Do you charge for consultations?

Just wanted everyone's opinion on whether you charge for a consultation. Currently I have it listed as $30 but that cost can be applied towards their first treatment. This way it ends up being free if they do book. I also offer a complimentary product consultation so they can discuss home care and they get a discount for each product they trade-in. Is it confusing to have 2 different types of consultations with different price points? Thanks for you input!

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Permalink Reply by Samantha Maline on August 27, 2013 at 7:06pm

I don't think it's confusing, I just wouldn't list it on a menu. I do the same thing I just tell them verbally based on their needs. While I wish I could charge for some of the consultations that I do, I think $30 for information could be a put off. But I've been caught up with a very needy client who wants to discuss the same thing over, forward, under, and backwards before they're happy with the result. Sometimes this has taken up to 45 minutes before I realize what time it is and I've learned to verbally close consultations and usher them out of my treatment room to give them time to ponder.

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Permalink Reply by coldsalineplexus on August 27, 2013 at 7:19pm

Yes! Used to apply the fee for the consultation to a same-day product purchase, but no more. My time is valuable, as is that of my staff estheticians. Still no charge for a quick look in the lobby to advise on what facial to get, but if we get into looking at the skin in-depth, there is most definitely a charge.

The flip side of charging for something is setting it up in such a way that YOU believe it is of value. For me, this meant retrofitting my skin scope with a digital camera, and purchasing a pH meter to test the client's existing products. I also extended consultation from 30 min to 45min. So in addition to a close look at their skin, talk about their goals, and written skincare prescription including the next couple treatments, they now also get SS pictures and the experience of seeing me test their products and explain exactly what has to change in the home Rx and why.