Starting MT after school

[Prada? Count me in!!]

Hello my brother and I are going to attend Florida Academy of Massage and Skin Care in September at the Fort Myers campus and they seemed very helpful and knowledgeable about what they offer and teach. We would like to know would it be better to work for somebody after we finish or should we open our own place and offer on-site and mobile MT? Will we know enough right out of school to run our own business? We had our own business before but, mobile audio/video is not a big deal where we are at and what we offered and the scale at which we did installs, the demand for high end mobile audio/video fabrication and custom work was not there.

If we decide to open a place right out of school what will be looking at as far as?

1. Startup cost
2. Marketing coast
3. Overhead if any

If we decide to work at a shop, what would we be looking at as far as?

1. Pay


Making money is a concern but, we understand that you we not going to make 1M our first year and running our own business is hard and demanding and we are willing to deal with that. We live in a little town in FL that is becoming bigger and is looking that way for the next several years do to surrounding cities just not having room for people anymore. They are starting to make it into LaBelle and we would like to have a nice upper scale MT business established and successful before it is too late.

Another question we had is; should we go to local chiropractors and clinics and such to look for business or do they have there own MTs?

Sorry for the long post but, my brother and I have been talking about going to school to become MT for a few years and just in the past 3-4 months really talking about it 4-5 times a week. We are not happy at our jobs and want to bring something to our community that anyone that comes in there can benefit from. We love to help people and make people happy and want a place people can come to that as soon as they walk in the door all the day to day BS is left outside and they feel relaxed before making it to the sign- in sheet.

Thanks
Wade

 

[BrokkenHarted]

Every school is different and while you are better off getting your school to answer the question "Will we be able to do run our own business when we graduate?" you still need to keep in mind that they may paint the picture better than it actually is. Find out how many hours they teach a business course, what experience the teacher has, and what books they use.

The questions you ask are really good ones and they are going to be difficult to give any kind of straight answer to because there are so many routes you can take. For instance:

1. -startup cost could be anywhere from just enough money to cover rent for 6 months on a tiny office and cash for a massage table, desk, sheets, and basic supplies. Or just start mobile and have no location in the beginning.
-the cost could go way up from there depending on how large and upscale your office is, you may choose to get it remodeled all fancy-like, get an electric table, fountain for the reception area...etc. you are really going to decide how much you want to spend.

2. Marketing cost - could be anywhere from near $0 (spreading fliers around town, trading massage for placement in a local publication, open house at your location, press release in news paper, get someone to write an article about you, etc) to over $500 per month (radio advertising, large spreads in local publications, newspaper ads, big yellow page ads)

3. Overhead is going to be the going commercial rate for an office in your area, including utilities. And supplies (lubricant, sheets, gas, etc)

Same thing with working for someone else. You have to go around and ask people what they are making. The pay can vary so greatly depending on what the set up is. I have heard therapists making as low as $15 per hour and doing other labor such as cleaning and laundry, and some make as high as 60% of the cost of the massage.

Making money is a concern but, we understand that you we not going to make 1M our first year

If you are just two therapists working together I would seriously question if you will make One million ANY year (if that's what 1M means). The owner of a multi-therapist high end resort spa could make that. But not a small operation. Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken.

You may want to invest the time and research to do a business plan. This may give you the answers you seek. Best of luck. It's a wonderful, fulfilling profession and you are smart to be figuring this stuff out before jumping right in.

 

[ninapecora98461]

Thank you very much. The 1M thing was kind of a figure of speech I just meant that I know it will take time to make the money that keeps us happy and the business going. But, we do want to in the future if all goes well open remote offices.

We want to make people happy and feel good when they leave. We don't need to be millionaires (But it would be nice LOL) we just want to make enough to were we are happy and not living check by check again like we are now.

Thanks
Wade

 

[Alyssa :)]

... living check by check again like we are now.

Thanks
Wade

Just to let you know, there are a lot of MT's living check to check, even the good ones.

Be prepared that it may take years to build a steady practice without a huge financial backing - and sometimes even with the backing.

Being male can also hamper you. It doesn't have to, but it can. See our Male Therapist Section for more detailed threads on that.

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news. In all actuality, I hope you have an awesome time of it. But, so many people don't tell new MT's the nitty gritty, and I'd rather you be prepared and do wonderful, than to not be prepared and loose your steam.

 

[beartree]

Very true. Like I said if it takes time then so be it I would rather be living check to check and be happy and to also know that on day it can/will pay off. My job use to be great and then it just went downhill when new people came in and nothing has been the same since. I know we will do great we really want it and nothing has ever been givin to us, we have worked really hard for what we have and in time it will work out.


