It may be working for your girlfriend (especially if she is from a smaller area) and who would argue with success. However, most hobbyist’s that have been around for any length of time are not going to pay deposits, they just move on to the next picture. Maybe I am speaking for myself, but I doubt it. There are way too many stories out there where the deposit was made and that was the last they heard from the lady.

This topic has been discussed several times in the past and with the vast majority of thinking along the same lines as mine. There are way too many hot independents out there that do not require deposits up front.

Another consideration is the fact that anything where there's a bank transaction via credit card and/or Paypal means federal jurisdiction, money laundering charges and crossing state lines.

You are fairly new at this, and nothing hurts more in the bank book than no-shows/no-calls or last minute cancellations. Those obviously would be recorded in the book as ones never getting a second chance by most ladies. The facts are that ladies are victims of this many more times that we gentleman are, and we don't like it either.

Chalk it up to a bad week, and success awaits you next week. I have no doubt. My 37 cents worth.

Now this might work for touring, but still probably not to your advantage in the long haul.

Smarty is right LaRue. However you might try requiring deposits if you feel unsure about someone(this policy could eliminate a few no shows all by itself!)or dont have any references you can confirm. Trying to protect yourself and your time commitment is important but (sadly)part of the game. Im very sensitive to what you go through as Ive been in sales or marketing for most of my life. I would never no show but some think nothing of it. These are guys you most likely dont want to meet anyway and ferriting them out before hand will be doing youself a big favor in the long run.
Just using your intuition and talking this over with your friends --on when and how --I think could help you minimize some of these problems LaRue. I hope this helps.
Oh, one other thng, there is an unwritten rule for some to NEVER send a deposit because of concerns about ripoffs but it's your business and YOU need to run you affairs the way you feel most comfortable. Best wishes to you LaRue.

-- Modified on 8/1/2006 9:30:08 AM

Aside from the issues Smarty and SSwede pointed out, Paypal is pretty strict about what the service can and cannot be used for...

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside
http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside&ed=mature

I know people who've had their Paypal accounts frozen for 6 months (and then closed out once they are permanently banned from the service) when they've used it for exactly what you're planning to do- deposits.

Just keep working on building up that regular clientele, and I think you'll be fine. It sucks to have to deal with this, but the downside for deposits is pretty big (a lot of guys do not want to do business in anything other than cash).

Having a father who retired after many years of service with the US Postal Service as a postal inspector, I humbly interject that this might fall into the category of mail fraud or wire fraud.  Please consider your options and deposit process carefully.

Your point about enforcing deposits does lead to having less flakey clients.  As one person has already said, it does make for more reliable clients.

The guys are also making a good point in that having deposits will keep guys from booking appointments with you.  If you're busy as hell and want to keep business managable, maybe having deposits will help.  But for the most part, it's a serious drop in business.

I read somewhere there's 2000 sex workers available in the area at any time.  Let's look at the various options:

1) Brothels:  Provided you drive out to Nye County or some other place with legit brothels, you generally can go in for free and check out whose available and make arrangements in a private room.  No deposit necessary (although a decent drive away from the strip).

2) Agencies.  No real deposit here, just call and pay their fees and they send girls/dancers/escorts to your room.

3) Bar Girls.  No deposits here either.  Just find them in the casinos and off you go.

4) Streetwalkers.  No deposits.  Enough said.

5) Dancers in GCs.  Other than a cover charge, no deposit to check things out.  Of course, most dancers will blow off guys wanting to get extras or meet outside the clubs...

8) Massage parlors.  Yes, there's a house fee for time but you usually get to see the provider prior to putting your cash on the line.

7) Indies.  Most don't ask for deposits.  

If the above list isn't enough to discourage the use of deposits in Vegas, just feel comfortable in the fact that the typical rates here are much higher than most of the country.

Bob