AIBU?
Mates Rates?
kensington09 · 26/09/2022 20:50
Hi,
I have recently started up a small business from home. A family member (keeps on) asking if I am charging family / friends full price.
Does everyone give family / friends 'mates rates' while you are still trying to build up a decent profit?
Am I being unreasonable?
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myleftventricle · 27/09/2022 11:08
If they're a fantastic person in your life, fine. If they do stuff for you or someone you care about and don't charge you, fine. If it's a great cause, fine. But if they're generally a scrounger or there's any remote chance they'll be back again for repeat freebies then say no. Mixing business and pleasure does not always work (in my experience never). People take the piss, make you jump through hoops to actually get the job done, take their time about paying (assuming they even do), and don't bother to say thank you. Save your discounts and freebies for the really good paying customers. I'll do free bits for a really good customer of mine because I know it's appreciated and they're lovely people. I've been treated appallingly by 2 people who were supposed to be friends.
candycaneframe · 27/09/2022 11:11
I think it depends on what your business is
Cleaners etc. I'd not expect mates rates
A nail technician then yeah I'd be surprised if friends charged full price, same applies to waxing, general beauticians. As the paying for time element doesn't really wash as it sometimes forms part of our general catching up
Whichwhatnow · 27/09/2022 11:13
I don't have a small business but a weirdly high proportion of my friends and family do (proper businesses, not MLMs!).
I'm often offered mates rates and always say no - I know how hard it has been (and continues to be) for most of them to build up their businesses, and I want to show them that I value their work.
Gerdticker · 27/09/2022 11:51
I have a small business.
My rule is - Free or Full price.
So occasionally I do a favour to a friend and give them a freebie. This is very rare though! Generally I politely decline any requests for discount; my prices are well considered and I haven't got room to discount.
I also never ask any one for a discount.
This keeps things simple for me, and causes less heartache/resentment/misunderstandings. I actually try not to work with friends/family if I can avoid it!
LovelaceBiggWither · 27/09/2022 12:06
Once a friend came over for dinner and we were just chatting. I started talking about some of our son's medical difficulties and she very dramatically said Stop! I do not give free medical advice. I was all oooooooookay, you're not even remotely expert in the area of his issues and it was just chat about the family.
30 minutes later she started talking about her father's memoirs and how fascinating they are. Apparently though they need a lot of editing as English is his second language but surely we would be so interested in helping get this fascinating story in front of publishers that we'd do it for free. How I laughed.
kensington09 · 27/09/2022 21:03
It’s discounts for returning customers and also freebies for someone providing materials (that I pay for) that are now being asked for. I’m just going to stick to no, we need to become established and making a decent turnover, I don’t want to work for free
Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/09/2022 21:11
Although it’s not being said I’m being made to feel stingy for charging the set prices
Too bad - for them, not you
As so many have said, once this starts it never ends and the group of those expecting freebies will just spread as others join the "me too" brigade.
Far easier to say no in the first place than try in vain to drag it back once done - less potential for upset too, as favours of this sort can easily lead to entitlement
Kite22 · 27/09/2022 21:35
I have friends who started their own business (as decorators if that is relevant) and they rather cleverly IMO worked out what hourly rate they would need, then added some extra on for what their fictional hourly rate was, and told everyone they knew they could do them "mates rates" which was the actual amount they needed to charge to cover their time.
I thought it was genius. All the customers were chuffed they were "getting a bargain". Friends had lots of business, and still made the hourly rate they wanted / needed.
Is there scope for something like that ?
VladmirsPoutine · 27/09/2022 21:58
candycaneframe · 27/09/2022 11:11
I think it depends on what your business is
Cleaners etc. I'd not expect mates rates
A nail technician then yeah I'd be surprised if friends charged full price, same applies to waxing, general beauticians. As the paying for time element doesn't really wash as it sometimes forms part of our general catching up
Pretty much this. My good friend is a beautician and gives us about a 30% discount and unreasonably timed appointments. I don't think I'd want a friend to clean for me but this logic applies; I'd pay full rate - say if my friend was a lawyer.
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