new MT-new business owner-HELP!

[Pompal 09.]

I recently got my licence, and have been looking for work in a spa in my city. My father-in-law has (very unexpectedly) offered to finance me if I would like to open a location in his small town. This is a a huge oppertunity.  I have no business experience and almost no education out side massage school. What do I need to get started? What do I look for in a space? How much financing do I need? Is a good work ethic and a passion for massage enough to start a sucesful business??? :-[ ???

 

[Dee]

I would recommend taking some sort of classes at a community college or looking into SCORE.....I forget what that stands for, but it's retired business people willing to help folks just like you.  You need a mentor and advisor so that you don't have to make major mistakes and have it be costly or not succeed and have everyone lose out.  Such a big venture should be entered into after investigation......lots of it.  You're asking questions.....so you're off to a good start.  Keep going.  I'd definitely get LOTS of advice on running your own business.

 

[curouis]

I hate to put a damper on your wonderful enthusiasm but I would definitely consider getting a job in the field before going out on your own.  Some might disagree but I truly would consider it.  If your father-in-law is willing to finance you now, he should be even more willing when you have experience and more knowledge under your belt.  Sometimes it's the difference between success and failure.  You want to have as much knowledge BEFORE you open your practice.  Obviously you gain knowledge as you run your business but you should have some sort of backround before entering.  Really consider it.  Even if it sucks, you'll learn...good, bad & ugly.  It all makes a difference.  I would say work at a place for AT LEAST one year.  If possible, work at a couple of different places.  Don't burn bridges, you never know who knows who.  Good Luck!  Keep on this board too...lots of wonderful info.  

 

[highballer906]

I agree.......working in the field for a bit is a wise move.  Some of us think we know what we want and it doesn't always turn out that way.  I thought I wanted to do mostly house calls.  Tried that for a while and hated it.  When I first decided to go to massage school, I didn't realize the difference between working in a gym or at a spa.......WORLD of difference and I would not work in a spa unless I was DESPERATE!  I worked in a spa while in school.  I learned a LOT, not only that I didn't want to work there, but I learned a lot about what clients expect, how they react to different things.  I saw mistakes that the owners made and was glad that I was not the one making them and having to pay for the mistakes.  Working in the field will help you decide what type of clientele you want to attract and how you want your business to be set up.  Do you want to be in a storefront or a more private office?  Do you want to offer body treatments and the like?  Will you be selling product?  If you'll be bringing in other bodyworkers, do you know who you want.....what type of services do you think your clients will take advaneforum.xxxe of?  Not having a clear vision of things might lead to wrong choices in location, size of the office, purchase of equipment, etc.  When I got out of school I knew I didn't want to work in a spa and I knew I didn't want to have my own office.  Well, here I am with my own office and I couldn't be happier. I know some who dove right into their own office and it wasn't the right choice.  For others, that choice has worked out remarkably well.  I do think you have the best chance of success by taking your time with it and learning more about business, learning more about what type of massage you enjoy doing and the clients you want to attract.  Take time and look around at the competition and see where there's some sort of a gap of services and investigate if it's something you might enjoy doing.  Good luck!

 

[Pompal 09.]

new MT-new business owner-HELP!

I think part of it has to do with how much you want the business to succeed. If you know you are a go-getter and a goal-achiever, then your odds of making it are pretty darn good. If you know yourself to like to gradually ease into things, then maybe starting out working for others is the place to be for right now. Discuss this with your "investor" and ask him if the offer will still be there in 6 months or so. Not sure why he would put a time stipulation on his offer anyways. Before you make any decision, it's important to create a Business plan either way. This puts your financial "dreams" down on paper and is a very practical outline for any business owner to have. Be well,Jen

 

[Aldahir]

I agree with a few others about getting some experience under your belt before going it alone...you don't want to find out 6 months from now that you don't enjoy doing 20 massages a week and want to go back to something else, leaving your father-in-law hi and dry with a massage building, etc.  Don't get me wrong, I love working for myself, but it is difficult!

 

[Emily W]

new MT-new business owner-HELP!

Thanks for all the great advice. I had a feeling that was the right thing to do. For those of you that do own their own practice, how did you start out??

 

[Strawberry Milk]

new MT-new business owner-HELP!

