Massage Therapy Guide
Featured Massage Therapy Article
For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Starting A Mobile Massage Therapy Business
from: BackPainExit.comMany people enter the field of massage therapy because they want to provide a valued, in-demand service that will help people achieve optimal health and reduce stress, tension, and related illness. Potential massage therapists also enter the field understanding that there is a range of employment options open to them; one of the most enticing employment options for massage therapists is a mobile massage therapy business.
While a mobile massage therapy business can be a very satisfying self-employment option, it is also a very demanding one; before investing in a career as a mobile massage provider, therapists need to evaluate exactly what such a life entails.
The Benefits Of A Mobile Massage Therapy Practice
Like any self-employment option, there are a number of benefits to starting a mobile massage therapy practice. Mobile massage therapists
- Set their own schedules
- Are not limited by location
- Set their own rates
- Do not answer to a "boss"
- Have total control over their practice
Mobile massage therapists also do not have as high an overhead expense as therapists practicing out of an office setting; by running a massage therapy business strictly on a mobile-basis, therapists can save money on
- Office rental/lease
- Furniture and equipment
- Support personnel (receptionists, etc.)
- Property insurance
- Utility costs
Additionally, mobile massage therapists are able to offer additional services and flexibility to their clients. Mobile therapists can offer private couples massages, reach clients who are home-bound or have a disability that might prevent them from traveling to an office, or simply have severely time-restricted schedules.
The Downside Of A Mobile Massage Therapy Business
Of course, there are pros and cons to everything, and a mobile therapy business is no exception. The disadvantages to managing a mobile massage therapy business include
- Full responsibility for taxes (self employment taxes, which are greater) and insurance (including liability, health, automobile)
- Full liability
- Increased mileage on vehicle
- Extended hours of travel
- Inconvenient client demands on your time (which you can control, but often you'll need to sacrifice working a strict 9-5 schedule)
- Physical demands of transporting equipment and supplies
- Increased importance on marketing and advertising (since you'll have little or no visibility from passers-by)
There is a lot to be said in argument of the flexibility and independence a mobile massage therapy business offers; there is also a lot to be said in favor of the security of working as an employee. In the end, there is no simple answer; the best massage therapy position is different for every individual. By weighing both sides of the coin, you can make the decision that is right for your career in massage therapy.
Accredited Massage Therapy Schools In Wisconsin News