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HOT Topic! MT's Hourly Rates
I'm creating this topic cause my previous blog seems to have gone this route!
So tell me MT's what are your thoughts on MT's rates, should they be set across the board, should MT's have flexability?
What about those that Under Charge & How do U define Under charging?
Do you apply this thought process in your own life, or are you a hippocrit?
Do you feel MT's are our own worst enemies?
I'll respond to these ?'s and comments as others do!
Views: 174
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on
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Fair trade laws actually prevent price fixing. But on a practical level people can charge anything they like or even give away services as charity or for promotion. In business cost plus is the usual way of deciding pricing. With massage there are so many variables that the prices are all over the board. Is the person working unlicensed as part time or employed hourly/by appointment split or is it your own legally licensed insured tax paying business.
On the corner where my business is there are six signs for massage. 1) a nail salon offering $25/hlf hr (unlicensed as massage and in violation of their business license) 2) Thai or Swedish Massage @ $49/hr (operating under the guise of Chiropractic since they were caught for being unlicensed and Therapists are on tips only) 3&4) Chiropractic offices which promote massage as their main business 5) A spa @ $110/hr 6) My Therapeutic Massage Clinic with state certified therapists @ $70/hr.
A wide selection for the consumer, as you can see. If I do the session I get 100% for paying rent, utilities, new A/C compressor, supplies, taxes, and etc. When I have another Therapist working I get 50% towards expenses. What is left after expenses for the year is my income. My Therapists get $35 plus tips. That is much better than the $14 to $17 most places in our area are paying therapists for massages. Outcall in my area is mostly $100 to $120 mostly cert course grads and drop outs unlicensed. Oh not to mention the two foot massage places that opened recently within a half mile radius (mostly Chinese illegals trained by the owner) that charges $30 for an hour full body.
Remember your body/hands are your work tools. The wear and tear on yourself is part of expense. You should be figuring your costs plus what you expect to make for yourself. All of us have different clientele who like whatever they get from us. There will always be many types of massage out there at widely varying rates. Charge what you need or want, don't worry about others unless your service is the same and then survival is strict competition.
Restaurants open and close quickly. It is the fastest turn over business. The main reason they go broke is not for lack of customers. It is because they miscalculate expenses or base prices on the restaurant in the next block.
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Permalink Reply by Chance Ryan on
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In 2001 a Helicopter I was in was shot down and I ended up in a coma for about 2yrs, unable to return to Nursing I turned to the next thing I had interest in or an abudant knowledge of, pain mgmt and physical rehab medicine, aka massage therapy.
I practiced privately for what around 5yrs in S. Fl contracting w/ Surgeons, Doctors, even getting current and former Dolphin and Jaguar NFLers.
I relocated to the Mtns of NC to finish up some rehab issues and at that time was trying to gauge what to charge on a community that was absurdly poor when it came to the permanent residents. So I shoped around looking for my own privaate therapist to wrk w/ me, and I found it shocking that the rates in this region were about the National Avg, while at the same time I am trying to figure out what to charge for when I go back to working on others. You see financially I don't worry about money, but I'm very sensitive to those that do. I saw years ago how the Physicians and Nurses no longer make the call for their Pt's it's the insurance co's and the suits on the top floors of hospitals. Any who when I did some digging If found what the avg wage was in my region for normal evveryday workers, and I set my rates based off of that.
I mean we don't pay the same for gas across the US so why shouldn't massage be any different.
Anywho I started a private feel good type of practice and before I knew it I had LMT's coming in dictating to my staff MT's during sessions (basically they came in w/ the mindset to complain), then for the what 1.5yrs I was there I avg 3 nasty calls a day from other MT's complaining about my business or what I was providing to people.
It was my first real interaction w/ Therapists as my entire career had been spent w/ Medical folk, even when I went into massage full time 7yrs ago. Since then I've read, heard, seen MT's from all over constantly complain about the ME's of the world, or those MT's that offer more affordable rates, while at the same time slandering them to the public.
Now mostly my exp has been on the East Coast, so I came here to see if it's the same out West as I'm in the process of relocating that way in near future.
FYI: I wasn't calling every MT arrogant/stubborn, I"m basically saying I'm seeing a trend where MT's feel they are entitled to a certain rate, vs earning it, you don't begin your career atop the food chain you have to work your way up, I think this is what is hurting our profession, as well as the lack of across the board standards.
I attempt to stay away from "YOU" statements to avoid making the readers feel as if I'm talking to them, I try to make my points or questions generic and as broad as possible to get apropriate feed back, yet it seems that most respondents tend to feel personally or emotional about the topics, which is kinda what I'm learning about this field.
