S To Launching A Massage Therapy Business
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. Walt Disney
The decision is made. You are ready to set out on your own and become an entrepreneur. Its a worthy goal and one that can lead to a successful and fulfilling career if you do it right. Here are 5 steps to ensure your massage therapy company starts off on the right foot and stays on track for the long term.
Find A Business Mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Complete Training And Certification
Once you have decided on the massage therapy program that fits your needs it is time to start learning the valuable skills and information you will carry throughout your massage therapy career. Enrolling in a program is just the beginning. From there you will complete the course requirements, learn the massage techniques and methods you will need to begin your business. Here are a few tips that will help you see your certification goals through to the end.
Tip #1: Select a Program That Fits Your Needs
Make sure that you commit to classes and a schedule that fits with your life demands and current obligations. Whatever your specific needs may be, make sure to decide on an academic option that you are able to dedicate yourself to. Your career aspirations and future success are well worth the effort and commitment to completing a massage therapy program.
Tip #2: Support Yourself in Reaching Your Goals
Starting down a new path can come with many challenges and struggles. Make sure you prioritize your ambitions in your daily schedule by blocking out study/practice time when you need it, so you are familiar with concepts and techniques that have been covered. Take care of your mental health by allowing time to cool down and decompress when things get stressful. Burning out on the starting line is no way to start a business.
Tip #3: Stick with It
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Reach And Attract Clients
When starting a massage business, you need to build and create a strong online brand to reach and attract clients. Think of using various social media platforms to post pictures and show positive ratings and reviews from your numerous satisfied clients.
You should also have a strong online presence. Whether you choose to create your own website or just be active on various social media platforms, including clear and properly lit images , the list of your services with the prices, a section for promotions and events, a contact us/where to find us page, and social media icons so people can rapidly visit your social media pages. A strong presence online will make it easier for you to communicate with your clients and allow them to learn more about your massage therapy clinic.
With this in mind, you have to think about what kind of clientele you want to attract to your massage business. If its people who use modern technology, you need to think about how they assimilate information. Hanging leaflets around town wont attract millennials like an on-point social media page.
Oftentimes, you need to mix it up and combine strategies to reach your target clientele. Remember, always be on the lookout for your clients’ needs and wishes by staying flexible.
Types Of Massage Beds
Acupuncture
Acupuncture requires long, comfortable massage tables with thick paddings. A table width of at least 30 inches with three inch foam padding is recommended. The tension and pressure during the procedure demands for great comfort for the clients, as many choose to relax on the table after procedures to let their body detoxify.
Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massages come come in the form of various techniques and styles. In general, sturdy tables with thicker padding is ideal for therapists who may want to use stones to go deep into the massage, as this ensures that the table can handle the pressure. Also, you might consider purchasing a heated massage table for this type of massage.
Thai Massage
Thai massage is well known for the high pressure and strength associated with the technique. A good, sturdy table is strongly recommended, as you will need a table that can easily support the full weight of both the client and massage therapist.
An adjustable table that allows the table top to rest on the floor when needed would also be useful for this type of massage.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage, known for rocking, vibrating and oscillating movements, requires a stable and wide table so that clients feel secure on the beds surface.
Fixed installation for these tables are strongly recommended for Swedish massage. Two-inch foam padding will suffice.
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Communicate With Your Clients
CEO, Dreamclinic
“Work on your communication. Many therapists spend countless hours perfecting their massage technique, yet they struggle to retain clients because communication is lacking. Make sure to do a thorough intake and check client comfort during the massage. As simple as this sounds, skipping such basic courtesies will cost you repeat clients.”
Choose Your Business Name
Now that youre technically ready to operate, its time for the fun stuff. Let the creative juices flow and that best represents what your business is about. Be careful, though, because you want to make the right impression with it. Whats more, a poorly chosen name could come back to haunt you.
Once youve settled on the picture-perfect name, register it with the proper authorities. Should your first choice get denied, its smart to have some backup options just in case.
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Why You Need To Market Your Massage Clinic Locally
To maintain profits, reputation, and to survive, local businesses need to learn how to adopt a more targeted approach with their audiences. Local marketing is the process of optimising your website and marketing strategies to help drive traffic and awareness in localised regions . This type of marketing targets the potential customers around your massage clinics neighbourhood and community.
For small businesses especially, local marketing can help establish a more secure foothold and attract customers with more potential for repeat business. Websites, social media ads, knowing your target market, and word-of-mouth can all help to market your business locally and showcase your services to a local audience.
