Is this a fair deal or am I being hosed?

[Death Metaller]

I just started business with a lady who has a small day spa. She hired me as her massage therapist but I also do some esthetics. We haven't signed a contract yet but these are the terms and Im hoping someone can help me before I get taken to the cleaners.

I have a room that I can decorate but she has final say in what goes up
I pay $300 rent
She takes 20% of my massages, hair removal services, and reflexology
I have my own door and key/code
I have to give her 2 free massages a month for family
I get 100% of any gel toes and advance pedicuring (eg. ingrown toenail braces)
I get 100% of any retail I bring in


I feel like I am getting the raw end of the deal on this and she says she is being very generous.
Any thoughts on this would be helpful

Thanx :?

 

[Ravi TEJA]

What is she providing besides the room? Is she providing the table, linens, oils, receptionist, advertising, clientele?

If she's providing nothing but the room & you're on your own for the rest, then the arrangement does seem unfair. In that case, I would ask for a cap on the perceneforum.xxxe. $300 rent plus 20% is reasonable if you're not very busy. But if you work there full-time that can add up to a lot. I would also drop the free massages for her family. If she wants that, she should cut the rent in half or else drop the % altogether.

However, if she's providing your clientele & your supplies, then she can expect to receive more money for her part in your business. If that's the case, the arrangement might be quite fair.

 

[Kreerk]

I haven't been at this for long but I would say you should either pay rent OR give her a perceneforum.xxxe - not both.

If you do 12 massages a week at $60 each you're going to be paying her an additional $144 PLUS giving her two free massages a month (an additional $120). So before any of the rest of the deal, you're out $996 a month.

How big is the room?

 

[smallvoice85]

I have to supply all my own supplies, the room is small concidering I have to have my office in the same space ( I will be spliting it using fabric draping ), she is doing advertising for her business that I am apart of. I pay for my own business cards. She is going to refer her clients to me but I also have to bring people in on my own as well. She does all the bookings and I have to have set hours for her.

 

[awbball4]

Completely depends on whether or not she is supplying materials/linens/towels and or laundry service/any equipment/biz cards/advertising your services, etc.

If she is providing all of these things, you're getting a very good deal. If she is providing most of these things, minus say... sheets, but including towels, still good deal. No towels, still probably a good deal for you. No provisions, obviously it's not a great deal, but even if she's providing nothing, your per-session cost of space (at 12/week) = around $20/session, which is not unreasonable for a low cost space + perceneforum.xxxe.

Think of it this way, if you are new, she is giving you a GREAT deal on a room at $300/month. She is assuming the risk that you will never do a single session and all she will get is the $300 on a room that she may be able to rent for much more money. As you get busier, she will at some point approach an equitable profit off the rental of her space to you. At this point she will begin to recoup some of the benefit she extended to you while you were building a practice.

When you have a full and stable practice, you will then be in a position to negotiate a flat fee for space use. But at this point, she is being very generous because the risk is mostly hers.


edit: I cross-posted with you S. Also, as Bliss said, there should be a cap on the commission portion of your cost.

 

[LovingMyHusband]

The thing I don't understand though is if I don't have any clients how am I suppose to pay rent. I am really new to this but am I suppose to get a second job just to pay rent on the room? May sound ignorant but if I wanted to be in debt I would have gone and done my own thing. I just want to work and do what I love to do. I did the math too and I didn't realize it before but I would be making less then my last job and they were only taking a % no rent.

Just to answer your question: I supply everything the only part she plays is advertising.

maybe the contract should be 6 months at a time instead of 1 year

 

[Pompal 09.]

Serenity,

It doesn't sound like you want this job. Why did you leave your last job? (The one that only asked for a %. That sounds like a perfect situation for a therapist just starting out.)

 

[Adviser! :)]

Don't get me wrong I do want this job I just want to make sure Im not being taken to the cleaners. I am really new to this. My last job......well Im still trying to figure that one out. I was fired and never was givin a reason. I have filed papers with the labour board.

At first it sounded like a very good opportunity, but now thinking about it I don't know if it is a good offer.

 

[Mumsey]

That is the thing, she has all these add ons, that once you do the math she is making a large profit on your services. We need to make a living. Are you going to be able to collect tips on top of that charge? is she collecting the money? Definitely it would be rent or a %, not both, and by working on the family, no way!!! It is as if the $300 is paying for the advertizing, IF they are advertizing (that was the problem with my last job), and the 20% is her salary!!! So no, one or the other... I wouldn't sign the contract.

 

[HEIMAT]

I totally agree... one or the other. If rent is supposed to be $450 and she's willing to do $300/month plus a perceneforum.xxxe to the $450 cap that is another story entirely. And working on her family... for free, no way. A discount I could see.

 

[Wackoz]

I get all my tips. She has an interact terminal which can be used for all plastic transactions and cash payment is kept until payday. I would even be willing to offer her family a small discount but I don't think I should have to do them for free. She wants me to sign the contract today, how should I approach her with this? Im not good with any type of confrontation.

The rent for her is completely profit, goes right into her pocket.

 

[Michealla]

To add to what I said previously, you need to take into consideration the area in which you're working. Is this the "big city" or a small town? Have you done any comparison shopping?

When I was looking I discovered that the majority of the landlords in my small town charge .75/sq ft. to rent or lease. That's just for space - no utilities or anything else. With that knowledge I was able to determine a what would be reasonable for a room with utilities. Even in a small town like mine I had to take into consideration the location (physical location, amenities, proximity to other businesses and thoroughfares, etc.). I also weighed the reputation of the doctor from whom I rent, as well as her connections within the community.

I'm paying more per square foot than I would elsewhere in town but I'm getting a great deal when I consider the doctor's word-of-mouth and the foot traffic which exposes me to even more people than if I were on my own in a cheaper, not-so-nice part of town.

