Having trouble finding a room to rent.

[Pompal 09.]

I am seeking a room to rent in the area where I used to practice. I have many clients who travel to see me at my new location, but I have many more whom I would see more often if I had a location closer to them. I'm just looking to rent a room one day a week to accomodate the clients who don't want to travel to my new location. I'm confident I could fill a day very easily and be very busy that one day a week.

I'm having a hard time finding a rental arrangement that seems fair. Everyone I've talked to so far seems to treat me like some kid fresh out of school. They want me to be available and flexible and they want to help me build my book (and they want 50% cut!). What part of "One day a week, and I have my own clients." do they not understand?

I've been offered many 40/60 splits. One salon owner wanted me to give her 40% just for her providing a stark naked empty room! No table, no supplies, no nothing! And I would be brining my own clients! I thought that was outrageous and I told her so.

I did have a very nice arrangement many years ago where I paid $75 for the first 10 hours of room use, then 20% commission after that. I could go back to that same facility, but the neighborhood has really diminished since then. Its no longer a safe part of town and I imagine the location would be a deterrent for some of my clients.

This is becoming quite a dilemma since I just feel like everyone I meet with it looking to use me to build their business. What is fair for a one day a week room rental if I'm providing all supplies and clients and possibly bringing my own table if necessary?

 

[AssCreamMa]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Maybe find a place to park a small travel trailer?

 

[crissysmith4u]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Are you particular on the day of the week you rent the room?

You know, $50 - $75 per day sounds fair, if you pay for it a like rent, a month at a time and about a 3 - 6 month agreement - especially if you are using a room that is not being used. Let's say Monday the office is closed and you come in and work. Seems fair to me.

I would suggest talking to other health care practitioners. Even look into: Psychologists, psychiatrists, MD's, Naturopathic Doctors, Nutritionists, Personal Training facilities, gyms, estheticians offices, hair salons / private hair stylists places, consider the local insurance agent or some other form of business. Maybe a real estate agents office. There has to be something that would be useful and functional. What about a center like a VFW hall or something? Maybe the towns administrative building / city hall? I don't know how big or small your town is, but in some cases that may work. Maybe a florist or a yarn shop? Maybe a quilting shop? Just brainstorming.

Think outside the box.

 

[Occulty!]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

pueppi's ideas are what came to my mind, too. You might even be able to find another therapist in that area and propose an offer that you think is fair for you to use their room on their day off (if they have one.) If MTs in your area are anything like most of them here though, you'll have to sign a "contract" to ensure you're not out to steal their clients :roll: .

 

[punchinf4fun]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

I'm having a hard time finding a rental arrangement that seems fair.

What in your opinion is "fair"?

Everyone I've talked to so far seems to treat me like some kid fresh out of school. They want me to be available and flexible and they want to help me build my book (and they want 50% cut!). What part of "One day a week, and I have my own clients." do they not understand?

Their business model may not accommodate someone using one of their rooms only on one day each week. I doubt this is an issue where they don't understand what you want but one where the needs of the two parties involved aren't compatible.

I've been offered many 40/60 splits. One salon owner wanted me to give her 40% just for her providing a stark naked empty room! No table, no supplies, no nothing! And I would be brining my own clients! I thought that was outrageous and I told her so.

Did you counter her 40% offer with an offer of your own or did you just tell her off? You'll find telling people they're being "outrageous" isn't a very good negotiating strategy. Honestly, if I had an empty room in my office and someone approached me to use it only 1 day per week, I would probably want 40% too (if I had to furnish it and provide sheets, table, etc. I'd want 50% or more) - especially if they weren't guaranteeing a long-term arrangement. However, if that person made me a reasonable counter offer, I would probably accept less.

This is becoming quite a dilemma since I just feel like everyone I meet with it looking to use me to build their business. What is fair for a one day a week room rental if I'm providing all supplies and clients and possibly bringing my own table if necessary?

I don't think they're looking to "use" you to build their business any more or any less than you are looking to "use" them to build yours. It seems to me that both parties (you and the owners you've approached) are looking for a mutually beneficial situation that allows them to limit their respective overhead as much as possible.

As for your question of what is "fair" - fair simply stated is what all involved parties agree on.

 

[Magic is Might!]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Are you particular on the day of the week you rent the room?

