|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
<< Back to complete newsletter
THE COUCH
Dear Doctor,
Recently, the son of one of our 24/7 clients asked me if we could start emailing his invoices to him. I know this probably doesn’t seem like a big deal, but here’s the thing: I have my billing process down to a very straightforward, streamlined routine. I’m afraid that if I start making exceptions for one client, then inevitably I’ll start making exceptions for lots of clients…and my comfortable routine will turn into an administrative nightmare. Any advice? – Regimented in Rochester
Dear Regimented,
Trust me, I definitely understand your reluctance in breaking your established routine for someone…because it seems like a slippery slope, right? Well, it CAN be a slippery slope if you allow it to become one. But the truth is, as the owner of your own company, you have the power and prerogative to decide which exceptions you’ll make and which ones you won’t. That’s one of the privileges of being your own boss! So here’s my advice…with each administrative “special request” (A.K.A. “potential exception-to-the-rule”) that comes in. I would suggest that you quietly ask yourself a simple question: Is the effort required to meet this client’s special request greater than the value of keeping this client happy? If the answer is “Yes,” then you should feel comfortable in diplomatically (i.e., nicely) saying that you can’t meet this particular request. But if the value of keeping this client happy is greater than the effort required to meet the special request, then by all means, start emailing him his invoices!! Truthfully, we all should be open to tweaking and adjusting our comfortable routines from time-to-time. It keeps our all-important clients happy, and keeps monotonous tasks from staying monotonous! Remember, flexibility is a strong skill in a business owner.
* * *
Dear Doctor,
One of my clients is going on one-week vacation to Hawaii with her family this summer, and the family has asked if they can bring our caregiver on the trip with them. My caregiver would provide her normal assistance with ADLs to the client, but will also certainly be doing other tasks specific to traveling. If my employee is willing and able to go on the trip with them, then I’m inclined to say “Yes.” But I have no idea what to charge the client and what to pay my employee. Can you give me some guidance? – Unsure in Union City
Dear Unsure,
Hawaii, huh? Jealous much? I know I am! Anyway, the first thing I would do is check with your company’s insurance agent to make sure that you and your employee will have the necessary coverage to make such a trip. Assuming that the sufficient coverage is in place, I would suggest establishing a daily rate for service provided out-of-town. Perhaps this rate is a bit more than your normal live-in rate – i.e., if hypothetically you charge a client $225 per day for live-in service, consider adding an extra $50 per day to that rate to establish an “out-of-town day rate” of $275 per day. These numbers are just for examples only....you should establish your own rates based on what you are currently charging your clients. Similarly, I would pay your caregiver a day rate that represents a similar percentage increase as the rate you will charge your client. Come to think of it, you could start quite a lucrative business for yourself, filling the niche of caregiving services for globetrotting seniors! Next thing you know, YOU’LL be the one frolicking on a Hawaiian beach!
* * *
Dear Doctor,
Each summer, I find myself buying sunscreen with a higher SPF because I am becoming more and more concerned about harmful rays. Three summers ago, I was applying SPF-30. Two summers ago, I was liberally lathering myself with SPF-45. And last summer, I bought so many tubes of SPF-70 that I got my tenth one for free. Honestly, I still don’t feel like I’m getting enough protection in the sun, but I can’t find a sunscreen with an SPF higher than 70. If I apply a base coat of SPF-70, followed by a layer of SPF-45, and then finish off the job with a nice glaze of SPF-30, is it reasonable for me to then assume that I’m wearing SPF-145? – Fried in Fresno
Dear Fried,
I have some bad news for you, my photon-fearing friend: sunscreen SPFs are not cumulative in nature. You cannot keep adding layers to your skin and then simply add up their respective SPFs to reach a “total SPF.” In any case, your total protection would be equivalent to the highest single SPF that you applied. Although, it sounds like if you had your way, you’d squeeze a bottle of sunscreen and a turtleneck would come out. Why don’t you sell your own brand of sunscreen? You could call it “Liquid Shirt.”
* * *
Have a question for The Doctor? Email it to me at thedoctor@theseniorschoice.com and I’ll try to answer it in an upcoming issue of CHOICES.
<< Back to complete newsletter
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