Check out the competition, Serenity. Don't feel like you have to take the first offer that comes your way just because if may be a good one. Perhaps it is a great deal once you do the comparisons BUT it's not a great deal for you at THIS time. Once you've done your homework on this issue you'll feel a lot better about whatever decision you make. And don't let how your last job ended cause you to make rash decisions about this job.

Good luck!

 

[BLam]

The thing I don't understand though is if I don't have any clients how am I suppose to pay rent. I am really new to this but am I suppose to get a second job just to pay rent on the room? May sound ignorant but if I wanted to be in debt I would have gone and done my own thing. I just want to work and do what I love to do.

This reframes the discussion. Although you started this thread with the question of what's fair (and got some great responses), it seems the real issue is that you're a new massage therapist without an established clientele, and you can't afford to take this offer, whether it's fair or not.

I recommend figuring out what you can afford and pursuing opportunities within that range. For example, if you don't feel you can afford to pay any rent, then look for jobs where you work for a spa or clinic that provides everything and they pay you an hourly salary or % of each massage. (In this circumstance, they'd take a much higher percent).

If you think rent would be OK, but no more than $100-200/month, see if you can find a room-share situation. That's where you share a treatment space with another massage therapist. Either you split the week according to days (you each rent the room for 3.5 days). Or you split the week by hours (one of you takes 8a-2p; the other takes 2p-8p is one example.)

Don't get caught up in feeling like you deserve a certain offer from a spa or business and they're being unfair if their contract contains terms you don't like. Each business has the right to decide what they want to offer. If it's not in your price range, simply tell them you can't afford to accept their terms. Let them know what you can afford. If they say that's unreasonable, then you know that's not the place for you, and you're not the therapist for them. (At least at this time).

 

[Sammy Girl]

Just my observation the part of getting two free massages? That tells you a lot about the person. Why would they expect something for free? Unless they have a sense of entitlement. I think she's a person that will take advaneforum.xxxe of you in the future since she is trying to do it now.

That being said, what is the fair price in your community for an office? If say $400 is, then cap the amount you pay her at $400. Or if you dont have the cash give her no rent but say 40% of the gross(no cap) of what you make. Gives her more of an incentive to promote your business.

Seems like this lady is the have your cake and eat it too variety.

I myself would probably say no to this person, just don't like the vibes, but ultimately its your choice.

jason

 

[J-BUS]

I have to supply all my own supplies, the room is small concidering I have to have my office in the same space ( I will be spliting it using fabric draping ), she is doing advertising for her business that I am apart of. I pay for my own business cards. She is going to refer her clients to me but I also have to bring people in on my own as well. She does all the bookings and I have to have set hours for her.

Then under these circumstances, I say your not getting a fair deal at all.

Like the others, I don't like the vibes. If your just starting off and have no clientele, will have to provide everything including advertising, then paying $300 a month, plus a perceneforum.xxxe would be out of the question for me. No way.

 

[little.miss.shopaholic]

Thank you so much all of you for your responces. Yes I am new at this, and I just wanted to get a feel for what a good decision would be. I have talked to the lady I am working with and she has agreed to do just a %. She's probably going to take 40% with no rent. She's going to talk it over with her husband and get back to me. As far as the free massages go she wants me to do her once a month and her mom 1/2hr on the legs twice a month. Being that I am new maybe the massage on her mom would be good word of mouth. The city I live in is only 60,000pop.

 

[peacelandandbread]

I definitely still think that is too high, for a small room. I would make sure to work in a cap price of what is reasonable, which would all depend upon how much you are charging and what you need to cover your needs.

I will give you my example, where I am the owner and operator of my own office. I pay $636/month for a 260 sq ft room, it has been split in 3 in the past for multiple practitioners. I have my office side and my treatment side with a good amount of space between the 2. I then have to pay about $25/month for utilities. So I figure that I have more space than what you are suggesting. I have a following, and I am just making ends meet at this point since I went out on my own in October.

I just think she is out for $$$, and again, the 2 massages does add up...

 

[The Kitten in Clothes]

I definitely still think that is too high, for a small room. I would make sure to work in a cap price of what is reasonable, which would all depend upon how much you are charging and what you need to cover your needs.

I will give you my example, where I am the owner and operator of my own office. I pay $636/month for a 260 sq ft room, it has been split in 3 in the past for multiple practitioners. I have my office side and my treatment side with a good amount of space between the 2. I then have to pay about $25/month for utilities. So I figure that I have more space than what you are suggesting. I have a following, and I am just making ends meet at this point since I went out on my own in October.

I just think she is out for $$$, and again, the 2 massages does add up...

Yeah, I agree, you need a cap.

Pandoras gift, my new space will be 700 square feet, two treatment rooms, private waiting area, ample closet space, and two small bathrooms, and less rent than yours. I will have to pay utilities as well, I am not sure how much, but imagine $50 to $75 per month. Heat and water are included, but the a/c runs on electric, so that will go up in the summer.

It really depends where you live.

 

[Jade S]

greatttlakes -

I am jealous! But yes, this was CHEAP for my area!!! so it all depends upon the going rate of session price, and space.

 

[~Nikki~choke it urself]

So alot of people are talking about a "cap" on the perceneforum.xxxe, what does that mean, how would it be written?

The room Im in is very small concidering I have to have my office in there as well. My husband walked into the room and the first thing out of his mouth was "this room is Sh*t!" I have to put money into the room to decorate it and I can't decorate it until I get some more clients coming in. I have more things to talk to the lady about like soundproofing the room. Im in a very old building and not much sound barrier. When Im in my room doing a massage I can hear her with her client like she was standing at my door talking in normal tone.

Im going to talk to her and try to make this work. Thanx for everyones thoughts