Covering Travel expenses for pros

CuddlykittenPupCuddlykittenPup
edited October 2023 in General

How are you all calculating travel expenses to be paid to pro cuddlers?
Should the client cover the expenses and if so to what extent?
Should it be gas only or gas + courtesy expenses for the drive?

I usually almost always stay at hotels or Airbnbs on account of travelling and usually have the pro come over. Most big cities have cuddlers within a one way 30min drive and never ask for travel expenses. Other times I just take a cab to their place If they prefer hosting.

In smaller cities pros are usually 1-1.5 hours one way and I'm being requested for Gas+ money for their time in driving. ( I don't mind and will happily cover it but am hoping to understand how to come up with a calculation that is fair to both parties )

I'm fairly new to CC and
I wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on that.

Comments

  • [Deleted User]DaveJA (deleted user)

    So far I haven't dealt with any travel fees, but I would expect to pay for their gas (one way at LEAST) and a price per hour of their driving time, which could also cover vehicle wear and tear. Beyond that, perhaps a little on top as a thank you to the cuddler for the convenience of them coming to you? Just a thought. 🤗

  • CuddleHugs01234CuddleHugs01234

    If it’s a pro, it’s their business so I believe they set it. Usually they have it listed out on their profile.
    As an enthusiast, the only time this was discussed with another enthusiast was when we were going on a cuddling outing. He was going to pack the lunch, and come to me (1 hr and 15m) and I was going to then drive my car to the destination and cover the gas for this part (about 1 hour).

  • cuddlefaerycuddlefaery
    edited October 2023

    Pros usually set their own travel fees, so it's entirely up to them. If they don't have it listed, it's a good idea to ask just in case as many ask for travel fees to be paid in advance. Some pros charge a flat rate based off of travel time, others will base off of mileage. Some use the IRS standard reimbursement rate + an hourly.

    It's worth noting that travel fees are not included in listed total booking rates on the site because CC does not take their percentage from any additional fees or tips pros receive - only from actual service rates.

    Personally, I'll usually waive travel fees for nearby locals as I can often combine trips (run errands on the way home, etc.). If I have to drive more than 30 minutes though, I'll usually charge a travel fee as a deposit. I base the amount off of the distance and estimated drive time. The reason to charge travel fees in advance is two-fold: 1) the deposit, even if only $25, helps prevent no-shows and late cancellations; 2) I can use the money to get gas, pay tolls, or pay for parking without having to dip into my personal account. It helps keep finances for accounting and tax purposes cleaner.

    TL;Dr: the client shouldn't have to do the calculations - the pro should be upfront and clear about any additional fees prior to booking. If a pro is springing extra fees on a client last minute, especially on the day of the session using manipulative and/or urgent language, that's a red flag for it being a scam.

  • pmvinespmvines

    My honest opinion about this, and it is not likely to be terribly popular , is that most people don't get paid time and gas to go to work. Sometimes driving to a location to work a few hours is simply just something you have to do and is not above and beyond anything out of the ordinary. If you need to work to pay the bills then you sometimes have to go where the work is. That being said , I respect the right to charge for it, and do support it in cases of excessive travel distance or Uber etc. That is all between the pro and client. I have no dog in the fight.

  • stormydaycuddlestormydaycuddle Mod

    @pmvines you’re coming here in the somewhat near future… I will get 1 gas station snack on your way in exchange for a cuddle. Unless that would make you an untagged pro… then I said nothing.

  • cuddlefaerycuddlefaery

    @pmvines I see it as the difference between commuting to work and travelling for work. When you travel for work with your own vehicle, many jobs will reimburse for expenses with a per diem and/or mileage reimbursement (which is why the IRS has a set rate). The IRS rate does not apply for daily commuting to and from the work place though and only applies for when you are considered on the job and your time is not your own. Thus why for short trips locally I don't charge and only will apply travel fees for longer trips to offset expenses - same as if I were working for a company and getting reimbursed to travel from the office to another work site.

