Is this a good deal?

[Bombalurina]

Hi geeks,
I've just agreed to rent a room in a business local to me, only one morning a week initially, with a view to increasing this (For those of you unaware, I teach electrical beauty for a an equipment manufacturer as my 40-hour a week job...I also run my own mobile business inthe evenings, and now will be renting this room on a Saturday).

I'm being charged £4 an hour, which I feel is very reasonable. I'm providing all my own towels, equipment, couch roll etc, though there is a couch in the room which I can use so don't have to use my portable bed.

One of the terms of the contract is that if this business passes a client to me, then that client remains the clinic's client. Therefore I cannot treat them in my mobile business in the evenings. What do you think of this? I can see it completely objectively, and I understand that the clinic needs to run this as a business....but so am I trying to build up a business... and I'm wondering how I would deal with this if I wanted to leave to start up my own salon. Surely if I'm renting, and therefore self employed, I should be able to take clients with me?

I'm a bit confused, so any help would be appreciated!
I do have a really good feeling about working there, but this is a little sticking point in my mind.

Thanks, Geeks
XX

 

[Bombalurina]

Sorry to press Geeks, I know it's the wrong time of day for a lot of people to be on, but I've just been asked to remove my website address from the pricelists I'm putting at the clinic.... what do you think?
If I'm self employed, is this the done thing??

 

[mum]

They've done their own marketing and promotions, they take the bookings etc, why should they hand you clients on a plate?

This is always an issue. Sounds like a reasonable rent to me but I don't know how a half day a week will help you build a business. If it's just to earn some money and they are willing to pass some work on to you then it sounds pretty good to me

It works both ways, they shouldn't take your clients but that will be almost impossible! Clients want appointments at their convenience. They may come to you first but then like the salon and want another day.

All a bit tricky I think

 

[persianista]

It sounds as though they would be better to employ a therapist that morning. I can see where they are coming from, and I would question the wisdom of the salon owner renting to a therapist for a few hours knowing that she is mobile and is client building.
They want clients coming to their salon, not being visited at home so I would think this deal has the potential to end badly.

 

[Redchick]

This might be a good deal for someone, but not you.

I think you need to go with your gut. You are clearly uncomfortable with the things they are requesting, and there is a conflict of interests here.

I used to rent rooms to build my client base, I now have my own salon. Each room comes with it's own terms and conditions, if I didn't like them I wouldn't rent the room.

I don't think there's any right or wrong, it's about finding what works for you.

Personally, for me, with those conditions I wouldn't have taken the room. I've always been able to take my clients with me.

If the salon was paying me a wage then fair enough, the clients r theirs. But if I'm renting and taking the risk of not making very much, the clients are mine. I just took on rooms where the owners felt the same.

Good luck x