Charging Up Front

[Gamer12]

I just read a post where someone said that they charge up front.  I neither charge up front or a no show fee.  I was wondering if anyone out there does either of those and why.

 

[avid reader]

Hi Pete,  is your no-show fee the whole price? What words do you use when it's time to collect?

 

[msd]

Charging Up Front

This is a good topic. I usually have the client pay me after the massage...just because that's how it's always been at every place I got a massage. I've always paid after. But I'm beginning to think maybe it's not a bad idea to have clients prepay. Especially new clients. Do you guys see any problem with charging them before they get on the table? Cassandra/Lotusgirl

 

[Pompal 09.]

Pete, thank you for answering my question. Good listening skills.   Good point about the tipping. And, since it's not standard to pay for health care services beforehand, I wonder how asking for payment up front would be perceived by the client.

 

[A Corrupt Mind]

Charging Up Front

You're right...that's true about tipping. :-/ The only good thing about prepay is you don't have to worry about collecting the money if you have to terminate the session. For example, the times when I had to end the session because a client did something lewd or inappropriate I didn't get paid because I just wanted to get the heck out of there. (I do mostly outcalls) If I already had the money, I wouldn't have to worry about it. Granted, this type of situation doesn't happen all the time. But on occasion it does happen...and going through all the trouble of doing an outcall and not getting paid is not fun. But at the same time, I don't want to offend my good clients by making them pay beforehand. I don't know what to do about this.Any suggestions?Cassandra/Lotusgirl

 

[In my humble opinion...]

One of the hopeful "can I get more service on the next appointment?" (at least he didn't ask while he was still on the table) and when I said "no" he then went in to great detail about everywhere he'd been that did offer more, and how some offered even more than he was expecting (YAWN).  He made a comment that the "lots more" ones charged up front..... (he didn't make another appointment)I actually am starting to think about charging my regulars up front - writing out the receipt beforehand and dealing with the money when they walk in the door and are still in real world mentality, but then I think charging afterwards gets them back to real world, and as all those that come to me are driving, getting a bit more focussed before they walk out the door is probably a good thing.Apparently in the beauty industry (at least in Australia, but we're not a tipping country), charging for nails up front is common by thoughtfull therapists so you don't ruin you nails - it's pay up front and get car keys out

 

[Wott Wott]

Charging Up Front

This is a pretty good post...and I do have a question about it myself. Generally, I have always accepted payment after services rendered. Overall, for in-call clients, I will continue this route.However, for outcalls, I feel I should most likely state that I only accept cash either before or after the session. This way, I haven't expended my time, energy, etc. just to get duped in the long run. I don't do a lot of outcalls but when I do, I only charge $75 and I provide 1 - 1.5 hour massage for that, so I feel like they are getting a good deal from me. For example, I have an outcall tomorrow evening which happens to be in a trailer park, and I will provide her a reminder call this evening and state that I will expect cash payment when I arrive and prior to the start of our session. She has plenty of time to then get the cash before our scheduled appointment.Be well,Jen

 

[happygolucky]

Charging Up Front

We had a receptionist at our school. Tipping students in New Mexico is allowed and she would always ask if the wanted to add a tip if they were using a card. Some people payed up front and used cash to tip. There were also signs in evry therapy room that stated while students could not get paid for services they were allowed to accept tips.

 

[Revans]

Charging Up Front

I do give my clients the option of pre-paying for a block of sessions at a discount.  I do, however, charge a no-show fee.  Why?  Because my time is valuable and when someone makes an appointment with me, they are agreeing to purchase that block of time.  When someone no-shows, they are denying me the opportunity to work/earn money during that timeframe.  Personally, I don't think I should be responsible if someone "forgets" their appointment or decides to do something "better" and not call to cancel/reschedule with sufficient notice.

Clients who respect and value the work that you do will have no problem paying for the sessions they miss; in my opinion, only flaky clients will balk about paying or won't come back if you charge them for no-shows.   Those generally aren't the ideal clients anyway.

I agree with this reasoning and I too charge a late cancellation/no-show fee for the same reasons.

