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Executive Summary of a Massage Therapy Clinic: Template & Example

• January 3, 2024
• Business Plan , Executive Summary

A massage therapy clinic business plan needs a straightforward executive summary . This part of your plan is the first thing investors and partners see, and it should clearly outline what your massage therapy clinic is all about. It’s where you explain what makes your massage therapy clinic different and worth investing in.

We recommend using a two-slide PowerPoint format for this summary. The first slide should cover the basics of your business and the market you’re entering. Here, you detail your clinic’s services, location, and what sets you apart from others. The second slide focuses on your management team and your financial plans, highlighting the people behind the business and how you expect the massage therapy clinic to grow financially.

This simple, two-slide approach ensures that your executive summary is easy to follow and covers all the essential points about your massage therapy clinic business.

Massage Therapy Business Plan

Download an expert-built 30+ slides Powerpoint business plan template

Massage Therapy Clinic Executive Summary: Page 1

Business Overview

A concise overview is pivotal, introducing essential details like the clinic’s name, location, and a snapshot of its core services.

These details set the stage for your massage therapy clinic, framing its unique characteristics. A unique selling proposition (USP) distinguishes your clinic. Whether it’s expertise in therapeutic techniques, a focus on holistic wellness, or a commitment to personalized care, highlight this USP in your executive summary to showcase your clinic’s distinctive value proposition.

Example: “Serenity Wellness Spa & Massage Clinic,” situated in the serene heart of Tranquil Town, occupies a spacious 2,500 square feet area on Blissful Street. We specialize in a diverse array of massage therapy services, including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, and prenatal massage. Our USP lies in blending therapeutic massage techniques with personalized care, fostering relaxation and healing for each client.

Market Overview

Understanding market dynamics and your position within it is crucial. This section should underscore the potential of the local massage therapy market, supported by relevant data such as market value and growth rates. Discussing trends, such as the growing demand for alternative and complementary therapies or the focus on stress relief and wellness, illuminates your clinic’s positioning within the evolving landscape.

Additionally, it highlights the competitive landscape. Identify key competitors and elucidate how your clinic stands out amidst competition. Whether through specialized techniques, a serene ambiance, or a focus on holistic healing, emphasize how your clinic differentiates itself.

Example: In the local massage therapy market of Tranquil Town, valued at $2.5 million annually with a 10% growth rate, Serenity Wellness Spa & Massage Clinic leads with a focus on therapeutic wellness and a comprehensive range of services. Amidst competition, our commitment to personalized client experiences positions us as the preferred choice for clients seeking relaxation and healing.

Massage Therapy Clinic Executive Summary: Page 2

Management Team

Highlight the expertise and background of your management team, showcasing their capabilities in driving clinic success.

This could include your clinic director’s extensive experience in massage therapy or your operations lead’s proficiency in healthcare management. Demonstrating the team’s competency builds credibility and assures potential investors and partners of your clinic’s potential for success.

Example: At Serenity Wellness Spa & Massage Clinic, Emma Johnson, with over two decades in massage therapy and holistic health practices, leads operations. Supported by a team of licensed massage therapists and a healthcare management director experienced in complementary therapies, the clinic maintains a focus on delivering holistic wellness and healing to every client.

Financial Plan

Provide an overview of your financial goals and projections, offering insights into revenue targets, profit margins, and anticipated growth trajectories.

Example: Serenity Wellness Spa & Massage Clinic aims for a projected revenue of $1.2 million annually, targeting a 20% EBITDA profit margin. Investment in top-quality massage equipment and a strong focus on personalized client care, complemented by wellness program offerings and community engagement, drives anticipated growth and profitability within the local market.

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Massage Therapy Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Massage Therapy Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your massage therapy business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their massage therapy businesses.

Massage Business Plan Example

Below is an example of a Massage Therapist business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Peaceful Massage is a startup massage therapy company located in San Francisco, California. The company is founded by Daniel Young, a certified massage therapist who has been recognized for several years as one of the top massage therapists in the area. Now that Daniel has garnered a positive reputation for providing exceptional massage therapy services, he is ready to start his own company, Peaceful Massage. Daniel is confident that his reputation and massage therapy skills combined with his ability to effectively manage client relationships will help him to quickly secure a loyal client base for his new business. Daniel plans on recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day to day complexities of running a massage therapy business including marketing and sales, accounting and bookkeeping, client reception, and record keeping.

Peaceful Massage will provide a comprehensive array of massage therapy modalities and services in a calming environment. The Peaceful Massage facility will be the ultimate choice in San Francisco for massage therapy while being the best-priced option in the area.

Product Offering

The following are the services that Peaceful Massage will provide:

• Acupressure
• Aromatherapy
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Hot Stone Massage
• Pregnancy Massage
• Sports Massage
• Swedish Massage
• Thai Massage

Customer Focus

Peaceful Massage will target anyone in San Francisco looking for a calming massage. The company will target people with chronic pain or injuries that could benefit from massage therapy. Peaceful Massage will also target athletes and people with active lifestyles. No matter the client, the clinic will deliver the best communication, service, and prices.

Management Team

Peaceful Massage will be owned and operated by Daniel Young. He has recruited an experienced administrative professional, Barbara Lewis, to be his office manager and help run the day to day operations.

Daniel Young is a graduate of Monterey Peninsula College with an associates degree in massage therapy. He has been working at a local spa for more than eight years as a certified massage therapist. Daniel’s expertise in various massage therapy techniques and effective communication skills have allowed him to develop a loyal client base.

Barbara Lewis has been an administrative assistant for over ten years at a local health spa. Daniel relies strongly on Barbara’s diligence, attention to detail, and focus when organizing his clients, schedule, and files. Barbara has worked in the health spa industry for so long, she understands all aspects required in running a successful massage therapy business.

Success Factors

Peaceful Massage will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of certified massage therapists who will be able to assess each client’s massage therapy needs and provide the modality that will work best for them.
• Comprehensive menu of services to cater to a wide range of clients from those in chronic pain to those just looking to relax.
• Peaceful Massage offers the best pricing in the area. The pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Financial Highlights

Peaceful Massage is seeking $250,000 in debt financing to launch its massage therapy business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the clinic space and purchasing massage therapy equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Massage therapy clinic build-out: $50,000
• Equipment, supplies, and materials: $20,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $160,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Peaceful Massage.

Company Overview

Who is peaceful massage.

Peaceful Massage is a newly established massage therapy clinic in San Francisco, California. Peaceful Massage will be the most caring, clean, and comfortable choice for clients in the area. Peaceful Massage will provide a comprehensive menu of massage therapy services performed by experienced certified massage therapists who are experts in specific modalities.

Peaceful Massage will be able to provide soothing massage therapy techniques for optimal calming and relaxation. The team of professionals are highly qualified and experienced in various modalities such as Swedish massage, sports massage, massage for chronic pain relief, and hot stone massage. Peaceful Massage therapists are excellent communicators in addition to being highly qualified massage experts, creating a welcoming environment for all clients.

Peaceful Massage History

Peaceful Massage is owned and operated by Daniel Young, a certified massage therapist who has been recognized for several years for his exceptional service. Daniel has worked for a local massage therapy spa in San Francisco for several years. Daniel’s tenure with the massage therapy spa has given him the skills and knowledge required to venture out on his own and start his own company. Daniel has gained the trust and loyalty of a number of clients who have expressed interest in following him to his new clinic.

Since incorporation, Peaceful Massage has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Peaceful Massage, LLC to transact business in the state of California.
• Has a contract in place to lease the massage therapy clinic.
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include former clients, massage therapists, and friends and family members to spread the word about his new clinic.
• Began recruiting a staff of massage therapists, accountants, sales and marketing associates, and office personnel to work at Peaceful Massage.

Peaceful Massage Services

The following will be the services Peaceful Massage will provide:

Industry Analysis

The United States massage therapy industry is valued at an estimated $16B and is expected to grow by 2.6% this year. Additionally, the number of massage therapists in the U.S. has grown by 14% in the last decade. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) reports that people between the ages of 20-64 are the highest demographic to use massage therapy services.

The primary driver for industry growth is more people becoming health conscious and looking for ways to improve their overall wellness. According to a recent survey, approximately 93% of respondents believe massage is beneficial to their overall health and wellness. A majority of people seek out massage therapy for health and wellness concerns including pain relief (43%), relaxation/stress reduction (43%), soreness (37%), injury recovery/rehabilitation (33%), fitness/wellness (30%), prevention/improve quality of life (29%), and to control headaches/migraines (28%).

The main negative factors impacting the U.S. massage therapy industry are low barriers to entry and high competition. Industry operators can be competitive by offering a unique atmosphere, in-demand services, flexible scheduling, and high customer service standards.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Peaceful Massage will target anyone seeking massage therapy services in San Francisco, California. The clinic will target people with chronic pain or injuries that could benefit from massage therapy. They will also target athletes and people with active lifestyles. No matter the client, Peaceful Massage will deliver the best communication, service, and prices.

The precise demographics for San Francisco, California are:

Customer Segmentation

Peaceful Massage will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Individuals suffering from chronic pain
• Individuals with injuries
• Pregnant women
• Individuals who work in high stress environments

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Peaceful Massage will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Best Bay Area Massage

Located in San Francisco, Best Bay Area Massage is able to provide a wide variety of massage therapy services for its clients. The clinic’s list of services include deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, sports massage, stretch massage, and trigger point massage. Best Bay Area Massage is also able to perform additional services such as aromatherapy and salt stone massages.

Best Bay Area Massage’s promise is to deliver effective and rejuvenating massages in a comfortable environment. Best Bay Area Massage’s team of experienced massage professionals assures each client receives the best care and the proper modality for their unique massage therapy needs.

Golden Massage

Golden Massage is a San Francisco-based massage therapy spa that provides outstanding massage services for its clients. Golden Massage provides comprehensive massage therapy services for clients of all ages. The company specializes in sports massage, injury/rehabilitation massage, and relaxation massage. The owners of Golden Massage are massage therapy professionals so they understand how a massage therapy spa should be managed. Clients can depend on caring staff to provide exceptional customer service throughout the process from booking an appointment and speaking with a massage therapist to determine which therapist will be the best fit to getting a massage and booking the next appointment. Golden Massage takes the stress out of finding a convenient time for a massage and the uncertainty for new clients by maintaining a flexible schedule and ensuring all staff adhere to a high standard of customer service and communication.

City Massage & Bodyworks

City Massage & Bodyworks is a trusted San Francisco massage therapy clinic that provides superior service to clients in San Francisco and the surrounding areas. They are able to provide multiple types of massage therapy services including aromatherapy, sports massage, pregnancy massage, restorative massage, rejuvenation massage, and hot stone massage. Clients can make an appointment online, in person, or by phone. Additionally, clients can come in without an appointment at a time that is convenient for them. City Massage & Bodyworks offers an array of pricing options. Clients can pay per massage session or they can pay on a monthly basis for weekly massages.

Competitive Advantage

Peaceful Massage will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of certified massage therapists who are experts in their modalities and will provide caring, supportive customer service.
• Comprehensive menu of services that allows for a client to find the massage service that works best for them.
• Peaceful Massage offers the best prices in the area. The company’s pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Peaceful Massage will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified team of skilled massage therapists that is able to provide a comprehensive set of services (sports massage, hot stone massage, pregnancy massage, Swedish massage, etc.).
• Unbeatable pricing to its clients – Peaceful Massage does not mark up its services at a large percentage. They will offer the lowest pricing in the area.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Peaceful Massage is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Daniel Young has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to his clients. Many former clients have communicated to Daniel that they kept coming back because they were happy with the massage therapy services he was providing. Once Daniel advised them he was leaving to open his own massage therapy business, they expressed interest in following him to his new clinic and will help spread the word of Peaceful Massage.

Professional Associations and Networking

Peaceful Massage will become a member of commercial and residential professional associations such as the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), Alliance for Massage Therapy Education (AMTE), Clinical Massage Association (CMA), and the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF). The clinic will focus networking efforts on expanding its client network.

Print Advertising

Peaceful Massage will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events and in magazines, newspapers, and direct mailers.

Website/SEO Marketing

Peaceful Massage will create and maintain an organized, informative website that lists all the services that the clinic is able to provide. The company will employ an in-house marketing director that will also manage Peaceful Massage’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that any time someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “San Francisco massage therapy” or “massage therapy near me”, Peaceful Massage will be listed at the top of the search results.

Social Media Marketing

The company’s marketing director will create and maintain an active social media presence on multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok to promote the clinic and attract new clients.

The pricing of Peaceful Massage will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Peaceful Massage.

Operation Functions:

• Daniel Young will be the Owner and President of the company. He will oversee all staff and manage client relations. Daniel has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Barbara Lewis – Office Manager who will manage the clinic’s administration, client files, and accounts payable.
• Charles Thomas – Staff Accountant who will provide all client accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Nancy Richards – Marketing Director who will provide all sales and marketing campaigns for Peaceful Massage.

Milestones:

Peaceful Massage will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

8/1/2022 – Finalize contract to lease the clinic

8/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the management team

9/1/2022 – Finalize contracts for massage therapists

9/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and initiate the marketing campaign

9/22/2022 – Begin moving into Peaceful Massage clinic

10/1/2022 – Peaceful Massage opens its clinic for business

Peaceful Massage will be owned and operated by Daniel Young. He has recruited an experienced administrative professional, Barbara Lewis, to be his Office Manager and help manage the office and operations.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Peaceful Massage are the massage therapy fees they will charge to the clients for their services. The clinic’s price range will be $30-$90 per hour.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a massage therapy business. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, massage therapy equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of massage sessions per month: 200
• Average fees paid per month: $10,000
• Clinic lease per year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, massage therapy business plan faqs, what is a massage therapy business plan.

A massage therapy business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your massage therapy business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your massage therapy business plan using our Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Massage Therapy Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of vending machines, some examples include: Day Spa, Mobile Massage, and Medical Massage.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Massage Therapy Business Plan?

Massage Therapy Businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Massage Therapy Business?

Starting a massage therapy business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Massage Therapy Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed massage therapy business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your massage therapy business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your massage therapy business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Massage Therapy Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your massage therapy business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your massage therapy business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Massage Therapy Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your massage therapy business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your massage therapy business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful massage therapy business:

• How to Open a Massage Therapy Business

How to Write An Effective Massage Therapy Business Plan

Learn how to create a business plan for your massage therapy practice.

May 20, 2013

There's that line from Field of Dreams that most everybody knows, even if they've never seen the movie: if you build it, he will come. Though in the movie the phrase relates specifically to baseball, many people have since assigned a more general meaning to the expression—don't worry about the outcome, because simply making the effort will produce results.

And there is something to be said for passion driven by blind faith.

But, particularly in business, there’s also something to be said for taking the time to outline where you are now and where you want to be—and how exactly you plan to get from point A to point B. In other words: writing a business plan.

The topic of writing a business plan can bring a wide variety of reactions, most of which range somewhere between reluctance and fear. The process, however, doesn’t have to be painful. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this important business tool.

Part of the reluctance to write a business plan might come from some misconceptions surrounding the practice. Many people think of these documents as long and complicated, taking days and months to write and finalize. But that doesn’t have to be the case, according to Kelly Bowers, a licensed massage therapist in Washington, D.C.

In fact, for most massage therapists, a one-page business plan is probably sufficient. “What most of us think of when we say business plan is what I call the standard or large business plan, but it’s not what most of us are going to want to work with,” she says. “We’re going to want to work with a simplified form of the standard business plan.”

To get to a clear understanding of how elaborate your business plan needs to be, Bowers suggests asking yourself some basic questions: How specific are your goals? How long-range are they? Are your goals ambitious? Are they a stretch? Do you really just want to make enough money to live comfortably and peacefully? Do you already know how much money that will take?

Also, consider your own personality. Are you a planner, for example? Do you tend to live in the moment or are you always looking down the road, thinking about where you want to be in two, five or 10 years?

