At Home Business

[Sunitha T]

Needing advice on doing massage at home.  How to set up and do clients feel comfortable coming to a home?  I'm a little nervous but find that it's to costly right now to find a office to rent without having much of a clientele.  Thank you upfront for all responses and advice.  Blessed  Be.....Elements

 

[Song Title?]

Hello there,I currently work out of my home. آ So far clients are fine with coming to my home. آ But they are also use to this house being a commercial business so most don't know till they get here but they seem fine even after that. آ it is a just under 3,000 sq ft home and there are two rooms right by the front door that is my office/reception area and the other is my treatment room. آ I'm hoping to expand my business to a day spa in the next year and will take over the whole building when we buy a house next year. آ I would be worried about security if you are alone. آ Luckily my husband works from home also and is here and the clients seem to be fine with him being around too. آ He doesn't make his presence known, but they do know he is here.  We just moved here two months ago and I had no clientele, so working from home was the most logical for me at this point. آ The location has been a perfect spot. آ It is at the start of a more upscale residential area and everyone that goes to the golf course goes right by here or leaves the residential area goes right by our house. آ I have a 4' X 8' ft sign out front. آ When they first come in they are immediatley in the living room but I have a panel that is behind TV unit that blocks it a little more giving a more defined space as to not enter the living room. آ And of course I greet them at the door, the office/reception area is all windows and they pass these windows getting to the front door. آ So far I love it. آ But if my husband was not home I would be nervous. آ Diane

 

[warren v]

At Home Business

;D Thank you Diane.  Your input was very informative and I appreciate your quick response.  I will keep you updated!  Have a great one!!

 

[Allison M]

At Home Business

I am currently working from home.  I have a small house in the country.  I use the sunroom (with plenty of room darkening curtains) as my massage room.I have built up a great clientel in less than a year (and it keeps growing!).  I recently did a client survey and many of the clients commented on how warm and welcoming things are.  They don't seem to mind at all being in someone's home, although I am sure some people would be.  I just try to make the space as nice as possible.  It's all about the small details!  I didn't receive a negative comment!(I tried to make the survey as anonymous as possible so they could share their REAL feelings)I work home alone, so I make a point not to advertise.  I have built up my practice mainly on word of mouth and clients from past jobs.  I feel safer that way.  If I have a new male client (no offense guys!) I try to make sure that I schedule them at a time when my husband is home.  My husband likes this idea totherwise I normally have some connection to the person already and feel more comfortable with them.  I have never had a problem.  I also do not list my home address on anything like my brochures or bus. cards, just a PO BOX #.I have an area set up in a room next to my dining room (by the door the clients come in at) where they can write checks, make appointments, purchase products, ect.    It is working well and I like being home.  I am planning for kids real soon, so working at home has been my goal.

 

[Bridgette]

;D I'm so glad I'm getting such good advice.  It makes my decision much easier.  I do have a great intry and room just off of it with a bathroom.  So I can do spa treatments too.  Now I feel I can try to make a go of it.  I didn't think about the address.  So I guess I will just put my number on it and then when they call for the appointment I'll give directions.  Good idea for male clients (no offensive) but my husband works until 8:00 and we can't in OK do massage after nine.  So I'm not sure how that will work.  Thank you again for your input.  It has really helped.  ;D

 

[Tru Champion 37]

At Home Business

You need to check with your state & county regulations too... some areas you have to be zoned commercial to have a massage practice at home. Some states also have regulations regarding bathrooms and entrances, so you may want to check up on that. I live in FL. and they are particularly tough about those regulations. Having a massage business from home is just not an option for me. But I do co-own & run an online store from home and sometimes people will stop by to purchase from us (after a phone call first).

 

[Nickaroni]

Oklahoma isn't a regulated state but I'll check into it to make sure.  Thanks so much!!

 

[Shilongo]

here are a couple of things i've heard from people about receiving massage in someone's home...(i work out of an office but have had clients that mentioned going to someone's house)1.  they didn't have air conditioning in the home and it was too hot in the summer.2.  they let their animals have the run of the house and would sometimes bother them.3.  smelled like smoke or just-cooked food.4.  felt "funny" being in someone's home to receive their treatment.that's all i can remember at the moment.  of course i'm not saying you have any of these conditions in your home, just mentioning what i've heard from clients.  and of course you can't cater to everyone's needs.  some people will be willing to come to your home, others will not.  that's just the way it is. and you'd think most of the above things would be common sense but i guess not.  if you are concerned about safety, you can get an alarm system that has a "panic button" set up that will alert the alarm company/police.  in my area the charge was about $30 a month.  of course you could have camera's and other things put in as well if you felt the need.  (ok, not camera's in the treatment room but maybe at the door or wherever).  just a couple of things to think about.

 

[Nero]

At Home Business

I work out of my home and things are going well. However, I am in an area where massage is still something new. So, yes I have had people say that they do not want their car seen at my house because everyone will know what they are there for and will never hear the end of it. That is ok, because I have been here a year and have a good clientell that does not mind coming to my home for massage. Could I have more clients if I were in an office...maybe, but for now the cost is low and it is working. Hope this helps.Billie

 

[tbownfarmer]

Boy, I never knew I could get so much advise online.  Thank you each and everyone of you for writing and telling me about your business and how you did it.  All has been good advice.  Anyone that is living in New Orleans and in the path of Katrina, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[Pompal 09.]

