Should I sell it?

[Caryn]

I've been debating selling my 35 foot mobile RV massage therapy office and I am just not sure if I should do it yet. It was an innovative and unique way to break into the market and rapidly build my clientele. I've been in practice since April of 07 and did all of this straight after graduating from massage school. Because things went so well, I was able to build a spa addition at my home and now I've begun exclusively using my spa to see my clients. I used to park the RV at the Country Club which is right next door to my house. For the past 6 months, the club let me keep the vehicle there, even over night as well as plug into their shore power because they enjoyed marketing my services to their members. I was also able to still see my own clients since it was my RV. However, my spa is so close to where I used to park the RV, it was a simple transition for my clients to just come to the street over when I made the location change and I decided to move my RV back to my storage facility down the street since there is no reason to have two set ups right next to each other with just me working both of them.

So, the dilema....

I spent a lot of time and money developing my mobile business plan but I had not expected to get so many individual clients driving to me when I was supposed to be driving to them! I only moved the RV a few times for corporate events (which was the market I was trying to tap.) While I know there are LOTS of other ways to use the RV I am currently too busy with the spa and my clients who come see me daily to try and get a therapist to work out of my RV or to use it in some other manner. Still it is such a unique tool that I am not sure if I should let it go. Besides, I have no idea how to price it. I purchased it for a good price ($20K) because it needed so much work done to it. And aside from all the work I did to the interior, I spent $24k in repairs and upgrades. This RV is only going for about $25 bluebook. I don't want to take such a loss on my baby!

Any advice?!

Here are some pictures:

 

[Danie]

Can you afford to keep your baby for your own use for holidays? Would you want to keep your baby for that? You could even use it with all the writing on it, though you may want to cover up the phone number if you go away on holiday in it. It doesn't look like it would take much to convert it back to it's original use. Or is there some reason it can't be used for holidays?

If you don't want to use it for holidays, sell it. It may be worth more as a customised RV MT office, but you've got a VERY small market that may be prepared to buy it, you may find no-one wants to buy it. (do you need a special license to drive it? the number of MTs with a special license and the funds to consider buying it, may be a big round zero) If you convert it back to your average RV, you might find the market value is lower, but there is more demand, so you could sell it.

Or you could keep it until you start franchising your business......

 

[Memster]

That is pretty amazing! You did an amazing job with it. I have no advice on sell or not sell, I think that is something only you can figure out. However, you might be surprised if you put that energy out there, what can happen. If I had a place to park it, I would think it would be handy to work out of even daily. Then no rent to another business owner.

 

[answer man]

Wow! That's neat!

I used to park the RV at the Country Club which is right next door to my house. For the past 6 months, the club let me keep the vehicle there, even over night as well as plug into their shore power because they enjoyed marketing my services to their members. I was also able to still see my own clients since it was my RV.

How about re-parking it there and finding an employee?

I can sure see why it's hard to part with.

Then again, maybe you'll get someone on the forum who will make you a great offer.

 

[That Girl]

I love your RV! 8) What a neat way to build up your business.

I say, if you can afford to not generate the cash from the sale, why not keep it and utilize it. Pueppi's idea of finding an employee sounds good.

Now, if you get to the point of it becoming a burden or a weight on your shoulders then maybe that's when you should sell.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Travelin Pete]

How far from Illinois are you?? Is it completely electric, or is the heat propane? Are you expecting to recover your investment (ie, you'd expect to sell for at least $44K), or are you willing to consider taking a slight loss?

I currently work out of my home (in addition to a couple other places), but as my home practice grows, I'm realizing more and more that I want something separate from my house (family noise, cooking smells, wanting to get a cat, husband who likes to build fires in the winter... need I go on??). Also, because I'm small, I've never considered outcalls as an option because I'd be worn out before the massage even started from carrying the table and all the shtuff that goes with it -- but with a mobile massage unit like you've built, I COULD take massage to people (I'm a certified geriatric massage therapist, so I would be much more marketable to the senior population if I could go to them -- I currently work at a senior facility, but would like to be able to reach the seniors who are still at home as well).

Also, in my area we have a woman who has done fabulously with a mobile dog grooming business!! So there's obviously a lot of people who want services to come to THEM.

Anyway ... all of this background is to say that I might be interested.

Please PM me if you'd like to discuss outside the forum.