Terry (Ty) Capuano said:Hi Chance -
You put up your first thread using the words arrogant/stubborn which made me think you have a rather strong opinion about therapist's, their rates and how they do business. I wasn't quite sure where you were going with that one other than expressing displeasure (which we all do time to time).
As to this one - Rates set across the board? Of course not. If you own your own business-you have flexibility. Under charge? I don't worry about what other MT's charge - it's up to them. Thought process/hypocrite? - not sure what you're asking there. Own worst enemies - no.
I own my own business and I set my rates based on my business expenses (rent, supplies, continuing education, insurance, association fees, marketing, taxes) and also on how much money I need to support my family and have a reasonable life style. I have been in this profession for a while and know how much it takes to support the above. I am in the middle as to charging in my area and that works for me. I have received massages from therapists recently that the massage was just okay and they are charging more than me. Their education and skill level (IMO) are not as high as mine, but I am not basing my rates on theirs. I believe in keeping massage affordable for my clients. I do not want them to look at it as a once in a while luxury, but as part of their wellness program so I am keeping the cost reasonable.
Bottom line - I am aware of, but, not focused on what others are charging - that is up to them. I'm curious why this topic holds such interest for you?
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Also I don't know if I clarified the issue of the arrogant/stubborn topic, it was directed at those MT's in the profession that think nothing should change that their rates should stay fixed at what they are. In other words not adjusting to change w/ the times, as everything must do to remain viable.
Terry (Ty) Capuano said:Hi Chance -
You put up your first thread using the words arrogant/stubborn which made me think you have a rather strong opinion about therapist's, their rates and how they do business. I wasn't quite sure where you were going with that one other than expressing displeasure (which we all do time to time).
As to this one - Rates set across the board? Of course not. If you own your own business-you have flexibility. Under charge? I don't worry about what other MT's charge - it's up to them. Thought process/hypocrite? - not sure what you're asking there. Own worst enemies - no.
I own my own business and I set my rates based on my business expenses (rent, supplies, continuing education, insurance, association fees, marketing, taxes) and also on how much money I need to support my family and have a reasonable life style. I have been in this profession for a while and know how much it takes to support the above. I am in the middle as to charging in my area and that works for me. I have received massages from therapists recently that the massage was just okay and they are charging more than me. Their education and skill level (IMO) are not as high as mine, but I am not basing my rates on theirs. I believe in keeping massage affordable for my clients. I do not want them to look at it as a once in a while luxury, but as part of their wellness program so I am keeping the cost reasonable.
Bottom line - I am aware of, but, not focused on what others are charging - that is up to them. I'm curious why this topic holds such interest for you?
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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MT can and should charge whatever they want to charge and what they need to charge to make the living that they need to make. There shouldn't be any one rate. That wouldn't work for areas that have a low cost of living. Prices need to be set according to what is needed to live on and not feel resentful for doing the work. Prices need to change with the times and increase with every year you are doing massage if you have your own business or you should get a raise if an employee.
I am not following your questioning along these lines. What exactly are you looking for?
I think you could further clarify your reasons for asking the questions and yes your other topic it did sound like you were calling everyone arrogant.
Undercharging is charging like $25 an hour when the going rate in the area is $60 an hour.
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Permalink Reply by Stefanie Adams on
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"Do you apply this thought process in your own life, or are you a hippocrit?"
This is one of my hot buttons. I know it's absolutely none of my business what other therapists charge. However it really irritates me when someone brags about 'charging a premium' in one sentence, then turns around and complains about high prices in the next. If you charge high rates, don't disparage anyone else who does the same. If you charge above market prices for massage, don't go to Massage Envy yourself. Stand behind your own principles and pay the big bucks. Doing anything else makes you a hypocrite.
I personally search for the best product at the best price. There are so many massage therapists that it's not hard to find a really good one who charges at or below market price. Since I demand top service at or below market price, this is exactly what I offer my clients.
I apply my thought process consistently throughout my own life.
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F***ing "A" one person has gotten my point Exactly!
Some here felt I was calling MT's hypocrits, my point was if you feel that things should be a certain pay range then you better not be found shoping at Walmart, you better be buying that same shirt / skirt / dress / shoes at Macy's or what every the nice stores are.
