Client retention when starting your own practice

[Russell M]

Hi there,
I'm looking at leaving my current independent contractor position and starting my own practice. I was wondering how others have done this and about what perceneforum.xxxe of your clients were you able to take with you?

 

[bcbole92]

Client retention when starting your own practice

Hi there,
I'm looking at leaving my current independent contractor position and starting my own practice. I was wondering how others have done this and about what perceneforum.xxxe of your clients were you able to take with you?

First off, welcome to MassagePlanetL .

As far as taking clients with you, bottom line - it depends on the agreement/contract you currently have.

If you don't have some form of written or verbal contract, then you still have to be sure you act ethically. Nobody "owns" clients, but it is unethical to try to "take" clients from a business who has done the work and spent the money to get them in the door to you.

What kind of situation are you in, and do you have any written contract or have made any agreement where you are at?

 

[Orchid Quynh Lan]

Client retention when starting your own practice

In general, only a very small perceneforum.xxxe of your clients are likely to follow when you change venues. Don't count on them. Count on having to build a new clientele.

 

[ATHEIST IS TRUTH!]

Client retention when starting your own practice

I agree with Jason. Sometimes just moving an office I have lost clients! Even if the move wasn't far. Don't count on many following you but for sure you will have very loyal clients who will.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Client retention when starting your own practice

I think that the best mind set is not to "take" clients with you.
Just make it easy for them to find you.

As an employee OR an IC the clients are not really yours - they are clients of the business, unless you are strictly a renter of space and secured those clients for your own business.

 

[Cory]

Client retention when starting your own practice

I started my own practice in a small office and I still do my IC jobs. One is at a day spa and the other is at a salon. I've noticed that those particular clients are looking for a 'spa experience' or 'salon experience' rather than simply the massage experience, even though they only ever come to the salon/spa to see me for massage. I have a few regulars at the spa and I told the spa owner when I rented my own space that I wouldn't pull clients from there as its just not ethical. So I don't say anything to my clients there about having my own practice, but I do give them my business cards which have my website on it. If there comes a day and they contact me outside of the spa for some of my menu items that are not available at the spa then I'd leave it up to them if they wanted to come to my office.

I am so glad to have my own space where the prices are all set by me, I can offer discounts whenever I want, and can advertise however I want. It did bug me when I would advertise for massage at the spas (spas don't advertise for massage, they advertise for the business) sometimes people would call and they'd get scheduled with the other therapist that didn't do the advertising. Also it bugged me that I've trained in some reflexology and I recently practiced it on a few people at the spa, then other people were asking about it and the owner scheduled the other therapist for reflexology sessions even though she isn't trained in it. Now I advertise for my own space and I get 100% of all the clients from that advertising, and my clients will always have a therapist that has been trained in the treatments they choose.

 

[Jazmyne]

Client retention when starting your own practice

First, thanks so much for the replies. It is really helpful!

My position is a rather odd one. Yes I know "my" clients aren't completely mine however at this position I do a lot of my own marketing that comes out of my pocket. So I'm not looking to take anything that isn't fair. If and when I do leave I plan on letting people know where I'll be and letting them know what therapist at my current place I think would suit them best. I'm just trying to get my business plan together and have a realistic idea of what I might be able to count on as far as retention goes.

At the moment I have no contract. Haven't had one in nearly a year, my boss is, well, different. I pretty much run my own practice here but I'm restricted by some really stupid and redundant rules by my employer that I don't know if I can deal with anymore. So I'm just looking at some other options.

 

[rissa]

Client retention when starting your own practice

bumping up this thread to see how things are going

 

[Pompal 09.]

Client retention when starting your own practice

If you can casually let your current clients your plan, they will find you. Make sure to make yourself easily found on the web so they don't have a problem.
It's a touchy thing, so as mentioned above, don't do anything that feels weird. Be ethical and thoughtful throughout the transition.
Anyone who does follow you is a great, and loyal customer so you should feel extra proud of your work if they do!