 

[toad]

No, you don't need a special license to drive it. It's actually pretty easy and fun to drive. Everyone gets out of my way. As for using it for personal use over the holiday season, we're not really into RV's apart from using it as a massage therapy office. I get that question a lot. We don't camp with it or anything like that. I have a 10 month old and a 3 year old so life is a bit busy which is also why I am hesitant about trying to find someone to work out of it.

As for the country club, the club recently sold. That is why I built my spa. I didn't know what the new owners would think about keeping the RV there but the ownership change was smooth and they didn't mind if I kept it there. However, because I am just a few steps from the club with my spa studio I think parking it at the club again with someone working out of it may kind of defeat the purpose since the locations are too close. I don't want to confuse my clientele and make them choose. I had thought about renting the RV to an MT if they had their own clients and could find a new place to park it but the couple MT's I've offered that to seemed intimidated by the thought of doing this. I don't have the time to move it back and fourth with my own schedule being as it is.

The rv is paid off so there is no harm in not selling it but it's just hard to see such a unique successful concept and vehicle not being used for it's intended purpose. Especially when students I graduated with are having such a hard time finding positions and are going to work for Massage Envy at $17.00 an hour! I would like to find an MT who has a drive to jump out on their own and use my RV to work for them like it did for me.
Anyone want to move here?!

 

[AmyV]

Heidi-
Our posts crossed paths...I will PM you tomorrow. I have a 7:30 session I am about to go into.

 

[Sybil]

However, because I am just a few steps from the club with my spa studio I think parking it at the club again with someone working out of it may kind of defeat the purpose since the locations are too close. I don't want to confuse my clientele and make them choose.

Just one point of view here, but I don't think that your clientele would be confused at all nor do I think you would defeat the purpose. They can see you in your home spa, or someone who works for you in the RV. Most likely your regular clients will continue with you and refer others to the home spa. Look at it like more of an overflow with the employee building their own clientele which really isn't their own, but they'd get their own following.

You could even have the employee book his/her own appointments to keep it easier on the mind.

You could both refer back and forth to each other, in case one of you was booked the client could call the other number (maybe you could say something like "Our original [or "sister" office when spaeking of the RV] Stress Relief office next door may be able to fit you in if you would like to call 555-5555.") and book an appointment there. Maybe you could even find someone with a different technique than you to fill a different need.

I don't know, but it is something to consider if you look at it from that persepctive.

You'd probably have the tweak the idea a lot -- but I think there are enough people on the forum that could help you in that, if you chose to consider it.

Anyone want to move here?!

BTW, I may have missed it, but where's "here"? I can't move there, but it may be good info for another MT. 8)

 

[mr mej]

I just wanted to post to say that is the coolest RV ever! t023

 

[rmk122]

Very very cool. Heres my take on it since I just wrapped up a kinda similar situation. I had a mobile espresso business out of a van. I went to events, office parks etc. I put a lot of blood sweat and tears into it and some money and five years. Had some fab fun at different festivals etc. Just as I am sure you have done. I thought I could do both massage and coffee. Turns out no, I could not. BUT it took me two years to get serious about selling it. I think you need to be very clear with yourself if you are ready to part with it or not. Sounds like you like me don't have a payment on it or anything, so not really costing you. I think when something like this has so much of you in it, its a big emotional deal to let it go. Also I too wanted the right person who would treat my baby right. I found her, and it was clear as day I swear that this is the person who will carry on my vision while injecting some new energy. All I can say, is just sit with it. Explore how you feel. If you don't have to make a decision right away then don't. Put the word out, and when its time the right person will come to you. I know that sounds wishy washy, I am a Pisces, what can I say. Sometimes I think the answer just comes when its supposed to. Sorry I don't have a more concrete suggestion. Just wanted you to know I get what you are feeling.

 

[Ronnie & A Commie Goat]

My2hands,
I think your RV is delightful. And I can imagine it'd be hard to part with it has so much of your personality in it!
I can just see you using it to advertise your present business during National Massage Therapy Awareness Week....
It would be great to use if or when you volunteer your services.
I have friends who moved to New Orleans, LA, who are helping in the rebuilding efforts since the hurricanes that devastated that area. I was just thinking how great a vehicle like that would be in helping others who are volunteering their services. (Firefighters in some areas of the country have also been going through a lot of stress recently.)
I was just thinking that such a great vehicle could really draw attention to your business, professional organization... or favorite causes.
(It might even get a feature news article written up about you in a local or national newspaper or magazine.)
I'd definitely give it a lot of thought before getting rid of your baby!