Daytime massage opportunities

[Pompal 09.]

Hello again

I am thinking ahead to a time when I am able to work and am considering how self-employment might be possible. My children will both be in school by Sept 2012 so I will have daytimes free. As a single parent, I am not free evenings and the majority of the weekend.

Would there be opportunity for me to work within 'office hours'? I am not particularly keen on the idea of office based onsite massage - I am however, interested in private therapy sessions and offering my services at places such as care homes, mother and baby groups, school events etc.

As far as private clients go, are most wanting evening/weekend appts or does it vary wildly?

Thanks
Abi

 

[CucFraaooa]

Hi Abi,



One of the great things about working in massage is that you can build your business around your needs, although it can be quite hard work getting up and running. The most important things about starting out in massage is keeping an open mind about how your business will take shape and look out for oportunites that cross your path. Get to know people in the business and don't just observe what works, but also take notice of what doesn't work.

If you are seriously considering working self-employed, I would strongly recommend that you contact your local business link. They offer many free courses that will help you with setting up the business and tax, etc.

Don't rule out on-site massage if you have the skills for it, because it can be very stable work. There may be complementary therapy clinics where you live that have spare capacity, or alternatively many salons rent out a room for massage.

But whatever market to target, make sure that the clients are there and test the market. The best way to do that is look at you competition and where they're working. While it's true that you can find a gap in the market, it may also be true that the gap is there because there's no money in it.

When I set out, I thought I'd do mobile and work from home. But I ended up working in a Salon for part of the week and a clinic one afternoon. The has progressed, and I'm now looking for a Salon business to buy.

It's all about oportunity and recognising them when they come by.



In my experience, I've not done much weekend work, but I have had clients who want 6 and 7pm slots. There are clients for all times of the day, some are harder to find than others.

Don't waste money on too much paid advertising. A website is a must, and in my experience leafletting door to door and market days works well.

Good luck,
Myarka

 

[William Henderson]

Thanks for your v.helpful reply. My ideal would be to rent a small space somewhere, but then I know I probably wouldn't be able to fund that until I had regular income coming in. The problem with the onsite massage is that it seems a bit too clinical somehow, and I do not possess any onsite massage training. I don't know how to use elbows and work on pressure points etc. If I could just do IHM and or basic hand/foot massage, that would be great but I doubt companies would request this.

I am going on a short course in May to learn how to do arm/hand and leg/foot massage for the elderly and would v.much like to get some work in care homes and hospices but I suspect this would all be voluntary. My fear is that the line I would like to go down doesn't lend itself to money making which ultimately, I need to do to support myself and kids as a single parent.

I will contact Business Link, thanks for the tip.

 

[HildaKatinaMelinda]

I would recommend targeting the over 60s market as they are no longer working and have spare time during the day. Also perhaps a low cost clinic for people on benefits and who are not working? Also pregnancy massage as towards the end of the pregnancy woman have gone on maternity leave so have time during the day. If you focus your marketing towards these people that would help. Don't forget that other self-employed people are flexible in their working so can attend appointments during the day. Perhaps attend some local networking groups to target these kind of people. Good luck with it all.

 

[pittyakker]

Remember that lots of people work part time and have disposable income as well as time, so how about starting from what you would like.

You want a decent income so drop any low cost ideas..they may eat up your precious time, wont respect your time etc..

There are also full time mums who have money to sepnd on themselves and time to spend it during the day...with you!!!!


tigress


,

 

[yatakoyfuh]

I totally agree tigress.

Myarka

 

[tarsha]

While I was teaching I worked in a Nursery school where once a week a lady would come in and do 15 minute slots of IHM for £5 for the staff. It was blissful
It might be harder for Primary schools with all the teachers taking lunch at the same time, but Secondary schools might be able to do this, as staff have different free periods throughout the day.

 

[Kapesselsnise]

Thanks for the tip Thell, most helpful xx

 

[Hugo]

Yes the hospice (CRB check needed) would be voluntary and care homes wouldn't be voluntary you can charge, a friend of a friend invoices them and they pay her that way, but don't forget you will need to apply for a CRB to work in a care home too (vulnerable adults) x

 

[plebjueridjityerv]

I used to work in a care home and we had an aromatherapist who came in once a week to treat a few clients. No reason why you couldn't do this as a massage therapist. The older folk would really appreciate it. As not only would it benefit them physically it would benefit them mentally too, by having someone new to chat to etc.

Like JoJo said - you would have to have a CRB done - these only cost around £36. But if you can get into a well known care home like BUPA etc and you do well and get on with the manager you can ask them if they could recommend you to other local homes within the company - as all the managers know each other.

And you could go in during school hours. Good luck with the courses and for the future work

 

[sjenjufbilciijexa]

I find mums that don't work want appointments during the day on the days they put the kids into daycare or school days. They usually want appointments between 10am and 2pm. They don't want weekend appointments, they don't want evening appointments, because that is all family time.

I promote my business as being available evenings and weekends to suit people working, but I still get a lot of enquiries about appointments 10-2.