I am with Salon Gold.
From what I could tell the difference in price was based on the extras offered by The Guild. The insurance offered by Salon Gold is perfectly adequate for what I need and although I didn't actually look at the policy for the guild's insurance I'm sure the policy will have been pretty much the same (my OH was an insurance broker so we have some knowledge of insurance). Personally I did not think I would use any of the extras enough to pay the extra.
You become a member of the Guild and I think you get a magazine, reduced rates on Barclaycard merchant services, advert in Yellow pages, Window sticker and some discounts with certain other companies along with the ability to use thier logo on your price lists and posters etc and to list yourself on their directory if you wish to.
I just wanted to know I was insured and was not bothered with the extras or the logo - my clients just need to know I'm insured and I doubt they will care who the insurance is with just that I am covered.
As for the listing on their directory - I'd never looked on there to find a service before so I dont think that many people of my target clients would use it so no great loss. I dont want to be listed in Yellow Pages either as I'm mobile and want to have clients that are in my area and preferably that have been recomended to me (friends of freinds and so on) so that I know I'm safe with them.
Others may feel they want to be a member of the Guild and would use the extras enough to want to pay the extra money but for me there was just no point. I needed insurance and wasn't concirned with becoming a member of another group.
