Massage Cooperative/Collective

[H.O.P.P.E.R.]

Hey everyone,

I'm very new to this forum, but I needed to reach out to the MT community for opinions and suggestions.

I would really like to start a worker owned and operated Massage or Wellness center. I know that a lot of people who study massage therapy, as well as other forms of bodywork, get into it to be their own boss; i.e. set their own schedule, their own rate, decide their own clients, etc. I feel that a co-op, or collective, structure would benefit therapists the most in this way, allowing them to work with each other to set the prices and their schedules. This would allow therapists to be equal in their decision making, and also cut manager/supervisor/boss/owner positions from reaping all the profit, splitting it evenly instead.

Also, there are some very awesome benefits of having a central place, in that you can do bulk laundry, bulk lotion, oil, and having a set place allows people to find places to live in close proximity. It also allows for better community involvement.

Details still need to be worked out, but by localizing services and doing things in bulk, therapists would end up saving a lot of money. Therefore, I believe massage can be provided for considerably less than $60/hr, and therefore massage and bodywork can be more accessible to manual laborers (which we technically are also!).

I mostly need help with figuring out how to find other interested massage therapists, but if anyone knows how a consumer co-op works, like REI, it would also be helpful to discuss how one could structure such a thing with massages.

 

[spanky]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

For one thing, you need to have a leadership structure. Everyone may be "equal" but someone needs to have the power to make serious decisions that will affect the good of the whole. They also need to have some power to regulate members of the group that get out of line.

Unless you build it into your business model from the outset, your model will fail.

 

[brian Z]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

Unless you build it into your business model from the outset, your model will fail.

what does that mean???

 

[ezza1982]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

What Jason means there needs to be someone at the top and it needs to be at the beginning. You can't realy on things moving smoothly without one chief. Everyone has their own ideas how things should be run and you can't let everyone run with their own idea's bc it effects the whole group and that causes real problems.

A lot of these co op type of businesses don't do well for that reason. I have seen it happen all the time in the horse businesses

 

[Czech.]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

It all seems awesome, except the "no boss" thing. Someone or a pair of someones if you want a partner has to be in the decision making position as Jason pointed out. As far as splitting proceeds, that is very do-able, we do it at my places, its commission based Independent Contracting. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CONTRACTS. And as far as offering massage for less than $60/hour, also easily done. Have the chains not made it to San Jose (Massage Envy, Elements, Massage Heights, etc)?

I think it is a great biz model, but someone definitely needs to be in charge. In MA it is required actually. The person is called a Compliance Officer (Boss). If you have IC's only and not employees, the Compliance Officer needs to be the owner (you), otherwise they will be considered an employee.

 

[trigga1uk]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

Thanks everyone for replying to this topic.

In terms of a boss, I see how states like MA make it necessary, but socially I feel it is unnecessary. Decisions would be made by the group at group meetings, with tasks being delegated out and a system put in place to ensure accountability. If there needs to be a central person for coordinating all this, then I feel that role can also be rotated, if not monthly then bi-monthly.

Now, other than the issue of the co-op's structure, how or where do I go about finding interested practitioners? I was about to post an add in the job section on Craigslist, but found out that it would cost me $75 just for one category. Is there another jobs place where I can post this as a suggestion for free that is often visited by bodyworkers/massage therapists?

Thanks again!

 

[Hiya]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

Decisions would be made by the group at group meetings, with tasks being delegated out and a system put in place to ensure accountability. If there needs to be a central person for coordinating all this, then I feel that role can also be rotated, if not monthly then bi-monthly.

Now...this could work. Basically a board, with a chairperson. Have them voted in, by the rest of the board. Although, I wouldn't change the chair so often, maybe every year, or twice a year. Ever watch the tv show Private Practice? That is pretty much exactly what they do. There is no one owner, but there is always someone in charge.

You would definitely need to find a "special" group of people to partake. Even people that say they are team players, many times are not. I think it's a wonderful idea, and I hope it works out for you. I would probably look at recent grads from accupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage schools. Maybe hold a meeting, and announce it to the schools to get people to sign up for the meeting that are interested. Then explain your ideas, and see who's interested in learning more about it.

 

[originalbadguy2000]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

Once belonged to the Massage Team in Quincy, CA where a group of us rented/shared space and it worked well.
Suggest rotating operational management responsibilities for implementing/sustaining agreed upon decisions.

Posting at Massage Schools or online forums might recruit those with a similar vision. If I lived nearby I'd like the opportunity.

 

[Purnendu]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

I was just reading about this earlier today. Funny how that works, sometimes!

http://www.shareable.net/blog/how-to-start-a-worker-co-op

Kat

 

[ely dazzlepants :)]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

I was just thinking about this as well!! Isn't there a place on the boards for this type of thing? I would love to participate in something like this.

 

[Shazam]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

Also, there are some very awesome benefits of having a central place, in that you can do bulk laundry, bulk lotion, oil, and having a set place allows people to find places to live in close proximity. It also allows for better community involvement.

Details still need to be worked out, but by localizing services and doing things in bulk, therapists would end up saving a lot of money. Therefore, I believe massage can be provided for considerably less than $60/hr, and therefore massage and bodywork can be more accessible to manual laborers (which we technically are also!).

I think you are missing the mark here. Laundry savings, oil/lotion savings add up to what? Couple of $$ per session? If you pass along all of your cost savngs to your clients by lowering your prices below $60 a session -- not sure why this is a goal -- then your members lose the financial benefit of joining your co=op.

The Wal-Mart strategy -- pass along savings to the consumer by lowering prices to improve THEIR lives and build loyalty -- works very well. But not for a low volume business like massage.

In terms of a boss, I see how states like MA make it necessary, but socially I feel it is unnecessary.

Look at the head lines. Our country is suffering from a dearth of leadership. you won't truly know if people will do the right thing until they are members of your team.

 

[XcutieX]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

If each of the co-op members is GOOD and has enough business, then I think it is a great idea!

The cost of renting your own space can be very high - sharing the costs of electric, cleaning, reception, phone, furniture, equipment and marketing WOULD be a savings - saving on oil...of course not.
Too many MT's are working out of their homes or doing out-call. I hated doing this.
I am in the process of dismantling my in home studio space right now and frankly it is a big relief.

I am thinking that you could structure it like I've seen people do with co-op vacation homes. Most of them have a "buy-in" cost - and yours could be fairly low...but it would be great to have as a "security deposit." Most of them also have a "buy-out" clause also - as well as spelling out repurcussions of not living up to the signed contract/agreement - that way you can vote someone out if they are a problem.

But - I agree - there needs to be a "managing partner(s)" so that someone is ultimately responsible - and that person(s) would be the ones(s) taking the biggest risk in case of failure.

 

[Reverse_Thread_Wing_Nut]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

But - I agree - there needs to be a "managing partner(s)" so that someone is ultimately responsible - and that person(s) would be the ones(s) taking the biggest risk in case of failure.

But if someone is taking a greater risk, then don't they also deserve a greater reward? Risk = Reward is capitalism, the antithesis of collectivism where everyone is equal.

 

[tatiana ooh ahh]

Massage Cooperative/Collective

But - I agree - there needs to be a "managing partner(s)" so that someone is ultimately responsible - and that person(s) would be the ones(s) taking the biggest risk in case of failure.

But if someone is taking a greater risk, then don't they also deserve a greater reward? Risk = Reward is capitalism, the antithesis of collectivism where everyone is equal.

Yes - I think so....
that's what Jason was saying about a "leadership" structure and business model.
There is a LOT to consider and set up with something like this.