@Melancholy How will her clients know how much others compensate her? Hopefully, most pros will keep that information confidential besides using a single transaction as an example.
@xandriarain I think your price is very reasonable considering that you have BAC in psychology and you are a train cuddler. Some people need to stop looking at numbers and actually take the time to see the whole picture and read the pro profiles!
I think that whatever a pro decides to charge is reasonable. What I have found in connecting with other pros here is that this is a career choice many want to primarily focus on putting energy into. When potential clientele discuss how expensive life for them is I can’t help but wonder if the same thought is put into the expenses required when transitioning into something as not so mainstream as cuddle therapy… On top of everyday costs you have the mileage put into traveling, if the provider has children then add in the cost of child care. I could go on for days honestly but I’ll stop here and point out now that everyday is a cost for all pros but every day is not guaranteed a fully booked day or even week for every pro on the site. Sure a provider could “see more clients” but that does not mean just because he or she could that he or she will be able to all the time… I’m pretty sure that higher cost of cuddles means that those providers are able to keep themselves maintained as well their their families etc. For longer periods of time which frees up their head space to focus on the here and now.
I’m going to go out on a limb and ask now if any cuddlees have ever tipped professionals before ? Regardless of what they charge ? I imagine most justifying a pros rates as being sufficient enough but again I want to remind that cuddle therapy is not something mainstream. A waitress has an hourly, they clock in and out but it’s the social norm to tip because it simply isn’t enough to waitress and really earn a living. With cuddle therapy a professional might charge more (or less) but it isn’t guaranteed the way mainstream work is. X amount is not reached every day no matter what. What if you are the only client that professional has seen that whole week? Regardless of what the rate was…
I do not charge 100$ an hr, but what I do charge, I feel is enough to make me confidently arrive to our session with love light and a few horrible jokes I will attempt to make funny because they live in my head rent free and I think you’re the best when you chuckle (even in the slightest) at my jokes 😊 also I tend to forget the punchlines so absolutely KNOW comedy could never be my day job😂 but yeah, rates weather high , low or in between I think should be seen as completely acceptable. Especially if the provider tries to go above and beyond to tailor time together around your needs/requirements. But quality of a sesh might be an entirely different topic altogether.
In principle I don't like tipping, because it could lead to issues like pros offering extras, and the idea of poor service being the baseline at $100hr doesn't seem right. It should never be expected. However I'm starting to broaden my view because I've found good reasons to pay more - some cuddlers are intentionally charging below market, or they end up delivering amazing sessions for whatever reason. In these cases if a client is capable and willing to pay more, why not?
Tips are appreciated but never expected. In general, the best tip is coming back. @MommyMentality this is self-employment. Your comparisons to waitressing is irrelevant. When you have your own business, you can set your rates up however you like and it is also typical to do something else to help balance out your financial responsibilities as you build your business. To say a client should pay you more because you can't get more clients... It's not their responsibility to cover whatever "slots" you don't have filled. Your responsibility is to charge the right rate to both create a sense of equality and offer you the ability to survive financially at your goal level of sessions over the course of time. Their responsibility is to pay the agreed upon rate.
I do not think comparing a pro cuddler to waiting staff is a fair comparison. The waiting staff depends almost entirely on tips. The minimum wage for tipped staff varies by state but in many states it’s as low as $2.13/hr. Pro cuddlers are self-employed and get 100% of what they are paid. It’s not a fair comparison. Even if one compares them to a hair stylist, the hair stylist is getting a percentage of what is paid to them with the rest going to the salon.
Your comment is off topic and pros are only allowed to advertise their services in the Pro Requests forum. - Babichev
Pro here, and I’ll give you some insight into my current pricing - $118/hr (I am in SATX btw)
I am an LMT who charges $100/hr for massage. While cuddling is easier on my body than massage, ❕however ❕ I am putting myself in a more vulnerable position by being touched and held by clients, so for me personally it evens out!
So that accounts for the $100 of the $118/hr
So! Why the extra $18/hr then?
Well, I firmly believe in following CuddleComfort policy, and I want to receive and give reviews without penalty! After all, what makes this site so safe is because we can verify experiences! I add in the approximate cost of what CC charges to me to secure a booking! All is fair IMO
Same for therapist rates. Rates usually range from $100-300 per hour, at least in my area.
I see this as another form and possibly stronger form of a therapy session.
Just one question for Cuddle Comfort community, assuming the prices being asked by female pros are worth the service rendered and/or justified by their cost of living, why are male professionals so underpaid?
@sharedwarmth
All pros regardless of their gender set their own rates. CC doesn't dictate anyone's rates.
Short answer, males have a much harder time finding paying clients that females. So they set their rates lower hoping to attract bites.
So, in truth the price charged is really not about the value of the service given or the cost of living. It is about getting what ever one can out of clients (i.e whatever the market will bear). That's fair, but let's not try to justify high prices with some altruistic BS.
I do appreciate that some Pros profile's prices and write-ups do portray a level of altruism for those in need of cuddling. To those that truly are here to help, thank you. To the rest - just because you can, doesn't mean that you should.
