choosing NOT to do outcalls

[Pompal 09.]

I've been getting calls for home visits and I could use the money, but I never wanted to build an outcall business. I just have too much going on right now (motherhood, building a business, etc).

Am I committing career suicide by not taking these outcalls? Business is slow to build at the salon, but I feel by taking on these outcalls that I'll be biting off more than I can chew right now. I feel the prep and drive time to be draining

For those of you who do or don't do outcalls, why did you choose to do so? Pros/cons?[/list]

 

[alvinyprime]

I've got the opposite issue. I have never done outcalls, really. Lately I've been getting lots of calls for them, due to my website having good visibility. I'm thinking of adding them for a significant premium just to see how it goes. If it goes well, I'll hire or have an IC do the work.

 

[mo.lukwago900]

My situation is very similar to Pete's. I was looking for an office for almost 2 years. I originally had a partner so I was looking for larger space, she backed out so everything changed. I ended up getting an offer with my chiropractor, but that fell through as well. I told all my clients that this was temporary until I had my office, and that is the only reason I was doing house calls. I seemed to be doing more and more, that it ended up not being profitable due to the time commitment, which always seemed to increase. It is also harder to stop a conversation in someone elses home especially when they haven't paid yet, where in your own space you can usher them out the door.

I also had the change in my physical capability of doing house calls. I was rear ended pretty badly last December and it was getting tougher getting the table in and out of my truck and set up. The other problem was that people didn't listen to me that I could only do 1st floor sessions, I could not carry the table up a flight (+) of stairs. I could do a few getting into the house but that was it... needless to say the first one I did after the accident, I almost called from her driveway to say that I was cancelling because she had 30+ stairs to get to her front door.

It also was the money factor, to make it profitable for me, it became unreasonable to charge. But now I am working out of my office, and just making rent, I still will not make a housecall unless they are physically homebound.

I also really don't want to have to take apart my office set up, since I only have the 1 table.

So yes, I have lost a few clients and some of them have even said that they don't blame me for not doing them anymore. I also wasn't charging as much as I am now in order to do them... which I wonder if that is even too low for a housecall!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Do it for the $$

Pete is right.

Outcall clients won't come to you.

You should do them to help build your bank account, but be smart about it.

Pricing - 50% over your office/studio rates would be appropriate. That should also work out to about $25 - $30 / hour over a service at a high end spa. Outcall clients have money. what they don't have it time or patience. It may take you 2 + hours to do an outcall, but don't think that you should charge 2x. That would be like charging an office client 2x because you did not have someone in between him and your next client! But you can be expected to be compensated for travel costs and the set up and break down time.

Scheduling - don't do them during your normal business hours. Part of building your practice is creating a consistent business image through your schedule. If you will take someone in your office 24/7, they won't take you seriously or respect your boundaries later. Plus, when you are paying rent, you want to earn money against that rent. Outcalls is like a PT job as a waitress, but more relevant to your career!

 

[Gray area]

Scheduling - don't do them during your normal business hours. Part of building your practice is creating a consistent business image through your schedule. If you will take someone in your office 24/7, they won't take you seriously or respect your boundaries later.

As an alternative to this comment, although building a consistent business image is important, this does not mean that having flexible hours that are not consistent will be a detriment to your practice or cause respect and boundary issues.

It will cause you to loose some individuals when you eventually set up more limitations, but I don't think it has to be a major problem. It all depends on the clientele.

I have excellent clientele. I started out working some very crazy hours and multiple jobs while building a practice over time. As a matter of fact, my hokey schedule and need to be in different places at different times helped clients to respect that when they booked an appointment, there was no reason to miss that booking or sluff it off unless an emergency took place or they called in advance to re-schedule. I rarely got no-shows or last minute cancellations then and practically never do now.

A lot of it depends on your expectations of your clients.

I am happy to work late hours when I want to. In the past I offered early hours when I needed to. If I needed money for rent, I'd work just about any hour necessary. When times get tough, I am still willing to add on hours. I try not to let my ego get in the way of that. Business and business and you do what you have to in order to survive. Some people have it a little easier in setting up a practice and some a little harder. You just keep plugging along and try not to get down when the going gets tough. What's that saying? When the going gets tough, the tough get going!

You also have to make a decision as to where you fight your battles and which ones you want to fight. If it means doing outcalls during business hours because you don't have a choice, then you do that.

Speaking of house calls, I don't offer them. But, I have come to the conclusion that if I ever decide to go this route it will be double my practice fee. I came to this decision because of my past experience with some consistent out-call work for hotels. Generally I can count on a 1 hour massage costing me 2 and 1/2 hours of time. So, I am ok with double my fee. The client is getting what they ask for and I am basically giving or taking the time factor because I know it all eventually comes out in the wash.