You know, $50 - $75 per day sounds fair, if you pay for it a like rent, a month at a time and about a 3 - 6 month agreement - especially if you are using a room that is not being used. Let's say Monday the office is closed and you come in and work. Seems fair to me.

I would suggest talking to other health care practitioners. Even look into: Psychologists, psychiatrists, MD's, Naturopathic Doctors, Nutritionists, Personal Training facilities, gyms, estheticians offices, hair salons / private hair stylists places, consider the local insurance agent or some other form of business. Maybe a real estate agents office. There has to be something that would be useful and functional. What about a center like a VFW hall or something? Maybe the towns administrative building / city hall? I don't know how big or small your town is, but in some cases that may work. Maybe a florist or a yarn shop? Maybe a quilting shop? Just brainstorming.

Think outside the box.

Those are good ideas. I was actually thinking of something "outside the box" too. It seems that most establishments that already rent to or employ massage therapists have their set terms and aren't really willing to negotiate. The last time I did a 40/60 split the owner supplied everything. I brought some of my own clients in, but also had the opportunity to continue to build my clientele further. I have no desire to build my clientele, I have plenty of people to fill one day a week. I just need a room, nothing more.

Using someone's space outside of their regular business hours would be a good compromise. Its just a shame that the place where I used to rent for 20% is in such a bad neighborhood now with on-street parking and noisy streets and apartments nearby. Otherwise I'd just go back there to work, it was a very nice arrangement.

 

[Nightlife Commando]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Elliemare, maybe instead of "renting" a place for just one day a week, you could offer an out-call service to these faraway clients. It honestly sounds like a lot less hassle to me.

 

[Badboy Scotty]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

I know this may sound a little cheesy, but what about renting at a hotel or motel. A gal I know who had a place in Galveston, used a little motel for her business while her shop was being repaired after hurricane Ike demolished most of the Island. She even advertised on her website that her temporary office was at the SeaShell Motel. It sounds cheap and goofy, but it did the job and I don't think she lost too many of her clients (at least the ones who weren't washed away).

Possibly a Bed & Breakfast in the town would work too (it might be nicer than the hotel/motel idea).

 

[Mrs.Ploughe]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

To bad you don't live near me, my room sits empty on Tuesday's and I would love to make a few bucks to help cover my rent.

 

[ALEX!!!!!!!]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

To bad you don't live near me, my room sits empty on Tuesday's and I would love to make a few bucks to help cover my rent.

This makes me think of another idea. Post that you are looking for a room to rent one day out of the week in our Opportunities Section. You could blast it into the Practitioners Seeking Opportunities, For Rent! and In Search Of sections.

 

[norski]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

To bad you don't live near me, my room sits empty on Tuesday's and I would love to make a few bucks to help cover my rent.

AH! You're in York! I'm not too far from you, but my clients are all in Harrisburg!

 

[Derrick]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Elliemare, maybe instead of "renting" a place for just one day a week, you could offer an out-call service to these faraway clients. It honestly sounds like a lot less hassle to me.

You know I was actually thinking about that. Maybe I'll contact some clients and see if they're interested in house calls and go from there.

 

[Nikky]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

LOL so close but to far!

I was going to post something but I really prefer if I do rent the room out, that it be someone I know or at least have a good referral for.

 

[BarrieG]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Even though I'm only looking for a space to work, I've set up two appointments today to meet with day spa owners just to see what they're looking for in a therapist. One day spa is in the area where I live now, and would involve my building a whole new client base from scratch. The other is back in my old territory where I could possibly entice some of my prior clients to come see me. I'm just checking things out for now, who knows something might work out?

I did contact a friend who owns a facility in my old territory. Business is really bad for her right now and basically told me that she can't rent to me unless the rent is pretty high. She also suggested that I just offer more house calls as a solution. So I'm entertaining all possibilities right now. So we'll see what happens!

 

[sunray]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

I think that you are doing all that you can - don't worry, I am sure that something will come up.

I don't see it so much in our area, but in other parts of the country I see lots of postings on Craigslist for room shares that involve one or two days a week.

Go under Office & Commercial under housing and use "share" in the search field.

