Create a successful massage business on-the-go.
With a world that is becoming increasingly digital, new types of jobs have started to appear. From digital nomads who can work remotely anywhere in the world to individuals whose careers depend upon traveling all around the world, there are a multitude of opportunities that support employment on-the-go.
If you are a licensed massage therapist, you do not have to be tied down to one place either. Mobile massage clinics allow professionals to accept a diverse clientele without requiring a concrete office space or storefront. While there are a few different ways to begin with starting your own mobile massage clinic, this article specifically focuses upon a motorhome-style clinic, in which the office goes along with you.
By having your massage clinic on wheels, massage services are made more conveniently available to clients, who can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of massage from the comforts of their own area without having to commute very far. This concept could be especially favorable in large or crowded cities where traveling becomes increasingly time-consuming.
While it may seem confusing at first, opening your own motorhome massage clinic can be less of a difficulty, so be it that a concrete plan of action is set into motion. Of course, starting any business comes along with its challenges but committing to a particular path can offer a lot of direction and motivation to reach milestones.
Here are the 7 most important steps to running your own motorhome massage clinic so that you can launch your very own on-the-go business.
The 7 Steps to Initiating Your Own Motorhome Massage Clinic
While there may be other arrangements you will need to make in order to get your motorhome-style mobile massage practice up-and-running, here are the 7 most valuable steps that will get your on-the-go business rolling in no time.
- Make sure you have your massage therapist license and all the necessary certifications.
First thing’s first, do you have all the right massage therapist qualifications and certifications? In the United States, it is not permitted to practice massage therapy without a qualifying license. For those that reside outside of the United States where laws may vary, getting the right licenses helps protect you from any potential liabilities in the future and maintains a higher level of professionalism.
- Buy a motorhome plus all of the required equipment and insurance.
What’s a motorhome mobile massage clinic without the actual motorhome? Securing a reliable and professional motorhome is definitely one of the first steps when it comes to initiating this type of business. Check listings in your area for motorhomes or trailers that can serve as a spa on wheels.
Once you have decided upon the right motorhome for your business, you will also want to make sure the facility is well equipped which includes having all of the required equipment present.
Finally, make sure not only your business is insured, but all your equipment as well along with the motorhome itself. Organizations such as the National Association of Complementary and Alternative Medicines offer liability insurance for practicing massage therapists.
- Design your mobile massage clinic menu and define your services.
Since by this point you have already purchased equipment needed for your massage practice, you likely have an idea of the types of services you would like to offer. No two massage therapists are the same, which is why providing clients with a menu of your services is important so that communication remains clear and open.
Do you intend to offer any specialty massage services such as lymphatic drainage massage, craniosacral therapy, or sports massage? You will want to let potential customers know exactly which forms of bodywork you specialize in so that they can proceed with their decision making accordingly. Be sure to keep this menu also within easy reach so that clients will not have to jump through any hoops to discover prices or treatments offered.
- Convert your motorhome into a massage clinic that is comfortable and professional
After you have secured your motorhome and all the needed equipment plus defined your price list and menu or services, it is time to design your mobile massage clinic. For most purposes, the ideal aim or aesthetic of a clinic should be a professional yet comfortable feel.
This includes clean linens and up-to-date equipment as well as a tidy environment, but also a space in which a customer can feel relaxed enough to be able to fully unwind during the massage. After all, the comfort of your client should be the number one priority.
- Determine a marketing and publicity plan and decide on a clever business name.
Facility, menu, equipment, and massage license? Check! Now the next step is naming your business-to-be and getting going with a solid marketing and publicity plan. Sure, word of mouth can be a great way to get new clients to walk through those motorhome doors, but you cannot only rely on word of mouth and often need a little bit of an extra push.
Before you decide upon how to tackle the marketing factor, come up with a business name that exemplifies whatever image you would like your company to represent. Additionally, the name should be easy for people to understand, and it helps if it has a connection to mobile massage.
Once your name is set in place, now comes branding and marketing. Get a quality logo designed for your business and generate business cards. Open social media accounts for your business including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and possibly even get a website developed. This helps clients remember your company long after their appointment has passed and conveniently get in touch if need be.
If your budget allows for it, consider hiring a marketing professional to strengthen the buzz around your business. Once you have a solid foundation of clients, you will not need the marketing professional anymore and will be able to maintain a steady flow of customers, but in the very beginning, gearing up with all of your resources in place is the best way to make a full force premier into the corporate-world.
- Set up payment plan options and prepare customer consent forms.
Chances are you will not want to be running a cash-only business. Not only can this become dangerous without a collections company storing your profits, but it also can mean difficulties when filing taxes during tax season. Most of all, it can be an inconvenience to clients who potentially do not carry banknotes around in a technologically advancing world. For this reason, you will need to set up a payment plan with a credit card processing company as well as obtain a credit card reader.
In addition to possessing the needed digital money exchange technology, the preparation of consent forms also becomes an additional vital factor in running a mobile massage clinic. You do not want to be liable on the off chance that a client becomes injured or has a medical incident. For this reason, spas and massage clinics normally have every patient sign a consent form.
If you have been in the professional massage industry for a while then you are already familiar with this practice, but for those just beginning to dip their toes into the water, requiring every single client to sign a consent form is immensely important.
- Be confident and start spreading the word about your new business.
While planning, coordination, investment, and marketing are all essential pieces of this process, a massive portion of success directly correlates to confidence and believing in yourself. With that being said, out of all people, you should be the one that believes in your mobile massage clinic the most. By supporting your own business endeavors, you will feel more comfortable spreading the word about your new company, which will definitely help bring in more customers.
As is the case with many industries, word of mouth can still often be the best form of publicity and marketing no matter how digital the world turns. Dedicate yourself to ensuring happy clients leave your mobile massage practice and they are bound to tell their friends and relatives about your bodywork services bringing in new customers. If you also provide your clients with extra incentives to spread the word such as a discount on future services, this will help drive even more business to your motorhome massage clinic.
Conclusion: 7 Steps to Launch a Motorhome Mobile Massage Clinic
While reading all of these steps may appear overwhelming at first, remember to take action one effort at a time. Particularly if you have a strong passion for owning your own massage practice, in the end, all of the hard work will be worth it as your goals and dreams come into fruition. At the end of the day, the most important part is to enjoy what you do in life and to be happy, so if this mobile massage clinic offers that opportunity then it is certainly time well spent.
If you still have not received a formal education and have been searching for massage schools in San Diego or affordable career colleges, ICOHS is a non-profit vocational school that offers a tailored-to-you professional massage therapy program that will teach you what you need to know to secure a massage therapy license.