“The more you want to move outside the simple or outside your comfort zone, the more you’ll benefit from having a business plan,” Bowers says. “If you are a planner, you will benefit from a business plan. If you tend to be overwhelmed by too many choices, a business plan can help you stay focused.”

Bowers quickly cautions, too, that simple isn’t going to work for everyone, and she encourages massage therapists to remember this rule of thumb: “The more people that are engaged in your practice and the more of someone else’s money you’ll be asking for, the more involved your business plan needs to be,” she says.

When Bowers decided to leave her job as a technical writer and pursue massage therapy full time, she started having lunch with a group of women who were starting their own businesses. “They were all big proponents of using business plans,” she says. “They kept pushing me to write one.”

Bowers didn’t follow their advice right away, however. Then, finally, she took herself on a business retreat one January and worked her way through Jim Horan’s “The One Page Business Plan,” a book her friends she lunched with had recommended to her.

She learned a few lessons from her first attempt. “My first business plan was, ah, optimistic, to say the least,” she recalls. “It turns out that making $50,000 a year requires more than writing it down confidently in your business plan! But I was hooked on the process.”

Some of why writing a business plan is helpful comes from being able to clarify your vision. “Having a clear sense of my personal vision and my practice’s mission has made a big difference for me,” Bowers explains. “It’s given me a clarity and focus I probably never would have found otherwise.”

In addition to more focus, writing a business plan gives Bowers a way of evaluating any new opportunities that might arise. “Does this opportunity I’m considering or being offered line up with my mission and vision?” she asks herself. “There are a lot of things I could do as a small business. But, as a very small business, I want to focus my time, energy and money on those things that help me bring my vision to life and fulfill my mission as I understand it.”

Bowers has advice that is quick and to the point for those reluctant to start writing a business plan: “Give up any idea that you aren’t smart enough or educated enough to write a business plan,” she says. “If you’re smart enough to do the work, then you’re smart enough to explain it in a business plan.” That’s not to say you might not need a little help, Bowers adds.

First, relax a little. You might find a different perspective helpful, like thinking of writing a business plan as having a conversation. “A business plan, at its most basic, is a conversation,” Bowers explains. “The conversation might be between you and an investor or business partner. For most of us, it’s a conversation we’re having with ourselves.”

Bowers elaborates on this idea, suggesting you look at the business plan as a kind of conversation between your present self and future self. “These two selves are working out what they want to build together and how they’re going to move that thing from today to the future you want to have,” she adds.

You might also find that imagining yourself sitting with a friend describing what you envision your practice looks like is a good way to approach writing a business plan. “Imagine describing, with passion, the practice you want to have,” Bowers says. “Imagine the two of you brainstorming what it would take, in some detail, to make that happen. If you wrote that down, you’d have a basic business plan.”

Remember, too, that writing a business plan shouldn’t be something you do once and never revisit. “As long as your business is alive, your business plan needs to be alive,” Bowers explains. “That means you need to be looking at and updating your business plan regularly.” For Bowers, that happens every January, when she takes her annual business retreat.

Writing a business plan might not be at the top of your priority list—and that’s OK. You don’t have to dedicate months to the process. But engaging in the process of putting your plans in writing can be a great exercise, and help you increase business and clarify your own vision. “I think getting clear on your vision and mission are the two biggest benefits of a business plan,” Bowers says. “Writing a business plan is a way to tell the story of your passion and how you’re going to make that passion sing.”

Anatomy of a Massage Therapy Business Plan

Though many massage therapists may not need to create an in-depth standard business plan, knowing what this document comprises is a good idea. You also might find that at least some of these elements will be included in your own business plan, no matter how simple.

Executive summary . Here, you’ll summarize the key points of the rest of the plan. “It lets you highlight the exciting parts,” says Kelly Bowers, a licensed massage therapist in Washington, D.C.

Company description . This description tells people what kind of practice you’re creating. You can detail the legal structure of the company, for example, as well as how management will work, if you’ll have a management team in place. “This is also a summary of things you’ll get into in greater detail later in the plan,” explains Bowers.

Product/service . Obvious, perhaps, but in this section you’ll detail what products or services your practice will offer.

Target market . When thinking of who your target market will be, Bowers suggests thinking of these questions: Who is going to buy your products or services, and why would they buy your products and services?

Competitive analysis . No matter how simple you make your business plan, you should have a good idea of who in your area may serve as competition for business and clients. “Who is already selling your product or service?” Bowers asks. “How are you going to be able to compete with them?”

Marketing and sales plan . Here, you are going to outline how you’ll reach potential clients and get them to buy your product or service. In today’s world, there are a lot of different ways you might choose to market your practice, so take some time to think about what might work best for you.

Related: Marketing Tools for Massage Therapists

Operations plan . How does your company run? Where is your practice located? What equipment do you need? All of these are questions you’ll answer in this section, Bowers says.

Management team . If you plan on setting up business with other people, or going into business with a fellow massage therapist or someone from a complementary profession, you’ll need to outline leadership roles. Who will be in charge, for example?

Development plan  and milestones . This section will work through some of your future plans, as well as how you’ll measure if you’re on track or not. You might also think about exactly how you plan to grow your practice, if growth is indeed a goal.

Financials . Money is sometimes the last thing you want to talk or think about when you’re excited about starting your own business, but especially if you’re looking for investors or need a loan, you’ll need to have a good idea of where you’re starting financially, what you expect to make and what you’ll need to spend in overhead, for starters.

“Each of these sections answers specific questions about business,” explains Bowers. “Even if you aren’t writing a standard business plan, it’s worth it to at least look at the questions and think about them.”

Business Plan Mythbusting

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for 10 years, you can probably benefi t from writing a business plan. To help you get over any hesitation you might feel, we’re busting some of the common myths that seem to surround this practice.

No. 1: You need a formal business education to write a business plan—False.

“For the kind of businesses most of us are running, what we need is a guide that is written to our level of business knowledge,” explains Kelly Bowers, a licensed massage therapist in Washington, D.C. Now, she adds, you might have to look up a few terms in the dictionary, but if you have a solid vision for your practice, that’s the important piece to the business plan writing puzzle.

Related:   It's Your Business: Understanding Business Concepts | 3 Credit Hours

No. 2: You should never start a business without writing a business plan—False.

Contrary to what some people might think, writing a business plan doesn’t have to be the fi rst thing you do when you’re thinking of starting your own practice. Much of what a business plan is designed to do is give you a clear direction and focus your efforts. “When you want to get clear with yourself about what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and how you’re going to do it, a business plan can help,” explains Bowers.

But, Bowers says, though many people come out of school believing they know what their practice will look like and the types of clients they’ll work with, many don’t really know. “For a lot of us, it makes more sense to write a business plan after we’ve been in practice a year or three,” she says. “A few years of practice will tell us what our reality actually looks like, making writing a more realistic business plan easier to do.”

Times of change, too, are natural places to create a business plan. “Times of change are great times to work on a business plan to help you chart your new course,” says Bowers. “If you’ve worked in a spa for five years, for example, but now want to go out on your own, that’s a good time to write a business plan.”

There is one caveat to this advice, however: “If your starting point is a big plan that requires borrowing money, bringing in partners and things of that nature, your fi rst step should be to write a detailed business plan,” Bowers explains.

No. 3: Business plans are all about numbers and money—False.

“The heart of a business plan, any business plan, is what you want to build (vision) and why it’s worth building (mission),” Bowers says. “Everything else in the plan needs to be detailed enough to help you get there.”

That’s not to say you don’t need any information about financials, because you will definitely need to have an idea of what you want to make and what you’ll spend. “This information only needs to be as detailed as you personally need it to be,” Bowers says.

Related Resources

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When you first start thinking about opening a massage therapy practice, your natural inclination might be to focus primarily on the positive aspects of business ownership.

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How To Create A Massage Therapy Business Plan

August 9, 2023

Starting a massage therapy business can be an exciting and rewarding venture. That’s why a lot of massage therapists choose to go into business for themselves. You might think all you need is a place to work and your and in some respects, that’s true. However, if you want your business to reach its full potential, you need a massage therapy business plan .

In most cases, you don’t need a whole lot of capital to start a massage therapy business. Service based businesses usually don’t have a lot of overhead, especially when your hands are the most valuable pieces of equipment. If you’re working as an independent massage therapist, your business plan doesn’t need to be too complex. It just needs to lay out your intentions, goals and a plan for reaching them.

If you plan on bringing in partners, hiring staff or borrowing money, then your business plan will need to be more extensive. Your lenders will want to see your business plan before offering you any sort of financing. You don’t need a business degree to create a business plan . If you need help, there are a lot of free resources available. For additional resources check out the SBA or find and work with a business mentor.

It’s never too late to create a business plan for your massage therapy business. If you’ve been in business for a while and you don’t have one, now’s the time to create one . In fact, you should be reviewing your business plan on a regular basis.

What’s The Biggest Thing To Consider Before Creating A Massage Therapy Business Plan?

Creating a massage therapy business plan requires aligning your life goals and business expectations. Get clear on what you want in life. Then, craft a plan to support your desired lifestyle and fulfill financial obligations, without exceeding your physical limitations. Plan for balance, happiness, and sustainability.

When you’re a business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the tasks of taking care of clients and keeping the clinic clean. Sometimes you get so busy, the business becomes a part of who you are. So, before you start creating a plan for your massage therapy business, you first need to have a plan for your life . 

It’s important to know what you want your days, weeks and years to look like before you throw all your time and energy into your business. Your massage therapy business should support the lifestyle you want and help fulfill your financial obligations. Get clear on what your business needs to provide you, before you create a plan for your business.

Your massage therapy business plan needs to be realistic. So, be honest with yourself about how much time you can invest into your business, what you’re physically capable of, as well as what your true motivations are. There are no right or wrong answers here. 

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Creating Your Massage Therapy Business Plan

• What are your current financial obligations, and how do you expect them to change over the next 1, 5, 10+  years?
• What are your current family and social obligations, and what changes do you anticipate in the future?
• What sort of lifestyle do you want to have?
• How much free time do you need to be happy and healthy?
• When do you want to retire? 
• If you could create the perfect weekly plan for yourself, what would it look like?
• What are your health needs, and what does your overall well-being require?
• What sort of fulfillment do you want to get from your work or business?
• What contributions do you want to make to your family, community and the world?
• What are your core values? What’s most important to you?

You’ll be spending A LOT of time in and on your business. So create the culture, work ethic and identity of your massage business intentionally . Ideally, your business reflects your own values and intentions. Don’t waste the opportunity to create the perfect workplace. Your massage therapy business plan will lay out how exactly you intend to do that, plus a whole lot more.

How To Create A Massage Business Plan That Supports Your Goals

Once you’re clear on what your business needs to provide you, it’s time to create some goals, if you haven’t already. Your business plan needs to be realistic; so keep your personal needs, abilities and limitations in mind when creating goals for your business.

Also, it’s not enough just to have goals. You need a specific, actionable plan for achieving them AND a deadline for getting them done. This is exactly what your massage therapy business plan is for.

One of the best goal setting strategies is the creation of SMART goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely.

Here’s an example of a SMART goal.

Within 2 years, my clinic will gross $75,000 annually by treating a total of 83 clients a month, with an average cost of $75.00 per session.

Let’s break this goal down. This is what makes this goal a SMART goal.

• SPECIFIC :   $75,000 annual gross income
• MEASURABLE:  83 clients a month at $75 a session
• ACHIEVABLE:  83 clients a month is a realistic number of clients for a full time therapist to see
• RELEVANT:  How much money you make matters
• TIMELY:  This goal will be reached within 2 years

Once you have a goal like that, you then need to create an actionable plan that will attract enough clients to your business to reach those numbers. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! 

For every idea, plan or goal you create, you also need to create a strategy and a timeline for turning those ideas into accomplishments.

Every goal you set for your business should help create the work culture you want, reflect the identity of your brand, and add value to yourself, your business and your customers. If it doesn’t, you need to rethink your strategy.

Each goal needs a plan and a timeline. Having these benchmarks gives you something to measure your progress against.

Your goals should cover a variety of different timelines. Set short term goals that serve your needs today and lay the foundation for achieving bigger goals. Mid term goals help you reach new levels of growth and success over the next 1-3 years. Your long term goals will guide you toward achieving what you ultimately want to create.

Once you have a list of short term, mid term and long term goals, you’re ready to start creating your massage therapy business plan.

What’s Supposed To Be In Your Massage Therapy Business Plan?

The purpose of creating a business plan for your massage therapy business, is to have a written explanation of:

•  WHAT your business is
•  WHY it exists
•  WHO it helps
•  HOW it works
•  WHERE it is going

You can make this as simple or complex as you need. The ultimate goal is to create a plan that you are convinced will work.

How extensive your business plan needs to be depends on how many hands are in the mix. You’re primarily creating this plan for yourself. In some cases, there may be people you need to share your business plan with. If that’s the case, you need to elaborate more than you would otherwise. 

10 Essential Things To Include In Your Massage Therapy Business Plan

Follow this list step-by-step to create your massage therapy business.

1. Executive Summary

This is a summary of your entire business plan. If someone reads only one section of your business plan in order to understand your overall strategy and identity, it should be the executive summary. The executive summary highlights the most important details of all the other sections in your massage therapy business plan. This section could be a few paragraphs or a few pages, depending on the depth of the plan you’re creating. Tip:  Write this section first to create an overall plan for your massage therapy business. Then build out each individual section using the executive summary as a guide. ALTERNATIVELY, you can write the executive summary last by simply combining the most important details from all the other sections.

‍ 2. Overview & Objectives

In this section, you deep dive into the mission of your company. First you describe your brand, which is basically “who” your company is and who it serves. Then you list out what your company plans to accomplish right now and in the future. This is a good place to highlight goals, values and your target market. All the details about who your ideal clients are and the value your business provides its staff, clients, vendors and the community can be included here. Be specific. Use this section to create a niche and a purpose for your massage therapy business. Tip:  Now is a good time to take a look at the SMART goals you created. Include the goals you created for your business here. Focus on the goals that are geared towards your mission, style and purpose. The financial goals will go in a different section.

3. Products & Services

This is perhaps the easiest and most straightforward piece of your massage therapy business plan. List out every service you offer and what it costs. If you sell products, include them here too. Explain what each product and service is, what it does, and the benefit it provides.

Don’t forget to include things like spa packages and membership plans. Now’s the time to think through what you’re able to offer by yourself or if you need a team of practitioners to provide the services you want to offer. Tip:  If you have designed a massage therapy website , you probably already have a list like this. Copy the list from your website to save time.

4. Massage Therapist & Practitioner Staffing

If your massage therapy business is a solo practice, you can skip this part of the business plan. If you plan to hire a massage therapist or other practitioners, you need a detailed plan for that. That goes here. This section is for listing the members of your team, their roles and responsibilities. You can include a short bio for each person that highlights their background, education and expertise.

One of the most common things massage business owners debate is whether to hire employees or have independent contractors . The decision is up to you, but it will impact your business model.

Tip:  Before you hire anyone, create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all the tasks that need done in your business. Document SOPs in writing and use them to train new team members. ‍

5. Business & Compensation Model 

After carefully considering multiple wellness business ideas , you must settle on a single business model. That business model may be a membership based massage franchise, multi-disciplinary practice, or just a solo-practitioner. Whatever it is, describe the structure of the business and how it’s organized in this section.

Also, explain how you’ll compensate your staff (and yourself). Outline the details of the pay structure for practitioners , admin staff, contractors, ect. Include things like commission, tips and salaries. You should also create a plan for how you’ll implement pay increases over time and the benchmarks for being eligible for a raise.

Tip:  Consider short-term abilities and long-term objectives before making a decision about business and compensation models. It’s hard to change structure down the road, so start where you want to end up. If you can’t afford to start there, create a plan for how and when you’ll transition later.

