Where to open shop??

[Brendan]

My wife will be graduating from massage school in 8 months and I'm designated the businessman who will get her clients. I know just enough to be very skeptical that she will (or even could) get a "job" as a massage therapist after she's done. We cannot afford to rent a unit from a strip mall without also breaking even the first month. Any suggestions as to where to open shop?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[tlk2ul8r]

Hmmm......I have read a couple of your posts. Massage school is pretty arduous and "academic". If she can graduate, test well enough to certify and get a license, she can fill out job applications and do interviews. Therefore if she isn't capable of getting a job due to being "slow", she isn't going to make it through the process to need a manager.

If, on the other hand, it is more a self-esteem and/or marriage issue, your best bet is to designate an area of your house and separate it well enough to give the needed level of privacy.

To market her, you are going to need to focus on her strengths, both when speaking to her and when speaking of her.

 

[Johnny Rico]

I agree with Rose of Sharon's post. If she can make it through the schooling, through getting certified and licensed, she then has to make a decision about what type of clients she wants to serve.

You don't have to rent space in a mall setting. She may prefer being an Independent Contractor in a salon in your area.

She may not want to open her own business at all. She may prefer at least in the beginning to work for a spa as an employee, where she can just come in and do the work and not have to worry about such things as marketing, expenses, and the checkbook balance.

She may be able to rent a room a few days per week from another MT in the area. This could also provide her with an externship or mentor like arrangement which might be beneficial to her and help build her skills and expertise in running a MT business. She may prefer the quick turn over of a chiropractor's office. Or she may want to start by offering chair massage to people at trade shows, etc. There are several options for her to consider... but really she has to decide what type of environment she would be most comfortable working in.

There are several MTs in my area who practice out of their homes (zoning permitting)... I, however, was not comfortable with that option for myself.

Even if she would open up her own office immediately after her graduation and certification/licensing... It will probably be awhile before her business can support herself, let alone afford to pay a manager, even if they are "family!"

MassagePlanetL is a great resource for her, she should use the search function to look up topics that she is interested in. She can learn all about the trials and tribulations or joys and triumphs of running your own business, or of being an employee or even being an independent contractor. She can learn about many different techniques and modalities. Since we don't know her, we can't direct her to things that might catch her interest. But I'm sure there is a lot of information that could help her here, whichever path she chooses.

 

[Balu]

For those who graduate, are there opportunities to have a job (or similar setup?) If so it would make my job much easier. I think I have the preconception that the vast bulk of massage graduates end up working outside of the industry. I'm suggesting I be her "manager" in that I'm managing the business side and getting her clients. I doubt it will be enough to pay me. Working as an independent contractor or employee strikes me as a much more desirable setup than opening a business which is just a means to ensure she is employed. I really know nearly nothing about this field. Thoughts?

 

[Rottie Momma]

I had ideas what I wanted to do when I started massage school, and by graduation, my desires turned in a different direction.

My thought are, the BEST thing you could do for your wife is to support her through her schooling, and see what direction she wants to go once she's made her way through. There can be a lot of emotional ups and downs that add to the stress of the experience, but they create a place for personal growth. She'll probably need you most here and now, rather than worrying too much about what happens after graduation. I understand the need to plan for the future, but I think too much looking ahead may just add unnecessary stress at this point.

One step at a time. Besides, most schools have some type of class (usually towards the end of the program) that deals with the details of running your own business vs being an employee vs becoming an independent contractor. Even if you both agreed on a plan now, her direction may very well change 8 mo from now.

 

[supertop]

Since you admit knowing nothing of this field, I would suggest the book Business Mastery by Cherie Sohnen-Moe. Written by a massage therapist, it is an excellent resource for learning the ins and outs of getting started as a therapist.