It has nice paint, new carpet, nice displays, all that good stuff. I have this idea... what if I were to sell my massage services at $20 a hour. Assuming they came once a week or bought a booklet of like 5 massages. This did work very well at this spa I worked at. We charged $30 if you came consistently (At least once every two weeks). I believe massage therapy is worth $60 a hour. However... at this point i'm more focused on quantity of services and not profit per massage. My hours would be limited to certain days of the week so the rest of the days I could be marketing, school work, traveling...ect. Has anyone tried anything like this or known anyone that has tried? The school I went to offered a one hour massage really cheap because students worked on them. Obviously students aren't master massage therapists and the chance of somone just starting out in school doing better work then experienced MTs is very unlikely, but... there were always new people coming in to get a massage, it didn't matter who it was from.Another reason why my MASSAGE services are cheap... because they will see me quite often they will find that I have at least some knowledge of holistic health  :-D   I would be able to explain to them that they should start taking vitamins (which I sell), try acupuncture (which I will be learning), use reiki to work on the body's energy system (which massage can't do as well). Stuff like that.I really like helping people and everyone knows that massage has the best benefits when a person has a massage treatment regularly. Not to mention they would refer people. Does anyone have any ideas on things I should change or add? I'm pretty flexible on most things. I just want to keep the idea of low prices for regular visits.Any ideas would be appreciated. If you wanna talk more outside this forum you can IM/E-Mail me at AKaeckmeister on either yahoo or AOL. I'm always up all night doing homework  :-DSincerely,Alan Kaeckmeister

 

[liveyourlife]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

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[Paige(Tokio Hotel <3)]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

I think you owe it to the other MTs in town not to drive the price so low.

 

[xxtomxx]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

I agree with BJB-LMP. Just think, one day you're going to be the one trying to get a reasonable rate, and competing against someone who just wants to make a few bucks while in school.

 

[Lootomenuoups]

I don't know about Michigan, but the state I went to school in when you are a student you ARE NOT allowed to go into business as a massage therapist until you have graduated and have your license from the state.  Do you even have any insurance?  A business license?  How far are you in school? "at this point i'm more focused on quantity of services and not profit per massage"  to me that says you are all about profit.  Quality not quantity of massage is what should be first.  

 

[melissa r]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

First of all from what you've told us I wasn't clear on whether you had completed your training in MT (including having graduated and complied with any state licensing etc.) or whether you were going to school for something else... and it was that "additional" schooling which you were seeking to "Fund" through providing inexpensive massage.

Can you clarify that further for us, AKaeckmeister?

Macalla, makes a good point, wasn't it L'oreal or some hair care company that advertised their hair coloring with the words, "Because I'm worth it!"

If a client is worthy of using a hair coloring product... aren't they worthy of using your massage therapy services?

After all, isn't the idea of any business to make a profit?  If the going rate for massage in your area is $60 and you are offering it for $20... that's bound to cause quite a stir... Affordable is one thing, but as BJB-LMP says, is it worth the possible damage it could do to your relationship with other MTs in that area if you undercut them so deeply?

You're actually even undercutting the student rate at the local massage school? If you have completed the program, what's the purpose in that?

If you just want to gain experience by working on a wide variety of bodies... why not offer your massage services to an organization which helps those in tight economic situations? What if you teamed up with a "Charity" where they could provide gift certificates for your massage for a set donation to your favorite charity or cause?

Or perhaps you could benefit from coming up with a sliding scale? That way those who DO have the money can pay your regular rate... and those who need massage badly but can't afford it regularly can get the bodywork they so desperately need inexpensively.
I think if you use the search feature on this board you will be able to come up with several threads that have useful information that might help you decide what to do.

I did a quick search for you using "sliding scale" and have provided a few threads for you to look over which I think might be useful.

Sliding Scale:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=959

Charges:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1082

Repeat Business Discounts
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1427


Anyway, I hope we were able to get you thinking, AKaeckmeister, with our skills we're a valuable asset to our local communities... I hope after considering  the information and feedback of your peers here that you are able to find a way in which Everybody, (client, community and yourself)... Wins.

 

[Eric Madison]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

Hello, I just wanted to reply to the questions. I have completed massage school and am now certifed. I also have insurance. I am studying to be a naturopathic doctor so i'm learing clinical nutirion, herbal medicines, and acupuncture. Also some other out of school modalities like reiki and such. Somone wrote about consideration for other massage therapists... when was the last time a MT seen your card and called you and said "Hey, you don't know me, but i'm also a massage therapist. I really care about your business so if you don't have enough customers, you can take some of mine." Thats never happened to me and with there being acouple schools in the area there are lots of MTs running around. I give them consideration by not activly trying to steal clients away from them.Does anyone work out of their house? I should be able to get an office soon.

