Understand Board Certification Requirements
States that require licensing for massage therapists often will have certain levels of training that the applicant needs to have. Some of these requirements may include:
- Receive accreditation from a recognized organization, usually through passing a written exam
- Undergo a certain number of hours of hands-on training, usually at least 200
- Spend a certain number of hours in formal instruction classes, usually at least 300
- Agree to a code of ethics
- Complete ongoing education every year or two
Its possible that the massage therapist will need board certification both at the state and local levels.
Get Your Marketing Plan In Place
With the increasing awareness of the medical benefits massage offers, new massage therapists may want to establish connections in the medical industry. Referrals are highly valuable because of how this industry depends on recurring customers. Finding a medical practitioner who is willing to refer a massage service may be an essential element in helping to support a business.
Common marketing efforts for massage businesses include using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, print and radio advertising, and even networking with other local businesses and handing out business cards. Massage therapy businesses can offer loyalty discounts since so much of their business depends on repeat customers.
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Host A Grand Opening Of Your Massage Therapy Business
Now that youve got the legal paperwork done, have put thought into proper branding and marketing, and have located the perfect space to set up your massage therapy clinic, its time to open and let the business begin booming!
Host a grand opening and invite locals to get a first look at your space and your offerings. This will start your new massage therapy business off on the right foot. Your grand opening should give you a small batch of first customers. The key, then, is to keep them coming back and telling their friends about your fantastic massage therapy business.
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Getting Customers For Your Mobile Massage Business
Once you have the pre-requisites in place, the real hard work begins. Although mobile massage pays very well on a per hour basis, 42% of massage therapists say they would like to work more hours.
In my mobile massage business, I see a common scenario repeat itself. I will have a very successful mobile massage therapist, and they would decide to open a massage parlor of their own. Time and again, I have seen them struggle, and the key reason is their inability to attract and retain new customers.
There are two main ways for you to get customers for your mobile massage business:
In the next sections, I will explore how you can use both the ways of getting customers and establish a successful mobile massage business.
Step : Define Your Brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you aren’t feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we’ll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.
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If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a massage therapy business
While word of mouth will be your greatest marketing tool, there are other things you can do. Build relationships with the medical professionals in your community. Many will refer clients to you and allow you to put your literature at their front desk.
No matter what route you take for your massage business, social media is the most affordable way to share information that specifically targets your demographic.
How to keep customers coming back
Aside from a marketing strategy, your best way to attract and retain clients is through your healing skills and affordable pricing. If your customer walks out of the facility feeling refreshed, theyll not only come back, they will tell everyone they know.
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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.
Decide Whether To Buy A Franchise Or Start From Scratch
It is believed that buying into a franchise in the massage therapy industry is far more profitable or rather advisable than starting from the scratch. One of the reasons is that a franchisee buys more than the right to use a business name you buy the franchisors experience and the businesss formula for success.
A lot of individuals choose to buy a franchise because they have a good business background but no experience in a particular industry. Others know an industry well, but dont have a background in business. Still others have both and just want the experience and support a franchise offers.
You should also know that another benefit of opening a franchise is that the franchisee is provided with a turnkey operation. At this point, the franchisor aids you choose the site and negotiate the lease, tells you how to lay out the salon and where to order furnishings, provides information on what products you are required to use and what your opening inventory should be, and provides you with management and technical training. On the issues of cost, control, expertise, and support, these franchise owners were equally split.
6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face
- Capital
- Prices
7. Choose the Most Suitable Legal Entity
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Business Liability
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Business Troubles and issues
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Set up Expenditures
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Business Equity Investment
8. Choose a Catchy Business Name
- Body Transformation
- Personal accident insurance
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Massage Oils Creams & Lotions
As a mobile massage therapist, you will need to carry the oils, creams, and lotions that you need for the therapy session. If you perform aromatherapy, then you will need to bring several bottles of aromatherapy oils.
Most mobile massage therapists carry popular oils such as grapeseed oil. Depending on the type of therapies you perform, you might need to bring additional oils and creams.
Aim to carry everything you will need for the session. Your goal is to offer a spa-quality treatment to your client, and using the right oils is part of providing an excellent service.
Working With Related Businesses
As a massage therapist, you may be able to save some money on rent by cooperating with related health businesses. Perhaps you could create a partnership with a chiropractor or an acupuncturist to offer massage services in their offices. A spa, athletic studio, or yoga studio may allow you to set up a massage room at an existing business for a reduced rent cost.
These types of locations and businesses often will have people already visiting them who may have an interest in massage. This extra foot traffic can introduce your business to more clients quickly.
Perhaps the therapist could operate out of his or her primary location a few days a week and set up shop inside a related business for another day or two each week.
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Resources To Help Women In Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. Weve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Guides
- Support
If youre a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
Mobile Massage Therapist Business Plans
A business plan for a Mobile Massage Therapist is basically the same as for other types of massage businesses. See also: Massage Business Plans
You will need to do a market study and find out if there is a need for this in your community. You can also be looking for specific areas in your community that might have a higher demand like a retirement community or a co-housing community. There also might be large housing development communities with higher priced houses which might be a good target market.
You will need to figure out what equipment you will need and figure out if your vehicle will be able to do the job of hauling your equipment. You will need to haul:
- Massage Table
- Laundry bag for dirty sheets
- Clock
- Music player or phone and speaker system.
- Cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer
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Advantages Of Opening A Massage Therapy Business
Massage business has a list of advantages:
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Its target audience is people of any ages, sex, and social status.
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No need to invest a lot.
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Good self-efficiency.
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It is possible to organize this business alone, so you can work for yourself.
Remember that almost all kinds of massage require a medical license.
Skills Experience And Education Useful In Running A Massage Therapy Business
Although a massage therapist doesnt need a degree in business to start their own business, specific skills will prove valuable.
- Massage Therapy Education And Certification. Obtaining quality education in massage therapy is crucial before anyone can work as a masseur. The Massage Therapy Education Guide says that each state requires that massage therapists undergo between 330 to 1,000 hours of training before they can be certified. The school will require that students spend two years at the massage therapy school before starting working professionally.
- Interpersonal Skills. It is essential to make customers feel relaxed and welcomed in a massage therapy facility. Massage therapists rely on repeat business, so building a positive relationship can be a key to their success.
- Disciplined Scheduling Management. Massage therapists should keep accurate and detailed schedules, especially when they travel to different places.
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How Do I Start My Own Massage Therapy Business
If you are looking for a new career that you can start and run on your own, consider a massage therapy business. Massage therapy is a great field to begin a new career in because it allows you to begin on your own terms, at your own pace, and in your own way. It is a career that has many interesting opportunities and an array of versatility. Are you asking yourself, How do I start my own massage therapy business?
There are many reasons to consider a change in career path right now. Are you thinking about becoming an entrepreneur in order to take control of your own employment situation? In these uncertain times it is important that you try to make informed decisions. Consider things carefully and make sure you are making the right choice. Enact thoughtful plans when deciding on a new career path.
Channels To Avoid For Your Mobile Massage Business
Writing this guide, I have assumed that you are a massage therapist who wants to start a mobile massage business. I am assuming that your business will probably be a one-person show.
If thats the case, then there are few marketing channels that you should avoid, although every marketing consultant will tell you to give it a shot. In the next section, I will discuss two such channels.
SEO
SEO or search engine optimization is the process of ranking your website high on search engines so that people looking for your services find you easily.
For my business, SEO is the number 1 source of customers. So, why am I advising you to stay away from SEO? Well, the reason is simple competition.
If you decide to invest in SEO for your mobile massage business, you are competing with the mobile massage marketplaces directly! These marketplaces have millions in funding and pretty much dominate the front page of Google for search terms related to mobile massage.
Ranking your one-person mobile massage website on page 1 of Google is possible, but will require significant effort. My advice is to forget this channel for now and focus on the low-hanging fruits.
Flyers
Again, similar to setting up a website, creating and distributing flyers is one of the top activities, I see massage therapists doing when they start a new business. Its like all massage therapists read the same out-dated books on how to start a mobile massage business.
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Put The Details In Place
Once youve figured out the logistical details of registering your business, choosing a location and getting insurance, its time to focus on the smaller details which will make your business truly yours.
This includes logistics such as how you will accept payment, and setting up a means to accept debit or credit cards, and setting up internet for your clinic will you offer complimentary Wi-Fi for patients who are waiting for their appointments?
It also includes things like waiting room furniture and decor, considering what sort of atmosphere you want to create.
Details such as what music you play, the colors you paint the waiting room and treatment areas and whether you burn candles or use an essential oil diffuser all factor into the environment you create.
To Promote A Massage Parlor We Recommend:
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Minimalistic website. EasyWeek will help you with getting a beautiful website. It takes up to an hour to create a site and the best that all the data is taken from your account, so there is no need to work too much to create a personal page. The program does it automatically, once you sign up for a service.
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Profiles on social media. You can start with , for example.
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Booking widget. Do not lose any client!
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Cooperation with the nearest beauty salons, fitness centers, gyms, etc.
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Targeted advertising will help with driving traffic to your website. Make sure that online booking, client base, and quality of the services are on the highest level. Only this way you will get more real clients and, of course, profit.
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Tips For Starting A Massage Practice
The best way to success is on a road paved not only with a passion for massage therapy, but also sound business skills.
For some, the idea of owning a business is persuasive and powerful. It’s easy to imagine what working for yourself will be like: setting your own hours, developing a schedule that allows for flexibility, keeping all the profits for yourself.
When you first start thinking about opening a massage therapy practice, your natural inclination might be to focus primarily on the positive aspects of business ownership. And there’s nothing wrong with letting the potential obstacles fade into the backgroundfor a time.
But when you begin getting serious about this endeavor, you must be realistic about both the good that will come from opening your own massage therapy practice, as well as the challenges you might need to overcome. The best way to success is on a road paved not only with a passion for massage therapy, but also sound business skills.
Choose Right Location & Setting Up
If you are starting from your home, or providing service at the customers doorstep, no need of wasting time in choosing a location. But if you are opening a parlor establishment, selecting a convenient location goes a long way in the success of the business. The location must be easily reachable from your target customers. Ensure the interior is comfortable for clients.
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Costs To Start A Massage Therapy Business
For traveling massage therapists, starting a massage therapy business can be affordable. However, it can be more costly for therapists looking to set up their own brick-and-mortar location.
For a mobile operation, you will need to budget a minimum of $10,000 for school, certifications, and other expenses. A brick-and-mortar location can start at $17,000 or more.