I've been getting calls for home visits and I could use the money, but I never wanted to build an outcall business. I just have too much going on right now (motherhood, building a business, etc).

Am I committing career suicide by not taking these outcalls? Business is slow to build at the salon, but I feel by taking on these outcalls that I'll be biting off more than I can chew right now. I feel the prep and drive time to be draining

For those of you who do or don't do outcalls, why did you choose to do so? Pros/cons?[/list]

So the question becomes how badly can you use the money? Can't pay rent? Then you may have to. Can't feed the kids? Then you may have to. The extra money will be a luxury to buy extra lattes? They you probably don't need to. It's that sort of thing.

I don't think you are commiting career suicide. You probably won't be getting these clients to ever come to you in a place of business, but, you may. It's doubtful though. They are usually a different type of clientel.

Pros: more work = more bodies to get your hands on = more learning experience = more net income

Cons: most likely won't be converted to your private practice; more time away from doing something else you'd rather be doing; possibility of dealing with more "attitude" type of clientele

 

[Naomi C]

i never do outcalls. i hate them. i don't care how much money you want to pay me, i won't do it. you run the risk of hurting yourself and it's not worth it. work on building your practice at the salon. it's time better spent. good luck!

 

[GETitGIRL ------------]

I did outcalls early on and quickly determined that I didn't care to continue to do them.

The table/extra equiptment was too heavy for me to tote around all the time - especially after I got hurt in an accident.
I didn't like not the first time clients. Did they have a steep driveway? Was parking available near their entrance? Did they want what I didn't provide *wink*?

I am much happier not doing them and it has never hurt my business.

 

[aholm]

Choosing not to do outcalls

Another great discussion 8)
I started my career doing lots of outcalls-hotels, houses, etc. I was much younger and had more stamina and enthusiasm. I also didn't have an office. As I came into full time office space I cut back on outcalls.
Fast forward to 2006: I have a great office space and was down to one outcall/week where the clients had a table. Suddenly I got two more clients who wanted 1-2x/week at their house. It became a real struggle to fit these in as I had to spend travel time, go thru traffic, lug my table, etc. I don't think I could get reimbursed fairly for my time and on really busy days it becomes quite a pain to get these clients in. I've tried to pass them on to other MTs but they won't budge. Next year I'll be cutting back and charging real $ for these.
Cheers,
rubmyster

 

[Cool B]

if you don't want to, don't.
maybe you could hook up with a mobile therapist that does a similar style, and help each other by referring.
some clients do not want office time; others don't want 'strangers' in their home...

 

[Lumidare]

I offer outcalls, but only to people I already know. I think of it as sort of a "perk" for people who 1) have been with me a while and 2) are semi-regular. They are priced consistent with what R&R said, and R&R is RIGHT.

Our website has a page specifically for Housecalls, because we do get a few requests for them. http://www.4thconsciousness.com/html/frisco_plano_tx_massage_therap3.html

It's wordy, but then, there's a lot of information to convey, as there's a lot involved in a housecall.

If you decide to do them, don't be afraid to ask for fair compensation! They ARE a ton of work. The 2-3 hours total time taken for every 1 hour of massage is CORRECT.

Hugs,
~Jyoti

PS: Comments on the Housecall page are welcome, if anyone is inclined.

 

[Gustavo]

I am also a mother, and am trying to build business. I do not do house calls for 3 reasons.

1) I am not very strong, and I find it too difficult to haul my table from place to place.
2) It takes a ton of time (more than an hour) to travel there, set up, massage, break down, travel back, which means more time away from my children
3) The biggest reason - it's not very safe

Now I know some people find that silly, but I just don't know how you could be sure about your safety. When you are in a client's home, you are no longer on neutral ground, and a bad situation could result. I know that may not seem very trusting of others, but I have small children to think of. You just don't know about people anymore, and I just can't justify taking that risk. This is just my own personal feeling, and I know lots of therapist who do house calls. It's just a personal preference.

My business is building slowly otherwise, but steadily. I hope you find some answers soon! Good luck!

 

[chileanbabe]

I have a question.

Long story short, the building in which my office is located is being sold only to be torn down. Due to the circumstances, I am not able to open another location on such short notice. So, I am gathering what current clientelle that I have (and are willing) and putting together an outcall service.

My main question, is there anything that I need in the way of licenses, insurance (higher coverage?), etc, to cover my backside other than what you need for an office setup?

Anyone with similar experience have any suggestions?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanks Pete, that is what I what I needed to know.

 

[captain futility]

I don't do outcalls either. Not worth it. I thought about offering them at a ridiculously high price, but then decided that still wasn't worth it.

Figure out what kind of client you *want*, write the description down, and focus on *that*.

One of the things I want is clients who are happy to come to my office.