 

[jayfinley2001]

Charging Up Front

I believe every state is regulated differently on whether you can receive tips or payment at school. I love the idea of taking care of the payment before hand. I am going to try that out as I am just opening a practice having moved from one state to another.

 

[twinkiesue]

Once you are within the cancellation period, your credit card gets charged.We don't think of it as paying up front - hotels don't think of it that way. Airlines might - since you have something in your hand - but if we thought of our business the way they did, we would all be a lot happier.Try telling an airline you forgot to  show up for your flight, and ask them if you can use the ticket another time. Yet clients think they can do that to a therapist. maybe it is because independents or small practices can be persuaded and don't have such policies.We are in the same business in a way - selling a "space" and once that hour has passed, we cannot sell it to anyone else. It is a perishible item, and every hour that passes (take off that happens) when those spaces are not full is a lost chance to make money.

 

[Eviee]

Charging Up Front

RelaxandRejuvenate -

I think if I had a large business, a spa or something implementing these rules might be simple, it seems less personal.  Working for myself and having complete contact from booking to check-out it becomes difficult to apply rules like that.  

At the same time, as "difficult" as it may seem, undeniably it is even more important that *you* (meaning anyone who works for themselves), when working for yourself, are compensated for your time since *you are the only one who is working* and if you aren't earning money, *no one is*.

I think clear and consistent boundaries are improtant and clients respect us more when we show them we are a solid, legit business with standars of care and of business.

 

[Glenn]

Charging Up Front

I know what you are telling me is absolutely correct!  I feel that way too.  I have not had a problem with cancellations yet (knock on wood).  However, I can not bring myself to charge someone in advance for a service I have not yet performed.  Do you have your own practice?  I know philisophically things often sound good but I don't know how much respect or how legit someone will think me to be, if I charge them for a service they didn't receive.

Well, it is expected and standard procedure at fine salons, spas, at the Doctor's office and such to pay for a "missed" appointment. If I make an appointment at my Acupuncturit's or Esthetician's, I will be fined if I don't call in within 24 hours to allow them to fill my "spot" if thay so wish and can do so.

I own my own business, employ other Therapists for Spa Parties and such and would never think of disrespecting myself or them by not paying them/myself for missed income or the possibility of earning income just because someone flaked. It is not ethical.

 

[sofeinurbizness]

Charging Up Front

Please excuse the occasional typo!

 

[Cris]

I also have never no-showed and would give them a free appt. if I did.  I also have a 1 limit no-show policy. Next time they pay, unless it's an emergency.  This actually happened just last week. Since I had told her of my policy after the first time, she was willing to pay and she apologized.  However, after hearing why she didn't show up, I waived it. Emergencies, IMO, are things like accidents, death-in-the family, birth, water heater flooded kitchen (call soon), etc.

 

[choudhary_ajay1980]

Charging Up Front

I totally agree with Pete and jdcan I would love to see your cancellation/no show statement if you are willing to share. I am just setting up my own practice after moving to a new state. So all of this info comes in really handy to me.

 

[CatsDogsFrogs]

Charging Up Front

After first no-show,  "the no-show policy for this office is everyone's allowed one mistake. After that, the therapist may charge full price for the missed session."  Notice the word is "may".  Leaves room, for example, for a weekly good client to mess up occassionally (once a year, maybe), or real emergencies (such as car accidents).  Lets abusers know they will not be tolerated. And they won't here. Maybe they sense that. I have never had to enforce this, just state it.  I got this idea from another post; not my original idea. Thank you, original poster, if you're reading this. Good luck.  I copied the above from an earlier post of mine. I thought I'd have to enforce it this week. Pete, earlier in this thread , helped me come up with the actual words. And, as I posted earlier in this thread, it was an actual emergency, so I ended up waiving it anyway. The client had been willing to pay, though.As someone (Iyanla? Oprah? Dr. Phil?, anyone know?) said,  "You teach people how to treat you."  Seems to work most of the time, IMO.

 

[Franco III]

Pete, your advice to me was on how to request payment of the no-show.  "Today is $X".   You said you only had to ask twice. I haven't had to at all. Almost had to last week. Was trying to come up with the right words.