Starting Part Time

[teresa j]

Hi Everyone.  I am new to the site and already I am finding so much information.   I have been a massage therapist for about a year, but I have another full time job as well.   I am self employed and would like to attract more clients - however, my availability is limited. I was just wondering how successful people have been in this situation.  I would love to leave corporate behind and follow my true passion.Thanks to all.

 

[MegMarshmellow]

Hey LisaCI did massage part time for 5 years.  I used my pay from my full time job to buy all my "toys" and pay for all the classes I wanted to take.I had worked somewhere for 25 years and I knew eventually I was going to be layed off.  I had the chance to leave with full benefits.  I jumped on the chance.I was doing pretty well until the flood of September 17, 2005.  I lost my office and all my equipment.  So now I am starting out from scratch with no real income coming in.I guess what I am trying to say is use your full time job to get you where you want to be in massage, then take the plunge.  It is scary but if you perservere (contacting doctor, trying to get chair massage jobs etc) you can make a living doing what you love.good luck, Yours in Health,Judy

 

[rentjunkie]

Starting Part Time

Welcome Lisa.I am in the situation you're in right now. However, I started out doing massage full-time at my own office. Now I'm working a split-shift at work at a full-time job, leaving only from 3:30pm - 6:30pm to do massage. This may be one of the worst ways to build my practice. I've got no time to market myself, and some of my clients really don't like my availability. However, my full-time job pays all my bills and massage gets me extra money to save for when I'm ready to plunge into full-time massage again.My advice is to make sure to have either enough clients to support yourself working full-time massage, or have enough money saved to be able to afford marketing and paying bills for quite a while (months in advance) to give you time to build your practice. Check out as many posts as you possibly can in the Business & Marketing section to get plenty of marketing tips. Best of luck to you, and use us as venting posts and for advise! Let us know how it's going.

 

[Jesse T]

Starting Part Time

i took the plunge and went full-time 5 years ago.i would image that some who have 9-5 day jobs focus their massage work on other professionals at night (say 7pm to 10pm) and on weekends. i would be careful to have a strong referral system in place to insure your safety.but it might be the other side of the coin you need to look at. like, is there anyway to cut your living costs? can you get a roommate, or move home with family?can you change from a full time non-massage job to a part-time one so you can spend the other 'half' of your time actually promoting and doing massage?

 

[qwerty101]

Starting Part Time

I was doing pretty well until the flood of September 17, 2005.  I lost my office and all my equipment.  So now I am starting out from scratch with no real income coming in.

Been through a flood... and a roof caving in from too much water... ohhhh, long story...  :-/  ... ok, it sucks, so, just in case you need a reference -- plan on at least a year to get back to normal.  I am with you in spirit, if that helps any!  ;D

As for part time and building a practice.  Just keep at it... it may take more than a few years, but is totally worth it.  I've been there too.  I think I've been in more places than I would have liked to!  

 

[sst]

It it helps any, Lisa, I'm doing the exact same thing you are--let's hope we both get to that place where we never have to look back, eh?  Be well,Jen

 

[Mr.Z]

Hey Texas Girl;Thanks for the kind thoughts.  I know everything happens for a reason so when I looked at all the damage and destruction from the flooding and saw the only thing untouched was my MASSAGE TABLE, I knew I was meant to reopen and keep doing what I have been doing.  Had the water rose up 2 more inches my table would of been history.Sometimes it is hard when I go for something and realize that too was washed away in the flood but I enjoy what I do and would not want to be doing anything else or working for someone else!Yours In Health,Judy

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thank you all for your replies.  Judy & Texas Girl - Sorry to hear about the flooding, and what you are going/went through.  I am going to try and get my finances in order, see where I can cut and just bank the $$ until I have enough saved up to carry me through the start up phase.  My husband suggested I rent my own office (right now working out of a chiropractors office) so I can set better hours.  The chiro is only open one Sat/month, and two late nights.  Thanks again-Lisa

 

[SDP]

Starting Part Time

LisaC,Just out of curiosity, will your Doc allow you to come in the office when they aren't there?Seems you'd have a really nice quite office to work in, during their off times... especially those Saturdays and late evenings when they are not in. Just a thought, if they are open to helping you out.

