Starting a massage practice

Overview

Have you decided that you’d like to run your own massage practice? Running your own practice offers many benefits:
• Set your own hours
• Be your own boss
• Focus on approaches to care or types of treatment that you prefer
• Make more of the money from your massage therapy sessions

However, starting your own massage practice also requires patience, the ability to learn many different types of business skills, some luck, and the ability to quickly generate sales of new business and all-important referrals. Building a sufficient client base to ensure a steady stream of income is the first critical task to starting your own business. We’ll outline how that works and several other important aspects of running your own massage practice below.

Starting a massage practice

Congratulations on taking the first step to running your own business. You’re likely starting fresh, and do not have a pre-existing location, business name, business entity, equipment or clientele. Here are a few suggestions for some initial steps:
• Write down a vision for your business: Detail the type of business you want to run including: location, hours available, pricing approach, desired types of client work, and whether you want to hire employees vs. work for yourself
• Evaluate your own skills: What is your level of familiarity/ interest with business topics like marketing, accounting, publishing, networking? How are your massage therapy styles, skills, or approach different from others in your area? How does all this fit together in the vision of your business?
• Talk to target customers: Find out what their needs are and set up your service to meet them. Or take a look at what is selling in your area on HealthShoppr
• Put together a budget: Understand what you’ll need to spend on equipment, marketing, space, supplies, laundry, etc. Will your revenues – expenses – taxes = enough for this to be worthwhile? Or list yourself on HealthShoppr for free and have us promote you and help you book appointments with no up-front cost.

Obtaining massage licenses and certifications

Massage therapy can be regulated at either the state or the local level. Depending on the state, there may be different requirements for hours of training required, topics covered in your curriculum, taking the national certification (NCETMB test), continuing education, and licenses required. For further information use the following link to look at regulations for your state

Building a massage client base

New clients are the lifeblood of any massage practice, and finding them quickly is important to ensure a sustainable career and lifestyle as a massage therapist. Important steps to build business quickly include:
• Put up a website. You could start with a free profile on HealthShoppr
• Don’t be afraid to be different. Promote your unique approaches to treatment, service levels, experience, hours available, or price. Make it easy for clients to pick you out of the crowd. Add additional options that allow them to purchase more. Highlight your unique PracticePhilosophyTM showing your approach to delivering care
• Generate buzz. Ask for reviews or endorsements from clients to post on the web. Ask happy repeat clients for referrals. Follow up with good clients with an email newsletter or other ways to keep in touch
• Create business cards and brochures to promote your business. Send preferred clients value added newsletters building on their interests
• Make it easy to schedule an appointment. Don’t lose potential clients to an unanswered phone call. Publish your schedule and allow clients to book online

Finding space to perform massage
• Look for a facility that fits your style of practice. A luxury clientele will want a spa or resort experience. A value-conscious customer will likely be happy with a quiet studio.
• Determine if available locations are open the hours you want, and if they have services you need (e.g., laundry service, receptionist, massage tables, shower, attached spa)
• Perform a search for local spaces for rent
• Determine where an outcall practice makes sense

Staying sane and healthy
• Discuss approaches with other massage therapists
• Build strength in key muscles at a local gym (a good trainer can help)
• Take a professional-level class and focus on good technique
• Book a massage or fitness class to relax