 

[fvfv81]

Actually I have referred a client to someone else before.  I was booked for that week and they needed in that week.  I guess that since you are in school to be a naturopathic doctor doing massage right now is to just make money and so what if you devalue things for the rest of us massage therapist that will be doing this long term for a career, you'll be moving on anyway."I give them consideration by not activly trying to steal clients away from them".  I don't call what you do having any consideration for the massage profession, you devalue it by saying hey, look at me I'm only charging $20 an hour, while so and so down the street charges $50 an hour.  Your'e even undercutting the very school you went to.   ??? What's gonna happen when someone graduates and advertises $10 an hour massages and your charging $20?  Ditto what Maestra & BJB-LMP said:"Affordable is one thing, but as BJB-LMP says, is it worth the possible damage it could do to your relationship with other MTs in that area if you undercut them so deeply?"  Running a business is also about building business relationships in the community.I don't understand why you are charging so cheaply, do you feel it's the only way you can get clients?  

 

[[VegLove]]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

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[jed slade]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

I understand where this topic is going. Its not even focused on what the idea is. Maybe it was my fault when I mistyped somthing or worded somthing the wrong way then what I thought or maybe somone just took somthing the wrong way and everyone thought that was how it was ment. I said I was very flexible on the price. $20 a hour is extremely cheap. Its like ridiculously cheap, its so cheap if I were to advertisement no one would come to me because they either thought I was no good or non-legit or somthing. The idea is very very simple...."To make it affordable so that the person can come consistently"Thats all... Its very vague and general. It was everyone else that decided it would cut down on other peoples businesses. I refered clients to other MTs also if I knew they could do better work on them then I could do. Everyone has their own gifts and abilities. As far as mine go... I went to school thinking that afterwards I would get hired into a hospital and do all this medical work on muscles. After school I was hired into a spa, half my customers were for relaxation and half were for medical stuff (The medical massages were brought in from me walking around and talking to people). I am able to fix most muscle problems. I hardly know any anatomy terms, its a huge fault for me. If somone were to tell me muscles that are hurting and wanted to know how to fix it, I probably wouldn't be able to tell them. If they were to point to the area and do some other diagnostic work, I should be able to know.Either way... back to what is causes all the trouble and whatever. I will try to get everyone to understand what I am asking without putting in prices and stuff."Do you have any ideas that you do to allow the client to come visit you on a regular basis?"I would like the person to come for a massage at least twice a week. This would provide them much needed relaxation and they can pretty much be free from knots. You know all the benefits from massage and these benefits would stay at thier optimum level. This is where the $20 a week came from...I would love to get a massage once a week if I could. They are great! I'm also poor to. I spend all my money on school. Most people aren't "poor", but they don't make enough income where they can spend $60 a week on massages. They know they are well worth it, but they can't afford it. I don't even offer the special pricing to everyone. Only to people that really like the massages and/or need it. For example, I had this client that had a few problems. She seen doctors and chiropractors for 5 years with no results, I fixed her shoulder in about 15 minutes to 80% normal. She was very nice, she had acouple kids, an "average" paying job. She knew together her shoulder could get better still and she came and seen me as much as she could, at least once a month specifically for her shoulder. She would be able to see me once a week if she could afford it. The prices at the spa I worked for was $60/hr, $30 for half hour. I met this woman talking to her and finding out about her shoulder. I fixed it doing a 15 minute FREE chair massage. I don't think its fair to make her suffer and keep her from doing normal, daily activities just because she can't use her shoulder. If she can't afford $60 a hour and she would like/need a massage on a regular basis I am open to work with her, maybe some other people on this forum won't, thats fine. Everyone has their own opinion on they want to run their business. When people call and they say they are looking to buy a gift certificate for somone and ask how much it is. I tell them its $60 for a hour. I'm sorry if you don't feel the same way but my opinion is massage is a healing technique and it should be availble to everyone. I certainly do not work with prices on people who can afford it but don't want to pay $60 a hour. I do not advertise my special pricing anywhere either. If somone came to me and said "My friend said she gets a massage from you for $30 a hour." I would tell them I lower prices because its on a regular basis or come up with some other reason and not have to tell them about their friends muscle problem.There was a posting in this forum where somone had a similar idea for pricing for a cancer patient. I didn't get this idea from them but it is somewhat similar to my goals and I didn't see everyone attacking them bcause that person wanted to lower their prices for a cancer patient. Sure... cancer is alittle bit different from a frozen shoulder or a sore back but as far as changing prices so that "healing" could occur shouldn't matter what disease or disorder there is.What is with the problem of having lower prices then everyone else? I don't consider other MTs competition. If a MT has consistent clients the clients won't leave them and come see me because of price. They are with that therapist for a reason and already show they have no problem paying whatever the price that the therapist ask.

