a community of practitioners

Onsite Chair Massages

I would to know if anyone does onsite chair massages? I have been approached by a dentist office to bring my chair for 2 day a month and do chair massages. My delima is what to charge. Can anyone offer some guidance on how you come up with your pricing?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on May 12, 2011 at 9:17am

Hi helen,

When ever I do chair massage any place it is always the same price. A Dollar a minute. Hope this helps.

Permalink Reply by Helen Moss on May 12, 2011 at 8:52pm

ok thanks

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on May 26, 2011 at 5:56am

do you think that when doing a fundraiser you could charge, say $12 for 10 minutes (giving 1/2 to the charity) or would it be better to just charge the $1 per minute and set out a tip jar too?

I am pitching doing chair massage at a local event to benefit the local wildlife park and get my name out in my area.

thanks for any input

Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on May 27, 2011 at 8:20am

Hi Elizabeth,

When I do a charity fund raiser all the money goes to the charity. I keep nothing for myself. That is just what I do and have always done. For me it is about giving back. I just did a fund raiser for Organ Donation last weekend. I loved it. Lunch was provided at a great resturant, I met a lot of great folks, plus was able to get my name out there and give out business cards as well. I raised $100 in an hour and a half. All of it went to Organ Donation. I keep nothing for myself when I do these events. That is just how I do it. There are many choices as to how you can do your own fund raisers. If you feel you have to be paid, then pay yourself first. Just record it for tax purposes.

Elizabeth (Cassie) Christensen said:

do you think that when doing a fundraiser you could charge, say $12 for 10 minutes (giving 1/2 to the charity) or would it be better to just charge the $1 per minute and set out a tip jar too?

I am pitching doing chair massage at a local event to benefit the local wildlife park and get my name out in my area.

thanks for any input

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on May 27, 2011 at 10:10am

yes unfortunately my family and animals need to eat to. I was going to offer to split the earnings for the Wildlife Park to benefit also. I could just pay the $10 for the day and keep all of the money. But thought it would be a neat thing to offer the Park. I could be wrong.

Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on May 27, 2011 at 8:29pm

Elizabeth you will figure out what is right for you. For me, I give it all because the more I give the more I receive. It is in giving that I receive.

Elizabeth (Cassie) Christensen said:

yes unfortunately my family and animals need to eat to. I was going to offer to split the earnings for the Wildlife Park to benefit also. I could just pay the $10 for the day and keep all of the money. But thought it would be a neat thing to offer the Park. I could be wrong.

Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on May 28, 2011 at 7:06am

Elizabeth you pose both an ethical issue and a tax issue. Whatever you decide be sure to report it accurately on taxes. That is income verses charitable donation.

As for myself I donate my services, which means 100% goes to the charity. I have done it no charge as an attraction for the charity event and as just open donation without a price. When it is a donation at a charitable event many people put more than I would charge for the time. I would make it clear what you are doing. If you put a sign stating "Chair Massage $12, 50% to X Charity" I think it would be fine. If you donate your time you still get to deduct the value from taxes as a donation.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on May 28, 2011 at 3:38pm

I would put definitely clearly say that 50% was going to the charity, and I always report everything accurately. So I am unsure why it would be an ethical or tax issue.

Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on May 28, 2011 at 5:19pm

I did not say you have an ethical or tax issue. I only refer to your question as such. "do you think that when doing a fundraiser you could charge, say $12 for 10 minutes (giving 1/2 to the charity) or would it be better to just charge the $1 per minute and set out a tip jar too?"

Other than those issues you can charge whatever you like.Your suggestion asking about a tip jar and $12.00 as opposed to $10.00 indicated you keep $2.00 plus any tips. It was not clear what the divide was to be. Therefor, I mentioned the ethical issue because people would not know what they were donating and what they were paying you unless there is a sign stating it.

Elizabeth (Cassie) Christensen said:

I would put definitely clearly say that 50% was going to the charity, and I always report everything accurately. So I am unsure why it would be an ethical or tax issue.

Permalink Reply by Helen Moss on May 28, 2011 at 9:10pm

Cassie, I did a fundraiser at a casino, for a community that was destroyed by a tornado last month, and I did $1per min, My sign stated 50% of all monies raised will go to ------. the casino matched whatever I raised and I did have a tip jar. Have lots of business cards , flyers ect. out for the people to take, I had people sign up for a free 30 min massage and began to build a mailing list. I too give away alot but in the form of 30 min gift certs. It has paid off, alot of people purchase an additional 30 mins.

Good luck

Helen

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on May 29, 2011 at 11:24pm

Helen,

I appreciate your input. This is what I planned to do, nice to know someone else trying it. I put off mine until the end of the month- they have a larger event. I will definately use your advice.

thanks for the ideas.

Cassie

Helen Moss said:

Cassie, I did a fundraiser at a casino, for a community that was destroyed by a tornado last month, and I did $1per min, My sign stated 50% of all monies raised will go to ------. the casino matched whatever I raised and I did have a tip jar. Have lots of business cards , flyers ect. out for the people to take, I had people sign up for a free 30 min massage and began to build a mailing list. I too give away alot but in the form of 30 min gift certs. It has paid off, alot of people purchase an additional 30 mins.

Good luck

Helen

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on May 29, 2011 at 11:28pm

sorry to be unclear Daniel, I would give 1/2 of all monies raised. Just didn't know whether a flat rate, or a $1 per minute with a tip jar would be more beneficial. I have seen some chair massage charge per minute and have a tip jar, just didn't know if most did it or if there are other ideas.

sorry for the confusion.

Cassie

Daniel Cohen said:

I did not say you have an ethical or tax issue. I only refer to your question as such. "do you think that when doing a fundraiser you could charge, say $12 for 10 minutes (giving 1/2 to the charity) or would it be better to just charge the $1 per minute and set out a tip jar too?"

Other than those issues you can charge whatever you like.Your suggestion asking about a tip jar and $12.00 as opposed to $10.00 indicated you keep $2.00 plus any tips. It was not clear what the divide was to be. Therefor, I mentioned the ethical issue because people would not know what they were donating and what they were paying you unless there is a sign stating it.

Elizabeth (Cassie) Christensen said:

I would put definitely clearly say that 50% was going to the charity, and I always report everything accurately. So I am unsure why it would be an ethical or tax issue.