If you are thinking of opening a massage therapy clinic, you may not get much of an education in business administration from a massage therapy school. Most massage courses spend many hours on the various massage modalities, from aromatherapy massage to Zero balancing, but they often skip over how to get started once you graduate.
What do you know about professional business practices? What is your expertise in bookkeeping, data entry, accounting, marketing, office administration, or human resources? If you plan to be a successful businessperson, these skills should all be part of your repertoire before you open your own massage therapy clinic.
The public's growing interest in natural health care has tripled the use of massage as a healthcare alternative in the past decade. In fact, the most widespread approach to natural healing in the United States is currently the practice of massage therapy. And, while there is now a wide range of opportunities for massage therapists, most students are less than prepared to take on a real-world massage business after graduating from massage school.
If your goal is to open a massage therapy business, be sure the massage training you receive will include instruction on good business practices. Otherwise, you may be left out in the cold. If your massage course has no business training, why not enroll in a few concentrated business administration classes at your local community college or vocational school? Such a course will help you gain the confidence and professionalism you need to manage a massage therapy business of your own.
Additionally, you must be knowledgeable about the local regulations that apply to massage therapists and massage practices. Specific regulations and licensing requirements can vary greatly from region to region. Some states require the massage therapist to be certified by a national board; some will require massage professionals to attend continuing education classes; some require recertification every year; some will insist that massage professionals gain approval from a peer review board. These are just a few of the regional variations that you will want to be aware of before you begin practicing massage.
There is one key to a successful career in massage therapy: find an excellent massage therapy school. A solid massage therapy education from an accredited massage school will include assistance with good business practices; if not, you should get some business training elsewhere. Also, seek the advice of practicing massage professionals in your region. Then, upon graduation, check with local authorities before opening your massage business.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on our website.
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