Marketing yourself is a huge part of your success in any business. There are many great indies out there who have the skill and the time to do it all themselves. There are also great ladies who have no interest in putting in the amount of time involved in building their business on their own. I know very successful ladies who have used both approaches.
The blog note by If They Only Knew stated that agencies usually get 40-50 percent of a provider's hourly rate.
Can this be true? That seems so very steep. Does this seem outrageous to providers, or is the convenience worth it?
It makes me appreciate even more the agency women who agree to see me. God bless 'em all!
My guess would be the independents find it "outrageous" (or at least just not worth it) and the agency ladies find it acceptable (at least better than any alternative). That's why they are independents or part of an agency.
Yes, I do believe that is a common cut and about what I paid when I was working for an agency.
Yes. It was a very short stint indeed as I find it outrageous, hence my being an indy.
Outrageous? Well, maybe. Then again, maybe not. Is it worth it? There is a great deal of "behind the scenes" work done by an agency. Not all ladies are interested (and/or have the skills) to run the business end of business.
For some women it's worth it to only do the part of running this biz that can be great fun, the one on one! To allow someone else to take all the time of advertising, marketing, screening, coordinating, communications with clients. You know, those things that take a good deal of time and money. Some ladies would rather ony play. Even though agency ladies are paying a steep overhead, they have a higher earnings capacity as the work is near all billable. It's not all THAT bad!
Worth it? That can only be reponded to on a case by case basis. For me it was not. For a few friends of mine, it very much is.
xoxo,
S.
Agencies take care of business needs for the provider, but they make demands on the provider in another way too. Some agencies schedule back to back appointments with providers giving them little time to rest. Also, not all agency ladies have as much say over who they will see as indies do.
It's a case by case thing, but unless the agency has a great rep, you just can't tell.
Even more important to some of us ladies is that with an agency you are trusting someone else with your safety...
um...
Yes, exactly. Safety is more important than anything. I am very intuitive and like to speak to a guy (after screening) and if he sounds like a gentleman, then we go forward. There have been times that I thought the opposite and did not schedule. With me, it's about personal contact and being in control of your own safety. I have a girlfriend who works for an agency and she could care less about knowing anything about him. I'm just the opposite, I really want to make sure he's a gentleman.
Just recently someone related a tale that said that 100% of the quoted fee was for the agency, and the provider could then upsell and keep whatever she made from that.
Not a great way to do business, IMHO.
That's why I'm independent.
I want ALL of my money, not give it to the Middleman.
I almost joined an agency, but after finding out I'd get only $80 (after the agency took 50%) I politely declined.
I'd like to hear it from a provider.
Exactly! They do take 50%. I have worked for an agency. A fee for advertising, booking, etc. I can understand. If I were a hobbyist, I'd much rather find an independent and know that she is one receiving all or most of the gift.
I won't even go into the constant phone call system.
Damn! That is outrageous! Glad that I'm in Phoenix - the top agencies treat their staff very well and at the most keep 20%. The benefit for hobbyists is that there is never any upsell and the girls are happy.
I've heard quotes of anywhere from a 20% to 50% cut and all sorts of arrangements for in call locations with the lady paying anywhere from nothing to 100% of the hotel cost. Also, some agencies specialize in the low end one-and-done market where others cater to guys who are willing to pay more for a GFE type of experience.
Legitimate agencies are a great alternative for a lady who wants to work but doesn't want to invest the time in promoting herself, looking for locations and screening. Ultimately the lady decides if it is worth giving up a portion of her income for the services that the agency provides to her or not.
Obviously, if many women didn't prefer the agency option then agencies would not be as popular as they are.
I think it takes an entrepenual mind. If I listed the pros to being Indy, it would take up this whole message 
To each their own. When top agencies ask me, "what will it take"? I say, "no thank you!"
Marketing yourself is a huge part of your success in any business. There are many great indies out there who have the skill and the time to do it all themselves. There are also great ladies who have no interest in putting in the amount of time involved in building their business on their own. I know very successful ladies who have used both approaches.