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Massage Therapy and the Entrepreneur
by Terry McDermott
Some people enter massage school to help others through healing touch. Some
attend massage school to work in a particular field such as sports medicine or
in a spa environment. Others receive massage training to satisfy a different
ambition. They want to:
 Own their own business
Be their own boss
Make a lot of money
The massage industry is not immune to capitalistic instincts. Nor should it be.
Many massage schools tout the income potential of a career as a massage
therapist. Income projections for a good massage therapist range from $50-$75
per hour. That translates to about $65,000 - $100,000 a year depending on the
number of clients served each day. This also requires that you are working
independently and managing your own client base.
As attractive as a six-figure salary for providing massage therapy may be, the
reality is that the median income for a massage therapist is $35,000. Many
massage therapists only work part-time and quite a few are working in spas or
health clubs as an employee or sub-contractor. So apparently, the big money in
massage therapy goes to those that own their own business and practice full time.
So can you make big bucks as a massage therapist?
It is definitely possible to make a quite decent living as a massage therapist.
But don't expect to strike it rich right out of massage school. You will have to
build up a fairly substantial client base and that doesn't happen overnight.
Many new massage therapists go to work in a spa or health club to gain experience
and build a reputation. Others perform massages for a very low fee or even for
free just to get some buzz going about their capabilities. It can be a slow go
once a therapist is out on their own and quite a few massage therapists call it
quits as a full time enterprise early on.
As in any business it is usually the person that works the hardest and provides
the best service that becomes successful. It takes patience and perseverance to
build a business from scratch. It also takes some decent business skills. A
self-employed massage therapist should be prepared to spend time managing
financial records, keeping licenses current, filing taxes appropriately and
treating their massage therapy practice like the business enterprise it is.
If starting at square one and taking the slow road to success is not appealing
you may want to consider jump-starting your massage business by making an
investment in a massage franchise. For a mere $39,000 you can become the proud
owner of a Massage Envy franchise. Massage Envy is a hot new franchise that
currently boasts 101 units in operation with a total of 274 franchise units awarded.
The company offers a recognized brand, training program and ongoing support for
franchisees. Each Massage Envy clinic offers a variety of massage modalities and
is open seven days a week. As an owner you would employ multiple massage
therapists. Heck, you don't even have to be a massage therapist to own a massage
business like this one.
There is no doubt that the demand for massage is growing rapidly and the need
for massage therapists will grow right along with it. Those therapists with
excellent massage skills, good business sense and a dedication to service can
expect to make a comfortable living. Others can take satisfaction in helping
others to deal with pain and stress while making some decent part-time income.
J. Terrence McDermott is the administrator of Massage Schools Guide at
Massage School Guide,
a website offering resources for prospective massage therapists. He specializes
in online continuing education resources and also administers
Access Online Degrees.
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