Accepting Payment
“If you don’t value your time, neither will others.
Stop giving away your time and talents.
Value what you know & start charging for it.”
~ Kim Garst
Before you start seeing clients, decide how you will accept payments.
Cash
Most straightforward form of payment.
Cheques
If you are a Sole-Proprietor and accept cheques, you will need to make sure clients use your personal name instead of your business name. If you are incorporated, all cheques need to be made out in your business name.
E-transfer (email money transfer)
E-transfers are an easy way for clients to send you money online. Most major banks allow for this service but check with your bank if you have any questions. It generally takes about 20-30 min for the transfers to show up in your inbox so you may want to ask clients to send transfers in advance of your session.
Credit Cards
Although it has a higher overhead due to the processing fees, credit cards can be a convenient way for your clients to pay. Here are two services often used by therapists to accept credit card payments – see if either works for your purposes.
Potential options:
Business Tip: I recommend having clients pay at the beginning of the session so if there are any issues (i.e. left wallet, forgot cheque etc) you can discuss it during session time. Also it means you don’t have to try and switch back to business mode after an emotional session. Even though clients understand they are paying for a service, it can feel a bit impersonal if the last thing a client remembers is being asked for payment, instead of you empathizing with their story.
Action Item: Determine what type of payment methods you will accept in your practice.