6. Sales And Marketing

In this section, explain how you will sell your services and promote your massage therapy business . Break down exactly how you’ll reach the clients your business was designed to serve, and how you will get them to buy from you. List all your massage marketing strategies , and then explain how you will implement them. Include things like your company website, social media marketing, email marketing, networking, paid advertising and so on. Also consider the massage marketing software tools you will need to make this happen, and make a budget around them. Tip:  Think about the ideal client you described in your Overview and Objections section. Consider what this person’s struggles, desires and spending habits are. Then build your sales and marketing plan around that.

7. Competitive Analysis

Every business has some sort of competition. In this section, make a list of all your competitors. Make note of who they are, what they do and who their customers are. Next describe how you intend to compete with these businesses. Set yourself apart by describing what makes your business different from competing companies. This may be something that makes you unique, better or more specialized than the competition. Tip:  Other massage therapists are not your only competition. What other services or products may your potential clients be using instead of massage therapy?

8. Operations

This section breaks down how you do what you do. Organize everything involved in running your business here. Including, but not limited to, how you interact and engage with clients, maintaining your office space, and how you write your SOAP Notes. Go into detail about everything. Explain how your business takes care of laundering linens, keeping the office clean, answering the phone, greeting clients, filing intake forms, and the methods of payment that are accepted. Write out all of the things you’ll do to manage your client files, or simply indicate if you’ll use a program like ClinicSense to stay organized and automate the work for your business. Tip:  If you make this section a detailed step by step guide, you can use it to create training manuals for staff later.

9. Tech Stack To Run Your Business

Technology will be instrumental in managing and growing your business. List the software you’ll use for things like scheduling, charting, review collecting, and marketing in this section. Create a plan for leveraging technology to streamline your processes, cut costs, improve productivity, and increase sales. 

 Your technical stack of tools might include: Scheduling Software, Accounting Software, Marketing Software, EMS & Charting software, or an all-in-one software solution for massage businesses .

Tip:  Research the wide variety of medical spa software available to you. Choose one that fits your budget and the needs of your practice. Make sure it’s a system you’re comfortable using and easy to use for client communication.

10. Financial Analysis

This section is all about the numbers. Create a budget for your massage therapy business , and list the details here. Be realistic, and plan for unforeseen setbacks. In addition to your current budget, you should also include future projections. As your business grows, its financial blueprint will change as well. It may not be possible to have exact numbers for future year sales, but it is possible to create future financial sales goals and estimations. Tip:  Review your SMART goals, and use the ones that relate to money here. Create benchmarks for your financial progress.

What Do You Do When Your Massage Business Plan Is Finished?

A business plan isn’t something you do just once. Your business will change overtime. As things change, you’ll find that some parts of your business plan are no longer in line with your current goals. That means you need to update your massage therapy business plan on a regular basis.

Now that you have a business plan for your massage therapy business, you can use it to keep your business on track. It’s easy to waste time thinking up the same ideas again and again. All your ideas are now written down and organized. So now you can focus on getting things done, rather than wasting time thinking about how to get things done.

Use your business plan as a guide and a reference when you lose your way. It should ultimately be your map of how to get you from where you are now, to where you want to be . Maps are only effective if you get them out and study them. So don’t file your business plan away and never look at it again. Creating it is only the first step towards making it work for you.

It’s a good idea to set aside time once or twice a year to review and update your massage therapy business plan. When you do this, don’t forget to consider your own life, well being and personal goals, as well as your business goals. Make sure your business plans and your personal circumstances are still in alignment. If something is off, it’s time to make some changes.

Key Takeaways 

The effort you put into creating a business plan for your massage therapy business should inspire you to take action and reach your true potential. A business plan can keep you from wandering astray, because the plan for getting from point A to point B is already mapped out. Keep it somewhere easily accessible so that you can pull it out whenever you need it.

Use the benchmarks in your business plan as a ladder you can climb. Each benchmark is a step towards achieving your goals. With each one reached, you gain momentum. Keep climbing to reach your biggest and loftiest aspirations.

Remember, your business should be designed to support your personal goals and values. Creating a business plan is an efficient way to think through and plan exactly what needs done to have the type of business you want. Once that’s in writing, it’ll be clear what your next action steps are, no matter where you are in your journey.

Your business plan should be dynamic, which means it changes with you and your massage practice. As you execute your plan, you and your business will undoubtedly evolve. That means you need to periodically make the time to sit down and update your massage therapy business plan. You don’t need to start completely over each time. You only need to revise the parts that are out of date. That part will be easy, because by then you'll really know what you’re doing.

Ready To Start Building Your Massage Therapy Business? We Can Help!

ClinicSense is an all-in-one software solution designed to help massage therapists manage and grow their business. We help you lay the foundation for your practice by giving you the tools you need to get your practice off the ground and keep it running smoothly for years to come. 

We’ll help you get more clients with online scheduling, collecting & publishing reviews, and digital marketing. You’lll make a good impression with automated appointment reminders and digital intake forms. You’ll save time by using ClinicSense features to automate daily admin tasks.

Best of all, ClinicSense is designed to grow with you. We offer multiple pricing plans and packages Choose the plan that fits the needs of your business right now, and upgrade as your business grows. Try it for FREE and cancel anytime.

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Physical Therapy Massage Business Plan

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Healing Touch Massage

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Healing Touch Massage is a sole proprietorship owned by Lavinia Watkins, LMT. Ms. Watkins has been a Licensed Massage Therapist in the State of Oregon since July 1984, and has run the business from a home-based location since then. The business has consistently been profitable since its inception.

We offer massage in a variety of styles – traditional Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue work, Sports Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Reflexology, and others.

This massage therapy business plan is being used to explore the cost effectiveness of expanding by moving the business into a downtown location. This would make the services more accessible to people who work full time, and also make the office more convenient for clients with medically-ordered massage therapy.  Billing insurance companies for medically required massage is lucrative, but the nature of the therapy – usually 15 to 30 minute sessions, focused on a specific body area, with a short-term duration – makes it imperative that the clients can get in to see the therapist over their lunch hour or during their work day.

Our mission is to run a profitable business by providing therapeutic massage in a caring, professional environment. We offer massage in a variety of styles – traditional Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue work, Sports Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Reflexology, and others. Our goal is to tailor the client’s experience based on initial interview information, as well as in-the-minute feedback during the massage, to insure the client’s comfort and satisfaction, and to increase repeat business. We intend to offer massage that is effective, yet respectful of the client’s personal boundaries, so that the experience is relaxing and energizing for both the client and the provider. We are mindful of the overall experience – using quality oils and lotions, appropriate scents, and soothing music, nature sounds or silence – as the client prefers.

• Increase number of day-time clients by 100% by moving to a downtown location.
• Increase new clients by 50% by advertising locally.
• Find other LMT or other personal service provider to sublet space in new location.

Keys to Success

• Professionalism: which includes everything from maintaining confidentiality, to keeping our LMT training up-to-date, to maintaining good boundaries between clients and therapist.
• Individual Attention: making that extra effort to customize each client’s experience to his or her preference.
• Repeat business/Recommendations: giving the kind of service that brings people back for regular treatments, and encourages clients  to recommend us to friends, and other health professionals to recommend their clients.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Company summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">.

Healing Touch Massage is a Sole Proprietorship owned by Lavinia Watkins, LMT. Ms. Watkins has been a Licensed Massage Therapist in the State of Oregon since July, 1984, and has run the business from a home-based location since then. In the years since first obtaining her license, Ms. Watkins has consistently taken more Continuing Education classes than required to continue her degree, and has studied a wide variety of massage and other therapeutic techniques, including: Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Reiki, Watsu, Acupressure, Reflexology, and Integrated Breathing. As  a result, Ms. Watkins has is adept in a wide range of massage styles, and can tailor each massage to the client’s needs and preferences.

Company History

Lavinia Watkins, LMT, owner of Healing Touch Massage, has been licensed by the State of Oregon since July 1984. An initial (and expensive!) advertising blitz in the local paper helped Ms. Watkins establish an initial clientele, many of whom are still clients, some of whom she continues to offer in-home service. The bulk of her clients come to her home office, and her advertising has been primarily word of mouth for a number of years. Volunteering to work at local track and bicycle events in the late 80s established her reputation as a Sports Masseuse, and attracted another group of long-term repeat clients. In 1993, Ms. Watkins began to make contact among the local chiropractors, orthopedic surgeons, and other medical professionals in an effort to build her referrals of “medically-necessary” massage.

The increased in popularity of Section 125 and other “cafeteria plans” has given rise in recent years to clients who are able to afford regular massage by using these “pre-tax” dollar plans to increase their discretionary spending budgets for massage.

In 2000, Ms. Watkins became affiliated with the American Health Specialties Network, whose website is: http://www.ashn.com. This increased her exposure to clients with health insurance coverage that have Alternative Care coverage, and also greatly decreased the time lag and difficulties usually associated with filing insurance billing claims.

Ms Watkins is now looking at moving to a downtown location, to further increase her availability to short-term clients referred my medical professionals.

Company Ownership

Healing Touch Massage is a Sole Proprietorship owned by Lavinia Watkins, LMT. 

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

The planned move to a downtown location will facilitate access by clients recovering from injuries. We have identified this as a lucrative target market because they usually are funded by insurance claims, and represent repeat visits for a duration of up to one year. Because this group very often needs multiple, short sessions for a series of weeks or months, a downtown location would make us convenient for mid-day appointments.

It is also quite probable that other clients who work during the day would be more likely to book a day-time massage when we are more conveniently located to their place of work. Since the number of day time slots far exceeds the number of evening slots, this is increased business we would be able to book in addition to our current clients.

Market Segmentation

Clients who come for massage fall into four basic groups:

• Usually insurance will pay for short-term therapy only, although clients will sometimes supplement out-of-pocket
• High disposable income individuals
• Sometimes have chronic pain or old injury issues
• Massage 1 – 4 times a month for relaxation
• Try to have massage as regularly as they can afford – usually once per month
• Massage for improved performance – great for word-of mouth referrals if they see results

Target Market Segment Strategy

As individual as our clients are, they seem to fall into one of five general categories: Injury Recovery, Self-Pampering/Relaxation, Alternative Care Users, Athletes, and the inevitable Other. Besides the obvious differences in the style of massage each of these prefer, they also represent separate groups for marketing and retention purposes.

The Injury recovery group is usually referred by a Chiropractor, self-referred through our listing on the American Specialty Health Network site, or referred by another client who found massage helpful during an injury recovery. So the marketing to this audience is done indirectly, through the referring parties. While car insurance will typically pay for massage for only a limited time period (less than one year), many health insurance policies now have Alternative Care coverage with a renewable annual maximum. And Cafeteria Plans will reimburse for “medically necessary” massage – which is a bit ironic since few, if any, medical doctors will proactively recommend massage, but most will be willing to sign off on a recommendation, if specifically asked by their patients. The rapid turnover of this group is offset by the fact that they will pay top dollar per session. The key is to keep getting new referrals.

Clients who have the disposable income to indulge in massage for self-pampering or relaxation are the core of our long-term repeat customers. These clients will come once a week to once a month for years, and often refer other family and friends. The difficulty working with these clients comes from the ‘familiarity breeds contempt” factor – they can believe they deserve lower rates, cancellations of short or no notice, and can come to seem as friends, rather than clients. The challenge here is maintain a professional relationship, while encouraging the warmth and personal connection that is as much a part of their experience as the actual massage. This type of client can be  difficult to find – an ad in the local alternative news weekly (especially with a coupon for $5 off ) or a donation to a charity auction may result in a one-time visit, or a long-term client. Another source of usually one-time visitors is the Gift Certificate – friends pampering friends for a birthday or other special occasion.

The third group are Alternative Care users. These are people who mistrust allopathic medicine, and prefer to use chiropractors, naturopaths, herbalists, acupuncturists. A local networking group of alternative care providers is a great way to get referrals, as well as placing posters on other practitioners offices, and ads in the local alternative newspaper. The problem with this group is that they can tend to have relatively small disposable incomes, so that a massage once every two months may be all they can afford. A relatively large pool of these clients will book only 20% of the available appointments in any given month. 

The final group is another backbone of this business – the amateur athletes. There is a large population of runners and bicyclists in the local areas, as well as out-of-town participants who return for annual events, and book massages during those times. This business tends to be slightly seasonal – as most amateur athletes will only train, or gear-up their training during the Spring and Summer months. However, they are a very loyal group, and will readily give word-of-mouth recommendations, especially if they see massage as having given them a specific boost to their performance. This group will cross over from the Injury group, and become long-term clients after the specific initial injury has healed. They also tend to have chronic injuries or pain, especially as they age, which can help them become repeat clients.

Service Business Analysis

The massage industry consists of several dozens of individual therapists working out of home or private offices, in addition to LMTs working in chiropractors’ offices, gyms, beauty salons, and other venues.

Additional massage services are offered by graduates of specialty schools; Rolfers, Breath Managers, Hakomi Therapists, as well as Physical Therapists.

Fortunately, massage is a very personal service, and different clients are attracted to different techniques and personalities. Healing Touch Massage offers the unique services of Lavinia Watkins, LMT, which cannot be duplicated by any other practitioner.

This business is becoming increasingly easy to “break into,” since obtaining the training necessary for licensing is not all that arduous, nor difficult to maintain. But while getting the credentials and equipment necessary to start a new massage business is easy, establishing a clientele is not, so our established practice of over 20 years duration helps us compete with the ever-available flow of LMTs graduating from local schools.

Competition and Buying Patterns

The key element in purchase decisions made by potential massage clients is trust in the professional reputation, and ultimately, in the skill and knowledge of the provider as experienced in the initial massage. For this reason, a discount coupon or donation to a charity auction can be an effective way to troll the waters for new clients. Recommendations from other clients and alternative health service providers is also critical.

While there is a range of prices charged for massage service in the area, there is some price sensitivity among the long-term clientele. Since the variable cost of each massage is nominal, the best bet has seemed to be to charge less than the market will bear. The one exception is when billing insurance companies, where there is no penalty for charging the full Reasonable and Customary Rates for the area.

Clients rarely compare massage therapists directly, although they may try a second LMT if they are not entirely happy with their first experience. Usually they follow word-of-mouth recommendations, and return for repeat sessions as often as their budget allows.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

If, as it has been said, the top three items which determine success in business are location, location, and location, then the planned move to a downtown location represents our top marketing strategy. By being more available to working clients, and by making the other health professionals who will refer those clients to us aware of our new location, we literally make ourselves accessible to more business.

Once a client experiences the level of personalized care that we offer, we are confident that we will have a return client, for as long as their funding holds out. And since we have seen many clients who began as insurance-paid injury-recovery cases turn into regular self-paying clients, we believe this will serve our long-term goal of increasing business also.

Competitive Edge

This is another section where mission and passion create the same results as “Marketing.” Our “competitive edge” is our ability to give intuitive massage – to sense in the client’s musculature, posture and presence what work is needed – where the pain is, where the tension is. There is a way that years of study of technique combine with a deep knowledge of kinesiology and anatomy, that is then synthesized with an acute sense of empathy and ability to “read” people that enables us to provide a massage experience that is exactly what each client needs at that given moment.

We have repeatedly heard of word-of-mouth recommendations bringing in new clients with words like “magic hands” and “a higher sense of healing.”

Quite apart from this gift, or talent, however, is a sense of what it take to run a business: How to pace appointments to conserve personal energy; how to use networking – whether local or the ASHN – to reach prospective clients; how to maintain that fine balance between personal service and professional boundaries.

The change to having an outside-the-home office in a downtown location is both exhilarating and a bit scary. It will definitely make Healing Touch Massage accessible to more clients – and hopefully, the top-end, insurance-paid clients. But can we also retain the long-term clients who feel ‘at home” in our home office after all these years? We believe so.

