This is REALLY super long! =)
Schools are a great place to start!Make sure you have all kinds of payment plans and/or options. Check into health insurance companies that have an allowance for massage (there are an awful lot out there).I work part-time out of a day spa, and then part time offering on-site corporate massage. If you need any stats or references for information, let me know.What I did, though, was contact local businesses, from dealerships to real estate and insurance companies.Schedule a demonstration. Give them the information they're going to want. Definitely give them payment options. Depending on how you filed your business, the payment plans might vary greatly, and you may not be able to accomodate many businesses right now. One of my largest clients is a bi-weekly and pays ahead one month at a time, as an employee benefit.One of my other large clients allows the employees to pay individually, and they are also bi-weekly. There is no payment in advance, but they are required to book the massages ahead of time, rather than simply a set date, so that I don't go all the way out there for 2 employees.Some of my smaller clients pay half up front each week, or bi-weekly, and the employees pick up the other half of their massage at the time of the massage.My smallest client (8 employees) is a weekly appointment, and they pay a month at a time, one month ahead of time. The company pays for the services in full, as an employee benefit.In cases like these, I am paid as an independent contractor. They write me off as an expense, and I am responsible for reporting and tracking ALL taxes.That is something you will have to watch.If you can land that one account, preferably a local business person, you will receive referrals like you wouldn't believe!Try not to stretch yourself too thin. 20 consecutive people at 15 minutes each is a lot harder than it sounds. Allow time between employees for chair adjustments, discussing their massage (especially first timers!), etc. Don't forget to allow yourself a break or two.You may want to track down a local therapist and try to barter a weekly massage in return for a weekly massage. Your best bet advertising is word of mouth, as always.In my area, I just so happen to know several business owners, and previously being a car salesman (eeww I know!) and having owned a tanning salon, I had a pretty good jump as to where to go to drum up business.Something you may want to try (while a direct letter to human resources and/or general managers will help) is directly calling. Tell them who you are, why you're calling, and give them a quick little pitch. You have less than 15 seconds to make a first impression, but you will also have immediate response and your own enthusiasm to help you out. The worst thing that can happen is they'll tell you no. The best thing? You can give them answers to their questions and get a demonstration scheduled.Letters are so not personal, sometimes don't make it to the correct person, and when they do, sometimes they sit in stacks for weeks. Not to mention, the wrong set up, even the wrong font, can land that letter in the trash can before it has been read completely.Hope that gives you a little bit of an idea as to where to start. If you've been practicing and have or had a client base, let them know about your new endeavor. And don't forget your research. Huge corporations like GM are behind this concept.Email me if you have any questions or need any
[email protected] luck!Jennifer