Thinking of Starting a Massage Therapy Business?

Before the pandemic, the massage industry was a massive $18 billion industry according to the AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association), but it is still growing steadily. Yes, it has been heavily affected by the global pandemic, but the industry has shown very strong signs of bouncing back. 

So, starting a massage parlor business is definitely an exciting and potentially profitable opportunity. 

However, you’ll still need proper planning to ensure your massage business can stay competitive and win more clients. You’ve probably set up the perfect massage clinic room and promoted your service, but it doesn’t mean you’ll attract your new clients right away. 

Here, we will discuss all you need to know about starting a successful massage business and let us begin right away. 

Different Types of Massage Business

First, consider that there are three different types of massage parlor business models you can choose from: 

1. Home-Based Massage Business

If you are an experienced massage therapist (or if you can partner with one), a viable option is to convert one of the rooms in your house into a massage clinic and start inviting clients. 

Doing so will obviously eliminate the need of renting or purchasing a property, so you’ll get a lower startup expense. 

However, keep in mind that it’ll be harder to scale a home-based massage business (i.e. you can’t hire additional therapists due to lack of space). Also, some clients might prefer a more “professional” place. 

2. Renting/Buying a Physical Location

A traditional option is to rent your own space to start your own massage clinic business. 

The main downside of this model is the cost of renting the property, which will inflate the startup costs considerably. However, you’ll also get more versatility and freedom in this model, and better scalability potential. 

There is also the option of partnering with local businesses so you can start your massage business as their complimentary service. For example, gyms and spa centers tend to rent out a room within their premises to massage therapists and other therapists related to their business. This won’t only lower your startup cost, but can also help with marketing. 

3. Mobile Massage Business

The third option is to start a mobile massage business where you’ll be the one visiting clients at their locations. This model has been very popular in recent years: many people are getting busier and want more flexibility in getting their health and wellness services.

In this model, you can lower the startup costs even more since you won’t need to invest in a property and set up your room, but you’ll need to invest in a vehicle large enough to store your equipment. 

Legal Requirements: Certifications, Licenses, Insurance

Most states in the US would legally require you to be a certified massage therapist before you can serve clients. You can check this list for the exact requirements per state. 

You might also want to consider getting a board certification by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). While being a board-certified therapist is not a legal requirement, it can be a major selling point to attract clients. 

Most states in the US would also require you to be insured. However, even if being insured isn’t a legal requirement, we’d highly recommend at least getting basic insurance policies that will protect you in the event of a client’s injuries as a result of your service. 

Your Massage Room and Massage Table

If you plan to set up your own massage clinic, keep in mind that a standard massage table is 30 inches by 80 inches, and you’ll need at least 3 feet around the table to comfortably work in and move around the room. So, you’ll need at least 45 sq ft of space. 

The massage table should be positioned at the center of the room, and we’d recommend placing the head of the massage table as far away from the entrance of the room. This will help create a feeling of safety and security for your clients. 

Establishing an Online Presence

There are two main ways people learn about local businesses (including massage clinics) these days: social media and Google search. 

Thus, it’s very important to establish a strong online presence in four areas: 

1. Your Website

It’s crucial to have a well-designed website that is easy to navigate and informative. Nowadays, you can use services like Wix or Squarespace, along with the handy WordPress to easily create a professional-looking website for a pretty affordable price (or even, free). So, there’s simply no excuse. 

2. Online Reservation

You should make it as easy as possible for your potential clients to book your service. Thus, integrate an online spa scheduling software to your website, so you can offer 24/7 reservation taking. 

3. Social Media

In this age where everyone is simply on social media, it would only make sense to market your massage business on social media. Instagram and Facebook are obvious choices, but you can also leverage other networks like Twitter and LinkedIn to amplify your reach. Invest in paid social advertising and influencer marketing if necessary. 

4. Local SEO

For queries like “massage services near me” and similar ones, Google pulls queries from Google Maps. So, it’s crucial to perform Google Maps SEO or Local SEO to ensure your business ranks as high as possible on Google Maps. 

We can perform this in just four key steps: 

1. Claiming and verifying Google Maps/Google My Business listing 

2. Optimizing your Google My Business Listing, focus on providing accurate and complete information for your users. 

3. Building local citations by listing your massage business on relevant online directories

4. Getting more reviews from existing clients, especially on Google Maps but also on relevant review sites/platforms

By doing these four steps consistently, you’ll see your massage business slowly but surely climb the Google Maps ranking.

Conclusion

A massage business is certainly an exciting and potentially profitable business opportunity, but you’ll still need to perform market research and carefully plan the business to ensure its success. 

By following the tips we’ve shared above, you can start planning, starting, and running your own massage business in no time.