@sharedwarmth Ugh, this is the biggest struggle for me in this work. I need to make what I need to survive (and maybe even thrive), but this should be accessible to all people. Connection and acceptance shouldn't be restricted to the wealthy, but I need to value myself. I love my time with my clients, but I can't help anyone if I'm not successful. Even at a lower rate than is average, I still wonder who am I to say that my time is more valuable than someone else's. But looking at my total income, I'm still poor and I have family members retiring before they even turn 45. Our whole society is just filled with people all just chasing that mighty dollar so they can survive, with a small minority really thriving. It's just an endless cycle, and endless loop, and I fight with myself constantly about it. I still have dreams of thriving though. I want that for all of us. 💜
@ubergigglefritz I feel your "Ugh" You are more than accommodating to all of us here. I am always wishing you success ! 💛
@ubergigglefritz from what I've seen of your posts, I do think you portray a level of altruism for those in need of cuddling. Also, you host and discount for overnights - that's key. So, thank you.
@sharedwarmth 😳 I try my best to have that balance. It doesn't do anyone any good if I fail in supporting myself, but this industry can be difficult and confusing absolutely. 💜
This thread is like eating chips. You know it's not healthy or filling, but it's interesting enough to keep reading.
I had to play catch up from the last time I peeked in. Awhile back, people were discussing the inflated rates. There were no real mentions of the fact that an entire pandemic (and the newer monkey pox that jumped from Europe) changed the entire dynamic. There aren't many jobs that require a person to be in such close proximity with another human without PPE (personal protective equipment). So, on top of the mention increased cost of living, you also have increased danger and risk of death on top of previous dangers.
There's also an increase in demand. Dating sites dried up like a desert for over a year, they still have not completely bounced back. Also, many people broke up after being stuck with their partners and having to actually deal with issues. There was an increase in mental health crisis and addiction relapses. There's more demand on cuddlers. Ethical cuddlers likely also cut back on clients and spaced out appointments more in order to not risk infecting regulars with anything. I know that I didn't take on any new cuddle clients until recently, and many that I would see while traveling lost my services. Better to have fewer clients who have been here for years and keep them safe and sound than keep fishing for new people and put everyone at risk.
@RaindropSweetie All incredibly good points.
Good points, but I guess they don't apply to male pros as their prices were and still are low.
Gosh! One would think after this 4 year old thread lifespan we would have come to some sort of conclusion by now! Oh well carry on.
(Am I the only one who thinks we have been discussing this topic a lot longer than that?)😂
As always I'm Pro Pro! and I am happy to see ALL Professional Cuddlers here and I am always wishing them success. You are very much appreciated and I hope ALL the Professional Cuddlers here on this wonderful site know that ! Thank you for what you bring to our community.🤗
@sharedwarmth It's all about supply and demand on the male side. The majority of men I've spoken with on dating sites within the past year offered to cuddle (or more) within the first 5 messages they sent. There's a reason why there's little to no demand from women. Also, women are often fine with cuddling each other as well if no one else is available. Men are a bit picker.
One day, OhioMike. One day...
@RaindropSweetie women not seeking pros is more cultural and a lack of understanding of the true benefits of a quality professional than a true lack of need. If all it was about was a body willing to cuddle, then you would be right, but that's not all it's about. 🤷♀️
^ this
Not trying to complsin here, been on this website for years and as a young guy straight out of home I cannot afford pros and non pros dont really exist anywhere I've been.
Also biggest bug notifications dont work, tried many solutions.🤷♂️
Heh. I know better than to comment about the price topic you posted.
The only thing that I ever wonder about on prices is the folks who charge unusual figures. Most cuddles charge fives and tens, like $80, $85, $90, $95, $100 and so forth per hour. Some charge odd numbers - like $117 or $153 per hour vs $120 or $150. I always find this interesting when I see it on a profile.
@Jubal Some pros have admitted.to adding the 15% the site takes to get the rate they want to pocket.
Only been on the site since the beginning of the year, and I never even checked out this aspect, but I do love conversations......one of the (many) reasons I enjoy cuddling. So here goes!
First, pricing needs to be understood in context. Pros in high income areas, like LA, SF, and NYC, both can attract clientele with more disposable income and need to charge more to live in such areas. One really cannot compare pricing in different areas.
Second, the distinction between hosting and guesting cannot assume one is more costly than the other. Sure, if you're a traveling pro, you must consider the cost of doing business on the road....meals out, hotel, travel, etc. But if you're always traveling to be a guest, one must consider the time spent in addition to the cost of the travel. It's not an easy comparison. In addition, the anxiety cost for the guest in a vulnerable space controlled by a stranger, vs. the stability of creating one's space and controlling as a host. These comparisons don't easily translate into appropriate charging.
Finally, and of course most provocatively, age, looks, and skills always need to be taken into account. Without suggesting that one is more important than the others, these factors contribute who will become regulars, as well as who will beat down the doors to see someone. I introduced one young friend to the biz, helped her curate her pics and write an intelligent profile description.....and she is very attractive and a great conversationalist. I wanted to help her create a page that portrayed her many gifts. Within the first two weeks, she was so overwhelmed with inquiries, she actually felt bad about how many she couldn't respond to. She could certainly easily raise her prices to narrow the volume.
I think this is a wonderful topic to discuss.....but only if we can agree that there is no right answer, per se, but rather a confluence of factors to explore and disagree upon.
I find it very odd that some folks on here chrage that much for a cuddle .Its usually the suggestive profile photo attractive woman. I assume the better you look the more you can charge ? I dont understand the $100.00+ dollar an hour cuddle or is there something else going on ? Are they like pro certified did they get a PHD ?
@bearhugs72 - I merged your post with the existing thread about pricing.