Step 8 – Decide upon your rates. Your hourly rate should be more than rate you determined from salary survey (Step 5). It should also be comparable to rates within your area (Step 4). Can they be higher? Yes, especially if your perceived value is higher or you provide services no one else does.

After you have decided upon a rate add 10 percent for indirect expenses. In addition to your time, you incur indirect expenses such as childcare, building expenses, software, computers, etc. that are needed to run your business.

Don’t include direct expenses in your hourly rate. These are items that are specific to project such as envelopes, shipping, post cards and postage. Often times cost of these items fluctuate over life of a project. I recommend that these items be billed separately on your invoice and not become part of your “service” fee.

Step 9 – Batch your services. Charging by hour is cumbersome. You have to track amount of time you spend on a project. Many times 5 or 10 minutes spent today and last Monday aren’t accounted for because it was such a short amount of time to track. If you “give” your client 10 minutes a day you are losing about 3 ½ hours of billable time each month (multiply that times number of clients and your rate to find out how much you are losing each month). Package your services and bill for package. The client isn’t paying for your time. You are being paid for your expertise and your ability to get job done.

Step 10 – Create and Print your rate chart. Use list of services and time compiled in Steps 1 and 2 as well as batches you created in Step 9 to create a rate chart. Print this and use it when asked for a quote. You will find quoting is much quicker and simpler with no guessing involved.

Careful research and careful analysis of details such as competition, target client and services offered will lead you to “just right price” for your services.

Suzette Flemming is the CEO / CFO of Flemming Business Services. Providing financial direction to businesses since 1994. Learn how to save money and increase your bottom line by subscribing to our free newsletter ~ Make the Most of Your Money at www.FlemmingBusinessServices.com or give us a call with questions at (425) 432-5870.

4.Show people that massage services are an investment, not a useless expense. You can get magazines that specializes in massage therapy related topics. They are affordable and demonstrate value of this kind of alternative medicine.

5.Motivate people take action and be responsible for their own health This is only a little sample of tips to get you started. I could bet that you already knew most of these techniques. But remember that it won’t help you to read this unless you decide turn your knowledge into action. That is what sets leaders apart!

Annick Lemieux is LMT at the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. She owned her private practice and worked internationally for Luxury Spas Onboard Cruises Ships. She also the author of the complimentary MaSsagE-ZinE, a publication dedicated to educate and help other professional Massage Therapists willing to build and keep their thriving practice.