At Home Business

Oklahoma isn't a regulated state but I'll check into it to make sure.  Thanks so much!!

I think you may be a little confused.  

Eventhough Oklahoma may be an unregulated state as far as being a massage therapist is concerned, you may still have licenses and/or permits which will allow you to be able to work from your home.

Usually you have to contact your county office to find out their policies and or limitations regarding home offices/businesses.

1.  they didn't have air conditioning in the home and it was too hot in the summer.

2.  they let their animals have the run of the house and would sometimes bother them.

3.  smelled like smoke or just-cooked food.

4.  felt "funny" being in someone's home to receive their treatment.

that's all i can remember at the moment.  of course i'm not saying you have any of these conditions in your home, just mentioning what i've heard from clients.  and of course you can't cater to everyone's needs.  some people will be willing to come to your home, others will not.  that's just the way it is. and you'd think most of the above things would be common sense but i guess not.

 

I find it funny that there are people running home businesses like that!  You have to pay attention to every detail!  I had a client tell me about a therapist they had gone too that allowed the cat to be in the massage room as well as on the table!!  I can't imagine allowing this to happen!  The clients comfort comes first!

However, I am in an area where massage is still something new. So, yes I have had people say that they do not want their car seen at my house because everyone will know what they are there for and will never hear the end of it.

 

What a shame that some people feel embarassed about getting a massage!  Guess you have a lot of work to do educating your area about the benefits of massage!

 

[C.I.O]

At Home Business

I am in Phoenix, and I too run a my business out my home, with gas prices, my outcall rate starts at $75 and goes from there. I have a small 3 bed. house, and one of the 2nd bed. is the massage "studio". I always lock my dog outside, turn the a/c down, and make sure that my house is basically presentable, as clients have to walk thru to get to the studio. I too have a policy no new men clients when my hubby isn't home. I made that mistake once, and the guy didn't want to give me any personal info or fill out an intake. I asked him to leave, and was glad when he did!I put in my craigslist ad, and when I talk to people, I explain that I have an in home studio. Most people are ok with that, as massage is such a personal service. If they aren't ok with coming to my home, then maybe I don't want to massage them....As for permits, I don't have a home based business one, like my city requires, but I was told by the city office that you really only need one if your neighbors complain about too much traffic, noise, etc.

 

[? Surfer ? Sarah]

;D Thank you for your input.  This has really been a big help to me.  I've already got my area set and it's in front of the house.  One room as a sitting area.  Then the massage room and a bathroom that has a private entry.  Cards are ordered and I'm going to advertise in my area newspaper.  Wish me luck.  Congratulations to the ones that already have started and succeeded.  With today's stress and pressures they sure do need us!!!  Rikki

 

[Big Dog D]

I do not have a home office, but did think about it.  I had a perfect spot......a room just the right size, with easy access to the bathroom.  Coming in the back door of the house, I could have closed off the door to the kitchen and only the potential massage room and bathroom would be accessible.  I decided against a home office for a number of reasons:1.  Strangers coming to my home when I was here alone.2.  Having to constantly be conscious of cooking smells and when I schedule clients.3.  When my family is home, it would infringe a little on their lifestyle.....having to make sure to be quiet.4.  The potential for the phone or doorbell to ring at the wrong time.5.  The possibility of the neighbor cutting the lawn when I have a client.6.  The liability should someone fall on the driveway or walkway or while they are in my home.7.  Having to be absolutley certain that the snow shoveling is done on a timely and thorough basis. At an office, that is done for me.Of course, there were also benefits to having an in-home office, but I decided against it because for me and my lifestyle, the negatives outweighed the positives at this point in time.  I was fortunate enough to find a reasonable office space just two miles from my home, so it is still very convenient.  If I had to work out of my home, I could easily have made it work though.  It's all a matter of what fits into your needs and lifestyle.  Another thing to consider if you have pets is whether people are allergic to them.  Even though you may be considerate and not have cats jumping on the table, if you have cats or dogs in your home and a client is allergic, this could present a problem.  There will always be clients who might feel that you are "less professional" if you have an office in your home.  If so, then, those are not your clients.......there are plenty of clients who will value the work you do and it will not matter to them that your office is in your home, so long as it is warm and inviting and professional.  There are most likely an entire market of people who will actually feel MORE comfortable in a home office than they would in an office in an office building.  So........my recommendation would be to read all the pros and cons you've seen on this web site.  Think of your own.  Decide how you will maximize the pros and minimize the cons......come up with a plan and GO FOR IT!  Best of luck to you!

 

[KEVO]

At Home Business

Oklahoma isn't a regulated state but I'll check into it to make sure.  Thanks so much!!

Oklahoma City has a "zoning locator" website here:
http://www.okc.gov/query.html?business/index.html

That's just an example of the zoning each town requires. You should easily find the information through your town/city hall. Depending on the size of your town there usually exists a zoning committee of sorts, they probably have limited hours so a phone call first might be a good idea.

A good website on understanding zoning can be found here:
http://real-estate-law.freeadvice.com/zoning/

 

[Pop]

At home business

Elements,
Good luck to you. I am in the same position, just starting to find answers to all my questions from the wonderful, experienced therapists who use these boards. Aren't we lucky to have them? I'm feeling good about starting my business knowing these people are there to bounce ideas and questions off of.. I wish you much success and an enjoyable career!!