Learning important massage business tips prior to opening your own massage business or even while searching for employment, enhances your chances of maintaining a viable massage therapy career. Basically, business advice regarding a massage business is similar to the advice given to most small businesses owned by one or two individuals:

Photo courtesy of Thomas Wanhoff

• Market your business by investing in brochures, business cards and flyers. Offer one free or 1/2 off massage to new customers in order to spread the word about your massage business. Take out advertisements in the local phone book and newspapers and join any business groups that are active in your area as well.
• Massage business tips from professionals strongly recommend hiring a savvy website builder to create a polished website, implementing an easy user interface and offering pertinent information with contact information and a short bio about you.

  Include certifications, degrees, experience and any other information assuring people you have completed the required massage therapy classes and are well trained in the art of massage therapy. Emphasize the different massage therapy types and provide an explanation of each massage technique. Many people do not know much about massage therapy and may be more inclined to try it if they learn more regarding procedure and the general experience of receiving a massage.

• Advertise in local newspapers as well as on Groupon, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Create a name and visually arresting logo for your massage business. Network as much as possible in between completing necessary start-up procedures to start any business, such as obtaining a state license, establishing a bank account for your business, purchasing massage therapy supplies and registering your business with the Better Business Bureau.

More Massage Business Tips

With the U.S. Department of Labor projecting the massage therapy industry to grow more than average through 2018, establishing a smooth-running business that is more likely to succeed than many other small businesses means streamlining the administrative duties involved in operating a business.

1. Use Technology — Invaluable software such as Microsoft Office Professional with Access database software facilitates storing and accessing information concerning client accounts as well as the financial status of the business.
2. Cultivate Relationships - Encourage customers who return for your services to recommend your massage therapy business to friends and family. Also ask them if they would leave personal massage parlor reviews on your website in order to contribute to the reputation and quality of your services. More importantly, cultivate relationships with your clients, listen to any suggestions or complaints they may offer and truly take an interest in their well-being.
3. Included in the long list of massage business tips is trying to save as much money as possible before starting a massage therapy business. The majority of new business take several months to a year before consistently earning substantial profits, so having extra start-up capital may help delay or prevent needing a loan.
4. Protect your business and yourself by purchasing insurance. As a sole proprietor of a massage therapy business, you remain exposed to liabilities resulting from potential judgments and unexpected debts. Creditors may be legally capable of seizing a business owner's accounts, personal assets and even residences in the event of problematic financial difficulties.
5. Because the popularity of massage therapy continues to rise, competition among massage businesses is also increasing, forcing each business to maintain a competitive edge in the industry. Your business must provide better experiences, better customer services, better specials and something different from other massage therapy agencies to build a loyal and large client base.

Continue learning new information regarding massage techniques, secrets or other trade-oriented material that might benefit your success as a massage business owner. Additionally, never stop searching for massage business tips that can come from studying a variety of other successful businesses.