Start Your Massage Business
Most massage therapists start their own massage business. That is one thing that many massage schools seem to forget to tell you! It is much more rewarding both financially and emotionally/mentally, but it isn't for everyone.
Starting your own massage therapy business takes planning and initiative. Many start out working for someone so that they can learn how to do it. While there are many things you can to when you are just starting out to get clients in the door, it is easier when your beliefs are in line with your actions. It makes your actions more efficient.
The first thing to do is to sit down and create your vision of your Ideal Massage Practice. In doing this and working towards creating your ideal massage practice you can help increase your chances of success and longevity. Burnout is one of the constant challenges for massage professionals and the way to avoid it is to start right from the beginning in taking care of your needs first before others. Knowing what you value and what is important to you is the basis for creating your ideal massage business.
Massage Business Startup Checklist
- Create a personal and professional vision Massage Mission Statements
- Buy Liability insurance or join a professional association
- Business licensing- figure out what licensing you need.
- Setting up your accounting system and track your income and expenses.
- How to find office space and negotiate a contract/rent
- How to set up a home massage office
- Choosing the best massage business name
- How to create a website to get a steady flow of clients
- How to create a massage business card and other marketing materials
- Create your policies and procedures to support your practice
- Create a massage business plan that you also update regularly
- Decide how to set your fees and if you want to take credit cards
- Set up your office for doing business
- Learn about marketing and networking to build your practice
- Create and follow spending plans to keep you on track to success
- Find or Start Your own peer supervision group
And when you get busy enough - how to find and hire employees or sub-contractors.
It is important that you think of it as a business. Some people start out not taking it seriously enough or they work too hard in the business rather than on the business. For a business to be successful you have to be able to pay the bills and take a draw from the business to pay your own personal bills, take vacations, plan for slow times and sick days as well as retirement. What is hard for most massage therapists is understanding that your time is valuable and that it is charging for your time. Because massage is such a caring and compassionate business, some massage therapists find it hard to charge what they need to make and find it hard to charge for things like missed appointments.
See also:Starting your mobile massage practice
FAQ's about starting your massage business.
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Massage Business Course Outline: Start Your Massage Business
Build Massage Business || Home Offices || Marketing Massage
Business Licensing || Massage Business Names || Massage Business Plans
Policies || Insurance Billing || Set Massage Fees || Raising Rates || Retaining Clients || Referral Networks || Sell Your Business || Massage Websites
