Getting your own office

[Danielle A]

Getting your own office

most client would be scared away with the bar thing,

I disagree. Actually, I think offering a unique specialty like ashiatsu is what will set you apart from the other therapists in your area and help you build a great clientelle.

I can understand not wanting to full out market yourself when you're working from your home. When I had a home practice - rather than market myself to strangers, I relied on referrals from my existing clients. Do you have a referral program or have you asked for referrals from your clients? You could even market yourself as "by referral only", makes you sound even more special 8)

I agree with stonegirl.

Also, as you're asking about things like triple net and utilities and close-by MT's, be sure to let the potential landlords know that you do ashiatsu, and make sure that installing the bars will not only be allowed, but safe. If you get far enough into negotiations, I'd have a contractor or installer or someone who would know come by and take a look at the space and make sure installation would be completely safe. You'll have a lot of liability on your hands if the bars end up falling on someone- as you know- not only will the client possibly be hurt, but also the landlord could "get you" for doing damage to the place. You know a whole lot more about ashiatsu than I do, so I'm sure I'm only "talking to hear myself talk", but it would be something I'd be especially focused on. Make sure permission to set up the bars is included in the language of the lease, including what would happen if structural integrity of the building itself were to cause the bars to fall, etc..

 

[Megily]

Getting your own office

I'm chuckling at all the Ashiatsu responses, I think it is the best massage ever! I got my first ashi massage while I was still in massage school and right away I knew I had to train in it t007 t007 I know not everyone is going to love it, but I still do traditional massage as well so... The two clients I got from my website both contacted me because they were interested in the ashi. They taught us all about proper and safe bar installation during the training and I had mine professionally installed at my house. I'm thinking for the rental space that I might go with the portable system they sell for it, just looking at the room I could tell because of the ceiling height and room width that a more permanent installation would be alot of work and I've wanted a portable set anyways so I could practice it at events. My brother is one of the cops in town and I was planning on offering the Ashi at a discount to police officers and firefighters as its well suited to big beefy guys who like deep tissue that my 5'3" self has a hard time doing with my hands alone. But again, I haven't acted on this plan because I'm reluctant to bring in strangers to my house, even if they are my brothers coworkers :

I've decided I want the second space, but I'm crunching numbers and practicality right now. I want to grab a bunch of my yoga mats and see exactly how many yoga students I could fit in the room along with my massage table to eliminate any guess work. The yoga class I currently teach is actually in a nearby building and I pay $20 per class (so $80 a month). If I rented this space I would probably want to just move the classes over there cause theres no point in paying double rent. I am considering switching that yoga class to a bellydance class, because that is one thing I could not teach at the office space due to needing more room and, well, its a 'noisier' class. The other therapist will probably be irked enough that I moved in, much less if she can hear coins shimmying to drums during one of her massages. Speaking of which, I've been mulling over the issue, and the way I see it is I don't think my moving in would affect her business at all. I figure the biggest issue with neighboring competition is with losing potiental walk ins because they walk in somewhere else, being on the 3rd floor of an office building is not an aveanue where we're going to get alot of walk ins. If I do sign the lease, I plan on calling her to be polite and I would hope that we could be friendly neighbors and even help each other out.


Another issue I need to decide if I'm going to get this place is a business name. The LL is going to be putting my name outside my door and on the front window. I've been knocking around a business name for some time, but I would rather not have him use my name now then have to ask him later to change it to my business name. The one I'm liking right now is 'Lotus Life Massage and Yoga', it goes with both massage and yoga, is easy to say, and I like the L-L of it becaue my first name starts with 'L' as well. Guess I need to check with the city about registering it while I'm 'thinking' on all this.


Thanks again everyone, hashing it out here on screen is helping me get my thoughts in order!

 

[peter_unk]

Getting your own office

Oh, I LIKE the Lotus Life Massage & Yoga name! It has a lovely, peaceful and intriguing ring to it.

I do think you're exactly right about not worrying about the other MT losing business to you, as the 3rd floor isn't likely to get many walk-ins anyway. You pretty much have to *intend* to be on the 3rd floor in order to get there, KWIM? LOL!That salon we rented for Hubby for 6 months had very few walk-ins too; it was so silly to see all the MT's there fretting about losing walk-in business to him. People just didn't walk-in for massage at that place! Especially not from a GUY!

Anyway- I didn't realize that there was such a thing as a portable Ashiatsu setup- that is REALLY cool! It'll be another investment for you- but one you can take with you when you leave without worrying about damaging walls/ceilings! Woot! This does sound like it might work out for you. Very exciting- PLEASE keep us updated on how it turns out! Oh, yeah: what about that ME job? You gonna do that too?

 

[Poojy :)]

Getting your own office

The portable bars are pricey, they run $1000 for a brand new set. But permanent installation has a price too, usually $400-$600. Seeing as this would be a starting point for me, it makes more economical sense to go with the set up I can take with me when I leave.

I'm going to give a call to the lady I did my ashi training with. I had told her I might want some portable bars and she said she might sell me a used set of hers for cheaper. I'll see if the offer is still open and maybe I can 'rent to own' them.

My interview at ME is this Monday, I'm considering taking a position there full time this summer and maybe go to part time when school starts back up for me in Fall. I thought about this, and while I don't like the set up, $15 is still more per hour than what I made at my last job after working there for 11 years. It occured to me that it was similar to say, nursing school and doing hospital vs doctors office work. My friend, who finishes nursing school soon, wants to work at a Drs office and all the other nurses are saying 'Oh, but you don't make as much money there...' My friend always says 'Yeah, but its still going to equal a raise for me so what do I care?'

So I'm trying to get into the mindset of taking a 'Drs Office' job while I build up to my 'Hospital' job

 

[Chotuzzz]

Getting your own office

I just ordered a window cling from vista print, the door to the room I want to rent has a glass window so I can put it up on there for my 'sign'. If I end up not getting the space, I can always use it for other things. I'm allowing myself to get slightly excited about the possibilites

The more I look at my figures the more I feel like this is the place for me to be right now. It offers me the least amount of financial risk while providing the necessities for my private practice. I want to teach yoga at least 3x a week, at the place I teach now that would cost me $240 a month! This space is $15 less plus I can offer massage which brings in the real bacon. I also realized that the empty floor space in the yoga area can be used later for thai yoga massage, which has been on my list to learn.

One realization that 'Hey, I don't have to buy toliet paper or clean the bathrooms!' made me realize how silly I was for thinking that the lack of 'my own' bathroom was a bad thing, lol! Not having to worry about utilities is nice too. Today one of my neighbors started reving up his motorcycle, which he's notorious for doing, and I thought 'This is one of the reasons I need my own office!'

I'm planning on calling the guy tomorrow before my ME interview to tell him that I want the space and see if I can sign the lease on Friday. I'll also want to get back in there with a pile of yoga mats so I can see for sure how many students my classes can comfortably hold. This also gives me time see how my interview with ME goes, If I'm not hired there I will probably want to hold off. I also need to stop at the city office and see about registering my business name, will probably do that either way so its 'mine'. Then I've gotta check on putting an ad in the paper, renters insurance, ect.