Marketing Strategy

Critical to the success of the move to a new location with be the maintenance of referral – creating contacts with other health care providers, especially chiropractors. Also, researching the possibility of becoming a Preferred Provider with other health insurance companies that offer Alternative Care to their members will be critical. Any opportunity to convince allopathic physicians – MDs – to see massage as having long-term healing benefits for their patients will also be taken, since they hold to key to having massage paid for as “medically necessary.” 

Sales Strategy

It can be difficult to think of offering the best possible massage service as a sales strategy, since that is also the mission and personal passion of the owner of Healing Touch Massage. Each client comes with a specific personal agenda, both emotional and physical, and the goal is to “read” that client, and provide the pain relief, relaxation, and feeling of increased well-being that will allow that client to leave feeling satisfied.

This is one business where the service IS the sales technique. It is impossible NOT to offer completely customized services, since each client will present a unique body to be worked on. Of course, the total environment in which the service is offered – smells, lighting, sounds, feel of the linens and oils, emotional presence of the therapist – all combine with the techniques of actual tissue manipulation and knowledge of the musculo-skeletal systems to create the client’s experience.

Sales Forecast

The following table and charts give a run-down on forecasted sales. We expect sales to remain fairly stable, as the practice is relatively “full” for the present. We anticipate moving into the new downtown location in 2004. This move to a location more convenient for mid-day appointments should increase our injury/insurance billing by 50%, and our self-pampering group by at least 5%.

There is also a bit of seasonality – athletes tend to get more massage during the Spring and Summer “performance” months.  Also, we have regularly experienced a slight increase in late December, January, and May due to Gift Certificates purchased for the holidays and Mothers Day.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Healing Touch Massage is a sole proprietorship owned by Lavinia Watkins, LMT. Ms. Watkins has been a Licensed Massage Therapist in the State of Oregon since July 1984. Ms. Watkins has consistently taken more Continuing Education classes than required to continue her degree, and has studied a wide variety of massage and other therapeutic techniques, including: Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Reiki, Watsu, Acupressure, Reflexology, and Integrated Breathing.

Ms. Watkins currently holds certificates of completion of the Advanced level training from the prestigious Boulder School of Sports Massage, a Second Level Reiki Degree, and 30 hours of Watsu training. She is also an avid practitioner of Ki Akido, and a member of the Eugene Zendo. She hold a BA degree from University of California, Riverside in Urban Studies, with a minor in Business. She is a member of the Oregon Association of Alternative Practitioners, and of the American Massage Therapy Association.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following Financial Plan represents a continuation of actual business revenues and expenses for the remainder of 2003, and then a planned increase in both revenues and expenses as a result of a location change.

Another scenario for maintaining income to match the increased expenses of the new downtown location would be to sublet part of the space to another LMT or complementary health care provider. A third scenario would be to try out a downtown location by subletting office space from a chiropractor or in an existing LMT office. Since these last two scenarios are mutually exclusive to the first, preferred plan, they are not reflected in financial plans presented here.

Important Assumptions

The financial plan depends on important assumptions, most of which are shown in the following table as annual assumptions.

The collection days are for insurance billings only, and not a factor we can influence easily. Interest rates, tax rates, and personnel burden are based on conservative assumptions.

Two of the more important underlying assumptions are:

• We assume, of course, that there are no changes to the Medical/insurance Industry, such as the nationalization of health care.

Break-even Analysis

The following chart and table summarize our break-even analysis. Because this business has been run from a home office, the fixed costs for rent and utilities have been moderate. As we move the business into a downtown location, the fixed costs will rise substantially.

The break-even assumes minimal variable costs: linens and massage oil. If having a downtown office increases the number of clients paid for by insurance, there will be additional costs per client for claims processing.

Projected Profit and Loss

Sales and expenses for 2003 are projected from YTD actuals, and seasonal variations noted over the last few years. The big change comes in 2004 and 2005, with the addition of a downtown office, which will increase the rent dramatically. As noted in the Sales Forecast, the expectation is that the number of Insurance Billing clients will rise as the business becomes more convenient for short, mid-day appointments.

There is no personnel cost other than the owner’s draw, as the company is a sole proprietorship. Payroll taxes are calculated at 15%, however, as Self Employment Taxes (FICA) must also be paid. Estimated taxes will be paid quarterly, although they are calculated monthly on this table.

Not included on this table is the scenario where the Insurance Billing clients do not increase sufficiently quickly to cover the increased cost of rent. At some point, the decision could be made to rent out part of the office space, or rent the entire space to another massage therapist for set times during the week, which would offset the same costs. If a lease needs to be signed, which is most likely for the 2004 year, it will be for one year only, to minimize the risk if the anticipated increase in Insurance Billing clients does not occur.

Projected Cash Flow

The following Cash Flow table shows us with a consistent positive Cash Flow throughout the transition. Because the business is a sole proprietorship, the amounts listed as “payroll” are, in fact, owner’s draw, so they are obviously the area of cash flow where adjustments are, and will be, made if  the Cash Flow becomes tight.

We do list a marked increase in outflow of Cash for the purchase of Fixed Assets in 2004. These would be for fixtures and lease improvement to whatever new space we rent for our new downtown location. Since all of the equipment we currently use is portable, this additional cost is fairly moderate, since it mostly represents cosmetic improvements. There is a possibility that the landlord would do many of the improvements before we moved in, in exchange for an increase in the monthly rent, which would flatten out the cash outflow a bit.

Projected Balance Sheet

The only Accounts Receivable carried is any Insurance Billings that are not paid during the month. It is rare for insurance companies to take more than 6 weeks to pay, and some pay as quickly as 10 working days, so these numbers assume that they will pay in 30 days.

The Accounts Payable is for linens (paid monthly) and lotions/supplies (usually purchased quarterly).

We assume that there will be some additional expenses, in the form of long-term assets purchased, when we move to the new office in 2004.

Business Ratios

The following table shows the projected businesses ratios. We expect to maintain healthy ratios for profitability, risk, and return. The ratios for the initial year of growth are, of course, not as favorable as the second year. And if we cannot maintain healthy ratios during that growth phase, a return to the lesser level of expenses we have historically had in a home-based business can be returned to. Industry profile ratios based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 8049.02, Physical therapists, are shown for comparison.

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How to Create a Massage Therapy Business Plan + 3 Examples

Nov.17.2022

Here’s how to draft a business plan that will keep powering your massage business forward for years to come

You have the vision and the talent necessary to turn your ambition into a thriving enterprise. But if you don’t know how to write a business plan for massage therapy, you may be in danger of skipping the most important steps of starting your massage business . We know, we know; you didn’t get into this line of work to spend your time perusing spreadsheets and strategic statements. Thankfully, it may take less than you think to lay out a massage therapy business plan that will set your business up for success for years to come.

Why do I need a business plan for my massage therapy business?

You need a business plan for your massage business because it is the foundational document for your new enterprise. It shows others (and reminds yourself) how you’ll start and build your business today, next month, a year from now, and beyond. A massage therapy business plan will help you set goals for the milestones you wish to reach and make changes to best achieve those goals. And, in the most practical and financial of terms, if you want to convince investors to seed money into your business, they will expect nothing less than a spotless business plan.

6 steps for creating a massage therapy business plan

Now that you know why you need a massage therapist business plan, here’s a clear list of steps to follow to make your own, complete with real-world examples.

Step 1: Craft an appealing executive summary

Think of the executive summary as the grand opening to your business plan. It’s the first impression you make on a reader, which means you should highlight the most engaging parts of your business. Let people know what you intend to accomplish, both fiscally and in the context of the local community. Explain why you’re excited and don’t be afraid to go big in your vision.

The way Elements Massage uses its About Us page to let potential customers understand its unique vision is one great massage therapy business plan example to follow. The franchise emphasizes the quality of massages it offers, backed up by the four pillars of the “Elements Way” that inform its every service. You feel like you know exactly what drives this business even before you step through its doors.

Step 2: Define your day-to-day

You know you want to start a massage therapy business, but what will your daily work look like? Will your business be part of a day spa, offering a range of additional experiences like facial treatments and saunas? Will it be a mobile business where you bring your materials to clients’ homes or offices, meeting customers where it’s most convenient for them?

Answering these questions early will help both you and potential investors determine what kind of funding you may need to create a feasible business. For instance, it costs a lot more to open a brick-and-mortar location staffed by fellow massage therapists than to do business out of your trunk.

Step 3: Identify your clientele 

What kind of customer are you trying to serve with your massage therapy business? Here are some specific questions to ask while envisioning your ideal clientele.

How old are they?

What do they do for a living?

Where do they live?

What’s their annual income?

What life stage are they in?

Once you start identifying these specific elements, you can create a customer persona. This will be an essential tool to return to throughout your process as you consider how best to meet the needs of the people interested in your services.

Keep in mind that your ideal customer may change as your business develops, and the conditions around them may evolve, too. Take note of the way Massage Envy created campaigns that targeted previous customers who stopped receiving massage therapy during the pandemic , showcasing why it might be time to get a massage again. By identifying its clients, Massage Envy always knows who to get the message out to. 

Step 4: Carve out your niche

Massage is a broad umbrella. Specialists can perform Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, shiatsu massage, and many more types of service. What kind of experiences will your particular business specialize in, and what kind of clientele will be more inclined to use them?

Go back to your customer persona here and see how that shapes who your planned services will cater to versus the type of clients you most want to have. This is also a good time to begin considering how you will handle booking for your appointments . It’s the first point of interaction many clients have with your brand, so you want to make sure it’s one that leaves them excited to come in and continue the relationship, rather than exhausted and glad this part of the process is done.

Step 5: Pick the perfect location

If you’re planning to go the brick-and-mortar route, your choice of location is paramount. Return once more to your customer persona: What kind of storefront, and what kind of area, will serve best for attracting your ideal client? A trendy downtown location will mean high foot traffic and plenty of opportunities for drop-ins, but that won’t do you much good if most of your services require scheduling in advance.

If you’re planning to operate in clients’ homes and offices instead, determine how broad of an area you’ll serve. You can only go so far for a client before it no longer makes business sense, but reaching out to massage business contacts in nearby areas could help you set up a mutual beneficial referral arrangement. Whether brick-and-mortar or mobile, be sure to research your competition in the area before setting up shop.

Step 6: Get cozy with a spreadsheet 

OK. We can’t put off talking about it any longer. Your massage therapist business plan also needs a detailed accounting of your finances. You might need to take out loans, apply for grants, or even tap into savings to get a business off the ground before investors will bite, and that’s OK — as long as you plan for it ahead of time. Success isn’t guaranteed overnight, so it's important to plot out best and worst case scenarios for at least a few years in advance, based on ranges for your potential income as well as rent, utilities, and other ongoing expenses.

Turning to another brand name in the space, MassageLuXe’s financial reporting reveals detailed information for new franchisees and their upfront investment . The report breaks down the low and high end of expected expenses across categories, which is helpful for arriving at estimates for your own business even if it won’t be part of a franchise.

It’s never too early to start planning how to make your business even bigger and better. Get your free copy of The Ultimate Growth Playbook for Beauty Businesses today.

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Massage Therapy Business Executive Summary Template

• Great for beginners
• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Doc
• Get started in seconds

Starting a massage therapy business can be both exciting and challenging. As an entrepreneur, you want to create a space where clients can experience ultimate relaxation and find relief from physical discomfort. With ClickUp's Massage Therapy Business Executive Summary Template, you can streamline your planning process and set your business up for success.

This template helps you:

• Define your business goals and mission statement
• Identify your target market and competition
• Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy
• Plan your pricing structure and service offerings
• Create a financial forecast and budget

Don't let the details overwhelm you. Use ClickUp's template to create a clear roadmap for your massage therapy business and watch it flourish. Get started today!

Benefits of Massage Therapy Business Executive Summary Template

Creating an executive summary for your massage therapy business can have numerous benefits, including:

• Concisely summarizing your business plan and goals to potential investors or partners
• Clearly outlining your target market, unique selling points, and competitive advantage
• Demonstrating your understanding of industry trends and market demand
• Providing a snapshot of your financial projections and growth strategy
• Serving as a roadmap for decision-making and guiding your business towards success.

Main Elements of Massage Therapy Business Executive Summary Template

ClickUp's Massage Therapy Business Executive Summary template is the perfect tool to help you create a comprehensive overview of your massage therapy business. Here are the main elements of this Doc template:

• Statuses: Use custom statuses to track the progress of different sections in your executive summary, such as Draft, In Review, and Finalized, ensuring a smooth workflow and easy collaboration.
• Custom Fields: Utilize custom fields to include important information in your executive summary, such as Financial Performance, Marketing Strategy, and Customer Satisfaction, allowing you to present a clear and detailed picture of your business.
• Different Views: Switch between different views, such as the Document Outline view, Table view, or Kanban view, to easily navigate through your executive summary, make edits, and ensure a well-structured and visually appealing document.

How to Use Executive Summary for Massage Therapy Business

Running a successful massage therapy business requires careful planning and organization. To help you get started, here are five steps to effectively use the Massage Therapy Business Executive Summary Template in ClickUp:

1. Provide an overview of your business

Start by introducing your massage therapy business. Give a brief description of your services, target audience, and the unique value you offer. This will set the tone for the rest of your executive summary and give readers a clear understanding of your business.

Use the Docs feature in ClickUp to write a concise and compelling overview of your massage therapy business.

2. Outline your business goals and objectives

Next, outline the goals and objectives you have for your massage therapy business. Are you looking to expand your client base, increase revenue, or introduce new services? Clearly define your short-term and long-term goals to demonstrate your vision for the future.

Utilize the Goals feature in ClickUp to create and track your business goals.

3. Analyze your target market

To attract and retain clients, it's essential to understand your target market. Identify the demographics, preferences, and needs of your ideal clients. Conduct market research to gather data and insights that will help you develop effective marketing strategies.

Use the Table view in ClickUp to organize and analyze data about your target market.

4. Develop a marketing and sales strategy

A successful massage therapy business relies on effective marketing and sales techniques. Outline your strategies for promoting your services, attracting clients, and increasing bookings. Consider using online advertising, social media marketing, referral programs, and partnerships with local businesses.

Utilize the Board view in ClickUp to create and track tasks related to your marketing and sales strategies.

5. Financial projections and budgeting

Lastly, include financial projections and budgeting information in your executive summary. Outline your expected revenue, expenses, and profitability. Include details about pricing, cost of supplies, overhead costs, and any other financial factors that will impact your business.

Use the Gantt chart feature in ClickUp to create a timeline for your financial projections and monitor your budget.

By following these five steps and utilizing the Massage Therapy Business Executive Summary Template in ClickUp, you'll be well-equipped to create a comprehensive and compelling executive summary for your massage therapy business.

Get Started with ClickUp’s Massage Therapy Business Executive Summary Template

Massage therapy businesses can use this Executive Summary Template to create a comprehensive overview of their business plan.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create an effective executive summary:

• Use the Market Analysis View to research and analyze the target market for your massage therapy business
• The Financial Projections View will help you create a comprehensive financial plan, including revenue projections and expenses
• Use the Competitive Analysis View to evaluate your competitors and identify your unique selling points
• The Marketing Strategy View will guide you in creating a marketing plan to attract and retain clients
• Organize sections into different statuses, such as Introduction, Market Analysis, Financial Projections, Competitive Analysis, and Marketing Strategy, to keep track of progress
• Update statuses as you complete each section to ensure a thorough and well-rounded executive summary
• Review and refine your executive summary to ensure it effectively communicates your business vision and goals

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How to Write a Massage Therapy Business Plan

Creating a solid business plan is a fundamental step for massage therapists interested in starting their own massage therapy business. A written business plan is more than just a formal document; it’s a practical and useful blueprint that can help ensure the growth and stability of a new massage business, laying the foundation for long-term success. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refocus your business, a well-crafted plan will help clarify your vision, establish goals, and attract funding.

