HOW TO GET BUSSINES STARTED..HELP

[mew2fling]

HI I JUST GOT MY LICENSE. I HAVE A FULLTIME JOB WHERE I WORK FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY 4PM TO 1AM. THE ONLY AVAILABLE TIME TO DO MASSAGE IS IN THE MORNING (8 TO 3PM)...GOT A JOB AT A SPA WORKING ON LY ON SATURDAYS. MY DILEMA IS: I DONT KNOW IF STARTING MY BUSSINES AS OUT CALL...I DONT HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO RENT MY OWN SPACE(WHICH IS WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO)....IF YOU DO ONLY OUT CALLS CAN YOU GIVE ME THE INSIDES OR SOME TIPS...I START BUILDING MY WEBSITE AND IAM GETTING READY TO ORDER MY BUSSINES CARD...HAVE PEOPLE REQUESTING A MASSAGE FROM ME BUT TURNED THEM DOWN BECAUSE I DONT HAVE A PLACE ..THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

 

[hvnsynt]

HOW TO GET BUSSINES STARTED..HELP

So, you want to start an outcall business which offers massage from 8am - 3pm.

In making your website, why not just offer outcall services from 8am - 3pm and some information about yourself, costs, how far you travel and if there is an add on trip free for any thing out of a specific range.

Make the site look progessional and on your business cards make sure to set up your name, phone and a comment regarding something about outcall work and if necessary the times it is availiable.

You may want to consider taking credit cards.

Here are a number of old threads that talk about outcalls in one form or another. This may help get you started. A number of good posts are from people who don't come to the boards so often anymore, so that's why I am putting the threads here. It will give you more food for thought which you can add to what everyone else posts for your topic.


Outcall Services

Outcalls and Paraffin

How far do you travel for Outcalls?

making your outcalls 'special'

outcall buisiness how to?

are house calls safe?

outcall tables

In the Great Outdoors

home, outcall, or suite??

Making housecalls...

Marketing an Outcall Business?

Outcalls & controling the envirnoment

Outcall Suggestion & Needs List

Is this okay to do for outcalls?

Outcall clients with own equipment = discounted sessions?

Licencing restrictions for out call

Table massage out calls: How much space do you really need?

Outcall Pricing

Mobile Massage

From: Last minute clients who need it now!

my mobile massage mantra is
"i am not a pizza. i do not arrive at your door in 30 minutes."

i tell people that there is limited same-day availability. usually 24 hours notice is more sufficient to get an appointment.

and, personally, i hate and will not do 30 minute full-body massage. NBS, or posterior only, maybe. but full body~ what a rushed, non-relaxing massage.

Carry-all bag

What to bring to outcalls

From: Helpful Tips/Hints for New & Not-so-New M.T.'s

I've incorporated YogaLMT's idea of putting my CD cover on a small easel so my clients can see what they're listening to!

Another one I thought of while cleaning out my "work bag" -

How many times have you done outcalls and gone to wash hands and the client doesn't have soap? I dunno how they live without soap, but...

To save space and make sure I have soap, I have a little packet of lavender scented soap paper flakes and my own hand-towel for out calls. I keep the hand-towel on my lotion belt anyway because on my very first outcall I tried to open the door after the massage, and my hands were too slippery! I had to use my shirt to get a grip on it. It was embarrassing.

Katykangaroo

From: BodyCushion

I have had the Body Cushion- I have two now,one for office, one for outcall- for over 8 years. I love it! I work on lots of folks with lower back problems-sprains, strains, post surgery, etc. They are very comfortable on the cushion. It's also great for pregnant clients or those who can only lay on their side. Many people remark at how comfortable it is and I've heard several times that "my other therapist doesn't have this."
So it could be a client retention device too. I also like it to lay on myself when I'm tired, gives me a nice rest.
I can't say enough about it, worth every penny. I got my last one from a former distributor who sold it for less than $200.00 with all the accessories. I have only had 4 people in 8 years that didn't like it. If you work on large women, I'd recommend the breast plate.
Kind regards,
rubmyster
jh

How do I market to potential clients when I have no office?

From the FAQ's - NEW MEMBERS PLEASE READ THIS SECTION FIRST! (at top of the MassagePlanetL forums)
Marketing Information - Discussions

Outcall Brochure

From: Massage Pearls

do you have the phone number that you want for your business yet?

My business class instructor gave us an idea: Frr marketing purposes, if you don't have a business addy yet, rent a mailbox from the UPS Store or a place like that. That way you can have an addy that looks like 123 anyplace lane, suite 20411 instead of PO Box 20411, which is what the USPS provides when you get a mailbox thru them. With that addy and your business phone # on your marketing tools, you'll be good to go!

And when clients call you for an appt, tell them that you have outcall appointments available for blahday and blahday, that way you implant the idea in their head that they MUST get an outcall visit. Then, when you decide on a place to practice your business, you can direct them there.

Hope that helps!

Thanks bluhairedfaerie for giving us these beautiful little massage pearls for those who do a lot of outcall business! I'm sure they'll come in handy!

Cell as your main phone line

From: Gas Prices

Since I only do house calls right now, I have thought about raising my rates but at this point, I'm having trouble finding clients who are willing to pay only $70/hour for a house call!!! (Average massage price here is about $70/hour, in office and people typically say they charge $20 more to go to a house) but when I get a call from someone who lives 30 minutes or more away from me, I tell them the price and tell them that because of the distance I will have to charge them extra for a house call because of the distance, but then say "if you have someone else that would like a massage, I can do them right after you for the same price". That way, they're getting the regular rate and they've introduced someone else to my services! I just paid 1.87 today for gas, it was 1.89 and just my luck, it'll be 1.75 on Wednesday or something.

