Prices for friends-help please!

[Nailsgalore13]

Hi geeks!
Really dont like this, dont like doing friends as im unsure what to charge. Quite new to acrylics and she wants acrylic with gelish! Really dont know what to say!
Because im newish to acrylic I don't know what to charge. Please help xx

 

[Redduck]

My advice is to really think about what you charge. If you give a massive discount now it will be very hard to change that in the future and all your friends will expect the same. Probably not much help but tread carefully x

 

[attitude]

I charge close friends the going rate, and every now and then if they've done me a favour, I charge nothing. This is up to my own discretion.

 

[pure]

I also charge friends full price. I do give the odd freebie, either product or service if I fancy occasionally, but as a rule it's full price.

 

[Nailsgalore13]

Gosh you charge full price, im scared to! My other half said full price but I dare'nt! Thank you guys and yes thats the thing I dont want to go too cheap as they will expect it all the time. I really don't want to do mates ! Xx

 

[Kjpowell1982]

I charge my immediate family and best friends 1/2 price. However, most of them do me a lot of favours in return such as dog sitting and cheap hair cuts etc

 

[Jen889]

My family (literally just my mom, brother and boyfriend) and best friend I don't charge, services are free. For close friends 15% off. And I mean close friends, people I talk to all the time not the occasional message.

 

[Miss_Holly]

If you have good friends they will support you! I was charging $20 for shellac manicures for my friend (usually $30), she susd out what I was charging everyone else and refused to let me give her discounts any more, she's the only friend I do though as she's the only one who respects her nails (and my work) and can get 3 weeks if not 4 (has done a few times on holidays) out of each manicure

 

[Misstoniilou]

I have 2 friends who i do for free. One being my best friend. I dont charge her money because she has my kids a lot and will take them at short notice allowing me to book appointments short notice.

The other is my nieces mum. My niece currently has leukemia and the poor woman deserves something for herself.

Anyone else is full price.

I think if youre going to offer mates rates you need to be sure that;

*The person isnt going to make a nuissance of herself demanding free repairs colour changes etc.
*They arent ungrateful. The two friends i do look after their nails as they see them as a gift from me. Someone who does not see the discount as a gift may not bother and youll end up with my first point.
*That you *want* to give them this discount because otherwise you will end up feeling like its a chore and youll dread them coming.

Bottom line is mates rates should never be because someone is pressuring you or badgering because theyve seen a mate whos qualified and thinks thats it cheap or free nails for life.

 

[Emily S]

I do 20% off for my long term friends (there's 3 of them), I've made the mistake of adding long term clients to my 'friends' list and have since had to cut them off and revert to full price as they are definitely the ones that abuse my slots... Turning up late, cancelling last minute, expecting apps when it suits themselves not me etc etc...

I only ever give my mum and sister free appointments.

Everyone else pays full and use loyalty cards.

 

[Harry Stiles]

I don't offer any discounts to long time friends....i've been a hairdresser for 27 years. Made that mistake years ago cause i felt like you did, i wouldnt do it again