And of course some people mispost a lease situation under the jobs section...again, not so much in PA but typically in other states that allow "booth rentals" - where a salon/spa has it's service providers pay rent or lease space. Booth rental is not legal in PA for estheticians and stylists and I did not check to see if this is addressed under the new massage license regs.

If you don't mind the possible downside to posting an ad on Craiglist you might want to go that route.

 

[Benjamin!]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Bouncing off of squash_blsm's room share post. Do you have a client who may want their massage for free and has a decent extra room to work in. Possibly you could negotiate to rent a room at a clients house for once a week with pay or trade of massage.

Or, maybe one of them has a friend who would rent you a room in their home for the day.

I know it could be a little too close for comfort, but then again, you may have a client or client's friend who fits the bill perfectly.

 

[Kitten<3]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Bouncing off of squash_blsm's room share post. Do you have a client who may want their massage for free and has a decent extra room to work in. Possibly you could negotiate to rent a room at a clients house for once a week with pay or trade of massage.

Or, maybe one of them has a friend who would rent you a room in their home for the day.

I know it could be a little too close for comfort, but then again, you may have a client or client's friend who fits the bill perfectly.

I actually thought about that. Paying a client in massage in exchange for using their space to work on other clients.

I still bounce back and forth on the issue of "Do I forget my old clients and start over fresh in my new community, or do I travel the distance and hang on to those same old people I've known for 10 years?" I'm just not sure, so that is why I'm entertaining all possibilities.

I did come to one decision. If I'm going to be renting, or in any type of subcontractor situation, then I expect to be treated like a self-employed individual. If I'm going to work for someone else, I want to be on a payroll and get a paycheck. I've come across too many situations where owners want me to be a sub-contractor, yet they want to treat me like an employee. I don't play those games anymore.

 

[Travelin Pete]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Yeah - I totally agree with you there!
If you can find a place and you are paying rent, it is YOUR business.

"Employers" in the industry have been doing things a little on the edge for a long time, and are very unwilling to do things the right/legal way. Change is hard for those that have been doing it one way for so long. I know if it were me I would want to make sure that I didn't get into any trouble :grin:
It's just so weird...I don't understand why people can't be straight forward and on the up-and-up with their business/employment practices.

Anyway, you are obviously clever and persistent...hang in there!

 

[mama]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Well I had two interesting meetings today. Both establishments do truely employ their therapists and have a payroll and do things all on the up and up! I like that. I agreed to go back to both parties and do a second interview including a massage.

The two situations are very different. One is very close to my home, they charge a much higher rate than I do and they encourage clients to tip. Its 50% commission and they are a very wellness minded spa. The director of the massage part of the business has been a therapist for 18 years. She wants to bring on more experienced people since all of the other therapists are young kids fresh out of school. She and I really clicked.

The other place is a glorified hair salon. Its located in close proximity to most of my old clients. Their rates are similar to mine (which would make it easier to retain some of my exsisting clients but at 50% commission that kind of stinks!) Its farther drive for me obviously. The owner is a hair stylist and he knows nothing about the spa or massage industry. He told me that only one of the three massage "beds" is a real massage "bed". Two of the "beds" just looked nice (so he bought them) and they don't adjust in height and they are really low to the floor (and I'm tall!). But this guy is really laid back and easy going and he said he's only looking for a part-timer to work out a schedule with his exsisting massage therapist. I can appreciate a laid back environment, but I've been to some spas and salons where the feel was more immature and unprofessional rather than laid back! This place also had filthy dirty carpets in their treatment rooms.

So all-in-all I think it was a productive day. I got to see some of what is out there and I'm glad to find out that some people do actually employ massage therapists! I'm meeting with a friend next week for lunch and we're going to talk about the biz, perhaps she can help me with deciding what direction to go.

 

[Luis]

Having trouble finding a room to rent.

Since you've been seeing some clients at your home anyway, couldn't they continue to come there at whatever your rate is? And the other clients that are closer to the wellness place could either see you there (at their higher rate) or take a little more time to come to your home.

The hair salon doesn't sound all that great, to be honest. But if that works out better for you, try to negotiate with the owner. Say, you supply your products, table, decor and clean the carpet, and you want a 60/40 (or 70/30 or whatever split.) Just because an owner says this is the split doesn't mean it's written in stone or there is no room for negotiations.