I was told by a mohel that halachicly, a mohel is not allowed to charge money for doing the bris. They can charge for following up on the baby after, when they check to be sure it’s healing properly.
When I made the bris for my son, I asked the mohel how much I owed him, and he said nothing. I asked him if there was a specific tzedakah he’d like me to make a donation to, and he told me that he has his tzedakahs that he gives to, and I have mine – I should give to one of mine. I told him that as it’s a bris, I feel it fitting to give it to Bonei Olam, to help those who are waiting to perform this mitzvah. He said if that’s what I want, it’s fine – he didn’t want to influence my choice at all.
estherhamalka, I wonder if we had the same mohel that you used.