From: credit cards

Paypal only works for online transaction. There is no POS capability.

Propay works ok for me. But as soon as my finances are straightened out, I will be looking for a different company.

I would think with a store, most people would want to see the standard cc terminal, not a transaction online.

Propay is good for occasional charges and outcall therapits.

Just my 2 cents

Advice on Credit Card Processing Services

How to get started - spa parties

From: again with the spa parties...

Rather than a spa party as a promotional tool, pseudo avon party, I do them as an extension of my outcall service. It also depends if you are eforum.xxxetting them at locals or probably one-offs

I'm quite happy to do a 6hr spa party, or 4hr. Anything less than 3hr is pretty much a standard outcall. I just charge my outcall rate.

Do you currently sell product and you want another outlet for product, do you want an outlet for your services, do you want repeat business?

The spa parties I do are usually hen's parties at big city hotels - I don't offer any discounts or any incentives since they are usually one off - the people attending and the person that organised it. I'm 30miles from the big city hotels, I've worked on people 40miles on the other side of town at the hotels - they wouldn't normally travel 140miles round trip in traffic to get back to see me again, I don't expect them to, they don't expect to, nor do I want to see them as an ongoing outcall client. I've had a few people that become ongoing clients, but 95% I'd only see at the spa party.

If you're just offering them to local residents you'll have to think about all the bonuses so they think they're getting something special.

Which market do you want?

All my spa party enquiries come from the web, no point advertising in a local paper or local mail box drop when your possible clients may be 80miles away. If I was after the local clients, local paper and local mailbox drop may be of use, but I see a lot of similar ads locally.

There are a lot of threads about spa parties and how to get started - did you increase the number of days and the number of results?

mobile spa parties

Help understanding what a "massage party" is

spa parties

Bridal Shower outcall

Party Massage: Looking for input

Hotels

assisted living facility

From: Business Liability Insurance

Business Liability and Professional Liability are two different things. It is correct that you will get Professional Liability from an association you will join. But if you are going to start your own business it is a good idea to have business liability also. If you are going to have your business based out of your home either Outcall or your own studio I know State Farm has a great policy for very little money. Mine is only $175.00 per year for $10,000 in business equipment, etc. and $1,000,000 liability.

Send me a note if you would like more info.
[email protected]

 

[Zatch]

HOW TO GET BUSSINES STARTED..HELP

HI I JUST GOT MY LICENSE. I HAVE A FULLTIME JOB WHERE I WORK FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY 4PM TO 1AM. THE ONLY AVAILABLE TIME TO DO MASSAGE IS IN THE MORNING (8 TO 3PM)...GOT A JOB AT A SPA WORKING ON LY ON SATURDAYS. MY DILEMA IS: I DONT KNOW IF STARTING MY BUSSINES AS OUT CALL...I DONT HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO RENT MY OWN SPACE(WHICH IS WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO)....IF YOU DO ONLY OUT CALLS CAN YOU GIVE ME THE INSIDES OR SOME TIPS...I START BUILDING MY WEBSITE AND IAM GETTING READY TO ORDER MY BUSSINES CARD...HAVE PEOPLE REQUESTING A MASSAGE FROM ME BUT TURNED THEM DOWN BECAUSE I DONT HAVE A PLACE ..THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

Were you ever required to write a business plan? It is one of the graduation requirements at my school, I am currently working on mine. I have some helpful links if you need them, maybe just creating a very informal plan would help get the ideas going.

Sorry I don't have any business tips (YET!)
Good luck,

 

[Meghan M]

congrats oscar!

seems you've got alot of reading to do

please turn off your caplock. thanks.

 

[-_-]

to who should i market the out call massage??

I really apreaciate all your responses, thank you so much...now i was wondering with your experience .what can you tell about who should i be marketing out call massage to???
my self i wouldn't want to have a massage at home, i would rather go away from my house and relax some where else...can you tellme usually whos the people who request out call massage...thanks again

 

[u d]

to who should i market the out call massage??

I really apreaciate all your responses, thank you so much...now i was wondering with your experience .what can you tell about who should i be marketing out call massage to???
my self i wouldn't want to have a massage at home, i would rather go away from my house and relax some where else...can you tellme usually whos the people who request out call massage...thanks again

unless you're specializing, it's anyone who is breathing. your marketing will determine the population you draw. i draw from the general population, and i get all kinds of people. by florida law, i am allowed to service clients in their home, office, hotel room, health fair or sporting event without an establishment license. so, alot of people i serve are tourists in hotels/resorts, and local people who simply don't want to drive home after their massage.

 

[callsignfuzzy]

I will be specialzing in triger point (medical massage)

in fact yes i will be specializing in helping to eliminate chronic pain..so I guess i could target seniors and anyone with chronic pain problems....i am almos done with building my website...thanks i really apreaciate your help..anymore tips????

 

[italianscotschick]

i've always thought about doing mobile medical but couldn't quite come up with a way to connect with doctors who do injury rehab/accidents, etc. and get into their client base and keep the money at a level that is cost effective.
after all, depending on your state, you may be able to get a portable tens unit or ultrasound, plus heat/cold apps to augment your services.
t102