I'm back with another major newbie question.

How do you lovely ladies go about establishing your rates? I'm sure that local averages play into it a great deal, but in my (limited) research, the girls in my area seem to charge next to nothing. Granted, I have a very specific "look" that I know isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I also don't want to sell myself short.

Thoughts?

-- Modified on 12/20/2012 6:35:44 PM

The ladies can jump in here but I wouldnt be too concerned with what you start off charging as it will change. Ultimately it will be your reviews and how much work you want that will determine your rates. Without any review history though, I dont see any issues with starting off at the average rate in your area, especially as you concede you have a "look that you know isnt everyone's cup of tea." You might be a niche provider and that may have a drag effect on your rates, like a fbsm provider does or a dom does. Impossible to know without more info on what "look" you are referring to. Worse case is you are too low with your price, you get a few excellent reviews and you bump up your price accordingly. Many women do this, most even. I think thats better than coming into the market too high, getting a few so so reviews and losing your new girl in town edge and turning off tons of potential new clients from day one.

Great point, thank you. I guess it'd be better to start on the lower end.

As far as my "look," I have an odd pairing of blonde bombshell with punk rocker. Think young Pam Anderson meets Marilyn Manson...with a whole bunch of tattoos.

If you set your prices too low, you'll get the lower-scale clientele and you'll wear yourself out for next to nothing and potentially burn yourself out too quick.  If you set your rates just a little on the high side, you'll get better clients and you'll work smarter not harder.  

I'm in a lower cost of living area compared to most other places; but I'm not killing myself to make ends meet.  Not going to do it.  

If your rates are too low, you'll have to see 4-5 clients per day versus 1-3 clients per day if you keep your prices up.  If you;ve heard the phrase wine snob, then know that there are "ho snobs" and some gentleman won't even think of seeing you if your priced too low.  They will automatically think your are low end versus high end and pass you right by.  The bargain hunters are not the clients you want to be seeing.

Any time a man asks for a discount, something turns out to be wrong about him.  You don't want that kind of biz.  Just my opinion, but 300 per hour is about a market average.  So being new, I would probably start out at 250 per hour and work your way up from there once you get some good reviews going on.  But again, just my opinion.

This aligns a lot with what I have been thinking. I originally had a 400-500 range in mind, but I'm starting to think that might be too high. Still, I don't want to come off as "low-rent."

vary. Even with different cities within the same state. In Cbus the higher end women are usually in the $300 to $350 range. I think alot of it has to do with how often are you wanting to work and how much time  you have to read thru emails, phone calls, and text. On BP under $200 your inbox is going to blow up. Sites like this, $300+, I would think you'll get much less spam and dumbasses asking if you offer 15 min rates and things like that. Ultimately its up to you to decide what you think your time is worth. I disagree with those that say start low and go high. Till your comfortable with what your doing I suggest starting a little on the higher side. Will help you by weeding out the "iffy" gents and once you've got a few reviews then you can adjust according to what you want out of this biz. Yes, you will appeal to a certain market based on your "vibe" but I think you'll be surprised how little guys really care about that (if they aren't fans of it), if your reviews are positive and you provide an actual experience rather than a service you'll do great. And yes you should be asking for a little more if your driving to, oh say, columbus, than doing incall (never at your home!!) in your area. Just my .02 cents. Good luck and be safe!!

Or maybe you want to keep that on the QT for now which is fine. Reason I ask is 400-500 would be considered very high for a newbie with no reviews fo just about everywhere, including NYC. Now in NY, a few great reviews and you could bump to $600 or more easily. But DC/Phili/Boston etc $500/hr girls are usually very attractive with an excellent review history over a fairly long period of time, on average. The previous advice was spot on. $50 below the average seems about right but charge no more than the average for your area and adjust accordingly after that. Best of luck to you BCG!

I know you asked the ladies and I'm sure more of them will be chiming in.

It is smart to study your market area and know what other ladies in the area are charging (as you have done) Eventually you will adjust your rates to what works for you.  You set them according to how many guys you want to see vs how much you need to earn. For starting rates it is better to start low and work them up. By low, I don't mean less than your area's average, but maybe right in the average range. 4-500 is probably steep for your area, but you could probably get that if you were in NY or LA or something.

If you start low and slowly raise it it will look like you were starting out, drumming up business, then you started building up a reputation, reviews, client base, so it's a natural progression to the see the rates climb as you get established.

If you do it the other way where you start high, and don't get enough clients, so you adjust the rates lower, it looks like, "she thought she was 'all that' and now she is desperate."

Good Luck.

That sounds reasonable. I'm thinking that I may have to branch out to Columbus and Cleveland a bit. Cincinnati doesn't seem to be the best market, from what I've been able to ascertain so far.

Go to reviews > search reviews in the Provicer contact info section put in ac 513, use the drop down window and locate Cincinnati.  There are pages of reviews of Cincinnati providers.  TBH, it's slim pickens.

