FEATURED THREAD: Need advice on working out of home

[malik]

Hey, Blissfulbalance . . . sorry about the problems you've been having especially with clients referred by the chiros . . . : as far as your home clinic.

I do have a couple of suggestions for what they are worth! First of all, your home situation sounds like a wonderful set-up for massage! From time to time I have had a few potential clients say, "You mean you work out of your home?" (sounding slightly dubious.) I reply that I have done so for years and have many faithful clients. I then add that they can come for a "Free consultation" taking 15-20 minutes and then decide if they want to stay for the 60 minute or 90 minute massage. This has never failed me!

When they arrive, we go over the health forms and discuss any problems they are having. They get to see my home, the environment and meet me personally. I have never had anyone leave with just the "free consultation." And most of them have become regular clients -- certainly worth a 15 minute -- or even 30 minute -- "free consultation." (By the way, this also works for those who have never had a massage or are slightly nervous about the prospect. Once that personal contact is made they are ready to try it!)

The other thing to think about is how many new clients you will need to afford the rental for your new space. Will those clients from the chiro make up for that? Or might you instead stay where you are and do a bit more promotion in other areas like local hair salons and other establishments?

One of my greatest forms of promotion is referrals from other clients. You obviously already have some satisfied clients coming to your home who ARE very comfortable there. I'm sure some of you might be aghast at this -- but I tell all my loyal clients that for everyone they refer (meaning those who do pay for the actual massage -- not a free consultation!) -- they will receive their next massage at half price.

It has worked wonders -- I now have entire families (and even neighborhoods in my area) who come regularly for massage. It is also the reason I have developed such a strong Amish clientele.

Again, just my :2cents:! Hope some of these suggestions might help!

Best to all! Sherry

 

[i need a hug?]

Thanks for the good suggestions Sherry. I do offer $10 off of the "referrer's" next massage as an incentive for referrals and it does bring some new clients. I think the idea of the free consult is a great one. I do a free consult and sample treatment for the electrolysis part of my business, but hadn't thought of offering it for massage. I appreciate everyone on this board for their creative marketing ideas that I would never think of myself LOL!

Good luck to all who are launching a home-based massage practice!

 

[stogburn]

Good luck to all who are launching a home-based massage practice!

There's no place like home!

 

[Justin Walker]

This is a great thread. I hope others who have home offices will post.

I have often thought about what it would be like to live above a massage studio.

All things to consider on my journey through life.

 

[Mustbe]

Many of the best massage sessions I have ever had have come from being worked on out of the therapist's "home" office. In fact I usually seek out people like this as I have discovered that many of the most skilled MT's work for themselves this way. What I have found out is that these MT's usually "live the life" of a massage therapist and treat it like it's more than just a "job" and therefore their homes have a whole wonderful ambiance that is well suited to taking care of their clients. In fact in my experience they seem to go the extra mile in making it a wonderful and unique healing session. Let's not forget that for many years this was pretty much how it was done and in many places in the world it is still done this way. It's a fine tradition and really shouldn't be stigmatized in any negative way. Lots of "professional" spas and clinics I have gone to have not met up with the standards of the best "home" clinics in terms of service or atmosphere.

This is so true. I have also found this to be so and much prefer home based MT's and energyworkers.