a community of practitioners

Booth Rent vs Commission

As I mentioned in our last discussion "Fair Commission Rates," I've always been in a booth rent environment and am not quite sure how commission works exactly. I have not yet hired anyone on commission but am interested in trying it out. When it comes to work schedule, booth renters come and go based on their appointment books. Is this the same for commission workers, or would I have the therapist on set hours? In some cases, although rare, booth renters working their own schedules can cause a conflict ( both therapists unavailable for appointments) in such a small spa such as mine, and am therefore exploring more options.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on December 4, 2009 at 4:01pm

Some one who is on commission needs to be a full employee. Renting a 'booth' requires that people commit to renting specific time frames to conduct their business and pay a flat fee for that.

The employee/contractor status is always so misused and misunderstood in this profession which allows employers to take advantage of massage therapists.

Julie
www.massage-career-guides.com

Permalink Reply by Alicia Dale, NCTMB on December 16, 2009 at 3:57pm

I have my therapists sign a contract spelling out what I expect of them and what they should expect of me. In that I do establish working times but based on hours such as 30 hours and above would constitute full time below that would be part time. I think booth rent or commission requires a commitment to specific time frames. Both require a commitment to clients and service. If both therapists are unavailable for appointments either you're busy and that's a good thing or you need a better compromise to available hours between them. Either way there are benefits to both scenarios. I myself provide everything except oils, appointment setting, and advertising and take 40% commission.