You don’t need to be an athlete to have a successful sport-related career. In fact, there is a wide range of careers you can pursue if you love sport but don’t possess much sporting talent yourself.
Qualifying as a massage therapist can prove to be extremely beneficial, not only to you, but to your sporting clientele as well. Regular massage is known to not only help increase an athlete’s flexibility and range of motion, but reduce pain and inflammation as well.
Opening your own massage clinic is undoubtedly exciting, but it can be somewhat daunting as well if you’re unsure of how to go about it. Thankfully, a few simple tips will help you get on the right track towards becoming a successful massage therapist with a satisfied clientele.
Get the Right Qualifications
The first step towards opening your own massage clinic is to get suitably qualified. Massage therapy is regulated in most places, which basically means that you will be unable to work as a massage therapist unless you are both certified and licensed.
The majority of respectable massage schools offer basic qualifications that can be earned in anything from a few months to a year. As a stand-alone qualification, this may not carry much weight, but when coupled with a diploma or degree in human movement, sport and exercise, or sports science you are left with a winning formula.
After obtaining your basic qualification and setting up your business, you can continue to improve your credentials by taking courses in massage ethics, human anatomy, physiology, alternative therapies and business management.
Focus on the Business Side of Things
Most start-up costs are from acquiring the appropriate licenses, buying or renting a business property, equipment, and hiring. The property will be the biggest ongoing expense, though the equipment can be the biggest startup expense. Therefore it is important to budget for all the things you will need.
Necessities for your massage business will include tables, linens, chairs, wholesale essential oils, wholesale massage oil, as well as the accessories for specific services you want to provide such as hot stone massages. There is also the decorations or ambiance equipment you will want for your clients’ impression of the business. Remember to focus on the business side when planning and purchasing these items as it can be very easy to go over budget when you want to create the perfect atmosphere for your parlor.
Once you are certified and licensed, you can proceed to set up your business. Having a clear plan is essential if you want your business to succeed. This plan will include everything from your area of focus and start-up costs to the name of your clinic and your target market. You will have to register your business as a legal entity, such as an LLC, which will offer you great protection as far as personal liability is concerned.
Your next step will be to open a business bank account and register for taxes. It is also of vital importance to get the right insurance coverage to protect yourself and your business against all possible eventualities. Apart from taking out workers’ compensation insurance for any employees you may hire, massage therapy insurance will help protect you from malpractice lawsuits.
Make Use of Effective Marketing Methods
Once the paperwork is done and you are the new proud owner of your own massage clinic, you need to find clients to support you. Although word-of-mouth and a solid web presence are great marketing tools, you can also benefit extensively from forging relationships with sports entities and medical professionals in your area, who can direct people to you in a professional capacity.
It may also be in your best interest to register with various health funds that will allow your clients to claim their therapy from their health funds in order for them to receive a rebate. Once your clinic has built a good reputation, it will become increasingly easier to attract new clients and retain them.
You can effectively channel your love for sport into becoming a renowned massage therapist. With the right credentials and a go-getter attitude, there is no limit to the success you can achieve in your chosen profession.
