Have you been thinking about going into business for yourself, and decided that the career of a massage therapist is perfect for you, your skills, and your knowledge? If so, then this guide on how to set up your own at-home massage therapy business is a must-read, as we’ll go over everything from how to find the best massage table and how to set up your office, to ways to market your business, and even get a leg up on the competition. We take all the questions out of the process so that you can focus on a successful launch and many years to come.
What You Need to Get Started
Before you can even start about setting up your home business of massage therapists in Montreal, you first need to complete a training program so you can get qualified in your region/state. Each state or municipality will have their own license or credential requirements, so you need to make sure you are well aware of what’s required on your end. There’s also a good chance you’ll need to pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx).
You can easily locate programs and schools that offer the program by checking out the AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) School members.
Setting Up Your Massage Therapy Space
Once you have gone ahead and taken the necessary programs and courses, passed the MBLEx, and you’ve obtained your official license or gotten your credentials, you’re ready to start outfitting your home office. The first step always needs to be to check the local zoning, licensure, and permits required in your town or city. Each state has its own regulations regarding home businesses. You want to follow everything by the book so that you don’t run into any issues.
Next, it’s important to think about what kind of massage therapist you are. Are you the type that moves around lots? Will you be offering additional services such as aromatherapy? Will you have a lot of equipment outside of the actual massage therapy table? These answers will help determine how big of an appointment room you need.
There’s also the fact that your patients will expect a private and quiet experience, so you don’t want your office to be in the middle of the home, surrounded by chaos. Ideally it should be somewhere on its own and even have its own separate entrance/exit just for your patients.
Don’t forget that you should also offer your patients a bathroom to use, and a waiting area.
If you’re unable to create an office space that feels separate from the rest of your home, and your clients will need to walk through various spaces in your house to get to the appointment area, you’re going to need to be sure things are kept neat and tidy at all times. You want to give your clients a positive and professional impression from the moment they walk into your home.
Choosing the Best Massage Table
In terms of equipment, the most important thing you’ll need to invest in is a massage table. With that said, you don’t want to just settle for any old table, rather you want to find the best massage table for your needs. You’ll need to consider such things as the size of the table, the comfort level, how durable it is, whether it is “squeak-proof” when you need your clients to re-position, how easy it is to clean, how thick the padding is, and whether or not it’s water-resistant.
If you plan on also offering in-home services for clients, then the massage table needs to be portable. You may even need to invest in two separate ones – one for the home office, and one for in-home appointments.
How to Market Your Business
As for marketing your new massage therapy business, social media tends to be the best option for small businesses. You can create an account for your business on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and not only market your new business but highlight your special offerings, deals and promotions, information about different issues that massage therapy can help with, and so forth. You can even set up targeted ad campaigns through social networks that will help you to connect with potential clients.
Pulling Ahead of the Competition
Finally, you need to find something that sets you apart from the competition – what makes you unique and would make your business the best one? Things such as offering a relaxing spa-like environment, using state-of-the art equipment, an online booking system, offering additional services like aromatherapy, and a waiting room complete with beverages and snacks can all give you the leg up on your competition.
Get Your Business Off the Ground
By using these tips, you’ll be able to get your business off the ground and heading towards success.