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The foundation of a good massage therapy business goes far beyond having a great business and marketing plan. As a master massage therapist for over 25 years, I have built up a massage practice based on sustainability and the true benefits of massage. These benefits are not talked about enough in the massage therapy industry. As a result, massage therapy business owners have to spend much more time and energy on their marketing efforts and trying to keep up with the latest industry trends.
That is why I have put together this list of 5 absolute steps for success. Implement these steps today and you will be well on your way to owning a 7-figure a year massage therapy business. Here are some useful tips to get started.
The first step in making sure you set up a good massage therapy business is to ensure that you have the right training. Although there are many massage therapy schools which offer training, very few of them will share the secrets of become a master massage therapist.
As a master massage therapist, you will be able to charge top dollar for your services. You will be able to offer quality over quantity.
Here is what to look for in the right training program for a massage therapist business:
Massage therapy clinics go beyond making people feel good. They also promote health benefits to their customer base. A massage salon is where people go to just feel good. There is nothing wrong with this.
However, for a successful business which has an awesome customer experience, double bookings, and long-term customers, massage therapists need to be trained to see themselves as health practitioners.
Proper execution of massage therapy techniques is essential in order to pass on the full benefits of massages and maximize customer experience. As a massage professional, you will also reap significant benefits if you understand the intricacies of the techniques you perform.
Once you understand why you are doing what you are doing and the impact each stroke of your hand has, then you will be able to elevate yourself from being a sole practitioner to becoming the owner of a massage therapy clinic.
As the owner of a message therapy clinic, you may look into the possibility of training other massage therapists. You will be able to sustain your career by protecting yourself from repetitive strain injuries. You will be sought after by celebrities, high net-worth individuals and persons seeking out pain management alternatives.
This is because you are not just executing the steps of a certain modality, but can leverage expert execution of techniques to tailor a solution for each customer.
In order to grow your clientele, income and ability to massage for many years to come, the following 4 points are essential.
The ability to give your client the massage treatment that is right for them, is based on a thorough understanding of your client and their needs. You must spend time connecting with your client so that you can not only meet but exceed their expectations.
One key to scaling a massage business is to use specific metrics to measure as many aspects of your business as possible. These include the cancellation rate, customer acquisition cost, customer retention rate, customer satisfaction metrics, business expenses and various other financial metrics.
Technology has become a must-have for allowing professional massage therapists to work smarter, instead of longer and harder. The right technological tools will help therapists optimize the time spent on clients, marketing and scheduling appointments.
Using technology to work efficiently can also help to cut down on monthly expenses. For example, when I started over 25 years ago, I employed a receptionist to take calls and book appointments. The wide range of online booking software available now helps me to be more flexible and strategic in the staff I need to hire.
Technology here also includes an active presence on social media. It’s imperative to have a good website. A well designed site will increase your chances of getting new clients and engagement on other social media channels will help to increase the customer retention rate.
Ongoing costs should be kept as low as possible without sacrificing service quality. In my experience, it is important to keep overhead costs at a minimum. If you operate out of a rented space, don’t be tempted to get something roomy and extravagant.
Also, think about subletting unused space to a related business such as an aromatherapy practitioner or chiropractor.
Massage therapy has a number of associated health benefits. In order to expand your customer base and have a consistent flow of clients, you need to first deeply understand the true benefits that a good massage therapy business offers. As a result, you will be able to develop a marketing strategy that goes beyond the mundane mention of massage’s stress relief properties.
The typical consumer of massage is not aware of the benefits of massage beyond relaxation and feeling good. Spas and massage centers which do not go beyond a glorified backrub do not help the situation. So here are the truly beautiful features of massage therapy:
The right business structure for setting up a good massage therapy business will include the following essential elements:
Most massage therapists start out as sole practitioners, then get stuck in a rut when they want to scale up a good massage therapy business by employing others or forming a company. I also started my massage career as a sole proprietor, but quickly scaled up to three locations and a full-time staff of 15 persons.
As a therapist, you may find yourself with too much work to handle all alone. This means you may need to employ people who can cover shifts if needed. You can either hire persons part time or on an independent contractor basis. When excess work is available you would be able to call on these persons and keep a percentage of what you charge.
There will be no need for you to pay employment taxes, vacation pay and other staff costs for independent contractors. Plus, you will be able to scale up or down as required once your contracts for service are well drafted.
Although you will be trying to keep the ongoing expenses for your massage therapy business at a minimum, do not not neglect to put liability insurance coverage in place. Just like other types of insurance, business insurance may not seem important when things are going smoothly.
Then one day, something goes wrong and you realize that insurance needs to be a part of your ongoing expense plan. Shop around and check out the what different insurance companies offer. Complete a list of pros and cons for each insurance plan comparing and contrasting the features of each plan.
Ask the insurance agents whether you need to have the full combination of features they may be offering or whether you can choose specific features to customize your plan based on your budget.
As I mentioned earlier, there are a range of extensive scheduling software providers to choose from. Most of them offer massage client management software and other advanced features that enhance the entire booking experience. So make sure to complete research on more than one booking software provider.
When it comes to fee payment, built-in payment processing via credit card or other online medium is a must. Also important is the ability to make online bookings, run various reports such as the average number of appointments per month, process automated booking confirmations, handle aspects of email marketing, process redemption of gift cards and issue insurance forms.
Great software that assists with your marketing strategy does not mean you should stop doing any type of marketing to attract potential clients. Even distributing business cards can be beneficial. In fact, marketing is critical to scaling up a good massage therapy practice and retaining loyal clients.
It includes creating a website, building social media profiles, developing advertising campaigns, generating leads, managing customer relationships, and tracking results.
A marketing plan should include:
It is essential to use only quality equipment and products for your massage therapy business. If you are using inferior equipment, your clients will notice the difference right away.
Make sure to invest in high-quality massage tables, massage chairs, blankets, towels, mats, and other equipment. These items will help you provide a better therapeutic experience for your clients.
If you are looking for a great massage table, consider investing in an adjustable massage table. This type of massage table allows you to adjust its height so that you can easily accommodate all body sizes. You can also find massage tables that allow you to raise or lower the headrest. Adjustable massage tables are available in many styles and designs.
You should also invest in quality massage supplies. For example, you may consider using only massage oils with no mineral oil or petroleum by products. Opt instead for massage oils made with natural, healthy ingredients. Investing in quality massage tools will ensure that you get the best possible results from your treatments.
As a massage therapist, you need to continually educate yourself. By staying abreast of current trends in the field, you’ll be able to stay ahead of the competition and really establish a good massage therapy business. Additionally, should always try to improve your skills and become a better massage therapist.
Some of the resources available to assist you with your development are:
The above article has provided you with some tips about how to start a successful massage therapy business. Hopefully, these ideas have given you some insight into what it takes to succeed.
Remember that starting a new business requires patience and persistence. But if you follow the steps outlined here, you will soon see success coming your way.
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