-- Modified on 12/20/2012 12:13:03 PM

for a lady without reviews. While I like your attitude and your vibe or pressence, I'd be willing to TOFTT if I lived in your area and the price was more in-line with the local market. I doubt I;m alone on this rationale.

Once you get your business established, then you can raise your rates and hopfully you will grandfather in those guys who helped you get started.

Good luck to you.

Yeah that's where I've been doing the majority of my research. It's hard for me to gauge average rates based on it, though, mostly because there only seems to be a handful of well-reviewed providers.

Yeah that seems totally fair. I suppose it's not a good thing for me to be overconfident without having established a reputation for myself.

I like the fact that Bad Girl wants to learn the basics of the business. Her student like attitude impresses me.

I suppose that's the effect that grad school is having on me.

doing FBSM for 200, deal with more shit, hagglers, and cheapos than I have ever dealt with at my current rate. If you go too low, they want the shit even lower. Go too high, you won't get any business. It is all about trying things out, but until you get reviews you are kind of at the mercy of the market so to speak.

Reviews allow you to go up on your rates as you build a clientele, but I would never go up on the guys who got me where I am at...just the new ones. I don't know what you look like, what you offer, etc. but I know in Cincy it is tough to get even 300 unless you are well established.

My advice, is don't even worry about the gfe shit just yet.  You can get at least 200 for a sensual massage and happy ending, without all the bs. The way I see it, is if they can't pay the higher rate, I am not going to wear myself out providing the higher service. I would rather just give blowjobs all damn day and not have to talk to them, if they are too naive to understand that the cheaper I am, the MORE fkin I have to do thus eventually causing my service to suffer.  

-- Modified on 12/20/2012 10:29:07 PM

rather than setting it too low and having to raise it.
The clients you get when setting your price too low probably won't stay when the prices raise.
And the clients you get with your high prices will most likely stick around when you lower your price.

250-300 and hour. 500 for 2 hours seems the norm either way. I saw a few 400's, but they looked like full menu providers, and a few 200 providers that were BBW or non GFE. So it looks like a standard GFE can get 300 with a A level getting 400.

As some others have said, if you go the lower route early, and get a few reviews, you will move faster, and be able to get that price up. LR is right too...NEVER haggle. Offering a rub and tug service may not a bad way to start either. Gets a few reviews in and starts to get your name out there.

Don't be afraid to factor in traveling prices. Lets say in Cinci, your a 250 GFE provider, because thats what the market bares...with some good reviews under your belt, you could hit the Northeast at 350 or So-Cal at 400. Spring break in So-Cal...hmmmm sounds good to me...

Got a buddy in Cincy...... He'll Toftt at 250....doubt he would higher.

Posted By: BadCollegeGirl

I'm back with another major newbie question.

How do you lovely ladies go about establishing your rates? I'm sure that local averages play into it a great deal, but in my (limited) research, the girls in my area seem to charge next to nothing. Granted, I have a very specific "look" that I know isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I also don't want to sell myself short.

Thoughts?

-- Modified on 12/20/2012 6:35:44 PM

Clients who are used to paying a higher price per hour will perceive the service as a higher quality as opposed to seeing a lower priced lady increase her rates. Starting too low may not attract the market segment that is willing to pay a bit more for quality, which they associate with a higher price.

I agree with the others that it's good that you are doing your research -- I lurked on the boards for at least a year before I jumped into the business.  The knowledge I gained was invaluable.

And I agree that you are better off starting a little lower and then building up.  If you start too high and find you have to lower your rate, some people will judge you and think there was something wrong that you couldn't cut it at the higher rate.  I'm not saying it's right, but it is a potential reality.  

When I was first starting out, I took what I perceived to the be the average rate for my area, and I lowered it just a little ($20 - $40 lower) to attract customers.  A few months and a few good reviews later, I raised it to the average rate (and grandfathered no one), and then I raised it just a little again (and grandfathered only my most regular regulars).

I live in an area where the average rates are quite a bit lower than most of the rest of the country, so when I travel I raise my rates according to the norms of the area I'm touring.

Also, be wary of having 'specials' - many guys will see you at the 'special' rate and then think that they are entitled to that rate every time.  (For this reason I NEVER run 'specials.')

Thought from a senior:

Ladies with tattoos and body hardware will never know how many men did NOT contact them because of their "decorations".  I am one who avoids those "after market alterations".

Look at the issue this way:

I have never heard a guy say, "I would have seen her but she does not have tattoos and piercings."

To the contrary, I've heard quite a few say they avoid tattoos as I do.

If your price is not bringing in sufficient business, there might be another reason than just your price.

FBSM providers are always priced lower, and respected for their craft. That was my suggestion....start off with fbsm as opposed to full service, then she can morph into gfe at a higher rate. When you start off too high and then have to drop, you look like an idiot. We all started off lower than the rate we are at now...well, most of us anyway.

Totally fair. It's a personal preference. While I have a good face/body, I certainly acquiesce to the fact that the punk rock look isn't loved by everyone.

