How do you get paid for your SKYPE sessions?

Now that I am ready to start letting clients benefiting from all the great training and experience I have gathered, and since most my effort will be on line, I would like to ask some of the (old and young) pros out there; "How do you get paid?
Do you use PayPal? Or major credit cards ( something I do not have the means for at this time). How do you handle the process of getting paid. It is the only part of the session that I still am hesitant about. I would think you get paid before session(s)?? Do you charge for a block of sessions, or just the current session? Do you charge differently when you work on line or on the phone?

Thanks, I know that is a lot of questions, but it may take away my last excuse... to get me going on this.

Always Looking for More Tools,
Aino

Favorite

0 members favorited this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Homs on October 23, 2010 at 8:38pm

I charge before the session whether in person or online. It sets the expectation that there is an actual appointment and people actually show up and show up on time.

I don't charge differently for online or in person. I charge people for the change or experience they are getting, so there is no reason for a difference in price. In fact, for online, I may even charge HIGHER. They don't have the hassle and expense of traveling to me and can get the best person to solve their problem online. Sounds like the benefit is mostly on the client side to me...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roger Moore on October 23, 2010 at 9:37pm

Aino, - An hour of my time is an hour of my time, I charge the same. Payment for all clients (in person, phone or Skype) is due at the beginning of each session. I accept VISA, MC, Discover & PayPal.

It's great to hear that you are ready to roll!

Roger

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on October 23, 2010 at 11:37pm

Aino,
I think the answer you are looking for is this:

I use paypal. It doesn't require the client to have a paypal account, just a bank account will do. Paypal will keep your money until you tell them what to do with it. You can view your account at any time and have access to it via funds transfer to your bank, or Paypal debit card.

I have my online clients pay up front. They are not paying for the chance to approve or disapprove of your work. They pay you to do what you do best. If they don't like you, they won't be back for another session. If they do like you, they will send their friends. Its best to get the money out of the way as fast as possible so you can concentrate on their issue.

that's my opinion
John

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Krüger on October 24, 2010 at 12:40am

Side note: people can pay with their credit card via PayPal, so it covers pretty much all angles. I'm not a big fan of the people who run PayPal but you can't say it's not convenient and all that.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on October 24, 2010 at 3:28am

Great to hear that you ready to jump into the wonderful world of helping clients help themselves -- You Go Aino!

I just started putting myself out there on-line. I find paypal is pretty easy to use. I require a pre-payment to book the first session. FYI- My goal has been/is to help people when they need help the most and I strive to be affordable. My basic fee is $150. and I will consider offering a sliding scale on a case by case basis.

Best of Luck!!!!

Michael E.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Antoine Pruyssers on October 24, 2010 at 4:25am

Thank you for asking this question Aino!
It is a part of modern hypnosis, which I have neglected for a long time.
We've talked about it, and still I have my doubts about "internet-hypnosis".
Perhaps because I myself don't react to audio-only, or text-based hypnosis.

Still, having a private-practice it is a form of income, that can not be ignored in this day and age, and I am happy to see that there are discussions like this that make a lot of things clear.

Thank you Aino, for asking, and Joe, Roger, John, Jan and Michael, thank you for your answers!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Krüger on October 24, 2010 at 5:42am

Antoine Pruyssers said:

Perhaps because I myself don't react to audio-only, or text-based hypnosis.

Yes you do. It's just different.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Kennedy on October 24, 2010 at 5:44am

On a side note, I would strongly advise professionals that they have a standard per hour rate that reflects their training, skill and experience. The basic rate only goes up as your skill increases.

There are times however, when you want to charge less to clients. In that case, instead of changing the rate, you offer a discount. I know the difference is subtle and to some it may be mincing words, but it makes two important points: what your "real" rate is and that the client is getting a deal (for whatever reason). I make sure my invoices reflect both my rate and whatever discount I have offered. If I provide services at no charge, I still issue an invoice with a discount line that brings the total to zero. I remind the client (and myself) why we did it that way.

Bill.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Antoine Pruyssers on October 24, 2010 at 5:56am

Potato, potatoe....

I find it rather arrogant, to assume that everyone has the same results, to the same sort of input.
I hear these statements a lot from hypnotists, but don´t really agree with them.
As I said, text-based and audio-only don´t do that much for me (personally)
and ........please don´t act like you know me better then I know myself!

Jan Krüger said:

Antoine Pruyssers said:
Perhaps because I myself don't react to audio-only, or text-based hypnosis.

Yes you do. It's just different.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on October 24, 2010 at 6:40am

Antonio-

Have you explored Skype and/or OOVOO - two free downloads that allow one to have video calls with other members of Skype and OOVOO -

Not as good as actual one to one sessions -- but much better than text or phone

Warm regards,

Michael

Antoine Pruyssers said:

Potato, potatoe....

I find it rather arrogant, to assume that everyone has the same results, to the same sort of input.
I hear these statements a lot from hypnotists, but don´t really agree with them.
As I said, text-based and audio-only don´t do that much for me (personally)
and ........please don´t act like you know me better then I know myself!

Jan Krüger said:
Antoine Pruyssers said:
Perhaps because I myself don't react to audio-only, or text-based hypnosis.

Yes you do. It's just different.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Krüger on October 24, 2010 at 6:45am

Antoine Pruyssers said:

I find it rather arrogant, to assume that everyone has the same results, to the same sort of input.

I never assumed anything of the sort. I also didn't assume that I know or understand you.

I do assume that you are not capable of not reacting to an online hypnosis session in some way (as an anecdotal and non-normative example, personally I tend to react with thoughts like "ah, here comes another standard approach that won't work for me"). I also assume that online hypnosis is more difficult to do well for the hypnotist and that the standard conceptions of hypnosis don't map very well to it. I assume that if I give you a good idea, you won't reject it just because it's delivered via the internet. If you do reject it, it's probably more my fault than the internet's.

Incidentally, I also assume that you don't understand yourself. I have yet to meet anyone who "understands" anything remotely as complex as any given human being.

I am, once again, reminded of why I am using the word 'hypnosis' less and less... people just associate too many things with it that I don't. I don't consider any of the following necessary components of hypnosis: trance, rapport, relaxation, inward focus, compliance, suggestibility.

To everyone else and Aino in particular, sorry for polluting the topic. I hereby declare that I automatically "lose" all further debate about the nature of hypnosis... voilà, no further temptation to argue.