The practice-goals polls -- self-generated massage income

[Pompal 09.]

OK, here's the second installment in the trilogy.

Again, it seems like whenever I read a survey regarding what income MTs pull down, it does not address enough factors to be truly useful. Often the survey will address $ per year, but just as often it ends up implying that a low average figure is somehow shameful to the profession, and doesn't address goals.

What is your gross income *goal* per year, strictly from the massages you do yourself? (I'm about to go put up a third poll about other massage-related revenue streams, so we can address that there.) If it's not too personal I'd love to hear backstory too -- are you currently meeting this goal, has it gone up or down over time, etc.

Edited to add: this is for any employment situation. If working as an IC or on a split or commission, I'd like to see your goal gross based on your take, not the price of the massage before the split.

 

[Lon]

My current gross goal (and I'm meeting it) is a very modest $13-15,000/year. That's just 4-5 weekly hours of table clients, plus my steady corporate chair client. In 2 years (preschool time!), my massage-only goal will be more like $30,000 gross from massage alone (and that's not bumping up the number of sessions much at all).

 

[Paul F]

Wow, I really like this thread/poll.

Right now, working both for myself and as a renter/IC, I haven't done too badly. Our whole lives are in a state of flux right now, so all of our numbers are about to change as we chart territory that is new for us. But as of this year and last year, I seem to do anywhere from 10-20 massages per week (though sometimes less) between the two places, sometimes around 25 per week during really busy times (which was this last fall and winter/early spring for me). I earned roughly around $20-25k last year, and this year IF things go the way they have been, I might just break $28-30k. My goal is $30-40--or at least it would be if we weren't facing what we're facing lol. The renter/IC arrangement is going away in about 4-5 mos (taking away with it about 2/3 of my income) when we start massively intense school, and all we will have is our home practice, which brings in the other 1/3 of my income.

I also find it VERY helpful to see not only what our goals are, but how we're actually doing NOW. I know there are ppl out there (some on this board) who have been practicing as long as I have (or less) and have done well at building their practice into a profitable full or semi-full time practice. I thought that most MTs were that busy and that there was somehow something wrong with the way I was doing things that was responsible for my as-yet slow growth and I'm somehow lagging behind. So, it's rather reassuring to find that there are other MTs out there who are also slow-going like me. I sort of feel supported in a way.

Thank heaven for this group!
Hugs,
~Jyoti

 

[birdbayboy]

I didn't vote. The problem with asking about gross income is that it doesn't take into account all the variables of our different working situations. For example, those who do out-call only are not going to have the same expenses as someone who rents a room. Someone who rents a room in NYC is going to have different expenses from a therapist renting a room in Podunk, BFE. Some therapists prefer to be employees.

I think it would be better to base the poll on net income rather than gross.

Just my 2cents,
Angie

 

[cant_think_of_1]

I think it would be better to base the poll on net income rather than gross.

I can never remember which is which. I selected what I want my business to make in a year before taking out for the expenses of running the business.

When I started here three years ago I just wanted to make $30k a year.

The first year I was in the red.

The second year my business made less than 20k.

This is going into my third year and my business has made over 20k, I expect it to make at least as much in the second half of the year, which means I'll have met the *goal* I selected for this poll.

But really I want what I selected (40k-50k) to be my personal income from massage. So my business will have to make more. I should have selected the next one higher.

 

[Halema]

You had it right -- gross is pre-expenses.

The reason I ask about gross income rather than net is that most of the surveys I see *are* talking about gross. I agree -- and assume -- that everybody's expenses will vary, and so will their practices, and they will set goals to cover whatever those are. So finding out the goal gross that *includes* covering those expenses are is useful to me as a starting point.

You could always put up another poll about net income if that's the info you want (I'm done making polls for the night)!

 

[BlackMamba]

I'm hoping to get to $30,000 this year, although it's going to be tough considering it's August. Last year I made $18,000 I think, and this is really my only job. I am self employed and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am also working (very) part time at a spa...just one day a week on call (I haven't had anyone in 3 weeks) and every other Saturday. I do want to buy a house and hopefully this time next year I will be in more of a position to start looking or at least planning...it's tough though when you don't know if your clients are going to keep their appointments!

 

[Answers]

I'm starting to feel alot better after reading all of your responses. I just logged on to the computer after my only client for today called and cancelled. I've been practiceng massage for 4 years and last year I made about 19,000. I have 2 jobs as an IC. One in a woman's gym and one in a Wellness Clinic. In the winter, things get pretty busy -about 20 clients per week, but right now, it's extremely slow (3 so far this week). Anyone have any ideas about how to not get discouraged during the slow times?

 

[Catwomen]

I just try to keep a positive outlook. I just got the word that my roommate will be leaving in October, so I'm going to take the plunge and take over the lease full time, which means double rent, and hopefully a lot more clients! This week was really slow (well, September has been pretty slow) but I'm just trying to be positive and not get too down about it. In the slow time, I'm working on getting more people in the door, finding creative ways to market myself, etc. I also work at a spa, just one day a week and every other saturday and it has been dead in there too, so I think it's just this time of year.

