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How did you get your practice up & running?
How do you get a massage practice from the planning stage to "open for business" on a shoe-string (or non-existant) budget? Especially if you have no room for a home studio and safety is your number one concern?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marissa on
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I was there... Here's what I did and maybe it will work for you. I started by being an "Independent Contractor" through a Physical Therapy office, only part time. As an I.C. you are still a business owner, without the overhead. The other half of the time I hit up friends, family, and previous co-workers to give referrals for a "mobile massage" business. That way I was never going in to someone's home that I did not have a direct contact with. I always screened the night before with a "calling to remind" session. Also, in the beginning, I would call my husband (friend/mom) and tell them where I was going (give the address) and said that I would call when I was finished. Safety-wise, if they did not hear back from me within 30 minutes of the completed massage time, they were instructed to start calling my cell. To this day, even though I have a permanent location, if I am seeing someone for the first time w/o a direct referral I use this safety net. I hope this helps! Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on
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Over 20+ years ago I got started at a chiropractors office. He was very willing to provide a space to help me get started. Within a few months I rented a space in his building. I would give FREE chair massages at his clinic which was Free advertising in my opinion. Then I attended every event in the community to give demo's. I always got some clients. Then, I started to teach a small intro class in the adult community school and 60 people showed up. Wow! Keep your face and hands out there. Meet people. Network. I joined the woman's business networking group in my community. Everything I did was free or very low cost. I gave free massages to chiropractors and medical doctors I knew would refer to massage. I offered senior discounts and they came on a regular basis. (A real smart move). I wrote articles for local papers and holistic journals, another plus.
As for safety, I agree with Marissa. Tell someone. Although I did some house calls, I did not find it was my niche and ended it rapidly.
There are many generous people out there that might help you with a room...keep asking. Maybe you can share a space with another new practitioner.
Oh, I also set up with local business' who wanted to provide chair massage for their employees. Don't get discouraged. Get started!
Gloria
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Oh and one last thing, if you need to start out working for someone else, that is always an option until you can build up a clientele. Spas are always looking for professional and qualified massage therapists. They may not pay what you want, but it will give you great experience.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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I started out renting a room in a health club for $150 a month. Of course you probably can't get that low of a rent these days you can look for space to share or just rent one or two days a month with other massage therapists or health care providers. Everyone I think basically starts out on a shoestring. There isn't much overhead really. See what kind of other space options you have. I tried working for a chiro but couldn't stand it - I think it was just this individual chiro.
Julie
www.thebodyworker.com
www.massage-career-guides.com
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Permalink Reply by Bridget Turnbach on
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I opened a Mobile Business, less overhead. Safety is always my #1 concern. You have to know how to weed out the rifraft, read between the lines and always handle yourself in a professional manner. Keep the white light around you!
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Let me back up a minute....I started with registering with the state, brainstormed a logo and concept on paper, went to networking groups, found a webmaster, posted a website, would spend hours in the car driving around from place to place asking local business owners to display my brouchure and offering a free table massage in exchange for refferals, And grew grew grew added new stuff to the website, hired some subs and never looked backed.
Bridget Turnbach said:I opened a Mobile Business, less overhead. Safety is always my #1 concern. You have to know how to weed out the rifraft, read between the lines and always handle yourself in a professional manner. Keep the white light around you!
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Permalink Reply by Yolanda Lee Mobley on
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Wow, everyone made great points and gave some fabulous advice. Thanks so much for taking the time to give your insight and input! I felt a little overwhelmed and maybe a bit ashamed because I've been out of school for 2 years already. But I guess any start is better than sitting on the sidelines waiting for the "perfect situation" to exist (when I finish the business plan, when I get the house organized, when the kids are in middle school, when the spouse's schedule is more stable, when mom retires etc). Your advice will prove to be invaluable.
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Permalink Reply by Mae Onosaki on
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I agree. I've done a lot of other stuff while trying to create the perfect situation. (Yes, I will eventually write a Business Plan, other than the one I wrote in class 5 years ago...)
Sharing space is a great way to get started. Especially if you are dead set against working for someone else (like I was). If you have craigslist.org for your area check both the "office/professional" rental listings and the "health" or "spa" employment listings for shared rental space. (There's tons in the Portland, OR area. Seems to run about $75-$125 per month for a specific day of the week. I have my own office space, but also share a room in a salon 2 weekdays & every other weekend for $250).
Free massage demos are a gold mine. People are much more convinced by the experience than by any promotional copy you can write or discounted service you can offer. I've given 10 minute chair massages or quick "hand exfoliation & massage" treatments to people who had never had massage before and turned into regular consumers! And I find it to be a fun way to connect to people (I'm normally very socially anxious.).
Best of luck!
Yolanda Lee Mobley said:But I guess any start is better than sitting on the sidelines waiting for the "perfect situation" to exist (when I finish the business plan, when I get the house organized, when the kids are in middle school, when the spouse's schedule is more stable, when mom retires etc).
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Ugh, yeah, I can second that.
But one of the MT's I trade with works with a Chiropractor (she rents her room) and loves it! She loves the referrals and trades treatments with the chiro. I have to agree it's nice in that you have regular clients and plenty of personal injury/worker's comp work! (again, I think it depends on the individual chiro, and whether or not your personalities "fit")
So it does depend on the situation, and if you can find one, as an independent contractor, and have 1-2 days per week to begin building your own, separate, practice, that might be a good fit for you. It's at least a start.
Julie Onofrio said:I tried working for a chiro but couldn't stand it - I think it was just this individual chiro.
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Permalink Reply by Julia Mims Edwards on
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I looked through alot of the responses and it was rich. I agree with the independent contractor idea or even beginning with a spa. I began working with a spa helping out when a therapist was out or they just needed an extra person. There are endless possibilities....
I hope this helps.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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