What is a business plan?  A business plan is a comprehensive document that details your business objectives, marketing strategies, the services and products you offer, your financial forecasts, and the steps you plan on taking to achieve your business goals. This practical tool serves as a roadmap, helping to guide your decision-making as you start, manage, and expand your massage business. A good business plan isn’t just a static document that you create and file away, but a dynamic blueprint that evolves with your practice, reflecting changes in the market, client needs, and your own professional growth.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the key components of a successful massage therapy business plan. You’ll learn how to articulate your vision, identify your target market, create an executive summary, analyze the competition, and develop effective marketing and financial strategies. Whether you’re a seasoned therapist or just starting out, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to craft a plan that resonates with your unique business goals and drives your massage practice towards a prosperous future.

Why Massage Therapists Need a Business Plan

Many massage therapists, whether solo practitioners or members of a group practice, might view the idea of creating a business plan as either overwhelming or unnecessary. Yet, the reality is quite the opposite. A business plan, even basic one, is an  important tool  for a new venture. Even if you don’t need to secure funding or meet formal startup requirements, a written business plan will help clarify your vision and strategy for starting a new massage business .

A massage therapy business plan template acts as a strategic guide. It helps you navigate through the entrepreneurial aspects of your practice, something that goes beyond the core massage skills commonly taught in massage training programs. This plan provides a clear picture of where you are now, where you want your business to go, and most importantly, how you’ll get there. Even a simple, one-page plan can keep you on the right track for success.

How a business plan will benefit massage therapists

• Clarity in Goals : The act of creating a business plan will help you define what you want to achieve, both in the short and long term.
• Financial Planning : Essential for understanding your financial needs, from startup costs to long-term financial projections. It can help ensure a profitable business.
• Marketing Strategy : Assists in identifying your target market and how best to reach them, a key aspect for any growing massage business.
• Operational Guidelines : It sets the operational workflow of your practice, from client appointments to massage therapy services offered.
• Risk Management : Highlights potential challenges and how to avoid them, a crucial factor for sustainability.
• Funding and Investment : Essential if you’re looking to secure loans or attract investors.

Remember, your business plan is a living document. It should be revised and updated periodically to reflect the changing needs of your growing massage practice.

*Understanding massage business plans can also enhance your readiness for the FSMTB massage licensing exam. Practical information about the business of massage is covered in the Guidelines for Professional Practice content area of the MBLEx .

Need to pass the MBLEx? Try our MBLEx practice tests and comprehensive MBLEx Prep Course

7 Key Components of a Business Plan

While there’s no one-size-fits-all format, there are certain key components common to the best business plans. Here’s a breakdown of these seven essential elements:

• Executive Summary : This section provides a brief yet comprehensive overview of your entire business plan. It is designed to give readers, like potential investors or partners, a quick snapshot of your own massage therapy business. The executive summary outlines & summarizes the essence of your business, and includes your key business objectives, the core services you offer, your mission statement, a financial overview, and a brief summary of your plans to grow and succeed in the market.
• Business Description : Here, you detail what your massage therapy practice is all about. Describe the nature of your business, the business structure (solo practice, partnership, etc.), your market position, the specific types of massage services you offer, and unique aspects that set your practice apart. Discuss your business model, whether it’s home-based, a leased commercial office space, or mobile massage business. This section should also outline your business goals and the needs in the market that your business aims to fulfill.
• Market Analysis : This section involves researching the massage therapy industry. It includes a competitor analysis, client demographics, your ideal client & target market, and market trends. It’s where you demonstrate your understanding of the market landscape and how your business fits into it, highlighting opportunities for your massage practice. Knowing your market helps tailor your services and marketing efforts effectively.
• Organization and Management : This part of the plan outlines the operational structure and management team of your business. If you’re a solo massage therapist, it might just be you. If your team is larger, describe the roles and responsibilities within your practice, including who manages the business, any staff members you plan to hire, and how your business is legally structured.
• Services Offered : Here, list and describe the massage therapy services you provide, such as Swedish massage, deep tissue, hot stone massage, cupping therapy , corporate chair massage, sports massage, or any special techniques or approaches you use. This section can also include information about pricing, package deals, or membership plans. Explain how your services meet client needs and stand out in the market.
• Marketing Plan : This is your strategy for attracting and retaining clients, and turning your clients into raving fans or your business. Outline how you plan to market your massage therapy services , including advertising methods, branding, promotional tactics, customer engagement strategies, and online presence strategies, such as social media marketing and a business website. Discuss how you will establish a strong brand presence in your local area or online.
• Financial Planning : In this final section, present your financial projections and funding requirements. This should include detailed budgets, projected income statements, and cash flow estimates. Explain how you plan to ensure the financial health of your massage therapy business, covering aspects such as pricing strategy , revenue projections, financial goals, and potential funding sources. Even for small practices, understanding the numbers is crucial for sustained growth and stability.

Remember, there’s flexibility in how you approach your plan. Whether it’s a traditional multi-page document or a lean one-pager, the goal is to create something that serves your needs and guides your decisions. A business plan should clarify your goals, fitting seamlessly into your professional life.

Focus on  SMART goals  – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. You are probably familiar with SMART goals from your massage SOAP note documentation, but as a reminder, setting SMART goals means setting goals that are clearly defined ( Specific ), can be tracked and assessed ( Measurable ), are realistic and attainable ( Achievable ), align with your business objectives ( Relevant ), and have a defined timeline for achievement ( Time-bound ). By setting clear, attainable goals with specific timelines, you help turn your vision into actionable steps. This approach ensures that your own business plan becomes a living guide, steering your massage therapy practice toward success with clarity and purpose.

Executive Summary

The  Executive Summary  of your massage business plan is like the cover of a book; it sets the stage for what’s inside. It’s a snapshot of your business, capturing the essence in a concise, compelling manner. Here’s some elements of an effective executive summary:

Role and Structure : The executive summary should be the opening section of your business plan. It needs to be succinct, ideally just one page. Think of it as an elevator pitch in written form. It should briefly touch upon every crucial aspect of your business plan, giving readers a taste of what to expect.

Summarizing Key Aspects : Start with your business’s  mission statement  – a clear declaration of your massage therapy practice’s purpose and its core values. Then, highlight the key components of your plan: your business model, market analysis, offered services, massage marketing strategy , and financial outlook. Remember, clarity and brevity are your allies here.

Vision and Mission of the Company : Your vision is where you see your massage therapy practice in the future – it’s aspirational. The mission, on the other hand, is about the present – how your business operates and serves clients today. Both should reflect your passion for massage therapy and your commitment to client well-being.

Short- and Long-Term Goals : Outline clear, attainable goals. Short-term goals might include immediate objectives like securing a certain number of clients per month or launching a website. Long-term goals could involve expanding your service offerings, opening a new location, or becoming a recognized name in the massage therapy industry or in your community.

Remember, the executive summary is your chance to impress and engage potential readers, be they investors, partners, or even employees. It should reflect the essence of your massage therapy practice, its ethos, and its path forward. 

Business Description

In the  Business Description  section of your business plan, you’ll paint a detailed picture of your practice. This is where you describe what your business is, who it serves, and how it stands out in the massage therapy industry. be sure to include the following information:

• Detailing Your Business : Start with the basics – the name of your massage therapy practice, its location, and the range of massage therapy services you offer. Describe your approach to massage therapy and how it benefits your clients. Are you focusing on sports massage , therapeutic massage, aromatherapy massage , reflexology, general relaxation massage and spa treatments, medical massage , or a combination of different types of massages? What booking systems and massage software will you use? How will you communicate and follow-up with your clients? What massage forms and documentation will you use? This is your chance to showcase your expertise and passion for massage therapy.
• Business Structure and Organization : Are you a solo practitioner, or do you have a team? Discuss your business’s legal structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, etc.) and the organizational framework. If you have a team, mention their roles and how they contribute to the practice’s success.
• Vision and Mission : Your vision should depict where you see your business in the future, while your mission should reflect your day-to-day operations and commitment to clients. This could include your dedication to holistic health, personalized care, or integrating innovative massage techniques.
• Unique Value Proposition : What sets your massage therapy practice apart? Maybe it’s your specialized techniques, exceptional client care, or a unique therapeutic environment. Your unique value proposition is what makes your business stand out in a crowded market.
• Independent Practice : You have full control and flexibility but also bear all the responsibility for management and growth.
• Partnership:  In this model, two or more therapists come together to run the business. This collaboration can pool resources, share costs, and bring diverse skills to the practice. Partnerships require clear agreements on roles, responsibilities, and profit-sharing.
• Mobile Massage Service:  Mobile therapists travel to clients’ homes, offices, or events to provide services. This model offers flexibility and convenience for clients but requires therapists to manage travel logistics and carry equipment.
• Contract Work:  Massage therapists can work as independent contractors for various businesses, such as hotels, cruise ships, or corporate offices. This model offers a variety of work environments and client types but may involve irregular hours and less job security.
• Home-Based Practice:  Therapists can set up a massage room and office space in their own home. This model can reduce overhead costs and offer a comfortable setting for clients, but it blends personal and professional spaces.

Each of these models has different operational, financial, and lifestyle implications, and choosing the right one depends on the therapist’s personal preferences, professional goals, and resources.

In making your decision, consider your personal goals, work style, and the kind of massage business you envision. Your choice will shape the nature of your practice and your path to success.

Market Research and Analysis

Effective market research and analysis are critical for any massage or bodywork business. This process helps you understand your market environment, ensuring your services meet the needs and preferences of your target audience. The following items belong in this section of your massage business plan:

Conducting Market Research for Massage Therapy : Start by gathering data on the local massage therapy market. This can be done through online research, surveys, and observing local massage therapy practices. Look into industry reports to understand broader trends in the massage therapy industry. Key questions to explore include the most sought-after massage styles and the average pricing in your area.

Analyzing Local Demand and Competition : Assess the demand for local massage therapy services. Are there specific groups of people who are more inclined to seek massage therapy, such as athletes, office workers, or older adults? Then, analyze your competitors. What services do they offer? What are their pricing strategies? Are their appointment books and parking lots full? Understanding your competition helps you find your massage niche and identify opportunities to differentiate your practice (more on this in the next section). 

Understanding Client Demographics : Who is your ideal customer? Create client profiles based on factors like age, gender, lifestyle, and health needs. For instance, sports massage will be more popular among athletes, while deep tissue massage could appeal to those with chronic pain. Understanding these demographics helps in tailoring your services and marketing efforts.

Determining What Customers Value : What are clients looking for in a massage therapy session? It could be relaxation, pain relief, or a therapeutic experience. Some might value convenience, such as online booking or flexible hours, while others might value low cost, still others might prioritize the skill and experience of the massage therapist. Knowing what your target customers value most allows you to structure your services and customer experience to meet these expectations.

In summary, market research and analysis enable you to make informed decisions about your massage therapy businesses. It guides you in developing services that resonate with potential clients, setting competitive prices, and crafting effective marketing strategies. Remember, understanding your market is an ongoing process that can significantly contribute to the success and growth of your massage therapy practice.

Competitor Analysis

Competitor analysis, also called  competitive analysis , is a critical component in your massage business plan. In order to provide services that are  different and better  than your competitors, you must first understand what they offer. This analysis helps you position your business strategically in the market.

• Identifying the Competition : Start by identifying who your competitors are. These could be other massage therapists, wellness centers, or spas in your area. Consider both direct competitors, who offer the same services as you, and indirect ones, who cater to the same target audience but with different but related services (e.g., chiropractors, physical therapists, yoga studios, acupuncture clinics, fitness centers, and spas specializing in esthetician services).
• Analyzing Competitor Strengths : What are your competitors excelling at? It could be their marketing strategies, the variety of massage therapy services they offer, their pricing, hours of operation, or their customer service. Understanding their strengths can help you learn from them and identify market gaps.
• Determining Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) : Your UVP, sometimes referred to as  Unique Selling Proposition  (USP), is what makes your massage therapy practice stand out. It could be your specialized massage techniques, exceptional client care, or a unique approach to holistic wellness. Think about what you can offer that your competitors don’t. This could be something as simple as extended business hours, a unique massage therapist specialization, or a more client-centric service model.
• SWOT Analysis : A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) is a tool used to evaluate these aspects of both your business and your competitors’. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors, like your skills or limited marketing budget. Opportunities and threats are external factors, like a growing interest in wellness or new competitors entering the market.

A thorough competitor analysis helps you to understand where you fit in the massage therapy market. It guides you in making informed decisions about how to outpace your competition, either through improved features, competitive pricing, or unique services. By knowing your competition, you can craft strategies that leverage your strengths and capitalize on market opportunities.

Description of Your Massage Therapy Services

This section of your massage therapy business plan describes and showcases the services you will offer in your practice. It’s crucial to give a detailed breakdown of the services you offer, ensuring they align with market demands and your unique skill set.

Types of Massage Services : Commonly offered services include:

• Traditional Swedish Massage : Known for its relaxing and rejuvenating effects, it’s a popular choice for clients new to massage.
• Deep Tissue Massage : Ideal for clients with chronic pain or muscle tension, focusing on deeper muscle layers.
• Sports Massage : Targeted towards athletes, this massage focuses on areas strained by repetitive sports activities.
• Hot Stone Massage : Utilizes heated stones to provide a unique, soothing experience, perfect for stress relief.

Additional Services and Products : Consider offering complementary services or products that enhance the massage experience. This could include aromatherapy, reflexology, assisted stretching, or selling wellness products like essential oils or ergonomic pillows. Offering a range of products and services allows for a more holistic approach to client care.

Customizing Services : Tailoring your services to meet the specific needs of your clientele is crucial. This could involve offering personalized massage packages, focusing on specific client groups like pregnant women or the elderly, or even integrating alternative therapies. Your expertise and understanding of client needs are what will make your massage therapy services stand out.

In describing your services, focus on how each service addresses specific client needs and the benefits they offer. For instance, emphasize the stress-relieving qualities of traditional Swedish massage or the injury-preventive benefits of sports massage. The goal is to paint a clear picture of what clients can expect and why they should choose your services.

Marketing Plan and Client Acquisition Strategies

A well-thought-out  sales and marketing plan  is essential for attracting and retaining clients in your massage therapy business. By leveraging a mix of traditional and digital marketing techniques, you can build a strong client base and grow your practice. Consider discussing the following in this section:

• Online Presence and Social Media : In today’s digital world, an online presence is crucial. Start by creating a user-friendly website that highlights your services, background, and client testimonials. Utilize search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to improve your visibility in search results. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are excellent tools for connecting with potential clients and referral partners. Share engaging content, health tips, and special offers to keep your audience interested and informed.
• Email Marketing : Collect email addresses from your clients and website visitors to keep them updated about new services, massage specials and promotions , and health tips. Regular newsletters help keep your practice top-of-mind and encourage repeat visits.
• Networking and Community Involvement : Building relationships within your community can be a powerful marketing tool. Attend local events, join business associations, or offer workshops to showcase your expertise in massage therapy. Partnering with other health professionals like chiropractors or physiotherapists can also provide valuable referral opportunities.
• Client Referral Programs : Word-of-mouth is a potent marketing tool, especially in the wellness industry. Create a referral program that rewards clients for bringing in new business. This could be discounts on future visits or special packages.
• Promotions and Loyalty Programs : Offering introductory discounts to new clients or loyalty programs for regular ones can help in client retention. Tailor these offers to encourage repeat visits and long-term engagement with your massage therapy services.

Remember, the most effective marketing strategy is one that resonates with your target audience and aligns with your business values. Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and be ready to adjust your strategies to meet the changing needs of your market and business.

