Expansion opportunity, advice?

[strawberryfieldsforever]

I have an opportunity to rent a space $350/mo includes utilites. There is a small reception area and 2 rooms.

Room #1 is 10.5' x 10.5'

Room#2 is 12'x 15'

Neither room has a sink. In fact, the only sink is in the public restroom outside of the office door about 3 feet down the hall. The office is on the 2nd floor, there is an elevator. There is a nurse practitioner who does facials/botox/etc. next door, and attorney, and an insurance agent in the building.

Is it possible to run a massage biz out of an office space that lacks access to private sinks? If you have done it, what are your thoughts on it? I am looking to offer a couple colleagues to participate and cover the overhead. Each would operate as an IC and we would split the rent but be responsible for our own product, equipment, laundry, etc.

If this was your opportunity how would you go about it?

 

[Ras Zero]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

My last office was in a similar building- 2nd floor, and the other occupants were mostly Attorneys & Life Insurance people. I didn't have a sink in my room, but did have access to a "slop sink" across the hall, and the bathroom sinks.
I only used the slop sink to wash my stones, and used the bathroom sink for my hands prior to sessions. I'd just use a paper towel on all door handles til I got back in the room.

When I first moved there, I did check into getting a sink installed in the room- wasn't possible because all the plumbing access was on the other side of the hallway.

The room worked well for what it was.
Since then I've moved to a place that we totally remodeled- added walls & sinks & countertops.

You should look into your plumbing issue- ask the landlord if you can install a sink somewhere. Landlord may say it's ok, but may put the cost on to you. I'd think it would be worth looking into.
Not sure how much plumbing itself would cost, but you can get a pretty inexpensive sink/vanity set from Home Depot (I got mine for $49, and only had to buy a faucet in addition)

$350 sounds like a good deal, esp if you can get someone to share the space with you!

Question about your space: How do people get upstairs? Is it just stairs, or is there elevator access?
when I was on the 2nd floor I did loose some clients who couldn't make it up that flight of stairs (bad knee, elderly...)

 

[Nay]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

Is it possible to run a massage biz out of an office space that lacks access to private sinks? If you have done it, what are your thoughts on it?

Yes. The building I am in is similar. There is a large restroom with three large stalls, two sinks and a shower facility, built special for the dance studio in our building.

I don't have sinks or a restroom in my office. I wash hands after... and again before starting each client, and this gives the client time to get situated on the table. I lock all of my doors anytime I leave the office - including when the client is getting on the table and I go wash my hands.

Clients know they can use the public restrooms, and since they are very, very, very clean - it has never been a problem.

Hope this helps.



12/05/11 - added a little punctuation.

 

[ninjaxcupcakes]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

Two room size cross references that may make you more comfortable:

• Room size
• How to make a smaller room work?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

The rental rate is fantastic!

Yes - you can easily do your work without a sink in the room.
My "sink" is a stainless hot pot filled with water and a stainless bowl. It looks sharp and costs very little.
If you REALLY want a sink you can buy a portable sink - they cost around $800 and up. You plug them in for hot water and there is a seperate waste water reservoir that you would need to dump out. But they pretty much look like a plumbed sink.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[Samantha Paranoia]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

My 1st space was the same. I kept a towel on the bottom shelf of my hot towel cabinet to wipe my hands after each massage to protect the doors from oil on my way to the outside bathroom. It always took them longer to get dressed than it did for me to wash my hands, but as I put the hot towel on their back I'd say 'Just take your time getting up and enjoy this warmth. Get off the table slowly and take your time getting dressed as you may be a little dizzy which is normal after being so relaxed. I'm going to step out and wash my hands, but will be right back so let me know if you need anything'. They appreciate confirmation of cleanliness so it's a win win (if cleanliness isn't a word, it is now) lol

 

[covduo2]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

I think this would be a great opportunity for you! I am in a similar space; 3 rooms (about 11x11) with a waiting room, on the third floor with insurance folks down the hall and various doctors through out the building. We have stairs and an elevator and the rest rooms are at the end of our hall (you have to have a key to access them, though).

The woman I rent my room from was able to have the landlords put a sink in the small hallway between two of the rooms which is useful for washing our hands but isn't the best set up for washing equipment which can be very noisy. I am considering taking items such as my foot bath and stone warmer/stones to the restrooms to wash if there are sessions going on when I need to clean them.

No sound proofing in the walls can be annoying when the other MT's are talking on their phones or with a client in the waiting room, but I'm going to put up a sign soon to remind folks to be quieter.

That rate is amazing! I pay very, very little for my monthly rent at my place but I'm pretty sure the MT who leases the space is paying at least $1000/month and I don't believe the utilities are included as we have to keep a close eye in the heat and AC use.

The fact that there is an elevator should prevent any issues with folks not being able to reach you, and the only downside would be if you are interested in walk-ins since you most likely won't have street visibility. I prefer not have walk-ins so that's not an issue for me and I like the professional atmosphere of being in a more medical/commercial oriented space.

Please let us know what you decided!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

Check you state/local regs regarding sink access for massage establishments.

That arrangement would not fly in some jurisdictions.

 

[Daniel I]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

i think we would have trouble if the only sink was in a restroom that might be occupied exactly when you need it. we are a spa in an office building but we have a sink in the hallway and kitchen that are always accessible. it also depends on what treatments you'll be doing and how much water you'll need. for instance if you're just doing regular massage you'd probably be okay. if you're going to do hot stone or body wraps or anything that might need significant water or dish washing you would probably need something to supplement.

also important...is the bathroom a single stall that you can be locked out of when in use, or are there many stalls and you can go in at any time? if it's single stall you could be locked out for 20-30 minutes if someone in your office sits on the toilet too long.

i like the ideas for the portable sink or the basin

 

[allie]

Expansion opportunity, advice?

WOW!!! That is CHEAP! I pay $500 for 2 rooms in a shared suite. When you walk into the suite there's a shared lobby (I'm the only one that has ever used it since the other companies don't have clients that come to see them). Just past the lobby is a small hallway with my 2 rooms. The first room is my office/lounge and the room across the hall is my massage room. In the office room I have my desk, 2 chairs for clients and a small table with magazines and such and a water cooler for hot tea and water before or after the session. The bathroom is down a longer hallway next to a company that does home repairs. We also have a small kitchen area/break room. I use the sink in the break room for washing my hands and washing massage cups, stones, wetting towels for the cabi and washing dishes (I don't use paper cups).

I think the price is amazing. The other tenants seem like they would be quiet (my neighboring tenants are NOT) so I think if you feel good about it then go for it!