Something I talk with my course participants about is the importance of charging for your dreadlock services - even with friends.
If you are new to having a dreadlock business, or currently wondering what to charge friends, read on.........
Being a good loctician involves a lot of skill, speed and practice. I personally have been practicing this art for over 20 years and it is thru trial and error that i am where I am today - happy and content with my business.
Some of my friends have dreads and some of my clients have become friends (the boundaries often get blurred with me....)
But the one thing that IS a constant is that dreadlocking is my job. It is my money maker. It is how I live. Given that we live in a society that trades with money, I need money to live. Therefore - I need to charge for my services. Plus I know I deserve to charge for my services. I am fast and good at what i do and I deserve payment.
If I have a friend who is, for example, a massage therapist, I would not expect her/him to give me a free massage just because we are friends. I would recognise that this person does this for a living and I would schedule myself in for an appointment as would any of their clients.
Work is work - and no matter what you do, you deserve to be paid accordingly.
If you start giving 'freebies' or 'mates-rates' to friends you will eventually start to wonder where to draw the line. Who are your friends and who are your clients.....?
Have one price that is the same for everyone, that way there is no confusion or expectation from anyone.
If you want to exchange services - then that is of course up to you to negotiate. If I am charging $60 per hour for my maintenance and my massage therapist friend is charging $100 per hour - then I could get a massage in exchange for one hour and 40 mins of maintenance. I have done that and it has worked out fine.
Sam