Fingers crossed for all of us for a busy holiday season!

 

[Pandora Tomorrow]

To echo jyoti: I really like this thread/pole.

For me it was a little tough as I also work in Occupational Health, and massage is a compliment to that. My goal for the pole was 15-20K working as I do... but the real goal would be to do full-time and shoot for 70+K.
The big kicker is the benefits package I’ve grown used to having. :

Darren

 

[Carissa]

Advice for someone just starting fresh out of school

Hello,

I'm just starting out and have decided to work at a local chiropractic office. I will get $37.00 per hour for the massages plus tips and most clients do tip. I do not have a car and the office is within walking distance of my hours. Since I'm so new to the business, I thought this might be a good way to start. I live in a Western Chicago suburb.

Anyone else working as an employee rather than an independent contractor?

 

[Beckster]

I think that taking a look at your goals is really important.

I work at a spa 4 days a week and have out call private clients. This year I made just under $7k on my outcalls clients, without really marketing myself. It was mostly word of mouth and friends.

This was my first year working at massage & I took about a 50% pay cut from the desk job that I left to pursue massage. I guess I was naive in not expecting the difference in pay, but things are working out. Without my private clients I would not have made it through the year.

So in 2007 my goal is to make at least $10k with my private clients, market myself to develop a larger clientele, drop days at the spa while my private clientele grows and, hopefully towards the end of 2007, rent a room in my friends office.

 

[Min]

I've been in business now for almost 2 yrs. During this time I've been taking appointments mostly in the evenings and weekends as I build my clientele while still working my corporate job. The rate that I am getting clients now has me thinking about cutting back my corporate job to enable me to start taking clients during day time hours during week days.

My goal for 2007 is $30K. My goal once I'm full time is $60K per year.

 

[Pompal 09.]

This year my expected income before overhead should be between 40-45k. I have not had any renters this summer, but have 2 moving in next week. So my expenses will go from about $800 a month down to about $200 a month. I have been very lucky through the years to have other therapists renting space from me, and practically covering all of my expenses.

 

[William Wang]

My goal is the 30-40k range. I would like to do anywhere from 10-20 massages per week and make up the difference in product sales or spa services.

Right now I am at 2 1/2 weeks in working from the gym, I am an IC there, and I seem to be starting slowly. Some days I get nothing, yesterday I got a 1/2 hour and then there are days I get a table and a few chairs. I would like it where I get at least a couple massages every day.

 

[ShadowsWithin]

The problem with asking about gross income is that it doesn't take into account all the variables of our different working situations. For example, those who do out-call only are not going to have the same expenses as someone who rents a room. Someone who rents a room in NYC is going to have different expenses from a therapist renting a room in Podunk, BFE.

I think you will find Gross Income is a pretty good proxy for net income.

In NYC, rents may be higher, but rates are proportionally so. An office worker in NYC can talk to an office worker in Mobile AL, and they can compare salaries, with the understanding that COL is drastically different. They don't compare their "after living expenses" purchasing power.

Your NET income in NYC needs to be much higher than Mobile, because you live off the Net.

Regarding outcall expenses vs. room rental expensese, again, the point is moot if you stick to gross income. An MT in Mobile with a room and a practice vs. an Outcall Therapist in the same city should not have the same gross income. Many practices can generate 3- 4 clients on a daily basis, but you would be hard pressed to find Outcall specialists doing this many routinely. There just are not enough hours in the day to get from place to place, etc etc.

Lower volume * higher rates vs. Higher volume * lower rates. If doing outcalls results in the same or higher gross income as having an office, you might want to rethink your business model.

 

["Vallamkali"]

Sorry to be entering into this thread a bit late, but I've been away.

I should always read the instructions first cuz I'm an IC that works five days a week in a massage space and average about 7-9 massages a week. Last year I made $20K. I've since started to limit the number of massages per day and will probably end up making $15K.

I'm planning on taking on private clients on my days off to hopefully decrease the days I'm at the clinic to increase the days I work on private clients. I based my answer on the income on private clients: $5k.

 

[HOT 1]

The practice-goals polls -- self-generated massage income

Right now I am make $31,200 per year just doing massage. I will do 10 - 25 clients per week on average. I am a IC and I also offer mobile massage on my own and I am with 2 corporate chair massage company's to. My goal by next year is to be making $50,000 and if I keep in the direction that I am going it will easily happen

 

[Pompal 09.]

The practice-goals polls -- self-generated massage income

i put my goal as being for the remainder of this year, because--quite frankly--it's what my brain was processing at this late hour.

when i sat down some time ago to figure out what my expenses were that needed covering (budgeting for CEUS, budgeting for re-cert/re-licensure, student loans, marketing, insurance, childcare, etc)--including factoring for 30% taxes taken directly off the top--i concluded that i need to be doing 32 massages per month to make ends meet.

i am not currently accomplishing that goal, but i am still working towards it.