Rates for corporate chair massage?

[Bhupesh]

A friend of a friend contacted me yesterday wanting to know if I would consider doing chair massage for his staff (of about 30).  I'm not sure of the details, been playing phone eforum.xxx, but I want to be prepared when I do talk to him.  I know the company will be footing the bill, my problem is how much to charge.  I think I'd rather work by the hour rather than by the number of minutes.  Any ideas on what would be an appropriate amount for 6 hours of work?Jen

 

[Sky.Ice.]

Jen, I wouldn't charge any less than $1/min.  If this is only a one time deal, I would probably charge them $400 for the entire time & if they wanted to bring you in on a regular basis, then you can give then the discounted rate of $360.That's just my 2 cents.

 

[KaNi]

Rates for corporate chair massage?

You should have a couple different prices to offer him when you and he finally converse. If he tells you that he wants to do this on a regular basis, I'd offer him a discount...something like $330 ($55 x 6 hours). If he is just wanting to do this as a one-time thing, I would offer him a free 20-minute massage but charge $360 ($60 x 6 hours).That's just what I would do if it were me...Be well,Jen

 

[dingding]

Rates for corporate chair massage?

Ah, the eternal question.Unless you are in greater Philly - and even that is not always a higher priced area - you are stuck in $/minute land, but resist the temptation to let the mistakes of others determine what your work is worth.Too many people see six hours of work staring them in the face and panic at the thought charging their normal rates, then discount because they think everyone is as broke as they are and cannot afford the regular rates which ends up driving down rates for everyone. Which is why chair massage is $/min is most of the country when table massage is generally higher, and outcalls are at least 50% higher than chair rates.The fact is, you are doing an outcall. How much would you charge to schlep your table somewhere and give 6 one hour massages? That should be the basis of your price. An hour of your time is an hour of your time. Charge accordingly.They should pay 6 x your hourly table rate, plus a premium for you to come to them. If you want to discount, waive the premium for the outcall. Just tell you friend "I usually charge X per hour, but that is when they come to me...since I am coming to you...." He needs to know what your standard rates are for your time.Remember your hour is really 50 mins of working time, so bunch up a few of those 10 mins to make your lunch break.If this is the first time they have done chair massage, add a gratuity/service charge to your rate. Companies are used to paying it (they re-imburse your friend for the tip he leaves at a business dinner) and first-time recipients won't know to tip.Good luck!

 

[Tracy D]

Thanks all, I told him $400 and he didn't bat an eye.  My regular rate is $50/hr so I don't feel like I'm selling myself short.And RelaxandRejuvenate, I'm outside of Philly by about an hour (west).  We're not in a very urban area but I'm very close to the turnpike.  There's a huge population of people originally from Philly and still working in the city that have moved my way.  Since we're so close to the turnpike the commute is easy and they can live in the "country".  Good for my business!

 

[moomoo]

Rates for corporate chair massage?

Too many people see six hours of work staring them in the face and panic at the thought charging their normal rates, then discount because they think everyone is as broke as they are and cannot afford the regular rates which ends up driving down rates for everyone. Which is why chair massage is $/min is most of the country when table massage is generally higher, and outcalls are at least 50% higher than chair rates.

I've seen you say this before, and I'm kinda left wondering... Am I the only one that charges more for chair massage than for table? Going rate in my area for table massage is $40/hr, while some charge $35 and some even $25 (I was QUITE surprised when I learned about the $25, as that's the same price as student massage at the school!). For chair massage, I charge $1/minute, or $60/hr. I usually don't charge to drive there to do the chair event, unless they live in one of the next cities over. (Everything is so close it only takes 5 minutes to get to anywhere in town.) I usually don't charge the traveling fee because I'm not doing massage for the whole hour, I take quick breaks between chair clients. I take time to clean off the chair (I sanitize the chair between clients, I'm picky about that), to stretch, sip on some water, put some hand sanitizer on, then put a fresh paper towel face-rest cover on. All in all, I really only work about 40-45 minutes out of the hour (that's in, say, 10-minute incriments), so I use my break time to cover the cost of travelling.

But am I the only one that charges more for chair massage than for table?

And Mamajen, you should definently try to work by the hour rather than charge-per-minute, as not all of your time will be massage. Some will get caught up doing their work that they cannot come see you, and you will lose that money. It's not your fault they got caught up in work, and you should still be paid. Also, since the company is going to be paid for it, you will most likely get tips as well. Good luck!

