I know it's a bit premature but i've been looking into where I will work once i'm qualfied as i'm keen to get going as soon as I can. I am hoping to do a bit of everything i.e. working from home, mobile and also rent a room.
I've just spoken to a lady at one centre that rents rooms by the hour & she mentioned that as a newly qualified reflexologist I couldn't really expect to charge clients the going rate and that I should keep my price low. What do you think of that, is that normal practise, should I keep my prices low and if so by how much e.g. if the average treatment in my area is £30 (which it seems to be) should I charge £20. Also how long should I wait before I am experienced enough to charge the going rate? It has made me re-think whether it's worth renting rooms whilst i'm in the process of gaining the experience.
Berniemay x
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Hi bernimay
I to went through the same dilema and was too told that I couldn't charge the going rate. This is so wrong, you to have trained, you have put the work in and you will eventually hold the same certificate as many other Reflexologists, so why shouldn't you go the full rate. I charged people less than I should have and I found it extremley difficult to up the prices and did loose a couple of customers. don't undersell yourself, as it will be hard to shake off. The going rate in my area is also around £25-£30, I was charging £15!!! total mistake.
Depending on the area you live, get your client base going by working from home and doing mobile, then decide whether to rent a room. When I first qualified, I rented a room for 6 months and found that my day job was paying the rent, not the clients. It takes time, I now have 26 clients andI sure had to work my ass off just to get those.
There is nothing wrong with thinking ahead, I was exactly the same, its an exciting time. I wish you lots of luck,you eager beaver!!!
Lula xx
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Hi berniemay
The lady at one centre may well be right in her opinionbut it is worth bearing in mind that whatever you pitch at please do not go in at the lower end. Some people believe (not all)that the more expensive you are the better you are (Not true of course).
If the average is £30 then IMHOthat is where youwould start, the other thing to remember is that it is not always easier to go up than down in price.
Experience is not necessarily a requisite for good therapist. IMHO your clients will soon let you know at what level you have obtained. Remember that the quality of your teaching, confidence and professionalism matter more that saying I have done it for two years so I am experienced.
Please believe me when I say if you are a caring professional you will always be learning and upgrading (CPD)
I wish you luck for the future
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Totally agree with Healistic.
A newly qualified therapist may be just as competent, if not more, than an "old hand". You may have been taught new techniques that someone who learned reflexology years ago and never did any updating might not know of.
I opened up a place in October and take £30 for reflexology. Itis definetly harder to put prices up.
I have a friend who does mobile hairdressing and has went to some client for 6 years but if she mentions putting prices up they whine at her so she doesn't and is still charging the same as she did6 years ago.
Start as you mean to go on.
Patchouli
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
charge the going rate..you deserve every penny!!!!
tigress
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Thanks to all for the advice. I can appreciate what the lady was saying, I suppose if i'm honest and I was going to have a treatment i'd probably prefer to pay someone that had more experience BUT I can also appreciate that it is hard to suddenlyraise your prices once you feel you have gained more experience. After mulling over what you have all said I thinkI will start as I mean to go on and if it puts some people off then so be it.
Just one more question please....I was thinking of charging £20-£25 if I work from home(no outgoings andless time consuming) and charging £30 for mobile (more time consuming and petrol) and also £30 for working from a room (to cover rent). Does that sound fair? In my area the cheapest I have come across is £25 and the most expensive £55 but the average seems to be £30-£35.
Thanks again.
Bernie xx
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Hi all
Some things we need to remember too: We have to cover our costs with oils, creams, towels, kits that we buy, petrol, etc, etc, the list is endless!!
What I did was call 3 different people that I found in yellow pages and found an average. I have just finished my price chart on my website and my paperwork and for Reflexology Iwill charge £22 45 min - 60 min, Indian Head Massage, £18 for 45 min, £10 to £20 mini IHM, Hand Reflex - £18, Holistic Facials £18 45 min, Pedicures £20 45 min. Do you think those prices seem fair to start. The average in my area was about £18 - £22 for mobiles, and then for salonsup to £35 + !!
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Hi Tracy, would these prices be for mobile or working from home?
That sounds cheap for a mobile service in your area, I haven't actually checked mobilein my area yet, just salons & holistic health centres.