I started my own business right out of school. I was a self-employed hair stylist for 20 years prior so I did have that business background. I knew I wanted my own office space. I lease a 150 sq. ft space in a small complex. I still building slow, but I have made my rent! Of course I have a husband to support me. If I didn't, I would probably choose another venue to start. I am doing some advertisinf in a paer that markets to the clientele I want and there are 3 chiropractors in my building, one of which has been my source for clients. Between all furnishings, table, towels, lotions, phone, computer, software program (Massage Manager, love it!) pictures, paint...the list is long, I spent about $4500 to get started. ABMP for liability insurance. I knew this was what I wanted to do. I'm 42 and feel confident with my decision. So if you know what you want and feel it in your gut, go for it! Here is a partial quote from a piece I have framed in my office: "Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the igorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definately commits oneself, the Providence moves too!" There is more but thats the jist of it!

 

[Mr Grinch]

new MT-new business owner-HELP!

Zcat, search through this board for my first post here. I believe it's called "A Little Worried..." That was when I first started my own office. I was just out of school, have no business background whatsoever. When I first got out of school, I didn't have a job (left it 6 months prior, right at the beginning of massage school), didn't have anyone to support me for income, and was shy as all get-out. I had no idea how to market myself, and knew that I had to do something, and then. I had $400, 1 client who wanted to see me once every week, no real vision, and only a table and a cabinet set that I built myself for decoration. I tried everything I could think of. I gave HUGE discounts to a local police station, offering them a free 1/2 hour massage or an upgrade to an hour for only $20. They all jumped on the offer, but I only had one lady reschedule, and she came in about 4 times before leaving (after I relieved her pain she quit coming ). Many people may not see that as a great result, but to me it was a life saver. It pulled me out of the red, got my bills paid for 2 months (well, most of them), and didn't cost me one red cent. After that I put up my website, which has also been a life-saver, I get many clients from it. I did free chair massage everywhere I could think of, tried MANY of the ideas posted here, even purchased the Fill Your Practice course from bodyworkbiz.com (didn't help as much as I thought). I've got a few regulars now, and am getting referrals, but I can definently say that I wish I had started out working for someone else. If not just to pay the bills, at least to see how things work. I had no idea where most clients came from (all we heared in school was "word of mouth will get you everywhere." Well, no shiza, but how do you get the word of mouth?), I didn't know what phone books ads ran, I didn't know which products I liked best, I didn't know how to best decorate my office to make the client more relaxed. I started out knowing basically nothing. Somehow I've managed to get this far, and am quite proud of myself for doing so. I started with $400, and have turned it into a few thousand. I bet if I had started working somewhere else, built my clientele a little, then opened up, I'd be much more successful, know a lot more than I didn't (I do now, but learned it the hard way), and would understand the downtimes and how they come about.Now I'm going to work at my school (still IC, I'm not giving in to employee status, EVER!!! Mua ha ha.) in a few weeks and will bring my practice with me. I feel if I stay there a few years, I can have a nice thriving clientele and will have no problems getting back out on my own. Just food for thought.

 

[Aamir Zaka Buttar]

After graduating massage school I waited until the right opportunity came along.  Until that happened I was a waitress and a mom of a toddler.  I didn't want to do what every other student in my class was doing....taking any job they could just to be working.  I knew that wasn't right for me.  I waited about 7 months and the perfect opportunity came along.  I worked there for almost 2 years and then one day just got really fed up and said I can't do this anymore, I quit.  I did it out of anger but I really meant it.  I didn't have another job lined up but had clients calling me the next day wanting to get a massage.  I started looking for office space to open my own place.About 2 weeks later I was all moved in, fresh paint and all.  I didn't really have too much time to consider what the heck I did to myself.  Everything has been awesome.  I could not have done it if it weren't for a couple of things....1. My mother~I don't know where I would have been without all of her help and the support of her and my dad.2. My daughter~Who inspires me everyday to be a better person and who always has such amazing things to say about how proud she is of her mama!3. My clients that followed me from the place I had quit.  I really could not have made my office into what is was if I didn't know what it was they were looking for from me.  I have only had my business open about 5 months.  I haven't yet done any advertising because of my wonderful and appreciative clients, their referrals and my BNI group.  I'm not sure what it cost me to open my doors.  I guess if I had to take a stab at it I'd say somewhere around $2,000.  And that includes my first month rent and security deposit.  Maybe a tad more.  I guess I'll figure it out more exact during the tax season.   I have paid all of the bills and made money too every month since I've opened.  Haven't even come that close to being worried that I wouldn't.  Good Luck to you!  Sometimes it really helps to hear others' stories.