 

[........]

Rates for corporate chair massage?

Seforum.xxx - quick question. If the average rate for 1 hour is $40, does that mean your cost of living is also kinda low in Texas? In Chicago, the average is $65 and up.

 

[Caron]

Rates for corporate chair massage?

Exactly, Gaspen...it is all relevant to cost of living in your area. I'm in Texas like Seforum.xxxg; however, I live in a big town compared to his and so I can realistically charge more per massage hour than he can (though not an extreme amount more). My normal rate was $50 when I first started out. I recently raised it to $55, simply because I've been practicing for a few years now and have more knowledge under my belt, can offer more services, etc.for Relax&Rejuv: I used to live near D.C. and I can tell you that if I were an M.T. up there, I would easily charge $60+ per hour massage because cost of living is a good bit higher up there. I can only imagine it's just as high (if not higher) up in Philly. Nevertheless, when it comes to providing chair massage at any business. I don't charge traveling expenses like I would for an outcall client I'm going to see to do an hour or 2-hour massage on. The reason being is that I'm going to be there at the business for at least 3-4 hours (if not longer) and therefore am generating more income in one spot. Plus the potential of acquiring new (possibly regular) clientelle for my office is fairly good and worth not charging the traveling fee. Be well,Jen

 

[Pompal 09.]

Rates for corporate chair massage?

In the DC area, table rates average $75 in a massage studio or practioners home. Day spas start at $85 and go as high as $110.Yet these same therapists charge $/min.Seforum.xxxg, you would be in a class of very small people in most cities.I don't advocate charging a travelling fee. As Seforum.xxxg pointed out, that is built into the higher rate. In fact, I would never advocate a travelling or set up fee. The more you break it down, the more room to nitpick and compare.While I agree getting multiple hours in one location can be a good incentive for you to keep your prices lower, just remember that many chair massage clients don't have the luxury of having an event last all day. Our Health Fair clients are 3-4 hours, yet they still want 100 or more people massaged. If you have to bring in someone else to help, you are not getting those referrals or the benefits of being their 5 or 6 hours. You have to make money on your subcontractor, and you can only make that worth you while if you charge your regular rates.

 

[darl]

Rates for corporate chair massage?

I saw this short post after I typed the long one that follows. :

Thanks all, I told him $400 and he didn't bat an eye.  My regular rate is $50/hr so I don't feel like I'm selling myself short.

But, I am leaving my post anyway, in case it helps someone else!  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Here goes:

A friend of a friend contacted me yesterday wanting to know if I would consider doing chair massage for his staff (of about 30). I'm not sure of the details, been playing phone eforum.xxx, but I want to be prepared when I do talk to him.  I know the company will be footing the bill, my problem is how much to charge.  I think I'd rather work by the hour rather than by the number of minutes.  Any ideas on what would be an appropriate amount for 6 hours of work?

You already have a number of good replies here, so, I'll just add in what I have worked with as additional input for what it is worth.I'll start out with:

A friend of a friend

This is a good reason, in my opinion, NOT to make a price reduction. Friends and friends of friends seem to expect reductions and freebies and I think that breeds bad business in the long run.  They have a tendency to start telling people all of your reductions and never the normal price.   :-/

chair massage for his staff (of about 30)

You can plan on 30 people being about 6 hours of work if each person gets a 10 min. massage.  If you take a lunch it will be a long day.  Depending on the frame of your body and how much chair massage you have done in the past, and if you do deeper work on a chair or lighter work, will depend on how tired you are at the end.I wouldn't charge anything less than $60/hour.  I am in a large city in Texas so anything from $60/hour to $85/hour would be going rate.  If it were me personally, I'd say $85/hour, because for me, chair massage is difficult on my hands, I am shorter, and I do deeper work.  While we're talking money, since you mentioned that the owner of the company is paying the fee and not the employees, I would NOT take a tip jar, as it is more of a gift to the employees (that is just a personal preference).  I would, howeverk, ask if you can take business cards and brochures.  You may also consider to make up some sort of small gift packet for each employee.  I think a number of ideas have been mentioned on the the business forum as "gift bags", and instead of a price break, maybe something like this could be used as an incitive for them to consider work by you in the future (now this is not something I am saying I have ever done, or even know that it would work, but it hit me as a brain-storm while I was typing, so I thought I'd throw it in, in case it is something that works for you -- who knows what will work for someone, ya know?    ).Something to consider talking to him about would be the logistics of where you will set up.  Is there an outlet for a CD player, are there restrooms, etc?  Also, you may want to ask about how the employees will be coming to you.  For example, if it is a pretty large space, you may suggest they phone eforum.xxx each other, one after the next, so that you don't have to be hunting up the employees. Always be prepared that an employee will be lolly-gagging around, and may need to be skipped over until later or prodded.  That is why I always account for five 10 min. massages in each hour, instead of six.Find out how the billing arrangement will be too.  You'll need to know if you will invoice the company or get paid upfront.  If it turns out to be a regular job, then future invoicing would be something to mention at this phone call.  Maybe something to the effect of, the first time out, you are always paid upfront, but if the company is going to have you once a month, then you would consider invoicing when the regular job is set up.Hope some of this helps.  You probably already knew most of it.  