I know of three local providers who started off well doing FBSM and slowly ventured out to FS after the years.
Great point.

if they are priced under 200, but MANY feel an escort offering fs with msog for that rate are somehow desperate or high volume. Not saying that I agree with that statement, but it has been said so many times on these boards it is unreal.

Not all of us have the same preferences as WymenLover, and I really don't think it's a generational thing.  From mild to wild, I have enjoyed the art on all the ladies who chose to decorate themselves.

Well that's nice to hear. However (and I'm not sure how relevant it is), I actually do think that it's a generational thing, if we're speaking in pure generalities. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but I've found (not necessarily within the hobby, I'm speaking more from a general perspective), that the percentage of men who find tattoos acceptable tends to be much higher among the under 40 crowd. There seems to be a little variance among the 35-45 age range, but usually that number tends to drop off significantly once it hits, say, my dad's age range (late 40s to early 50s). Then, of course, you have the opposite end of the spectrum: the guys who actually prefer inked women, and these guys tend to be closer to my age. Having said that, I look at it like this: my look may cater to a specific demographic, but, being an eternal optimist, I see that as an advantage, something that sets me apart from the other women (who are all beautiful in their own ways). That's how I see it, anyway.

P.S. sorry for the novella, I think I'm still coming down from dissertation mode.

Krista Starr in Phoenix, seems to be doing just fine.

Go to your local board, and you should be able to figure out pretty quickly what the going rate is.

What part of the country are you in?

Given that you are a young Pam Anderson meets Marilyn Monroe but with tats, I think you need to consider these things:

1.  What's the base rate for escorts in Cincinnati?  I'm guessing it's around $300 to $350 for the high end.

2.  Look at the other blonde and busty types that are in your age range.  What are they charging?

3.  Is your face hotter?  If so, add some money.  I'd go up in $50 increments.

4.  Is your body hotter?  If so, add some money.  I'd go up in $50 increment.

5.  Tats are a specialized thing.  I'd probably be willing to subtract money here.  Again, $50 increments.

6.  Do you offer more in terms of services?  To me, BBBJ, CIM, DATY and vaginal intercourse are par for the course.  If you do anal, that that's probably another $50 upcharge.

Just some things to think about.  If you want to talk about this via PM, PM me.

I find it humorous when a provider starts talking about hair color or haircut, and asks whether a guy would be more or less inclined to see her.  My response is...it depends on the rest of the package.  Katy Perry with purple hair is gonna be desirable because she has big tits and a cute face.  Lady Gaga with a normal hair color isn't gonna be desirable for the same reason (no tits, average face).

So as far as the tats thing...well, if you look like Jamie Pressly in that awful movie "Torque," you will probably do just fine.

Actually, I said a young Pam Anderson meets Marilyn MANSON (not that I look like him, but I'm a big fan of his style).

Looked her up...she's beautiful! Glad to see there are some high-end ladies with ink out there.

That doesn't mean I'm right, but I do work in the financial markets so I do put numbers on things for a living.  

Hahaha, okay. PM me.

You need a plan, not a rate.

Think of it this way
Launch
Building a reputation
Pricing set based upon what you offer compared to similar providers.
Pricing based upon competetion and your customer base.

The third stage, stable business, is only after you have gone stage one AND stage two.
The fourth stage is in essence charging what gives you the most of what. you want looking at your time, look at cash flow (cash flow, cash coming in minus cash going out) at different prices; price X appointments is cash coming in.

By the time you get to stage four you will be able to make good guess based upon your exoerience.

In stage one you are looking at stage two--"What do you need to do to get good reviews?"  Well.  You need paying customers.  People willing to give you $$$ to find out what their experience will be.

Use a simple model for what price can do: too high, OK, too low

Too high, fewer opportunities to complete stage two.
Too low, a lot of opportunity to complete stage two, but you'll need to gradually increase price (You can increase price going through stage two though)
OK price faster completetion of stage two than too high; close to stage three price than too low. Longer to finish stage two than too low.

(REMEMBER that simple model!! Use it when designing adds and web content--When you run an add it will either attract new customers, have no effect on new customers, or drive new customers away!)

If you find this information useful, and would like to consider more of my thoughts on pricing and advertising, just send to me your eMail info.  Pleas not a personal email adr, one you will or are using for your business.

$200 is a stiff price to pay for an unreviewed provider. In my area, 60% of the BP ads for unreviewed providers are phony. Most often the pictures are photo shoped, ten years old, or, most likely, taken out of some modeling magazine. There is also sevice bait and switch where the provider promises GFE but you find out that everything is covered and no kissing. I have always wondered why a new provider doesn't study all the recent reviews in a given area then send out personal "get acquainted" specials by e-mail to guys that seem to have consistantly pleasant experiences with providers and write a lot of reviews.

Stage 1: collect underpants
Stage 2: ??
Stage 3: profit



In all seriousness, thank you. I'll take all of that into consideration.