 

[Sophieeeeeee]

Texas-gal,I read your post and could not believe I never thought of that!  What a great idea.  That would save me a lot of rent $$ and allow me to be a little more available to clients. I was there last night, so I asked and he said he needed to think about it.  He has a lot of equipment - plus patient files, and may be uncomfortable leaving it unattended.  BUT, there is the chance we could work something out. I'll keep ya posted and thanks for the great suggestion.Lisa

 

[Ywuhapive]

Starting Part Time

If you're paying rent, you should be able to have a key to the office and set your own hours. Basically, he's your landlord, that's all. He's not your boss, he should not be able to tell you what hours you can be available. His landlord gives him the option of working whenever he wants (if he rents the building), and so should be the case for you. If he does not trust you working in your own office, away from his equipment, then why does he have you renting space from him?The chiro I worked with (rented space from) made a simple request, please try to not schedule really late appointments, like 9pm. I respected that, and didn't want to work that late anyway (too many risks involved).

 

[eric mayer]

I've been doing just massage since I graduated MT school over 7 years ago.  Some years were better than others.  I was on call at both of the salons I worked with... didn't have certain days or hours...I think how long it takes depends on where you live...Seforum.xxxg,I was trying to rent from a chiro too.  Thought his price for the room rental was a bit steep considering the old building he was in which could use remodeling. But a student I am mentoring and I were going to rent it together and he was fine with that.We both really wanted to work with this chiro... who is leasing half the building and has this extra room.  Well, turns out... that the price he quoted us for the room, that's only for the 3 days a week and hours he's there.  He works, Monday, Wednesday and Friday only. And takes 2 hour lunches.Apparently we don't get a key?If we wanted to use it the other days, it's more money.  We live in a tourist area and had hoped to work on Saturdays as well. We're still looking...

 

[Shaun]

I have a key to the my Chiro's office and regularly schedule early morning clients before he gets there. It's ideal.  I get a quiet room for an hour, and by the time we are done, the Chiro has arrived and can adjust a nice loose body into an easy adjustment (that sometimes wouldn't have moved if not the the massage first.  Other therapists use the room on other days or hours when he isn't there. He gets a perceneforum.xxxe of each massage, and so he's getting paid even when he's not there. It's win/win.   It's not like people are wandering around.  You wait for the client with door unlocked. While the client is getting on the table, you lock the door to outside to prevent unwanted intrusions. While the client is getting off the table, you go unlock the door to allow the next client in, and the first client out.  Repeat.  The clients are always supervised and no one is going to peek at any files, which according to OSHA requirements, have to be stored out of sight anyway.

 

[Zieleni pakowacze zatoki]

Starting Part Time

Sharp, sounds like the arrangement I had with my chiro. It's safe, and easier on everybody. If the chiro wanted to take a 2-week vacation, I didn't have to suffer like I would if I didn't have a key. Something else to think about...

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanks everyone.   My arrangement is a little be different.  Since my availablity isn't so great (due to the other job) I just rent from him on a per hour basis.   Sharp that was a great idea about locking the door when the client is changing.    I spoke with him again today and that is exactly the arrangement he suggested. So, thanks to the great suggestions here I will be able to use the space at my convenience and offer more nights and weekends to clients.  whoo hooo Lisa

 

[Susan C]

Hey LisaC!I am surprised the no one metioned this that I saw, but I am a sole proprieter and I just use a room in my home it is my home office and I guess if you don't have an extra room it would be fine to use another room, room dividers work great for that!  All the room needs to be is clean, warm, and welcoming!  It saves me thousands on rent a year and my clients actually like it much better than a spa or gym, if not just look for a place that doesn't charge you rent, I just left a place that I loved, they provided sheets, table and clients, all i had to do was bring my hands and some lotion, now, that was nsurance patients, but I did this on the side while I was building my practice!  Still had good checks weekly from dr. , but enought time to be flexable with my own people!  Now I am totally on my own and I love it!!  Hope this helps at all!