Should I pay equal booth rent if I'm sharing a room and have less time availible to me?

Question

I'm a massage therapist and I am begining a practice. I will be sharing a single massage room, and the time with another therapist. She has senority there, and will have twice the amount of time availible to her. The Sub-Lessor is charging us both full booth rent. Am I out of line to ask for lower booth rent? If I have half the time she has, wouldn't it make sense that I have a lower rate. Equal rent should have equal time. How can I propose this properly to the sub-lessor without stepping on to many toes?

Answer 1

I would look around and see what is a normal practice in other spas or similar situations in your area. You might even find a better deal. If you find it to be a normal practice to be based on time I would say something. I know it would be hard for me to be paying the same as the other person. How much of a profit will you be making? Just don't shoot yourself in the foot. Good luck!

Answer 2

First find out what the industry practice is. This will also give you some idea of rents over all (and some place to go if you get kicked out.)
I relate this to when I lived in a duplex for 8 years, late 70's early 80's - inflation time. During that time the other half was occupied by 6-7 different renters. Each time one moved out, the rent would be raised for the next tenant. I was a very good tenant (never drunk, paid on time, did not destroy place, did my own maintenance, etc.) About every 2-3 years, the land lady would come around and apologetically explain how much she had raised the other rent and suggest an increase about half that size.
You may be paying the current rent on the space (what you will have to pay elsewhere) and she may be paying a legacy rent due to her reliability - it costs money to find a new person who may not be as trustworthy.
If you find that is not the case - then my approach would be along the lines of "I have found that Jane, who has twice as much time in the room as I do, is paying the same rent as I do and I am wondering why." while paying the rent.

Answer 3

The key to solving this problem is to determine who needs who...if you need her then say nothing, but if you are generating great business and she needs you, then you need to say something.

Answer 4

Is this a real massage? Or a sexual message?