7 steps to turn yourmassage side gig intoa full time business

made with

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Introduction

Start finding your first clients.

Put plans for getting new clients on a timeline.

Define your business processes.

Know your niche

Create a professional brand.

Amaze your clients to win referrals.

Avoid analysis paralysis.

Start Your Own Business - Today

About the author

Table of Contents

If you are still on the fence about turning your clients on the side into a full

time massage business, there’s no time like now to get started.

Leaving the traditional full time job to pursue your dream of your own

business doesn’t mean you can’t return. Right now you can become your own

boss if you dedicate yourself, make a plan and focus.

I left my full time job to become a solo entrepreneur too. Based on my own

experience, I built Artichoke to help manage my own business and now I’m

sharing it with others to help them too.

Along the way I learned A LOT. And, I look forward to sharing what I know with

you.

There are also lots of free resources like Massage Business Blueprint which

provide real-world advice to help you get going and succeed. The American

Massage Therapy Association also offers tips and help for successfully running

your business while staying up to date on the latest trends.

If you are thinking about taking your side gig full time, I hope you will also

consider my "7 Steps to Turn Your Side Gig in to a Full Time Massage

Business"

Justin Shelby

Founder, Artichoke

Introduction

Make a plan so that when you take the leap, you will earn enough to cover

your expenses. This could mean finding enough new clients to cover your bills

before you quit your day job, or cutting expenses and saving up a little

cushion.

One method to start building your revenue stream is to identify the most likely

source of your first 20 new clients and develop strategies to reach them

quickly.

Will you get referrals from chiropractors and physical therapists?

Can you promote your business through marketplaces such as Craigslist

and Thumbtack?

Depending on your niche, are there coaches who might refer athletes or

new mother groups who might be interested in massage?

Is there a spa or a health club where you could work part-time if need be?

Planning before you start can mean earning more right away.

Start finding your firstclients.

Make a 30, 60, 90 and 365-day planPlan for how many new clients you’re going to get, and how you’re going to

get them. This doesn’t have to be complicated; it can just be bullet points.

Set GoalsSet goals so that you can estimate how much money to expect. The goals

will also help you understand how much to focus on marketing and sales.

Put plans for getting new

clients on a timeline.

Mapping out how you’re going to get 20 new clients is great,

but you’re a massage therapist, not a salesperson. It’s likely

that you will need a way to keep yourself accountable for

sales goals.

Define your businessprocesses.

What are the tasks that keep you from your craft,and how can you simplify? Things like scheduling,

payments, client notes, expense tracking, and clientcommunications often become overwhelming

when you have more than a few clients. You need aplan for managing these tasks, or you might get

swamped with administrative work.

You don’t want to be spending all of your timedealing with spreadsheets and paperwork instead

of earning money. Billable hours = income.Admin hours = no income.

Consider using software to take care theseprocesses. In addition to Artichoke, there are lots

of free and inexpensive tools that are just the rightsize for solo businesses.

(Okay, we’re biased, but Artichoke makes it reallysimple for solo business owners to get organized,

accept appointments, track clients and collectpayment right away. We're helping the smallest of

businesses grow into successful independentbusinesses).

Wanna see? View Artichoke Video.

Decide what you’re going to offer, and why a client should hire you instead

of someone else.

Do you offer discounts for people who pay up front?

Will you offer treatment packages?

Are you exceptional at working with athletes or new moms?

This article offers a helpful example to help you define what makes you

different, and how to get the word out.

Know your niche

There are a lot of massage therapists out there. Why should

someone hire you?

It’s 2016—clients are going to expect a professional web presence from you.

Don’t worry: you don’t have to spend a lot of money to build a fancy

website.

You can quickly hire a designer to create a logo through an online

marketplace such as Fiverr and use easy site builder websites such as Wix to

create a simple, attractive website.

Create a professional brand.

Delight customers to keep them coming back.Its not too soon to think about how you'll keep customers coming back.

Define ten ways you will amaze your clients throughout the year. Will you take

classes to learn new methods? Offer 10 extra minutes for free?

When your business and life is moving fast, remember this list so that you

continue to offer exceptional services.

Ask for referrals.Don’t be shy about asking clients (and family and friends) for new introductions

and referrals.

Send thank you emails with links to online review sites.

Make it easy for your clients to refer you by sharing your booking site URL,

Facebook page and contact information.

When you get a referral, be sure to thank your client again for helping to grow

our business.

Amaze your clients to winreferrals.Most of your business will come from repeat clients and referrals.

Of course, you need a plan to succeed as a solo massage therapist. But

don’t let over-planning keep you from taking the plunge.

Do the best you can to plan, and then get started!

Your plan will change as you build your business and discover new

opportunities - so it is critical to be nimble.

Avoid analysis paralysis.

Start Your OwnBusiness -

TodayThese are the steps that I took toget my business off the ground

and thriving.

It can be scary to quit your full-time job to work for yourself, but

you will never feel so free andpowerful.

Today, new technology is makingit less scary (and easier) to start

your own business. By using toolssuch as Artichoke to get organizedand communicate with clients, youhave the perfect starting point to

jumpstart your new massagebusiness.

Try Artichoke for FREE Today

Justin Shelby is the co-founder and CEOof Artichoke Client Management, a

web application that enables freelancers to more easily find new work and

stabilize their incomes through better business process, financial literacy tools,

and data driven tools.

Artichoke is the best way for the freelancer to get organized, get booked, and

get paid.

About the author

made with