I'm not trying to offend anyone, simply put I've only been around MT's in the past 4yrs, and it's been a very forgetable experience, from other worrying about what I charge, heck even here one poster wouldn't stop calling me out until I gave her enough info so that she cuold try to deduce my earnings, instead of focusing on my core point, it's not about me it's about what I'm asking, so I went ahead and told her just to calm things down a bit as it was getting to personal.
If all careers acted like what everyone else in their chosen profession was making then there would be no business, things would stale mate.
Anywho: I'm glad one person got what I was trying to get across, just in my travels I've seen some very bitter MT's, who feel they aren't getting business cause of someone else, last I checked it's a free market system. Heck it's how Walmart go to where it is today, and thankfully so as I'm maxed out in investments w/ them, only company to see any real increasein business during recession, guess all those Macy's shopers started to see the value of a dollar, :)=
Stefanie Adams said:"Do you apply this thought process in your own life, or are you a hippocrit?"
This is one of my hot buttons. I know it's absolutely none of my business what other therapists charge. However it really irritates me when someone brags about 'charging a premium' in one sentence, then turns around and complains about high prices in the next. If you charge high rates, don't disparage anyone else who does the same. If you charge above market prices for massage, don't go to Massage Envy yourself. Stand behind your own principles and pay the big bucks. Doing anything else makes you a hypocrite.
I personally search for the best product at the best price. There are so many massage therapists that it's not hard to find a really good one who charges at or below market price. Since I demand top service at or below market price, this is exactly what I offer my clients.
I apply my thought process consistently throughout my own life.
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I was not trying to find out how much you make or anything like that at all. I don't really care but you started the discussion saying you were undercutting your fees and then turned the ball around....Just trying to get clear info and get you to ask your question clearly.
i wasn't calling you out on anything nor upset to need calming down. Everything is being written from a completely calm place of wondering where you are coming from.
Thanks
Julie
Ps I have never even been in a Walmart.
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Please go back and re read my orig post u will see that I never stated "I" was undercutting, I simply asked what the position of other Therapists across the US was on these individuals.
Again I try to word everything as a question as they are my queries, not statements of fact. Plus it was hard to keep up w/ things u were asking as you were bringing in questions from other posts I was asking to this one, which was catching me off guard cause when I respond to a post it was w/ the thought that it was directed at the question asked atop the pg.
Not to mention your now responding to posts apparently I'm sending to other people, a little difficult to do this dance anymore.
Julie Onofrio said:I was not trying to find out how much you make or anything like that at all. I don't really care but you started the discussion saying you were undercutting your fees and then turned the ball around....Just trying to get clear info and get you to ask your question clearly.
i wasn't calling you out on anything nor upset to need calming down. Everything is being written from a completely calm place of wondering where you are coming from.
Thanks
Julie
Ps I have never even been in a Walmart.
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Permalink Reply by Relax & Rejuvenate on
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It is almost impossible to "undercut" in a service industry, since "undercutting" usually refers to someone pricing below their variable costs of production (like the Chinese dumping cheap steel in the US to drive out US competitiors)
In a service environment such as massage, the only variable costs are your laundry and massage product, so it is pretty hard to charge below $3 for a massage. Anything above $3 goes towards offsetting fixed costs, and, while not viable or smart, does not constitute undercutting.
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http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undercut
un·der·cutun·der·cut·ting
Definition of UNDERCUT
transitive verb
1
: to cut away the underpart of
2
: to cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief
3
: to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than (a competitor)
4
: to cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall
5
: to strike (a ball) with a downward glancing blow so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot
6
: to undermine or destroy the force, value, or effectiveness of
intransitive verb
: to perform the action of cutting away beneath
Relax & Rejuvenate said:It is almost impossible to "undercut" in a service industry, since "undercutting" usually refers to someone pricing below their variable costs of production (like the Chinese dumping cheap steel in the US to drive out US competitiors)
In a service environment such as massage, the only variable costs are your laundry and massage product, so it is pretty hard to charge below $3 for a massage. Anything above $3 goes towards offsetting fixed costs, and, while not viable or smart, does not constitute undercutting.
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No one owes anyone else anything, so if others concern themselves w/ what you charge ask them when you can expect a check from them to pay your bills.
Relax & Rejuvenate said:It is almost impossible to "undercut" in a service industry, since "undercutting" usually refers to someone pricing below their variable costs of production (like the Chinese dumping cheap steel in the US to drive out US competitiors)
In a service environment such as massage, the only variable costs are your laundry and massage product, so it is pretty hard to charge below $3 for a massage. Anything above $3 goes towards offsetting fixed costs, and, while not viable or smart, does not constitute undercutting.
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