Join A Professional Association
Some massage therapists will want to join a professional organization after obtaining their credentials and receiving board certification. This type of membership gives customers confidence about the business and about the therapists education and training.
The American Massage Therapy Association is one of the oldest professional associations available for massage therapists. It helps members find ongoing education opportunities, and it also maintains the industrys code of ethics.
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Things You Learn As A Massage Parlor Prostitute
As paid sex goes, a trip to the massage parlor sounds classier than hiring a hooker. But that’s like saying coprophagia sounds like a classier bathroom activity than taking a shower — entirely accurate, until you learn what it really means.
Pop culture had convinced us that all masseuses are Jennifer Love Hewitts whose only worry is which male model to jack off before marrying. But then we talked to “Amy,” who worked in a parlor in Montreal, and she told us the sticky truth …
Oil And Office Products
Calculate how much you will need to spend on aromatherapy and professional massage oils to offer specific massage services. Some massage businesses will have different types of massage oils, so the customer can choose the scent of his choice. Towels, printer, computer, telephones and a large calendar for booking appointments are also needed for basic business operations. These items should be added to the start-up costs.
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D Use Coupons And Discounts
Coupons and discounts are a great way to increase traffic to your business. If your prices are attractive, then it naturally draws in more customers. You may also reach out to local eateries or other small businesses to partner with you, i.e., in exchange for you distributing their coupons to your customers, they would do the same for you.
However, this is a step that you need to take depending upon your cost & benefit parameters. If you feel that an initial discount might make it all the more difficult for you to break even, then you can choose to bring in discounts at a later stage. You could also explore the possibility of giving out festive coupons/discounts in the future as well.
For more detailed marketing tips, check out our blog: 8 Simple yet Effective Massage Therapy Marketing Ideas to Boost your Business.
Additional Costs Of Starting A Massage Business
Sales Tax Permit.If you plan on selling products to your clients, you may require a sales tax permit.
Signage. In order to direct clients and potential clients to your business, you may want to consider having a sign designed and produced.
Office Equipment and Supplies. If you plan on running your own business, and not working for someone else, you are going to need supplies and equipment for your office such as a computer, printer and copier, pens and paper and related supplies. Also, given the nature of massage therapy, a clean, sanitary place of business is paramount you may want to consider frequent professional cleaning as part of your fixed ongoing business expenses.
Office Furniture.Your office may also need furniture, such as chairs for your waiting area, and appealing lighting and décor.
Small Business Software. In order to keep track of your income and expenses, you should invest in small business software to stay organized.
Accounting Services. Many massage therapists when they are starting out can fall into negative habits such as under-reporting revenue and not filing a tax return at all. This can result in penalties, fees, and all sorts of additional stress that comes with filing taxes late or incomplete. If you are uninterested in managing your own finances, you can hire a professional to do the work for you.
Utilities. Depending on where you are renting, you may be responsible to pay for lights, heat and internet.
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Write Your Business Plan
After coming up with the idea, the next step in starting your business should be to write a business plan. Not only will a bank require you to have a business plan, but multiple studies have shown that a business plan helps increase the odds of starting a successful business.
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Risks Of Being A Mobile Massage Business
As a mobile massage business owner, you will be taking safety risks everyday of going into strangers homes. There are not any ways to really screen these people to know what you are getting into.
There are some things you can do to make it safer, but there is still the risk. The first thing is to have a system set up where you let someone know where you are going at all times and let them know when you are due to be back or to your next appointment and tell them you will contact them after each appointment to let someone know you are OK. If you are going into a hotel regularly, you can make arrangements with security there too to let them know you are in the building. You can also work with the concierge or front desk people to make them aware of your whereabouts too.
You can also find things like Personal alarm systems that you can trigger to let someone know if you get into trouble. You can even hire a security officer to accompany you where ever you go. That will add on extra cost but is really one of the best options.
Screening clients can help but it is not foolproof. Talk to people before you schedule them. You can also work only by referral of friends and family members.
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Develop A Marketing Strategy
Even when you are marketing to your entire audience or customer base, you are still simply speaking to a single human at any given time. Ann Handley
This is a big one. To have a successful business you need to attract customers. Here are a few things to consider when putting together your marketing strategy:
- Examine your business name. Does it convey the right message? Is it easy to spell and remember? Dont let an ambiguous name concept obscure your business.