 

[Kevin o]

Rates for corporate chair massage?

Seforum.xxx - quick question. If the average rate for 1 hour is $40, does that mean your cost of living is also kinda low in Texas? In Chicago, the average is $65 and up.

Yes, cost of living here is pretty low. Rent on my studio apartment is only $300/month, and that includes water and gas. Then again, currently I'm living about 5 miles out of the ghetto, so most people are afraid to move here in fear of getting shot in their driveway. But hey, even gangstas need massage! (I can't wait to move, get me outa here!)

 

[Dominic]

ok, i could not even imagine doing chair massage for 6 hours!  i'd be bored & exhausted.  i just did an event the other day.  it was 3 hours of 20 minute intervals.  i was so tired after that.  if i had to go another 30 seconds i probably would have strangled someone.  i could do table massage all day long but chair massage, i tap out at 3 hours.  in fact, i really love the 2 hour gigs.  you get in, you get out.  maybe the money isn't as good but it makes me happy.  good for you for charging the rate you did.  i would never charge a per minute fee for chair massage, especially a corporate function.  give them a flat rate.  that's what they're looking for.  the thing you have to be careful of is going over your time.  it is inevitable that employees will come out of the woodwork.  just when you think you're done, 3 employees come out and ask, "you can still work on us right?" and it's already 10 minutes past when you're supposed to leave...argggghhh.  

 

[sugaree]

I too always charge a flat hourly rate for chair massage and I never tack on a travel premium, especially since my travel cost is tax deductable.  Terab makes a good point regarding sticking to your schedule.  I inevitably end up with a straggler walking in wanting to know if I can stay just long enough to work on him/her.  I generally bring a few discount cards with me for just such an occasion.  I offer a $5 or $10 discount for a 60 min. or 90 minute appointment (respectively).  This is a great way to get new clients in the door.  They've met you and their co-workers are all raving about the 10 minute chair massage they received.  Even the folks who don't take advaneforum.xxxe of the discounted session at least leave with a warm fuzzy feeling and are happy to talk you up to their friends/family.

 

[Nirvana Boy]

I have a question concerning chair massage  I recently got an offer to do employee benefits for a non profit medical clinic from their insurance company to do chair massage on the clinics staff not patients.   They are asking me for an rate.  Should I go with what the insurance company pays for 97124 (massage) or go with what my usual hourly rate for massage and write off the losses. I am in the process of putting together the presentation now  so any words of advice on this would be great and dealing with insurance companies in general.

 

[Bunny]

Qitoes -Make sure that there isn't any loses!  Charge whatever is higher, I am assuming by the way you phrased your question, that the insurance pays higher than your rate, if so, then go for it.  We should not be worried about giving people a break, read through again what people have written again and be honest about what you charge, and charge what your time is worth.  You need to make money too!  You can always have coupons available for your table sessions, but don't sell yourself short.  When I started out, I was so afraid that people would think $65 was too expensive for an outcall!!!  Now that I see what people actually pay for a massage, and what some pay for an outcall, I realized that I was worth a lot more than what I was charging.  Once I find space to rent, I will be charging $85 a session, and $125 for an outcall.  I realized very quickly, when an hour massage took me over 2 hours door to door and how much money I actually made for that one session while charging $65 and not being tipped!!!  So, I only keep that rate for my friends and family, and hand them a stack of my business cards to hand out, because they have to help me with spreading word of mouth for me to survive and they are happy too!So definitely have a set block of time, such as listed above, so that you get paid for your time, working or not, it is still your time that you may be able to make up working if you were elsewhere!!!  Make sure you get paid for it!!!