question about hiring MT's for a private facility

[j-diddy]

I work for a privately owned company in Birmingham, Al and we have just renovated a building we are using as a gym/club. There are 20-30 people who have use of the facility.

We would like to develop a roster of 3-5 MT's who would be available to perform MT, with notice. The idea being that we could call the personal trainer/building manager and have her find someone on the roster who's available.

We furnish all supplies, table/chair/lotions/linens, etc.

What would be an attractive pay rate for this type of situation, assuming 1 hour swedish and/or sports massage? The facility is not charging for this service, we just want to be able to offer it, at a discounted rate (plus tips), to the select few members.

I know the rate for an independent MT here in Bham is about $60/hr. I'm thinking if we are covering virtually every expense, the stated rate should be something less than $60.

Would this be an attractive situation, generally speaking?

Thanks for any advice/help.

 

[lippylou]

For something like that, I would go in to do a hour massage for $40, with everything supplied and the table set up. I think you should go ahead and supply sheets and music/stereo so that you can be sure of the quality. Oils/lotions wouldn't be a big deal, and I would probably take my own anyway, just to be sure I won't be allergic, but having them there already would be a nice perk. If all I had to do was open a cupboard and get sheets, put them (and a blanket, please) on the table, turn on the music and do the massage, then strip the table, I'd be in heaven. (Can you tell I do outcalls? : ) You'd need a clock in there, too.

Having more MT's than you absolutely need will make it easier to find one available when you have a guest request for that, but they do need to know they are not to expect a whole lot of work. You need to not expect full time availability from someone you won't give many hours of work.....respect them. It would be a great opportunity to pick up some extra pay, then, and very appreciated.

 

[Christopher M]

Even with everything supplied, it is pretty much an outcall (I actually hate using someone else's table, they never seem to adjust to the right height, I'd rather just bring mine in, unless it is up lots of stairs )
You're only offering one appointment, if someone has to drive far to get there I doubt $40 would be attractive, if the therapist lived 5 mins down the road, it may be. Depending on where the company is (downtown where parking is a challenge? Some industrial area miles from anywhere a therapist would normally be? In the middle of a residential area where MTs seem to love to live?) will influence how attractive your offer is.

If you are supplying linen, that means you are doing the laundry. Does the company have laundry facilities? It can be a lot of laundry.

I think the more therapists you have available to call the better, BUT that will make it more of an outcall scenario as far as the therapist is concerned. You're not offering a place they can build a business with the general public (like a spa with an MT on call, they get new clients), you're just calling them in for a massage every now and then for the 20 - 30 people. The first month the 20-30 people may all get a massage, but it will probably dwindle from there, though maybe someone will have a massage very week and it will all balance out at the end. I think you may have to consider not being able to provide discount massages compared with going somewhere (the $60 rate), but you will probably find you are able to negotiate a discount outcall rate which would probably make it around the $60 mark

 

[Haung Pnong]

I didn't think about distance - I live in a small town, and pretty much anyplace is within a 5 minute drive, with plenty of parking. There is a lot to consider about what you want to offer!

 

[HangingChad]

The people most willing to do this would be new massage therapists who don't yet have a full clientele of their own. My understanding is that you'd have a list of therapists to call. If one of them was available when you called, they might like making an extra $40 - $50. I suggest advertising this opportunity with massage schools. They often post job opportunities for new therapists.

 

[#2 yankeesfan]

That is exactly the type situation we have. The table is bought, sheets, stereo, etc. We do have laundry facilities. And parking. And ideally, we will be able to schedule 2 massages back to back to ease the travel per massage issue.

I agree about letting the MT's know it may only be a couple massages a month, but that is really why we want to have a decent roster. The MT's are not committing to being available at all times, only if it fits their schedule, which we'll never know. But they will be told we are not guaranteeing any amount of business.

I have talked to 3 MT's so far, plus a couple of the local schools. One who just happens to live very close by will do it for $40. Another wants her normal $60. And the third wants $85, which I just don't get.

One of the local schools said they would post the opening, the other sent me an email that basically said they'd post it, but didn't think anyone would be interested at that rate.

For something like that, I would go in to do a hour massage for $40, with everything supplied and the table set up. I think you should go ahead and supply sheets and music/stereo so that you can be sure of the quality. Oils/lotions wouldn't be a big deal, and I would probably take my own anyway, just to be sure I won't be allergic, but having them there already would be a nice perk. If all I had to do was open a cupboard and get sheets, put them (and a blanket, please) on the table, turn on the music and do the massage, then strip the table, I'd be in heaven. (Can you tell I do outcalls? : ) You'd need a clock in there, too.