Financial Planning and Management

Effective financial planning and management are the backbones of a successful massage therapy business. Understanding and managing your finances ensure the stability and growth of your practice. Consider adding the following items to this section of your plan:

Budgeting Basics : Start by creating a budget that outlines all your startup costs, such as rent, massage equipment and supplies , marketing expenses, and getting the best massage liability insurance you can. Once your business is operational, keep track of ongoing expenses like utilities, payroll, and maintenance. Budgeting helps you keep finances under control and plan for future investments.

Revenue Streams and Pricing Strategies : Your main revenue will likely come from the massage therapy services you offer. Consider diversifying your revenue streams by selling related products or offering workshops. When setting prices, research local market rates to remain competitive yet profitable. Adjust your pricing strategy based on your expertise, service quality, and client demand.

Managing Expenses : Keep your expenses in check by regularly reviewing and optimizing them. This might mean negotiating better rates with suppliers, reducing unnecessary expenditures, or investing in energy-efficient equipment.

Financial Forecasting : Develop financial forecasts to predict future revenue and expenses. This helps in setting realistic financial goals and preparing for any potential financial challenges.

Organizational Structure : If your massage therapy practice involves a team, clearly define the organizational structure. Outline the roles and responsibilities of each team member, including management, administrative staff, and other massage therapists. A well-defined structure ensures smooth operations and effective team collaboration.

Management Team Responsibilities : If you have a management team, their responsibilities might include overseeing daily operations, managing finances, creating massage policies and procedures for efficient operations, developing business strategies, and handling problems like client no-shows and missed appointments . Ensure that each team member understands their role and its impact on the business’s success.

Remember, financial health is crucial for the longevity of your massage therapy practice. Regular financial reviews and adjustments will keep you on track towards achieving your business goals.

FAQ About Creating a Massage Business Plan

Are there any easier & simpler alternatives to creating a traditional business plan.

Yes, there are simpler alternatives to creating a traditional, lengthy business plan, especially useful for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs like massage therapists. Here are a few alternatives:

• Lean Startup Plan : This format focuses on summarizing the key elements of your business on a single page. It typically includes sections like key partnerships, activities, resources, value propositions, customer relationships, channels, customer segments, cost structure, and revenue streams. It’s great for clarifying your business idea and making quick adjustments as your business evolves.
• Business Model Canvas : Similar to the Lean Startup Plan, the Business Model Canvas is a strategic management template used for developing new business models or documenting existing ones. It’s visual and allows for easy understanding and adjustments.
• One-Page Business Plan : As the name suggests, this plan condenses the business plan into a single page, focusing on the core aspects of your business, such as your vision, mission, objectives, strategies, and action plans. It’s ideal for small businesses that don’t require detailed plans for investors or banks.
• Pitch Deck : Originally used for startups to present their business idea to potential investors, a pitch deck is a brief presentation that provides an overview of your business. While not a full business plan, it covers key aspects like the business concept, market, revenue model, and growth strategy.
• Action Plan : This is a straightforward list of steps you need to take to achieve your business goals. It’s more of a task list but organized in a way that aligns with your strategic objectives.

These alternatives are less time-consuming and can be more practical for small businesses or when you’re in the early stages of conceptualizing your business. They provide enough structure to guide your business decisions without the complexity of a full business plan.

How do I create a unique value proposition for my massage therapy business?

Creating a unique value proposition (UVP) for your massage therapy business involves identifying what sets your services apart from others in the market. Start by assessing your skills, specialties, and the aspects of massage therapy you excel at. Maybe you specialize in sports massage, deep tissue techniques, lymphatic drainage massage , or holistic wellness approaches. Consider the client experience you offer – perhaps it’s your personalized care, the tranquil ambiance of your therapy space, or your flexible scheduling. Your UVP should clearly communicate how these unique aspects of your service offer value to your clients. For instance, if your specialty is in therapeutic massage for athletes, your UVP could focus on your expertise in sports-related injury prevention and recovery. The goal is to articulate why a client should choose your services over others.

How can I identify and target my ideal clients for massage therapy services?

Identifying and targeting your ideal clients or customer demographic involves a few key steps:

• Analyze Your Services : Look at the types of massage therapy you offer and consider who would benefit the most from them. For example, sports massages may appeal to athletes, while relaxation massages might attract working professionals or parents.
• Research Your Market : Understand the demographics of your area. Are there sports clubs, corporate offices, or wellness communities?
• Survey Existing Clients : If you already have clients, ask them for feedback. What do they value in your service? This can give you insights into your appeal.
• Use Social Media : Platforms like Instagram and Facebook can provide demographic insights based on engagement with your content.
• Tailor Your Marketing : Once you know your target demographic, customize your marketing efforts to speak directly to their needs and interests.

How long should a typical massage business plan be?

The length of a typical massage therapist business plan can vary depending on the complexity of your business model and your specific needs. However, for most independent massage therapists or small practices, a plan ranging from 10 to 20 pages is often sufficient. It should be detailed enough to cover all essential aspects – including market analysis, financial planning, and marketing strategies – while being concise enough to remain clear and actionable. Remember, your entire business plan should be a practical tool, not just a formal document, so focus on clarity and relevance over length.

How do I conduct a thorough market analysis for my massage therapy business?

Conducting a thorough market analysis for your massage therapy business involves several key actions:

• Identify Your Target Market : Determine who your potential clients are based on demographics like age, gender, occupation, and lifestyle.
• Analyze Competitors : Assess other massage therapy services in your area. What services do they offer, and what are their pricing strategies?
• Understand Client Needs : Conduct surveys or interviews to understand what clients look for in massage therapy services.
• Evaluate Market Trends : Stay informed about the latest trends in the massage therapy industry, such as popular techniques or wellness integrations.

This research will help you tailor your services to meet the specific needs of your market and position your practice competitively.

Can I write a business plan for my massage therapy business by myself, or should I hire a professional?

Yes, you can write a business plan for your massage therapy businesses yourself, especially if you have a clear understanding of your business goals and the massage therapy market. Many massage therapists create their own business plans using available templates and guides tailored to small businesses. However, if you find financial aspects, like revenue forecasting or budgeting, challenging, or if you are planning to seek significant funding, consulting with a professional can be beneficial. They can offer expertise in creating a detailed, compelling plan that aligns with investor expectations. Ultimately, the decision depends on your comfort level with business planning and the complexity of your massage therapy practice.

How do I choose the right location and setup for my massage therapy practice?

Choosing the right location for your massage therapy practice is crucial for attracting clients and ensuring a comfortable environment. Consider the following:

• Accessibility : Look for a location that is easily accessible by public transport and has ample parking.
• Visibility : A spot with good visibility can attract walk-in clients.
• Demographics of the Area : Ensure the local demographics align with your target market.
• Competition : Avoid areas saturated with massage therapy services unless you offer unique services.
• Space Requirements : Ensure the space is sufficient for your operational needs, including a reception area, therapy rooms, and a waiting area.
• Ambiance : The interior should be calming and conducive to relaxation, aligning with the overall experience you want to offer.
• Ensure Proper Zoning : Check local zoning laws to ensure that you can legally operate a massage business in your desired area, as zoning regulations can vary significantly and impact where you can establish your practice.

How often should I update my massage therapy business plan?

Your massage therapy business plan should be a dynamic document, updated regularly. A good rule of thumb is to review and update your plan annually. However, if there are significant changes in your business, like adding new services, changing locations, or shifts in the market or regulatory environment, you should update it accordingly. Regular revisions ensure that your business plan reflects the current state of your practice and the market, helping you make informed decisions and adapt to new opportunities or challenges in the massage therapy industry.

What financial projections should I calculate for my massage business plan?

Accurate financial projections are a cornerstone of any effective business plan. Determining these projections helps you strategically plan for growth and financial stability in your massage practice. Choose financial projections that are helpful and meaningful for your individual situation:

• Revenue Projections : Estimate your earnings from various services over a specific period.
• Expense Forecast : Project your operational costs, including rent, supplies, utilities, and staff salaries.
• Profit and Loss Statement : Predict your net profit by subtracting estimated expenses from your revenue.
• Cash Flow Forecast : Monitor the flow of cash in and out of your business, crucial for managing day-to-day operations.
• Break-even Analysis : Determine the point at which your practice’s revenues will cover its expenses.

These projections help in planning your finances effectively and are essential for monitoring the health and growth potential of your massage therapy business.

What is the importance of a SWOT analysis in my massage therapy business plan?

A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) in your massage therapy business plan provides a comprehensive overview of your business’s internal and external environment. This analysis helps you:

• Identify your  Strengths  (e.g., specialized massage skills, unique services) to leverage them effectively.
• Acknowledge  Weaknesses  (e.g., limited marketing budget, new presence in the market) to address or mitigate them.
• Recognize  Opportunities  (e.g., emerging wellness trends, unmet client needs) to expand and grow your practice.
• Be aware of  Threats  (e.g., competition, changing regulations) to prepare proactive strategies.

Conducting a SWOT analysis helps in strategic planning and decision-making, ensuring a realistic and objective view of your massage therapy business.

How can I determine the competitive advantage of my massage therapy services in the business plan?

To carve out a competitive edge for your massage therapy services in your business plan, start by pinpointing what makes your practice special. Maybe it’s your unique massage techniques or the exceptional level of care you provide to each client. Understanding exactly what your clients value most can help you tailor your services to meet their needs more effectively than your competitors. Don’t forget to showcase your professional credentials and any specialized training you’ve undertaken – these details add to your credibility. Also, weaving in positive feedback and success stories from your clients can really highlight the satisfaction and results you deliver. When it comes to pricing and packages, make sure they stand out against what others are offering, perhaps through added services or special deals. Articulating these points clearly in your business plan will not only showcase what you bring to the table but also position you as the go-to therapist for potential clients.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a massage therapy business plan?

When writing a massage therapy business plan, avoid these common mistakes :

• Lack of Clear Objectives : Ensure your business plan has specific, measurable, and realistic goals.
• Ignoring Competition : Failing to adequately analyze competitors can leave you unprepared for market realities.
• Overlooking Market Research : Not understanding your target market can lead to ineffective strategies.
• Underestimating Costs : Be realistic about your budget and financial needs to avoid financial strain.
• Vague Marketing Plans : Your marketing strategy should be detailed and tailored to your target audience.
• Ignoring Legal and Regulatory Requirements : Stay informed about necessary massage licenses and certifications , and local regulations.

How do I set realistic and achievable goals in my massage therapy business plan?

When crafting goals for your massage therapy business plan, first take a good look at where you currently stand – consider your skills, what resources you have, and how you fit into the market. Use the SMART method to shape your goals: be specific, make them measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound – like, say, aiming for a 20% increase in clients over the next six months. Also, keep an eye on the industry norms for growth and success to make sure your targets are in line with what’s achievable in your field. It’s important to set goals that are a stretch but still within your reach, so you don’t spread yourself too thin. And remember, staying flexible is key; be ready to tweak your goals based on the feedback you get from your clients and any changes in the market trends. This way, you’re setting yourself up for growth that’s not just ambitious but also sustainable.

In what ways can I tailor my business plan to appeal to potential investors or lenders?

To make your massage therapy business plan appealing to investors or lenders, focus on these key areas. First, ensure your financials are front and center – show your revenue expectations, how you plan to break even, and the different ways you’ll bring in money. It’s also crucial to demonstrate you’ve got a handle on the market – who your customers are and what they’re looking for. Highlight what makes your massage services stand out from the crowd. Address any potential risks head-on and explain your strategies to manage them, showing you’re prepared for different scenarios. Don’t forget to talk up your own skills and experience in massage therapy, as this builds confidence in your ability to succeed. And if it makes sense for your business, lay out a clear exit plan for investors, giving them an idea of the potential return they can expect on their investment.

What key metrics should I track in my massage therapy business plan for long-term success?

Key metrics to track in your massage therapy business plan for long-term success include:

• Client Retention Rates : Monitor how many clients return for repeat services.
• Revenue Growth : Track monthly and yearly revenue growth.
• Client Acquisition Cost : Calculate the cost of acquiring new clients through various marketing channels.
• Average Service Price : Monitor the average price per service and adjust according to market trends.
• Utilization Rates : Assess how effectively you’re utilizing your business capacity, such as therapy rooms and staff hours.
• Customer Satisfaction : Use feedback and reviews to gauge client satisfaction.

Tracking these metrics provides insights into your business’s health and areas for improvement.

As we reach the end of our guide on creating a successful massage business plan, let’s briefly revisit the key points. Your business plan should clearly outline your massage therapy services, market analysis, financial strategies, and marketing plans. It should reflect your vision for the practice, your understanding of the market, and how you plan to stand out in the massage therapy industry. Remember, the goal is to create a plan that is both realistic and adaptable to changing circumstances.

Consider this plan a living document, one that evolves as your business grows and market dynamics shift. Regularly revisiting and updating your business plan keeps your practice aligned with your goals and responsive to new opportunities.

Now is the perfect time to start drafting your plan. Use the insights and tips shared in this guide as your starting point. Remember, the journey of building a thriving massage therapy practice begins with a well-thought-out plan. Embrace the process, and watch as your vision for a successful massage therapy business comes to life.

Additional Resources

• Small Business Administration (SBA) : The SBA offers a wealth of resources for small business owners, including guidelines on writing a business plan, financial assistance programs, and local business workshops. While not specifically a massage organization , they provide specific tools and templates to help entrepreneurs effectively plan and operate their businesses.
• SCORE : A nonprofit association supported by the SBA, SCORE provides free, confidential business mentoring and training workshops to small business owners. They offer expertise in business planning and can be a great source for personalized advice and guidance.
• Bplans : This website offers a range of sample business plans for different industries, including health and wellness services. Bplans also provides helpful articles and tips on various aspects of business planning and management.
• Entrepreneurship.org : Powered by the Kauffman Foundation, this platform offers a plethora of information on starting and running a business, including key insights into market research, funding, business strategies, and more. Visit there website to learn more.
• American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) : While not solely focused on business planning, AMTA massage provides industry-specific resources for massage therapists, including market research, trends, and networking opportunities that can be valuable for business planning.
• Massage Magazine Business Section : This magazine offers articles and tips specifically tailored for the massage therapy business, covering topics like marketing, client retention, and industry trends that can inform your business plan.
• Local Chamber of Commerce : Joining your local Chamber of Commerce can provide networking opportunities, local market insights, and additional resources helpful in developing and refining your business plan.

Each of these resources offers unique insights and tools that can be beneficial in creating a comprehensive business plan for a massage therapy practice.

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How To Write A Business Plan For Massage Therapy In 2024?

Whether you want to expand or start massage therapy pratice , a detailed massage therapy business plan is essential. Before you own massage therapy business you should be aware of it’s revenue and costs.

What You Will Learn

We'll go through what you need to do to create a business plan, useful tips and a free massage business plan template.

Jump to the Section You Like

What is a massage therapy business plan, why does your massage therapy need a business plan, how to write a massage therapy business plan, key elements of a good massage therapy business plan, massage therapy business plan sample free.

A business plan is a document that describes the financial, administrative and marketing aspects of running a massage therapy businesses. It includes things like financing and start-up costs, market research and competitive strategies to grow your business.

In addition to a description of your business and a clear plan of how you will market and develop your products and services, and a description of your target market, you will also want to include a summary of the plan itself (more on this later).

You should also include a plan for supporting your technicians and massage therapists, including massage therapists needs and any training or support they will receive.

Market research is essential whether you are developing a business plan for medical massage therapy or setting up a luxury massage therapy. In addition to the mission and vision, the business plan should include clear business objectives, a sample budget and information on current trends in the industry.

You can review the plan regularly, make changes as necessary and use it as a guide to help you manage your massage therapy, make informed business decisions and ensure you achieve your success goals.

Your management team can use the plan to help you forecast future sales and profitability, adjust massage therapistsing or advertising strategies, and review financial projections at a glance.

Let's face it, every owner or manager needs a business plan - and it's not just limited to the massage therapy industry.

This plan is a living, breathing document that will help you make financial projections and decisions that will affect your customers and massage therapists - it's as important as your massage therapy's techniques.

