5 Ways To Streamline Your Massage Therapy Studio
Work Smarter, Not Harder.
Welcome back to another Monday with the Mavens. We created the Massage Mavens blog to connect with and educate self-employed massage therapists working to grow as business owners.
It can be lonely working for yourself – and we’re here to remind you that while you’re in business for yourself, you don’t have to be in business by yourself.
While we cater our content to independent MTs, all massage therapists are welcome here; whether you run your own independent massage therapy studio, you contract in a clinic, work in spa, or you are still in school.
5 Ways To Streamline Your Independent Massage Therapy Studio
When you run your own massage therapy business, you wear a lot of hats.
Here are a few ways to streamline your day-to-day tasks so you can spend more time focusing on your clients (or enjoying your days off).
1. Online Booking For Your Massage Schedule
Online booking is convenient for our clients, so we should already be doing it.
Maybe they woke up at 2am with a crick in their neck and want to book a session while they’re lying there in pain.
Maybe they are at work and want to discreetly book a massage while they’re stuck in an otherwise boring meeting. (yes, that’s happened)
BUT
Online booking is also convenient for us. A well-organized scheduling portal will not only show clients your real-time availability (helping you avoid playing phone tag all week long) but it will also take care of collecting contact & payment information and intake forms and it will integrate with their personal calendars, send appointment reminders, and even ask for feedback and reviews.
Meanwhile, as your online portal takes care of all this… You are free to actually give massages and bring in revenue.
2. Keyboard Shortcuts (On Your Phone) To Answer Common Questions
How often do you text someone your website URL? Your massage studio’s physical address?
How often do you respond to a tag on Facebook that says something like “thank you so much for the tag, I’d be honored to work with you. Feel free to book here at www.xyz.com”...?
And how much time would you save if you never had to type those things out again?
Personally, I have scrips for all of the above items. I took me 3 minutes to set up one time, and now it saves me time over and over again throughout every working day.
Aside from what’s listed above, here are 3 additional scripts I have saved to my keyboard shortcuts:
My standard response to a client who says they are running late.
My standard response to a client who is cancelling last-minute and will incur a fee.
My standard before-winter-weather reminder, reminding clients that they have sessions scheduled and if they won’t make it due to theforecasted snow, they’ll need to communicate with me.
3. Outlet Times For Fire Hazards Around My Massage Treatment Room.
While it is always a good habit to turn off and unplug your appliances at the end of a shift, I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I forget.
If you’re like me, installing outlet timers to automatically turn off at the end of your shift can help.
Instead of getting home (which for me is a 35 minute commute) only to climb back in the car because you can’t remember if you unplugged your hot stones…you can rest easily knowing that even if you forgot to unplug them, the timer cut the power, and they’ll be fine until tomorrow.
Here are links to a few I like:
For Those Of Us Who Like To Keep It Old-School
4. Amazon Auto-Delivery For Your Massage Supplies.
Amazon *may* be taking over the world – but it is successful because it makes our (shopping) lives easier. I won’t deny them that.
When it comes to your business, I want to make your life as easy as possible.
Consider setting up a recurring schedule for supplies like massage oils, essential oils, printer paper, toilet paper, water cups, mints, Brita filters, Kleenex boxes, or whatever else you need on a regular basis at your studio. You set it and forget it - freeing up valuable brain space to focus on more important tasks.
(And if Amazon doesn’t work for you, either logistically or morally, cool! There are many stores who offer scheduling/delivery options for small businesses. Pick your favorite.)
5. Vaulted Credit Cards For Your Sessions.
How many times have you had to chase someone down to pay an overdue invoice or Venmo request? You send texts messages and emails that go unanswered?
(I’ll admit I don’t actually know what this is like – because I vaulted credit cards from day 1 - but I hear it’s a problem).
Stop wasting time trying to track down money you’ve already earned!!!
Set your scheduling software to require a credit card up front and be done with it.*
**And if your current software doesn’t offer the option to collect payment information beforehand, get better software. Personally, I recommend Acuity Scheduling for solo massage therapists. Go play around with their free trial, and see how you like it!
What other shortcuts have you developed over the years to help you run your massage business more smoothly? I’d love to hear about them!
Thanks for stopping by!
As always, we’d love to hear how our content has helped you improve either your studio, your mindset, or your revenue as a self-employed massage therapist.
Rachel Martin, LMT, is an independent massage therapist living in Denver Colorado. Having built her solo massage studio to capacity, she now spends her free time helping other massage therapists do the same. Check out The Bodyworkers Business Collective, Queen Street Marketplace, and The Techy MT to learn more.