 

[bluesclues]

Knocking off $20 for having everything provided is a huge amount of money being taken off the top for an outcall therapist.

I gotta say that I don't understand this attitidue. There are plenty of MT's who post on this board who work on-call for day spas. They aren't guaranteed clients. They're called if someone wants a massage, and they often go in, even for one person. The spa takes a cut, and the MT's expect that. I don't compare this to outcall massages at all.

 

[CARAMEL LOVE]

Knocking off $20 for having everything provided is a huge amount of money being taken off the top for an outcall therapist.

I gotta say that I don't understand this attitidue. There are plenty of MT's who post on this board who work on-call for day spas. They aren't guaranteed clients. They're called if someone wants a massage, and they often go in, even for one person. The spa takes a cut, and the MT's expect that. I don't compare this to outcall massages at all.

I was wondering about the comparison to outcall massage, too. This sounds like running in to an office as an IC - everything is there and set up. It isn't a "job", just an opportunity for occasional extra (easy) work. When I worked at the fitness club as an IC I'd go in to do a massage and my portion was $35 for an hour. That is very common. Whenever I don't have to cover the overhead of the office, schedule the clients, advertise, OR carry anything, I do not expect the same rate as when I am sole proprietor.

 

[Pompal 09.]

So I was a bit interested to find out what the going rate for massage is in Birmingham AL. I went to ABMP and searched as well as a search on Yahoo. I found three outcall MT's in my search and the rates for an hour started at $75 and went up to $100. So, now you know why one MT told you $85.

In an office setting, I didnt see any rates lower than $60 for a one hour session, and I looked at 6 websites. A couple MT's charged $70 for one hour in office.

Edit: One outcall MT also charges a $25 fee on top of her $75 rate depending how far away you live from her.

When you hire an employee (or have an IC) to come into your office, will you consider that person to be an outcall therapist, and pay her your regular fee plus travel charges? Why would this be considered outcalls?

 

[seek513]

I have talked to 3 MT's so far, plus a couple of the local schools. One who just happens to live very close by will do it for $40. Another wants her normal $60. And the third wants $85, which I just don't get.

One of the local schools said they would post the opening, the other sent me an email that basically said they'd post it, but didn't think anyone would be interested at that rate.

This could easily be a variation of how busy they already are. Like I said before, if this was close by, I would be willing to be on your roster. I wouldn't be committing to you (and therefore have to turn away my own clients at a higher rate), just being available for some extra work, which would be nice during my own slumps. The one who wants $60 is probably plenty busy and would consider doing it as a favor to you, but doesn't need the extra work at all and figures if she does it, it better be worth her while to let it cut into her time. The one who wants $85 probably just doesn't want to tell you "no thanks, I'm not interested".

I'm surprised that the schools didn't figure people would be interested at that rate. My school was pushing spa jobs at $8 an hour at us. :roll: It was very into spa employment being by far the best way to start out and talked down self-employment.

 

[Elisha Rocks <3]

I agree that it does not seem like a home visit situation. To me that involves bringing my table, etc, plus taking the extra time to travel to someones home for one session. Nevermind that also usually involves working in someone's living room and trying to negotiate furniture, etc. Hence, the extra charge.

In this case, it sounds like everything is done, including scheduling the clients, so that the MT just has to show up and not even deal with laundry.

I don't think it is unreasonable to have several MTs to call, since this would not be a "regular" job. It definitely, from an MT perspective, seems like it would be an occasional session here or there, and with no extra marketing and such necessary, I think I would probably ask around 40 or 50 for a 60 minute session.

That said, I also do not think $85 is unreasonable either. That MT may have a full client base or extensive/specialized training and may feel that any additional appts. should be at the regular rate.

 

[lunajanett]

The $85 MT is a friend of the personal trainer/facility manager. She does mostly medical(?) type work and/or works in medical/therapeutic facilities. And don't even start with the conspiracy theories. I'd like to think she's not that stupid.

Two other factors to consider with independents and their rates, IMHO. It appears to me to be very common for them to give $5-10 dollar off coupons/advertisements, and many/most offer some type of bulk/pre-pay option. So the average rate would be somewhat less than the advertised rate.