Whether you need help raising loans, attracting investors, deciding which massage therapy services or products to promote, or even how to reach out to a new potential clientele, a solid financial plan and strategic vision will make everything much easier.

A sound business plan is not only the key to ensuring success to, it is also a blueprint for the future of your massage therapy. A vision and mission statement can help you brainstorm and hold team meetings, and can even form the basis for designing your massage therapy's rewards structure and loyalty program.

It's a way to make sure you stay on top of your game and meet the changing needs of your customers.

If you're wondering how to write a business plan for your massage therapy, you're not alone - these documents are actually as unique as the massage therapy's owners, customers and massage therapists. Much depends on the size and location of your business, but there are some common elements.

They always include an executive summary (overview), outlining the target market and services. They also include information such as projected sales and break-even points (sales and marketing plan), expected massage therapy fees and an overall financial plan.

For new massage therapy, all start-up costs should be included and an explanation of how financing will be obtained. If you are operating an existing luxury massage therapy, the contents of the business plan should include some financial highlights, such as whether you are achieving your goals and what your future objectives are.

Let's now look at all this in more detail.

How Do You Start a Massage Therapy Business Plan?

Whether you're dealing with potential investors or just planning your next round of equipment purchases and technician training, your massage therapy business plan will be useful.

It will give you a clear picture of your business finances and structure, keep you focused on your long-term goals and allow you to keep your mission in mind when considering decisions.

Gather Information

Research other massage therapy and businesses in the area, research the services you need to offer e.g. hot stone massage, deep tissue massage or other therapeutic massage , and decide on a target market (or how you can expand into new markets).

Know Your Limits

Sit down and make a list of issues that could affect your business in terms of cash flow, start-up costs, or time and training. Make sure you include them in your budget and financial plan.

Set Clear, Measurable Goals

Start by analysing the market to find out what the break-even point is for each service, and set targets based on these profits and costs.

Expert tip: massage therapy software can help you track your team's performance, offer online booking with digital SOAP forms and more.

Find Your Niche

What makes your massage therapy stand out, especially among all the other businesses? If you can offer unique selling points that appeal to specific customers (such as traditional swedish massage, sports massage), create a marketing plan to reach those customers.

Save Time With Free Templates

There are many examples of massage therapy business plans and free templates available online, and there are advantages to using them. Simply adapting existing business plan templates rather than creating a completely new business plan from scratch can save a lot of time (and stress).

Consult an Expert

This applies to the business plan of a large massage therapy business as well as a sing massage therapist. The more professional everything looks, the better.

Hiring a consultant to review the draft plan, the financial aspects and even help with the concept and marketing plan can go a long way, especially if you plan to use it to raise finance and attract potential investors.

This is where you make your first impression to potential investors and others who will help manage or run the massage therapy. Make sure it includes your massage therapy business name , logo and contact details.

Every business plan should be organized, and a table of contents helps. Clearly divide everything into sections to make it easier to find information.

Executive Summary

First impressions are crucial, especially if you are trying to get funding. A clear and concise summary is very useful. Remember to include.

Massage Therapy Mission Statement

This should set out your business objectives and plans to achieve them. Stating where you want your massage therapy to be in the future, even years from now.

Business Concept

Outline your massage therapy concept - for example, medical massage therapy focusing on specialized and licensed massage therapist experience. Briefly describe what you are planning.

Key success factors (what do you need to make your massage therapy work?).

Business Description

• Briefly describes your business and services. Be sure to include details of your location
• The massages you currently offer (and any new massages you would like to offer your clients).
• Staffing information (e.g. number of technicians and support massage therapists).
• A breakdown of your market research and competitors (including how you differ from these massage therapy or companies).

Target Customer

Explain who your target customers are and why. Take into account.

• Which demographic groups does each service appeal to?
• Do these people live, study or work nearby?
• Why you have chosen them (massage businesses often base future decisions such as massage therapist training, product sales, equipment and décor on their clientele).
• What the average customer wants/needs (and how you can help them).
• How are you different from other massage therapists in the area?

When developing your plan, consider a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to better understand all of this.

Competitive Analysis

Know the market you plan to enter and how you can succeed in it.

• Who are your competitors?
• Where are their massage therapy located? Are they nearby?
• What facilities do you have in common?
• How do you differ from each other?
• How do your costs and prices compare?
• Do you compete for the same clientele?
• How do you attract new customers and keep them coming back?

Management Plan

A business plan for a massage therapy explains exactly how everything works, including:

• The management structure (this may be simpler if it is a small massage therapy, or more complex if it is a large chain with several locations).
• Massage Therapy Business strategy (including key objectives, targets to be achieved and projections of future success and how you will achieve them).
• Massage therapists needs (how many people you need and what their roles are).

Products and Services

This information will help potential investors understand your massage therapy's sales and revenues, as well as projected costs and profit margins. Be sure to include the following information.

• Massage therapy services offered e.g. relaxation massage, hot stone massage, sports massage etc.
• Any products you use for clients during the treatment
• Your retail products all the services you offer

It is a good idea to break down the prices of each product listed here, along with their costs and profit margins (if you are an existing massage therapy, you can also include information on customer demand for each product).

Marketing Plan

How do you plan to reach new customers and expand your customer base? What is your advertising plan with costs? This may be a rough outline, but make sure you have done your background research and have a solid plan.

• Your massage therapy marketing plan (how you plan to reach new customers).
• Any sales and promotional plans (how you plan to drive sales and retain and reward customers).
• Your advertising strategy (this can include low-cost and free methods, such as newsletters or social media, as well as paid advertising for your massage therapy).
• Defining the brand and its image (and reputation if it is an existing massage therapy or chain).

This applies to the massages you offer and the products you sell, including.

• How you intend to introduce and market these products
• Why these services/products will benefit and attract customers.
• Sales targets and target values
• Your expected income from massage therapy services and retail sales
• Cost estimates and financial plans for massage therapists training or equipment purchases

Financial Plan

This explains the initial costs of your massage therapy and plans for turning a profit as soon as possible or the costs and financing of any expansion/improvements and projected profits. Be sure to include:

• Financial statements (in particular the profit and loss account).
• Assumptions (projected costs and resources needed to cover them).
• Projected profits and losses and profitability margins.
• The massage therapy's balance sheet (also known as the "book value", which reflects the true value of the current business).
• A breakdown of all liabilities, including loans and debts.

This information should be reviewed by an expert before the final plan is drawn up. He or she can check for any discrepancies and give useful advice.

Do not miss our post on massage franchise .

Operational Plan

This plan describes how your massage therapy will operate and includes.

• The head office (if you have several massage therapy, where the head office is located).
• A breakdown of the management structure

Additional Information

Please include here any additional information that you think is important to potential investors or management. For example.

• Other documents
• Policies and statements

If you need to refer to them in the main body of the plan, you can attach these documents as annexes at the end of the plan.

We know that developing a business plan for your massage therapy can take a lot of time, and hiring an expert to write the entire plan can be expensive. We have tried to help you by creating a free massage therapy example.

Your massage therapy free template will look like this.

Creating a business plan for your massage therapy doesn't have to be stressful. With proper planning, it can be a rewarding process that helps you set new goals and decide on the best strategy to achieve them.

How to write a great business plan https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel3/46/14446/00660335.pdf

What do investors look for in a business plan? A comparison of the investment criteria of bankers, venture capitalists and business angels https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0266242604042377

Anatomy of a Business Plan: A Step-by-step Guide to Building the Business and Securing Your Company's Future https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id

About the author Bartek Kulasza

Bartek Kulasza creates informative content that focuses on efficient business management. He covers salon software, marketing and sales, budgeting and reporting, salon design and equipment, inventory management, growing customer base, helping businesses optimize operations, enhancing customer experience, and increasing profitability.

• Business Plan For Massage Therapy

• Business Plans Handbook
• Business Plans - Volume 11
• Massage Therapists Business Plan

Massage Therapists

MASSAGE WORKS

41 Whitter Way Millen, TX 73301

Gerald Rekve

This business plan is for a massage therapy practice. The need for this practice was identified after a key piece of state legislation changed, and anyone injured in an automoblie accident was required to undergo treatment.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Business overview.

Over a span of 15 years Gavin Cheney had worked in various medical practices as an office manager. Never really getting any training on the medical profession, Gavin enjoyed working for others in the field. Then the state where he works and lives changed a fundamental part of the automobile insurance business, where anyone who was injured in an auto accident was required to have treatment. Gavin saw this as a great opportunity to start his own practice. After a number of conversations with his medical contacts, he decided to open his own massage therapy practice.

Market Analysis

Millen, Texas is your average little city with a population of 150,000 people. There are three major hospitals in the city limits and there are seven massage therapy offices listed in the phone book. After calling all massage therapy places to get their pricing structure for competitive reasons, it was determined that only six were still in business and of the six only four were licensed by the state health region. While this type of service does not have to be registered to operate in the state, we have determined that we will only hire registered staff for our clinic.

Approximately 14 months ago, the local automobile insurance association had adopted a no–fault insurance plan, where the injured in an automobile accident could not sue for injuries unless they went through a complete health check with the local medical staff of various backgrounds, one of them being massage therapy. With this new focus on rehabilitation, we have determined that the steady stream of new revenue from this new source would be financially worthy of an investment into this new business.

After studying the market we have found out that there is no place where a client can go to get a multifunctional discipline approach to their health care or recovery. Based on health region statistics, there are 1600 visits per month to the present seven massage therapy clinics, with an average cost of $30 per visit. This amounts to monthly revenue of over $6,500 per clinic just for massage therapy and does not include revenue from other types of therapy. The average clinic has two staff working either full or part time and some on a flexible schedule. One clinic has 8 staff; however this clinic offers other types of therapy services.

Fees Charged for Massage Therapy

• 15 minute session—$19
• 30 minute session—$39
• 60 minute session—$75

Fees Charged for Physical Therapy

• Standard Physical Therapy—$60 per hour
• Water therapy—$75 per hour
• Physiological therapy—$100 per hour

Of the seven listed in the phone book, only two have set up strategic alliances with hospital medical regions as a referral. The reason for this is simply the hospital only refer to credited clinics and of the seven only two have been accredited. We will be accredited so we will get these referrals.

We have already been in talks with various medical practitioners and have determined that there is solid foundation for our clinic model in this region. While our main focus will be to run the massage therapy clinic, we will also receive income from our other partners in form of shared office rental and a small per–client booking fee.

Some of the services set up in our region are as follows:

• Massage Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Mobility Therapy
• Water Therapy
• Gym Therapy
• Physiological Therapy
• Driving Therapy
• PDSD Therapy

All of our staff will focus on the massage therapy and the other types of therapy will be contracted out to third party professionals who meet the required certifications. The prices charged for these services will vary based on the service. Our fee will be the same for each client we book for one of these therapies.

• Massage Therapy—$75 per hour.
• Physical Therapy—$80 per hour. Our fee is $9.
• Mobility Therapy—$40 per hour. Our fee is $7.
• Water Therapy—$70 per hour. Our fee is $7.
• Gym Therapy—$70 per hour. Our fee is $7.
• Mobility Therapy—$50 per hour. Our fee is $5.
• Physiological Therapy—$100 per hour. Our fee is $8.
• Driving Therapy—$40 per hour. Our fee is $5.
• PDSD Therapy—$120 per hour. Our fee is $14.
• Acupuncture—$80 per hour. Our fee is $12.
• Aroma Therapy—$40 per hour. Our fee is $7.
• Riekie Therapy—$40 per hour. Our fee is $8.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Because we have set up this clinic as a limited liability corporation, the owner will not be personally responsible for any activities of the therapists who operate out of this location.

The hours of operation will be from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and half days on Saturday. The contract therapists can book appointments outside these hours as required.

At this location we will have a main reception area consisting of a nursing station counter area, eight to twelve chairs for clients, a coat rack, a coffee table and a book shelf containing various handouts and info for clients to read while they wait.

There will be a total of eight treatment rooms, complete with an adjustable bed, chair, wall charts of the human body and small drawer cabinet for storage.

The main gym area will contain a variety of gym equipment as listed below.

• Four stationary bikes
• Three flatbed weight machines
• One hamstring exercise machine
• Four treadmills
• Complete set of weights
• One traction bed
• Ten various sized balls for lumbar work
• Two heart rate testing machines
• Two tables for treatment of various therapies
• Water cooler
• Rowing machine
• Hot tub for water therapy
• Two low level bikes
• Various mats for doing floor exercise
• A variety of treatment devises like the thera band, Jhook, and Tens Machine

Site Location

We have held extensive conversations with medical professionals and have determined that the first floor of 41 Whitter Way is an ideal location. It is central to all three hospitals, therefore allowing for easy access for our clients from these locations. Also this location is centrally located in the city and has easy access to the bus system and the go train.

The key to the location is parking and the bus station is only about 20 yards from the front door and is based on the ground floor of the eight–story building. One of the other bonus features of this location is the fact that inside there are numerous our medical professionals and specialists set up, as well a lab and x–ray clinic.

We will be leasing around 12,000 square feet of this unit and will pay a flat net rent of $1400 per month over a 5 year term. Considering the location this is fair. Also as part of our negotiations we were to have the landlord pay for leasehold improvements in the amount of $20,000.

Also there will be a wheelchair ramp installed in the side door, allowing for easy access for all of our clients. The ramp is basically a cement ramp to cover the four–inch gap along the sidewalk.

All staffing will be trained in their area of expertise; we will not hire anyone who does not have certification in the right areas.

There is a college in the region that every year has a lot of graduates. We will fill our open positions from these qualified students.

For the professional contract positions we will contract out to the right professionals in the region.

While we realize that some of these openings may not be filled on the day of opening we may not have all the openings filled. That will be fine, as we want to make sure we bring in the right professionals and do not want to be in a rush.

The front counter staff can be trained on office administration or doctor's office administration, which will be fine for the type of work being performed.

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

• Front counter—$1,500 per month
• Massage Therapist—$3,700 per month per position. Two positions total $7,400 per month
• Accountant—$2,300 per month
• Cleaning and basic repair and maintenance (Contract cleaner)—$400 per month
• CEO—$3,500 per month
• Total—$15,100 monthly payroll expenses

Because all other positions are contract and are not employees we will not put them in our books as an expense. The only item recorded for these positions will be the revenue we receive every time we get a booking; we will only record the revenue share we receive and not the revenue the client will pay us.

Other Operating Expenses

• Office Rental—$1,400 per month
• Telephone—$200 per month
• Office supplies—$250 per month
• Gym supplies—$400 per month
• Parking fees—$240 per month
• Utilities—$450 per month
• Advertising—$700 per month
• Yellow page ad—$400 per month
• Total—$4,040 in monthly operating expenses

Revenue & Income Projections

Our monthly income and expenses will come from several areas:

• Revenue from our own staff will be $234,000 per year. This was determined by having two therapists working six hours per day for five days a week. At the hourly rate of $75 per hour, this figure totals $4,500 week for each of 52 weeks of the year.
• Revenue from other professionals we contract out will be $96,096 per year. This was determined by having seven therapists working four hours per day for six days a week. At the average hourly rate of $11 per hour, this figure totals $1848 per week for each of the 52 weeks of the year.
• Revenue from flat fees charged for each professional will total $22,500 annually. Each professional will be charged $125 per month that will result in monthly revenue of $1,875 (15 therapists each paying $125 per month).

While we have attempted to base our income streams on best guess, we have determined that the number we provided here are on the low end and will only go higher. Review of other message therapy clinics nation wide have shown that the revenues are actually much higher than what we have projected.

Based on the above numbers, our total projected revenue is $352,566 for the first year. Our total projected expenses for the first 12 months is $229,680 plus the operating line of credit interest expense of $6,000 annually.