Thanks
Wade

 

[queniano]

"I would rather be poor and love what I do than be rich and miserable... but hopefully I don't have to be poor." - Jason Erickson (me)

That was printed in an interview I did while in massage school. It was true then and it's true now. I could go back to my old life and make more money, but I'd hate every stinking minute of it. Instead, I get paid to do things that I love to do!!!

Life is good!

It sounds like your hearts are pure... so the next question is whether massage is the right direction, or if you should seek elsewhere. Before enrolling in school, I recommend getting some massages from a few different practitioners and asking them about the work and the lifestyle. Different strokes for different folks... some MTs have lives they love but which I wouldn't want, and vice versa. I was inspired by the example of a male MT who had many things in his life that I admired and knew I would enjoy too. If I hadn't met him, I might have gone another direction, as there are so many, many ways to help others.

Research your area and get some guidance on formulating a business plan. Part of your plan could be to start as an employee or independent contractor to gain experience, then start your business. (Not necessarily with that particular clientele, but as a seasoned MT with established credentials.)

And make sure you are okay with the touch thing. Some people aren't, and they burn out quickly. The school I attended has rejected applicants with touch issues that would impair the training/practice process.

Good luck!

 

[Roscait]

Thank you very much Jason.

 

[Bloke501]

If massage is the path you are destined for, it will happen!

 

[BarrieG]

This is something I added to our website after many questions from massage therapists getting ready to start their own business. Some of this will apply to you and some may not.

What you will need to start your own massage therapy business.


Recently I have received a lot of inquires about what massage supplies are needed to start a massage business. I will break them down into categories in this article. I will also expand it to include everything I can think of that you will need to start your business. I hope other massage therapists will help add to the list of supplies a new massage therapist will need for their office. This list is quite extensive and depending on how you decide to go into business some of this may not apply to you. For example, if you are renting a room in an already established massage business you will not need the reception furniture, bathroom supplies and cleaning supplies. The list is to help a new massage therapist think of anything they will need to start their very own massage therapy business.

For any business you will need to acquire the appropriate business licenses. We have our state business license as well as a city license. We are also required to have a massage license through the state department of health.

You may also want to consider business insurance and malpractice insurance. Your business insurance should cover all your assets in case of theft or fire. It should also cover if a client trips and falls in your office. Malpractice insurance will cover you if you ever hurt a client.
A security system can be installed for a small monthly fee to protect form robbery and vandalism. Panic alarms can be added to the system. They will alert the police if the button is pushed.

For your massage room:

Massage table
Stool
Chair for your client
Dimmer light
Room heater
Music system
Hooks for coats and clothing
Small desk or shelves
8oz bottle with pump
Holster
Bolster
Blanket
Muscular system chart/art/posters/degrees for your walls
Garbage can
Hand sanitizer
Table warmer
Sheets 2 week supply
Face cradle covers or pillow cases

For reception you may need the following supplies:

Desk
Computer
Printer/fax/copier
Printer ink
Paper
Clip boards
Pens
Stapler
Staples
2 hole punch
3 hole punch
Address stamp
Calculator
Pencil
Schedule book
File cabinets
File folders with clasps
Hanging files
Waiting room chairs
Chair for the desk
Coat hangers
Phone
Phone wire
Answering machine or Voice mail
Credit machine
2 garbage cans one for under the desk and one for the clients
Gift certificates
3 ring binders
Health intake forms
Soap forms
Business cards
Receipt books
Brochures/ handouts
Refrigerator
Bottled water
Kleenex
Drawer organizer
Inter office mail slots
Pen cup

Bathroom

Toilet paper
Paper towels
Soap
Garbage can
Toilet brush

Cleaning supplies

Garbage bags
Vacuum
Carpet sweeper
Windex
Paper towels
Hand towels
Laundry detergent
Fabric softener

Miscellaneous

Signage
Mail box

If you are opening your own office and are leasing a space you may be responsible for paying the electricity, gas, water, sewer and garbage bills.

You may want to invest in a small freezer or ice machine if you are doing treatment work. For an ice machine you will also want to get some gallon freezer baggies. You will want to buy ice packs to keep in the freezer.

When you are first starting a massage business your laundry will be easy to wash at home. As your business grows you may want to look into a laundry service. We use the local laundry. They have a drop off service and are cheaper than the ones that let you use their sheets.

You will also need to contact the phone company and have phone lines installed. Most massage therapists can work with 1-2 lines depending on what they need. One phone line can be used for the fax, internet and credit machine. It is best to leave your phone on its own line.

 

[jmau]

I forgot clocks in the article also.

 

[iloveTheSimpsons!]

Wow thank you very much this is being saved for the future.


Thanks
Wade

 

[Shane]

Thank you very much. This will be saved for the future.

Thanks
Wade