- Create a logo that is eye-catching and appropriate. If you dont have the graphic design eye, hire a professional to do it for you.
- Build a basic website. It doesnt have to be complex, but it does have to be professional and have the appropriate information. WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace all offer simple templates. Again, if you arent confident that you can do it well, hire someone. A bad website can sink a business.
- Learn about SEO or work with a consultancy that can help small businesses on a limited marketing budget. Having a website isnt enough, potential customers need to be able to find your business online. Most often that starts with a Google search query.
- Get on social media and stay active there. Your customers are out there!
- Think about your retail space. Is it easy to find, visible, and affordable?
- Join local professional associations and networking groups.
- Think of creative ways to market your business locally.
Make Your Website Stand Out From The Competition
How are you doing to do that?
Youre going to write an engaging Homepage and About page.
Wait, Mark, what about SEO?
If you want to pay someone to optimize your website or if you want to invest the gobs of time it takes to learn how to optimize your website yourself, go right ahead.
But I have a different strategy to getting someone to call me when she clicks on my website.
Its this: Follow Googless rules on my GMB page to improve my local search rankings. Then when a potential client clicks on my website I pull him in with words . Well talk about your GMB page after we finish with writing engaging content for your Homepage and About page on your website.
A HomePage That Draws the User In
I learned about the importance of a homepage from new clients.
When a new client comes into our office its not uncommon for her to say:
I like that your massages are 60 minutes long or I saw your tennis ball video or I never heard of anyone not accepting tips
Over time I made the connection that having an engaging homepage impacts our phone ringing.
Okay, Mark, how much is it going to cost to have someone write my homepage for me?
Nothing.
Because youre going to do it yourself.
Just follow this one simple rule: Dont bore the reader. Heres how youre going to make your Homepage engaging.
Make Your Copy Pop
It doesnt have to be radical.
In fact, radical can turn a lot of people off.
Here are some examples:
Customers?
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Treat Your Practice With Focused Care
Karen MenehanEditor-in-Chief, MASSAGE Magazine
Massage therapists contribute to a healthier planet, one session at a timeand I am grateful for the many benefits I have received from massage and other hands-on techniques. This is why I would love to see massage therapists, in general, become more focused on their marketing efforts. Focus looks like choosing a particular clientele and then crafting a marketing message and materials to match. Focus means setting up social media business accounts separate from personal accounts. Focus means taking advantage of the software, retail products, advanced education and coaching available to massage practitioners today. If massage therapists put the same care, presence and attentionfocuson the health of their practices as they do on each massage session, I believe this field would advance greatly in public perception, medical referrals, and the financial health of therapists themselves.
How To Open A Spa Business And Be Successful With It
- 16 Min Read
The concept of a spa as a way to make you a more healthy and relaxed person is far from new. It goes all the way back to ancient times.
The healing power of spring water was discovered by the old Greeks. It was further developed by the Romans. Bathing was a social happening. Public baths provided relaxation and personal hygiene.
Forward to the 21st century. Nowadays spas are as popular as ever. A visit to a spa relieves you from the stress of daily life. A day spa offers personal care treatments.
A spa treatment is a non-medical procedure. It will nonetheless improve your health and well-being. There are resort spas, destination spas, day spas, beauty salons, and more.
But youre not interested in the basics, are you?
You want to know how to start a spa business and be successful with it.
Small day spas offer facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, waxing, electrolysis, and aromatherapy.
Larger day spas may offer body wraps, mud baths, or hydrotherapy treatments.
Learn below more about this topic in this article created by the team at Amelia .
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Skills Experience And Education Useful In Running A Massage Therapy Business
A massage therapist doesnt need to have a business degree to start their own business, but certain skills and experiences will be beneficial.
Massage therapy education and certification. A quality massage therapy education is essential to working as a massage therapist. The Massage Therapy Education Guide states that states require that massage therapists complete between 330 and 1,000 hours of training before qualifying for certification. Students should expect to spend up to two years in massage therapy school and complete training requirements before theyll be able to work professionally.
Interpersonal skills. The ability to make customers feel welcome and relaxed is an important skill in the massage therapy industry. Massage therapists depend on repeat business, so establishing a positive relationship with clients can contribute to the therapists success.
Disciplined scheduling management. Massage therapists need to keep detailed, accurate schedules, especially if they travel to different locations.
. A massage therapy business owner will benefit from having some marketing talents. If a business owner can manage their social media accounts and establish a quality website, they can potentially bring in more business.