Set Massage Fees

How to set fees that support you in success

There are many emotional issues around money and old beliefs about money that often come up for massage therapists. They often think things like:

• How can I charge for something that is so wonderful, spiritual and so nurturing?

• If I don't have the lowest price around, I won't get new clients coming in the door.

• I can charge less because I work from home and don't have the same overhead as others

• I can charge less because I have a mobile massage practice and don't have the same office overhead

The other part about setting fees is also creating a cancellation policy for your massage business and setting a fee for no show appointments or last minute cancellations.

Having to deal with such money issues if often difficult for massage therapist who just want to be doing massage. The fact is that setting your fees for massage is one of the highest forms of self care that will enhance your chances for success. Since most massage therapists often end up in some state of burnout in their massage career and not making enough money to sustain the business is one of the main causes.

Setting fees that are less than the going rate in your area is undermining the profession and yourself. It usually hurts you in the long run and also the profession. When you charge less than you need to make you will often end up feeling resentful (eventually). Putting the client's financial needs above yours is poor self care. If you are not able to stay in business because you aren't making enough, you won't be much good to anyone then.

There are also some other factors at work that will help you increase your business when you do charge the going rate or more than the going rate. People's perception that they get more when they pay more applies here. The thing is that they will also most likely get more when you are happier and financially stable. A higher price makes a massage seem more appealing to many. Your price says a lot about your own value and who you are as a person and professional. Massage therapists often confuse charging more with being greedy or not being caring. It is just business. Separating your emotions from money and making money is a process of becoming more aware of your beliefs about money that are often what is holding you back from being successful.

Working with people who find you because you are cheap can also be the most difficult clients to work with demanding more of your time and energy making the low fees even lower. In general, these people are just there for your low rates. They will leave when you raise your rates. They are less likely to be loyal weekly clients that come for years. (Most of my clients have been coming regularly for over 18 years once a week or once every other week.) They will follow the discounts - not you. They are also less likely to refer others to you which is one of the most effective ways of building your massage business. The discount client is there for the price and not you.

Clients who don't understand the value of massage are also harder to educate about the value of getting regular weekly massage. When people say they can't come because you are too expensive it is most likely not about the money. When people want something they will find the money. It is more about how you have communicated with them and built a relationship with them or your lack of doing so. What people are paying for is the relationship - the experience that they get with you. Learning to write and talk about yourself from the heart right from the beginning is what will help you attract your "Ideal Client" - the ones who value the most!

How much is a massage worth?

Think about some of these things when you are setting your fees:You are only able to do 20-25 (or some number) of massages a week/month/year. Your body can only handle so much.

The cost of office space, gas, utilities, food and everything are constantly increasing. You as a massage therapist also need to raise your rates so that you can keep up with the cost of living. Every year you need to raise your rates.

Your time is valuable - the time it takes to prepare for a session, recover and clean up from a session are to be included in setting massage fees.

Voice your information, opinion, comments or story on this topic.

Learn how to effectively set your massage rates to support your massage business and yourself and overcome the emotional blocks that keep you from being successful and earning what you are worth.

For more on the Rate Setting Tool Kit

See also www.thebodyworker.com - Set Massage Fees

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