How To Launch A Freelance Massage Business

If you’re an ambitious young woman looking for work, think of setting up your own portable massage freelance business.

3 Steps to Qualify

In fact, you only have to take three steps to pursue a career in massage therapy.

1. Enroll in a massage therapy school and complete the training. This will qualify you to set up a practice in a location you choose.
2. After graduation, you will have to meet municipal or state requirements to get your license or other credentials. In most cases, you will only have to pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx).
3. Set up a business, following the usual legal requirements for incorporation.

Advantages of a Freelance Massage Business

Naturally, you’ll have many options after you pass your Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam.

• You could set up a partnership with a health care practitioner. Massage would complement their patient service.
• You could work for an established spa or massage clinic.
• You could get your own office.

But if you think the idea of working at the same place day in and day out is a little confining, consider starting a freelance business.

Here are some advantages of taking that route:

• You get to travel and work in different homes and locations.
• You set your own schedule, working when you like.
• If you worked for other people, either as a partner or as an employee, you have to show up at a place of work at a fixed time and follow their rules.
• If you create your own office, you have overhead. If you don’t have enough money for advertising, you may not get enough clients. The result is that your costs could exceed your profits.

3 Steps to Set Up A Professional Freelance Massage Business

Your First Step: Get Clients

After you’re qualified, how do you set up your freelance massage business?

The first step is to market your business. It’s the only way to get the word out about what you have to offer.

Fortunately, marketing can be rather simple.

Here are some suggested steps:

1. Create a website describing your services and use social media to drive traffic to it.
2. Create marketing collateral like business cards and brochures. Then distribute these in places where you might be able to get clients. Gyms and yoga studios, for example, frequently have people who have overdone their exercises. They are often in desperate need of a good massage.
3. Network. Ask family, friends, and colleagues to get the word out. Ask them to tell others about the services you’re offering.
4. Provide free or low cost massages at health food stores.
5. Advertise in newspapers or magazines in the classified section. Target those publications that focus on holistic health news. You will find your best customers in places where other health practitioners advertise.

Your Second Step: Provide High Quality Customer Service

Your second step is to provide high quality customer service. This step will help you build up a return business and serve as a rich source of referrals. You can even offer some rewards for people who refer your work. Perhaps offer them a discount on their next visit. Perhaps offer their referral a first-time visitor discount.

You will get most of your business from effective word-of-mouth marketing. These will usually be from people who tell their family and friends about how great you were.

Quality customer service goes beyond giving a great massage.

It includes things like

• Politeness and courtesy
• Punctuality
• Efficiency
• Friendliness
• Helpfulness
• Professionalism
• Effectiveness.
• Treat every person who asks for your service with these qualities. This will quickly impress people. It will result in people singing your praises.

Your Third Step: Always Be Professional

Your third step is to have everything you need to deliver a great experience. Never massage clients on a couch, bed, or carpet. Always massage them on a portable massage table. Another important thing is to always use clean sheets and spa towels. Never try to skimp on laundry. Finally, avoid using cheap lotions and scents; buy only the best. You may think nobody will notice if you cut corners, but people do notice. It will ruin your reputation if you don’t do things professionally. Bad news travels fast.

By following this advice, you can be well on your way to a career as a freelance massage therapist.