I would be inclined to charge more for mobile as I think you're providing more of a service and apart from the petrol costs you are spending a lot more of your time travelling to and from the job.
You could offer a reflexology/pedicure package, make it a bit cheaper to do the two together and you may get quite a few people that wouldn't normally consider having a pedicure.
Bernie xx
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Really good advice from everyone here! I think that lady you mentioned doesn't know what she's talking about Bernie, with the greatest respect to her. When you are qualified that says to the world that you are a highly skilled professional, and you charge as such. Think about the value of the service you are offering, your overheads, the extra time you put into preparation, research, planning, marketing, purchase of towels and supplies, cleaning, washing etc when you decide your pricing folks. You may spent an hour with your client, but you are doing much, much more besides with your 'business time'.
In addition, anyone who goes mobile is offering something extra which people should, IMO, be very glad to pay extra for. Travelling is time, petrol, wear and tear on your car and so on. So please don't underprice yourselves because you're worth every penny:D. Yes, if you get someone who really can't afford your rates then it's at your discretion to charge less and I know many therapists do this. But pitch your prices at the right level generally, because it can be hard to put your prices up at a later date. Not to mention that fact that if you start to feel you aren't charging enough you don't want to start feeling resentful!
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
After chatting to other people in another topic, I think it would be best to charge less to begin with. I think there are so many qualified Reflexologists etc and the top end in my area is about £40 but I think that is too much. Personally as a Reflexologist myself I wouldn't pay that. It's just TOO much unless you are loaded - if you had one a week over 6 weeks then that's £240 which is an AWFUL lot of money. I think naturally it would put people off. I think if you went in lower than the average even if it is a few pounds lower you will naturally attract people. It's like everyone likes Matalan and Primark because they think they are getting a BARGAIN! If your clients think you are good then in a year or so you can put your prices up slowley even if only a few pounds but the more clients you have the more money you will make anyway than have 1 client a week for £40!
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Just another thought... doing Reflexology is a business but it should not be all about money. Yes you should make a profit for your time but think about the ELDERLY who would greatly benefit from Reflexology and it's great for them if they are less mobile. They cannot afford £40 etc. I would be happy to treat the elderly and take less money and have great job satisfaction.
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
This will be my final message! I don't wish to offend anyone with my comments but they are just my opinions!
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Hi Ayres Rock
Just another thought... doing Reflexology is a business but it should not be all about money. Yes you should make a profit for your time but think about the ELDERLY who would greatly benefit from Reflexology and it's great for them if they are less mobile. They cannot afford £40 etc. I would be happy to treat the elderly and take less money and have great job satisfaction.
I am sure no one takes offence. In fact it is a fair comment. I have always offered special rates for pensioners and as you say it does give you great satisfaction. ("sh" I am one myself).
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Just a thought - dont undersell yourself, charge the going rate as you are qualified but maybe do an introductory offer - so for your first eg. month offer your treatments at a reduced rate but on your flyers make it clear what the normal rate will be once offer is finished. (Sorry if someone has already mentioned that on this post - i'm just skimming through at mo and not read all replies yet :D)
Cath xx
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Definitely don't undersell yourself! Having done all the hard work whilst studying, you deserve to charge an appropriate rate which I believe is the market rate for your area. Around my area people are charging up to £40-50 for a treatment at the top end.
At our tutorial, our tutor told us of a previous student who had charged £50 pre-diploma prices. She didn't bat an eyelid and he felt he was worth every penny so why not charge for it. He got plenty of clients.
If I'm looking for a service, I tend not to go with those charging the lowest as I believe (right or wrong) that the quality won't be as good.
RE: Treatment costs for newly qualified
Hi Berni.. I'm a little late at coming to this forum.. so hope you are still reading.
I've recently gone through all of this when setting up my Massage Therapy business. The conclusion I came to was that starting to low would be a big mistake - as so many wise people on here have pointed out - it will be virtually impossible to raise prices afterwards.
However there are ways around it.. I did a postcard promotion which offered 20% off the first treatment (a way of enticing people to at-least try the service) - which proved very successful.
You could also offer a loyalty discount.. ie. after booking 5 consecutive treatments a client gets the 6th one free? That also encourages regular business without devaluing your service.
And finally - with respect to the elderly - I am going to offer a 20% concessionary discount for the elderly..
Hope that helps!
Nat x