  • MrMarkAndrewMrMarkAndrew

    Nope. Your boss doesn’t usually pay you to drive to work. You get paid for the time you are working. How you get there is on you.

  • [Deleted User]DaveJA (deleted user)
    edited October 2023

    @MrMarkAndrew The key there is Usually. If the one-off job site that you need to show up at to do the work is unusually far off, you are entitled to compensation. The only difference being there is really no central office space for pro cuddlers, so many stick to a minimum distance travelled as being ignored, akin to a normal commute distance, with anything beyond this "normal commute" being a little extra charge.

    If you have to travel four hours one way to then do five minutes of work, that only you could do and which has to be done on site, wouldn't you expect compensation for the time to drive there and back, for gas, for wear and tear on your vehicle?

  • cuddlefaerycuddlefaery

    A lot of people clearly don't understand employment compensation laws 🤣 and then they wonder why they get exploited by their bosses, or why the younger generations are making such a fuss over fair compensation and employer abuses.... Employers exploit employee ignorance for their own profit. I will forever be grateful for the HR work I've done for teaching me to advocate for myself as an employee, to not agree to illegal work practices, and how to research local employment and business regulations to make sure I stay compliant to avoid headaches down the line.

  • MrMarkAndrewMrMarkAndrew

    @DaveJA I suppose it’s up to the individual to decide whether it’s worth it to charge or not. If the customer will pay, so be it. But no one is really entitled to extra compensation.

  • PupNapoleonPupNapoleon

    As a pro, I collaborate with the cuddlee to try to find what works for us both. I dont have rides that are as far away as an hour and a half- I probably would require a deposit up front to make that worthwhile for sure. I require a deposit for any cuddle that is scheduled ahead and holds my schedule.

    I find the client is happiest when they feel their needs are heard, as are the cuddlers, and a discussion facilitates the clearest response.

  • CharlieBearCharlieBear Mod

    I got paid for the time it took me to travel to a client to fix their computer. That’s just one of the differences between being your own boss and working for someone else. If they didn’t want to pay, they were welcome to hire someone else.

  • quixotic_lifequixotic_life

    I had a part-time social service-ish job that paid me my hourly wage for my travel door to door ~ My time getting to the client (45+ minutes), and my time to return home (an hour and 15+), were both paid.

    Did I require they pay me the travel time? No.

    But I probably wouldn't have taken the job without it either. That's just way too much hellish traffic to deal with otherwise.

    Plus, the assignment came with a heavy emotional toll, and having to drive in stop and go traffic, up and down hills, took a toll on my car too. Again, it's not like I demanded they pay for my 2+ hour commutes, but I was doing it as a side job to supplement my income and the extra compensation was a great incentive to stay on!!

    So yeah...

    ...unless required to by the one you choose to hire, you don't have to pay it. But...

    ... if you're able too, and they'll accept it, then by all means... Why not?

  • MrKinderMrKinder

    I don’t tend to schedule with pros that far out. Unfortunate that it doesn’t happen, but we’ll live.

  • pmvinespmvines

    @stormydaycuddle Make it 2 hot dogs from the rollers and a coke zero and you have a deal. I have the stomach of a coyote I ain't scared of food poisoning 🙃

  • stormydaycuddlestormydaycuddle Mod

    @pmvines be classy. 4 day old pizza and a slurpie with mixed flavors.

  • CuddleHrVCuddleHrV

    The issue is not what has been mentioned above. With pros that have no car, some will just have a higher rate and factor it into their cost. But one recently sprang it on me after booking that she wanted me to pay for her ride both ways. It would have been quite expensive (the equivalent of an hour rate), so we changed the day so she could get a ride. She couldn't, so we wound up canceling. She was new to the site, but if the client needs to pay for transport, or go pick them up if they don't host, it should be stated up front.

Sign In or Register to comment.