How much to charge for a mobile massage in Nairobi depends on your costs, not on a fixed rate card: add your round-trip transport, supplies and the value of your time, then divide by 0.8 if you take bookings on Velvet and keep 80% of what the client pays. This guide gives you the method, a few published examples for context, and the traffic and travel costs that catch new therapists out.
How you get paid on Velvet: the client pays Velvet before you meet, so the money is already there. You get half as soon as the booking is made, and the rest after the meetup: the price you set, minus Velvet's fee. No more being paid less than agreed, or not paid at all.
Key takeaways
- Price from your costs upwards. A price that ignores a two-hour round trip to Karen will lose you money, even if the session is full.
- Published examples are context, not a rate card. One mobile listing in Nairobi has been seen at about KES 5,000 for 1 to 1.5 hours, and one Mombasa spa lists Swedish massage at KES 2,500 an hour.
- Each creator sets their own price on their profile; Velvet does not set your rate.
- Creators keep 80% of what clients pay for paid items; see the join page for current terms.
- The client pays Velvet before you travel, so you are not discounting to chase a payment.
What should a mobile massage cost in Nairobi?
The honest answer is that the market is wide. The examples below come from public listings and are here only to show the scale, not to tell you what to charge. Typical ranges reported by creators and clients, not a quote. Each creator sets their own price on their profile.
- A mobile massage listing in Nairobi seen at about KES 5,000 for 1 to 1.5 hours (a booking marketplace snippet).
- One Mombasa spa listing Swedish massage at KES 2,500 an hour. A spa has a fixed room and no travel, so the comparison is imperfect.
For the city view of what clients expect to see, read massage prices in Nairobi.
How do you price a 60 or 90 minute massage in KES?
Use a four-line worksheet. Write your own numbers next to each line.
- Travel (A). The real cost of getting there and back. Include ride-hail surge at peak times, or boda boda plus a matatu if that is what you use, and add the return trip even if the client offers to cover one way.
- Supplies (B). Oil or lotion, clean linen washed between clients, disposables, laundry, and a share of your table or chair.
- Your time (C). The hours you actually spend: travel, set-up, the session and the clean-up. Multiply by the hourly amount you need to earn to make the work worth it.
- Buffer (D). A small amount for data, airtime and the days when a booking cancels.
Your floor is (A + B + C + D) divided by 0.8, if you want to take home that amount after Velvet's share of a paid booking. Here is the same arithmetic using a published number: if a booking is priced at about KES 5,000, the creator's 80% is KES 4,000, and your own travel and supplies come out of that. If the floor you get is higher than what clients in your area pay, you have two choices: raise your price, or work closer to home.
Why do Nairobi traffic and distance change the price?
Nairobi is spread out and traffic is uneven. A booking in Kilimani from a base in Westlands is a short trip, but the same job from Buruburu or Umoja to Karen can cost an afternoon. Thika Road, Mombasa Road and Waiyaki Way jam badly at the evening rush, and so do parts of Ngong Road, so a 5 pm start can cost you an extra hour that you cannot bill for.
There are three common ways to handle it.
- An outcall fee added to the session price for areas more than a set distance away.
- Zones with a different price per area, such as one price for Westlands and Parklands, another for Karen and Runda.
- Minimum session length in far areas, so the trip is worth it.
Whichever you pick, write it on your profile in plain words, so no client is surprised at the door.
Should you take a deposit?
For a booking made on Velvet the client pays Velvet, so you do not need to ask for a deposit. The money is released after the session is confirmed. If a client wants to arrange something outside Velvet, do not send "transport" money first and be careful about taking an advance to a personal number. Outside Velvet, payment protection and dispute protection do not apply.
How do you test your price in the first month?
Start with the floor you worked out, add a margin you are comfortable defending, and watch what happens for four weeks. If you get many messages and few bookings, the price may be too high for your area or your profile may not show enough. If every request converts and you are always rushed, the price is probably too low. Change one thing at a time, and write down the date of each change so you know which one worked.
Also compare your price with the length of the session, not only the headline. A price for 60 minutes and a price for 90 minutes should both leave you with the same share of profit per hour of your time. If the 90-minute price only just covers the extra half hour, adjust it.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Copying the cheapest listing. Their costs are not yours.
- Not counting the return trip. It is a cost whichever way the client pays.
- Discounting for the first booking and never raising it. Raise your price after your first few reviews.
- Hiding the price. Clients ignore profiles without one.
Clients who book through Velvet also see your verified badge and reviews from verified bookings, which helps you hold your price. For more on getting those clients, see how to get massage clients in Nairobi.
Related guides
- Therapist salary vs self-employed income: compare your price with a salary
- Starting a mobile massage business: costs, kit and permits to check
- Earning as a creator in Kenya: all the ways to earn on Velvet
- Nairobi on Velvet: what clients see when they browse
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for a mobile massage in Nairobi?
Work from your costs: travel both ways, supplies, your time and a small buffer, then divide by 0.8 if you want to keep that amount after Velvet's share. Published examples such as about KES 5,000 for 1 to 1.5 hours are context, not a rate.
Should I charge more for a 90 minute massage?
Yes, but not by simply adding half. Travel and set-up are the same either way, so the longer session usually has a lower cost per minute.
Do I charge an outcall fee in Nairobi?
Many therapists do for far zones. Write the fee or the zones on your profile so there are no surprises.
Can I change my price later?
Yes. You set the price on your profile and can change it for new bookings.
Who sets the price on Velvet?
You do. Each creator publishes their own price on their profile.
Ready to publish your price? Join Velvet as a creator and set it on your profile.