Start—Up Expenses

• Gym equipment—$25,600
• Legal fees—$1,200
• Office supplies and furniture—$4,500
• Rent and damage post—$2,800
• Office computers and equipment—$5,900
• Advertising and brochures—$1,200

We signed the lease on October 10, 2004; the landlord has 40 days to have the leasehold improvements completed. We estimate that by November 20, 2004 we will be able to move in. We will budget two weeks to get equipment set up and our systems in place. We will budget four weeks to run open houses for the medical profession and insurance industry, allowing them to see our facility.

On January 1 2005, we will start to accept clients. By then all our staff will be hired and we should have a few contract professionals hired.

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Massage Therapy Business Plan Example

JUN.14, 2018

Massage therapy practice business plan for your own salon

Are you planning to start a massage therapy business ? Well, massage therapy business is a profitable business that offers healthcare related services to help heal people from some ailment or help them in soothing their muscle soreness, improving their sleep, boosting their immune function, enhancing their mental skills, aiding headache sufferers, alleviating depression, and reducing stress and anxiety. And considering the present situation, where every second person is in depression, this massage therapy business plan has a lot of market.

So, before you move on to opening your therapy clinic, you will have to prepare a comprehensive business plan for a massage therapist which will establish the basis of your company’s future operations and decisions. If you are wondering how to write an effective business plan for a massage therapist then here we are providing you a sample physical therapy clinic business plan of a startup named ‘HealCo Relaxing Center’.

Executive Summary

2.1 the massage therapy business.

HealCo Relaxing Center will be a licensed massage therapy center located in the Manhattan borough of the New York City. The business will be started in an existing therapy center which ceased to function two months ago.

2.2 Management of Massage Salom

HealCo Relaxing Center will be a sole proprietorship owned by Susan Frank. Susan is a licensed massage therapist from Florida who has been in this industry for the last ten years. Due to her extensive experience in the industry, Susan knows everything about how to open a massage business .

2.3 Clients of Massage Salom

We will provide therapeutic massage to the people with ailments so as to help them cure faster, and relaxation massage to relax the people who are in stress, depression or anxiety.

2.4 Target of the Massage Salom

The massage business plan  or massage therapy center outlines the company’s three years target as follows:

2.5 Keys to Success

• Professionalism : We’ll maintain a professional approach as well as good boundaries between therapists and the clients.
• Individual Attention : We’ll go the extra mile to customize the experience of our clients according to their preferences.
• Client Satisfaction : We’ll ensure that our clients are always satisfied with us and leave our center in a fully relaxed state.

Massage Salom Summary

3.1 company owner.

HealCo Relaxing Center will be a sole proprietorship owned by Susan Frank. Susan is a licensed massage therapist from Florida who has been in this industry for the last ten years. Susan is adept in a variety of massage styles, and in tailoring each massage to the specific needs and preferences of clients. She is particularly expert in Integrated Breathing, Shiatsu, Sports Massage, Deep Tissue, Reiki, Watsu, Reflexology, and Acupressure.

3.2 Why the Massage Therapy Business is being started

The massage therapy business plan is being started due to Susan’s passion to serve the society by using her exceptional physical therapy skills. The second reason is to make profits in this industry by providing unparalleled massage therapy services to the clients.

3.3 How the Massage Therapy Business will be started

The first thing to do before you start thinking about how to start a physical therapy business is to develop a business plan for a massage therapist . You can also take help from this massage business plan template . After this phase, you can start executing the planned steps. As the next phase, Susan will procure and enhance an existing therapy center in downtown Manhattan which ceased to function two months ago. Since the facility was previously used as a therapy center so the cost of inventory is cut down and the biggest expense will be incurred on the renovation work. The costs for the startup are as follows:

The detailed startup requirements are given below:

Services for customers

After you have planned how to start up a massage therapy business , the next step is to plan what services will you provide to your clients.

This step is extremely important because all the subsequent things will depend on your services so make sure to plan it before starting your own physical therapy business . HealCo Relaxing Center will be a massage therapy center that will provide therapeutic massage to people with ailments so as to help them cure faster, and relaxation massage to relax the people who are in stress, depression or anxiety. We will provide following types of therapies and massages to our esteemed clients.

• Riekie Therapy
• Aroma Therapy
• Acupuncture
• PDSD Therapy
• Driving Therapy
• Physiological Therapy
• Mobility Therapy
• Gym Therapy
• Water Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy
• Reflexology
• Hot Stone Massage
• Deep Tissue Work Sports Massage
• Traditional Swedish Massage

HealCo Relaxing Center will operate 24/7 to attend to clients round the clock. We will also offer home services to the clients who are severely ill or can’t make it to our center due to their busy routine. To further facilitate our clients, we will arrange transportation facilities for them and allow them to make reservations online via our website or our official App.

Marketing Analysis of massage therapy business

The most important component of an effective business plan for a massage therapist  is its accurate marketing analysis that’s why Susan acquired the services of marketing experts to help her through this phase. It is only after this stage that a good physical therapy clinic business plan could have been developed. If you are starting your therapy clinic on a smaller scale then you can carry out the marketing analysis of your business plan for a massage therapist yourself by taking help from this massage business plan sample or other massage therapy business plan examples available online. On the other hand, if you are starting on a larger scale, you can seek help from marketing experts and can develop your own massage business plan template . In any case, you should pay special attention to this part of your physical therapy business plan .

The four main steps to carry out an accurate marketing analysis are to identify the current market trends, identify your target audience and potential clients, set out the business targets to achieve, and finally set the prices of your products and services.

5.1 Market and Industry Trends

Market trends can be analyzed in various ways such as by manual surveys, online research or even from guessing the pattern from any sample physical therapy business plan available online. You can also take help from the marketing trends given in this massage business plan template . Massage therapy industry generated about $12.1 billion in revenue in 2015 while it is expected to reach $16 billion this year. On average, the revenue growth is projected to increase at the rate of 3.6 percent per year through 2020. There are more than 300,000 massage therapists present across the United States and their number has increased from 14 to 19 percent over the course of just 4 years from 2011 to 2015. The number of American adults who had a massage at least once between July 2015 and July 2016 is roughly around 50 million. Furthermore, the number of therapists is increasing throughout the United States as well as in Manhattan. These stats show massage therapy has a lot of market and any massage business plan in this industry can prove to be immensely profitable provided that you plan and market it successfully.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

A good massage business plan sample also categorizes its target market into various groups or segments after which different strategies are devised to target each group in accordance with its specific needs and requirements. Our target market is the residential community as well as the working-class community living or working near us. The community consists of all types of people from varying backgrounds. As per the financial position, nearly half of the community has a monthly income ranging from $40k to $50k while nearly 10% people have incomes even around $100,000. There are currently more than 738,000 households in Manhattan out of which 17.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.2% are married couples living together and 12.6% have a female householder with no husband present. 59.1% are non-families, out of which 48.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. A successful and efficient marketing strategy can only be developed after we completely know our potential clients. Our experts have identified the following type of target audience which can become our future consumers:

The detailed marketing segmentation of our target audience is as follows:

5.2.1 Clients Needing Therapeutic Massage

This category includes all those clients who need therapy for some medical purposes such as for relieving pain or chronic health issues. The therapy is done by using advanced techniques such as trigger point therapy and deep tissue massage. The clients lying in this category will make the biggest contribution to our revenue since they frequently need therapy on a regular basis as a part of their medical treatment. This category is further divided into following groups:

• Clients with injuries: This group includes those clients who have incurred an injury in some accident or by any other means. They need therapy as a part of their medical treatment, for proper muscle repair and for relieving severe pain. This group may include individuals from all age groups and backgrounds. Sportsmen and athletes are also included in this group who regularly take therapies for addressing the minor/major injuries they usually face.
• Clients with chronic illnesses: This group includes those clients who are fighting with or have just recovered from chronic illnesses such as cancer, arthritis, backbone problems or other similar ailments. This group mostly include the senior citizens.
• Clients with disabilities/issues: This group includes those clients who have either some sort of disability like Down’s syndrome and Autism, or the clients who have other body problems like posture and weight issues. This group mostly include children and teens.
• Expectant mothers: This group includes expectant mothers who are prescribed to take a therapeutic massage (both Prenatal and Postnatal Massage Therapy) for addressing any issue with them while they are in labor or after their delivery.

5.2.2 Clients Needing Relaxation Massage

This category includes all those clients who just want to relax after a hectic day at work. Relaxation massage can greatly reduce the anxiety and depression of a person thus this massage is very popular with the working-class community especially the senior level executives of various businesses who often lead a stressful life. This massage is relatively simpler and straightforward as compared to the therapeutic massage and includes classic Swedish massage techniques along with a mud or cream application, a sea salt or sugar body scrub, or a paraffin hand treatment to the body. Since this massage is just intended to relax the clients and isn’t as much needed as the therapeutic massage, the revenue contribution from the clients taking this massage is relatively lower. The detailed market analysis of our potential clients is given in the following table:

5.3 Business Target

We aim to become the best massage therapy center of Manhattan within next five years of our startup. Our main massage business plan targets to be achieved as milestones over the course of next three years are as follows:

• To achieve the net profit margin of $10k per month by the end of the first year, $15k per month by the end of the second year, and $25k per month by the end of the third year
• To balance the initial cost of the startup with earned profits by the end of the first year
• To open up a second massage therapy center by the end of three years in San Francisco, and a third one by the end of five years in Los Angeles

5.4 Product Pricing

After considering the market demands and the current competition, we have priced our services in the similar ranges as of our competitors. As of our relaxation massage, it will be charged on the basis of time, and clients can choose one of these three options—a 30-minute ($60), 50-minute ($95) or 75-minute ($135) massage. The price of every therapeutic massage will vary on the type of treatment and the condition of the patient but as a general rule, they will cost approximately 30 percent more than the relaxation massage. After analyzing all physical therapy business ideas and going through the market trends, the market demand, and the potential clients of the startup, the next step is to develop an ingenious strategy to attract those clients toward us.

Like marketing analysis, sales strategy is also an important component of a physical therapy business plan so it must be given proper attention before you think about how to start a massage business . That’s why Susan carried out an extensive research about various marketing strategies and went through a couple of massage business plan example templates before she decided on how to make a business plan for massage therapy along with an effective marketing strategic plans .

High Quality Business Plan and Professional Support

It was amazing to work with OGS Capital for our business plan. They promptly responded our enquires and delivered document on time.The document was well organized high quality and content.We succeded with Alex and his team support. We thank you guys again for professional approach and easy communication.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

As mentioned earlier, there are more than 300,000 massage therapists located across the United States. Similarly, there are hundreds of massage therapy centers located in Manhattan and their numbers are still on the rise. To survive and excel in such competitive environment, it is essential for a startup to work on its competitive aspects which will give it an advantage over the rest of the similar businesses in the locality. Considering the importance of the competitive advantage for a startup, we have come fully prepared to enter the market.

Our biggest competitive advantage will be our high-quality and unparalleled services where the environment in which the services are offered – lighting, sounds, smells, oils and linens as well as the emotional presence of the therapist – all will contribute to the best possible experience. Our staff is highly trained and well-groomed in all aspects of therapy, and we are exceptionally adept at providing customized service to our clients. We will ensure maximum client retainage by offering them pleasurable experiences that will make them come back over and over again. We will ensure that our therapists use quality supplies (such as lotions and massage oil) and create a friendly, relaxing and welcoming environment for our clients.

In addition to providing quality services, we will launch an App where our clients can make their reservations with us or can even pay online by linking it to their bank or PayPal account. This App will also remind them of their appointments with us by sending them timely notifications. This App will make it easier for our clients to connect with us and will give us an extreme advantage over other competitors since no massage therapy center within 10 km radius of our center has launched a similar App. Lastly, we will also provide home-therapy services which is also not provided by most of our competitors.

6.2 Sales Strategy

After carrying out a detailed analysis, our experts came up with the following brilliant ideas to advertise and sell ourselves.

• We will carry out a large-scale social media campaign for our advertisement.
• We will establish a strong online presence by using SEM/SEO techniques.
• We will arrange seminars and informational sessions for increasing the public awareness about health benefits of massage and therapies.
• We will launch an App which will be used for online reservations, making payments and much more.
• We will offer a 25% discount on our services for the first three months of our launch.

6.3 Sales Monthly

Our monthly sales, as forecasted by our experts, are as follows:

6.4 Sales Yearly

Our yearly sales, as forecasted by our experts, are as follows:

6.5 Sales Forecast

Considering our innovative app, the quality of our services, and our unparalleled client service, our sales pattern is expected to increase with years. By analyzing our market segmentation strategy, our experts have forecasted in detailed the following sales on a yearly basis which are summarized in the column charts.

The detailed information about sales forecast, total unit sales, total sales is given in the following table:

Personnel plan

A personnel plan, like all other plans, is an important component of an effective massage business plan . Its importance is due to the fact that the success of any business plan for a massage therapist significantly depends upon its employees. It is never easy to estimate the number and type of staff needed for a company before it is even launched therefore it is always better to seek the help of HR experts to get through this phase. However, you can have a rough idea before you decide on how to start your own massage therapy business . Susan acquired the services of HR experts to help her develop the following personnel plan for her physical therapy business model .

7.1 Massage Salon Staff

Susan will act as the General Manager of the HealCo Relaxation Center and will manage its overall operations while the company will initially hire the following people:

• 1 Accountant for maintaining financial records of the therapy center
• 2 Sales Executives responsible for marketing and discovering new ventures
• 15 Massage Therapist for giving therapeutic as well as relaxation massages to the clients
• 5 Exercise Physiologist for helping sportsmen, athletes and other injured persons with various exercises
• 6 Cleaners/Assistants for cleaning the facility and assisting with day-to-day operations
• 1 Inventory Manager for managing/procuring the stock needed for merchandise
• 3 Drivers for providing transportation facility to the clients
• 1 Technical Assistant for managing company’s App as well as web pages and social media accounts
• 1 Front Desk Officer for acting as a Receptionist, receiving calls and making reservations

All the professionals needed for starting a physical massage therapy business plan  will be hired by following strict testing procedures. After the selection of employees, the Massage Therapists and Exercise Physiologists will be trained for one month under the direct supervision of Susan herself so as to enable them to provide the highest quality of services possible.

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

The following table shows the forecasted data about employees and their salaries for next three years. These salaries are estimated by financial experts and are expected to deviate but the overall expenses will be more or less the same.

Financial Plan

Just like the other plans, you must also prepare a detailed financial plan covering all financial aspects of your startup before you move on to starting a physical therapy business . The financial plan should craft a detailed map about the costs of startup, inventory, payroll, equipment, business plan for landlord , utilities and how these costs will be covered by the earned profits. Before getting to think about opening massage therapy business plan , make sure to carry out a detailed profit and loss analysis. The HealCo Relaxing Center financial plan outlines the development of the company over the next three years and is specifically developed to achieve the company’s short-term as well as the long-term objectives.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 brake-even analysis.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 business ratios.

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Massage Therapy Business Plan Template

• Massage Therapy Business Plan Summary

Putting together a business plan for your massage therapy business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the massage therapy business, your competition and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful massage therapy business.

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MASSAGE THERAPY BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE

• Massage Therapy Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan
• 10. Appendix

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The Feel Good Business

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220 E 5th St

Moscow, ID 83843

United States

Serving Moscow Area

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We specialize in massage therapy that is therapeutic and relaxing. We offer energy work treatments, Reiki and Polarity Therapy, which is a deeply relaxing style of energetic bodywork. …

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I have been to many "massage therapists". And believe me, it feels like an sin to call Jill a "massage therapist". Jill was born an old soul, with the ability to help what ails you inside. I recommend Jill to all of my girlfriends. Jill really does make you "Feel Good"!

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• Moscow Madness (Summary)

ebook ∣ Crime, Corruption, and One Man's Pursuit of Profit in the New Russia

By timothy harper.

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Timothy Harper

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19 October 2000

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