 

[haag_jeffrey]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

Thank you for the clarification. Your original post made it sound like you were still in school, not looking to do continuing education.I believe what you are saying is to provide lower cost massages to those who have a specific need, but cannot afford them.I can understand wanting to do that. If I am understanding you correctly, this would not be a rate that you would offer someone just walking off the street for a massage.I have thought of doing this, however limiting the number of clients that I see at a special rate, as to not over exend my own abilities. I would also stipulate that they have appts on a regular basis wether it is monthly or weekly, and that cancellations would put them back to the regular rate. (I think this is the concept of another thread somewhere too, when I find it I'll add it)Jenn

 

[ragapple]

do you have any guarantee that if you gave them the price of $20 an hour IF they came once a week that they will actually show up every week?  That could be tricky.  Also, once the word is out that you lower prices for certain people whats to stop someone from lying to you to get lower rates.   Did you check out the links maestra provided?  Thank you for clarifying some things tho.  

 

[Pocket Protecktor]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

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[Pompal 09.]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

Hey, the question about guaranteeing them on a consistent basis is the most asked question I get about this. Really... there is no guarantee. If somone wanted to take advaneforum.xxxe of my special pricing it kinda makes me mad and wastes my time figuring out a treatment plan for them. I just think though if somone goes as far as "scamming" me, they have bigger problems then just wanting to get a better price on a massage.I probably will have people bring their own sheets to so I can cut down on costs and such. I've had this idea (Though I will probably start a new topic in the "Massage techniques/Modalities section") about a massage treatment for the whole body. It would be a massage treatment created to remove knots, tender points, trigger points, anything you can think of. It would be specific routines that would take place each week for ___ weeks. The treatments would be 1 hour long with extra time in the hour to work on "problem" areas that require that extra attention. If you have any ideas please post them in my post i'll be making. If I get enough ideas and it turns out into a program i'll put it all in a file and be able to send it to anyone who wants it for free. Its all still good to work on problems on a case to case basis. This would just provide a program so that all the muscles are worked on. I just know I forget about some of them such as the stomach, head, and some of the streching.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hey, while I was in school we had to bring our own sheets.  I went to goodwill and got two sets of twin sheets (Never opened either) for $10. and then other twin flats sheets for $2 each.  they were in good shape, no tears or stains.  You might try that for sheets.  

 

[StanKy]

Thanks for the idea for sheets! Before I always went to JC Penneys and Sears when they were on sale.   :-(

 

[sweetjone]

there's always wal-mart too.  or a linen service. All I'm saying is if I'm coming for a massage I wouldn't want to bring sheets.  

 

[paja]

The affordability of massage has been a concern of mine ever since I couldn't "afford" regular massage myself.Yes, $60 is dear to many many people.How many people do you see drinking bottled water ($1 a pop), sipping Star#$%ks coffee($4) or smoking cigs....etc.If they valued massage they could delete one or more of those purhases and indulge in their massage.Also, a regular client(at least mine) are offered referral bonuses and discounts for repeat/reg visits.Sliding scales, barter and specials are one thing but a drastic undercutting of the going rate is not going to work in the long run.  (IMHO)If you undercut your rate too much you will not be able to come back to a more average rate.Good luck in whatever you choose....Robynnot threatened here.....

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

You may want to reconsider giving discounted rates to some clients and regular rates to others. To start, it is illegal and you could be sued if your client found out someone else was paying less for the same service. If you are going to do sliding scale, legally you would have to request copies of previous tax statements and you would have to post your rates on the sliding scale. For instance: if a 30k income client pays $50 then a 15k client pays $25. Just cover your back. Even if your intentions are good it doesn't always mean everyone else's are.  

 

[Ferbs]

$20 a hour massages to pay for school

I'm going to say good luck and I mean that sincerely, but I think you're making a huge mistake.  In my opinion, you are making the a business owners biggest mistake.  You are going "into your client's wallet" and deciding what they can or can not afford.  Most people can afford whatever they really want.   You say you want to charge $20 so your clients can come more often, how do you know they can't come more often?  Have you tried the many ideas posted here for repeat visits?  Further, and this is the key, as mentioned earlier in this post, we don't REALLY know how our clients live their lives -- they could have huge cell phone bills every month, full cable television, go out to dinner 5 times a week, have secret addictions to QVC and the list goes on.  When you want something, you can find a way to pay for it.  That client who pays and plans for their massages will value your work, always keep their appointments and recommend you as a professional in the industry.  To me, the underlying message of this post is that you're trying to drive volume.  Massage seems like a means to an end --  becoming a naturopath.  When you finish that program are you going to disband your $20 massage practice?  Are you going to charge clients whose insurance doesn't coverage alternative medicine only $20.00 for a visit?  And further, let's not forget the wear and tear on your body. I think this dimishes us all as a profession.  If you read my older posts (and there are many), you will find that I'm not a fan of discounting in general.  I have said many times I rather wait for the one client that pays $100.00 than 2 at $50.00.  I do realize though as therapists we need to eat and pay the bills and sometimes less is better than none.  I'm in business to make money first and I'm lucky in that I love my business and the work I do.  I do wish you well in whatever route you take.  Joe E.