Four Things to Consider When Starting a Massage Business

Massage therapists provide several relaxing therapies to their clients and work with them to improve their health and well-being, so it’s no surprise that this job is in demand all over the world. If you are a trained massage therapist, then you might be considering starting your own business or salon to enjoy a higher earning potential and better job freedom and flexibility. However, there are various important factors to take into consideration before you get started. These include:

Starting a Massage Business

#1. Have a Clear Business Plan

Massage therapies range from leisure to medical, so it’s important to understand exactly what your business is going to be and the kind of services that it will offer to clients. If you don’t have a clear plan laid out before beginning the process of setting up your brand then this could lead to huge mistakes, such as investing in the wrong equipment or making marketing blunders that could cost you your reputation at a very early stage. Consider further factors such as where your business is going to be based. Will you be home-based, mobile, or operate out of a salon? What facilities will be available to your clients? Will you need to hire employees?

#2. Branding

Once you’ve decided on the type of massage business you’re going to run and the services that you’ll be offering, it’s time to get down to naming and branding your new company. However, bear in mind that simply giving your business a name is just the first step of building a brand. Invest your time, effort and money into coming up with an attractive logo and color theme and then applying these to ensure that your branding is consistent across offline marketing, your website, and social profiles. You will also need to come up with a ‘brand voice’ – understanding your clients’ needs and answering their questions.

#3. Marketing and Reaching Out

No matter how great you are as a massage therapist, you won’t get far without making some investments in marketing. Draw up a clear plan regarding how you are going to reach out to potential clients and attract them to your salon over competitors’. For example, will you use social media and online marketing methods such as blogging and influencer marketing? Or, do you think that your clients will respond better to an offline approach, such as posting advertisements in medical practices or attending trade shows in your area? Market research into your target audience is essential for determining the best method of reaching out.

#4. Hiring and Putting Together a Team

Lastly, if you’re going to be operating a salon or expect your business to grow, you’ll need to consider hiring other massage therapists and support staff, such as a receptionist. You can use online resources such as access2knowledge.org to help you determine how much you can expect to pay your staff in terms of a salary. However, bear in mind that your business budget should always come first when deciding pay. Spend some time looking for talented and passionate individuals who will really help your business to grow.

Good luck with your business venture!