How long did it take you to build a client base?

[Theodore Macmahon]

Okay - I did a search, but I am either challenged in the search department or I missed finding a similar thread in all the threads that came up! If this has been asked before, I apologize

I am starting my job in two weeks, fresh out of school. I will be self employed through an established clinic. This means we all need our own clients, we don't share clients and new clients are evenly distributed,based on who's available at the requested time.

I have the advaneforum.xxxe of having no life so I am available at all hours - so can take on clients whenever they request (as long as I don't have to work alone)

For those of you who are self-employed in some way - how long did it take before you built up your clients enough to keep some-what busy??

Luckily we (my SO and I) don't need much money to pay the bills - so I can take as much time as needed without stressing, but I don't want to have my expectations set too high, either. I realize it will take time, but I don't want to settle in a clinic that isn't bringing me the clients as much as somewhere else would.

Thanks for any answers - and if there are other threads on this, feel free to point me in the right direction!

 

[Medori]

When I first started massaging, I rented a room from this lady for $500 a month. I made this move and had no clients. I suppose I was foturnate enough that it didn't take me long at all to atleast pay my rent. Before I knew it, I was doing really well.
When I first started, I made business cards with my information on it as well as a line that said $10 off on your first visit. I also got permission from a couple of schools to put fliers in the teachers lounge that had a $10.00 coupon on it for first time clients.
So, I guess my answer is if you are confident in yourself and in your work it will happen in no time. I don't believe in spending alot on advertising, the best advertising is free and it's by word of mouth.

 

[anant]

I don't believe in spending alot on advertising, the best advertising is free and it's by word of mouth.

This is true. Word of mouth is what has worked the best for me.

My answer to the origional question; I've been in the field for about 4 years and I'm still building my client base! I don't think I will ever hit a point where I won't have to. It took me about a year at my first place to get to where I was steady, but only a few months at another. I guess it all depends.

And congrats on the new job!
:grin:

 

[Positive Rodent]

It will happen as quickly or as slowly as you want it to happen. A lot will depend on the energy you put it into it. Sure, it's a little more challenging in this economy. At least you are in a place that will pass new business on to you if you are available, so at least you have some potential source of clients. It will be up to you to give them a wonderful massage and to connect well to them and get them back in the door. Of course, you also need to be out there cultivating more clients. You always need to be out there cultivating new clients, even when your practice is where you want it to be. In order to keep it at that level, you need to be trying to get new clients in the door because some clients will drop off and you need new clients coming the front door as others are leaving.

Be confident. Have patience. Have a plan that is flexible. Work several angles of marketing and then really put heavy concentration on the marketing that you find is working for you. Word of mouth is the best advertising and in the beginning, you might be the only mouth talking.

Good luck to you.

 

[RipCity]

Thanks for the info guys! Where I am at our clinic hours are done under supervision through businesses - mine luckily decided she liked me enough to hire me, so I do have a few established clients already. Three of whom have asked if they can have some of my business cards when I get them, to distribute in their offices. So that's encouraging!

The clinic it's self does advertising which you have the option of participating in if you want to, or not. I've also been advised to offer discounts to first time clients using my business cards, which I do plan to do.

I have done the math - and will need a minimum of 8 hours a week to get by. So as long as I can get to that point in a decent amount of time , the rest will come in time, I'm sure!

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[Sad Mom]

It took me 3 years to build a good following of clients, after I moved to a new state. I choose to be an employee at a spa when I moved so I did not have the added stress of worry about being able to pay the rent. Now I am a IC at a massage clinic and I offer home visits and I have been really busy. My 3 years of pounding the pavement are really paying off.