Second, the whole tipping issue for independents, aka, business owners. I always tip, but some don't for those MT's who own their business. I would expect our members to tip $10-20 per session, always.


[/quote]

This could easily be a variation of how busy they already are. Like I said before, if this was close by, I would be willing to be on your roster. I wouldn't be committing to you (and therefore have to turn away my own clients at a higher rate), just being available for some extra work, which would be nice during my own slumps. The one who wants $60 is probably plenty busy and would consider doing it as a favor to you, but doesn't need the extra work at all and figures if she does it, it better be worth her while to let it cut into her time. The one who wants $85 probably just doesn't want to tell you "no thanks, I'm not interested".

 

[manpriest]

The $85 MT is a friend of the personal trainer/facility manager. She does mostly medical(?) type work and/or works in medical/therapeutic facilities. And don't even start with the conspiracy theories. I'd like to think she's not that stupid.

Conspiracy theories? Where did you get that? Nobody is saying anybody is stupid and nobody is proposing a conspiracy. You quoted me. Did I offend you? I really only meant to be helpful. :?

 

[Bethenia]

Sorry, I was just trying to "nip it in the bud" to quote Barney Fiffe. I figured someone would bring up the issue of kickbacks as a possibility for the higher rate.

You've all been very helpful. Rose of Sharon, how much to commute to Bham?

The $85 MT is a friend of the personal trainer/facility manager. She does mostly medical(?) type work and/or works in medical/therapeutic facilities. And don't even start with the conspiracy theories. I'd like to think she's not that stupid.

Conspiracy theories? Where did you get that? Nobody is saying anybody is stupid and nobody is proposing a conspiracy. You quoted me. Did I offend you? I really only meant to be helpful. :?

 

[Instamatikk]

I would expect our members to tip $10-20 per session, always.

While this would certainly be a pleasant addition to the agreed upon pay scale, I would not count on it as part of my rate for sessions simply because you may or may not get an "expected" tip. I am not aiming that comment at this particular situation- just a general comment.

 

[sofeinurbizness]

I understand that, but in this case it is a sure thing.

I would expect our members to tip $10-20 per session, always.

While this would certainly be a pleasant addition to the agreed upon pay scale, I would not count on it as part of my rate for sessions simply because you may or may not get an "expected" tip. I am not aiming that comment at this particular situation- just a general comment.

 

[avaaaa]

Having more MT's than you absolutely need will make it easier to find one available when you have a guest request for that, but they do need to know they are not to expect a whole lot of work. You need to not expect full time availability from someone you won't give many hours of work.....respect them. It would be a great opportunity to pick up some extra pay, then, and very appreciated.

I have to second this. I was a IC for a set up much like the original poster is trying to start. (see my thread http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8475)

I quit because he had 7 MT's and very low volume of clients for massage and if you did not call back within 5 minutes they gave that massage to someone else who did pick up the phone right away, even if it was your scheduled day/time of availability.

If you want MT's who are really good for your clients, be sure to respect a MT's time., otherwise the ones who really have it on the ball go elsewhere for work.

 

[Mads]

Sorry, I was just trying to "nip it in the bud" to quote Barney Fiffe. I figured someone would bring up the issue of kickbacks as a possibility for the higher rate.

You've all been very helpful. Rose of Sharon, how much to commute to Bham?

Let's see, 12.5 hours, 800 miles one way.....LOTS. Meals and hotel must be covered, too.

 

[Yung Dirt]

I would expect our members to tip $10-20 per session, always.

While this would certainly be a pleasant addition to the agreed upon pay scale, I would not count on it as part of my rate for sessions simply because you may or may not get an "expected" tip.

I understand that, but in this case it is a sure thing.

Tips are never a sure thing. I understand that you expect your members to tip, and would be surprised if they didn't, but you can't guarantee that behavior.

 

[geegee]

I don't think this is like a spa situation where you are on call because of the volume - in this situation there are only 20-30 people that could possibly make an appointment, at a spa it's the whole surrounding area, whoever walks in the door, there are possible new clients, you can build your business. In a spa situation you can market yourself, give people your card, tell them you are available at such and such a place, you may not choose to because you're only working at the spa to supplement your income while you build a private practice, or whatever, BUT it's the MT's choice not to promote the spa.
In this situation it's like a private home, you can't get people to see you there, no point promoting it. It's like an outcall or a corporate job.