Getting massage costs money…Giving massage costs money too!

I’ve been tossing around the idea for this post for several months now. I’ve debated about whether I should even write it. Even now, as I type these words, there is a part of me that thinks this may be a bad idea. For better or worse, I am a person who believes that honesty really is the best policy & even if I didn’t, I’m a person who finds it difficult to hide what’s on my mind. So, here goes…

Obviously, getting a massage costs my clients something, and I am very aware of that. You, my dear client, take time out of your very busy schedule, money out of your family’s budget, and you trust me (or the therapists that work for me). That’s a lot. For some of you, those costs amount to less than the price you would pay in missed work, pain medication, or strained relationships that result from the everyday stresses and physical pain of life. For others of you, your massage session is simply a demonstration of the importance you have on self-care and it “resets” you, so to speak. No matter the reason that you continue trusting me and the other therapists at Tranquil Touch, we are grateful and honored to be chosen by you on your wellness journey. I do not want anyone to think that we are not aware of how easy it would be for you to go somewhere else for your massage needs. We are aware and that is why we try so hard to make every one of your visits special and tailored to care for your unique needs.

Now, the reason I finally decided to write this post…

Recently, I had the privilege of joining several other business owners from the community to have coffee and discuss how we can support one another during the upcoming summer months. It didn’t take very long for some of the attendees to begin discussing how their businesses have suffered since the recession began. It has been a sad fact that in our small downtown area we have seen several businesses close over the last few years. We all have had to make adjustments in how we run our businesses so that we can stay profitable, if only just enough to stay alive. This got me thinking about my own business and some of the changes I have had to make. Now, before I get too far, I have to point out that, thanks to you, my massage clients and my clients who have hired me to be your doula (really a 2nd job for me), my business has grown despite the recession. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for that! However, there have been many times that I have had to forgo paying myself for work I’ve done in order to pay the bills.

This is where you might be surprised at how much it costs me to give massage. Obviously, I have a monthly rent to pay for my beautiful office. That amount is equal to a 2nd mortgage. (insert GASP) Then, of course, I would not be able to be open without paying the required ,city fees (this is where the other business owners were shocked). Every business in our city has to pay an annual $40 registration, but, as a “massage facility”, I also have to pay an annual fee of $200 additionally, just to be open! The city claims that this is to cover the “inspection” of my space, which really means that a detective comes in to check that I have enough linens, hot water, and the required design on each treatment room door. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been in this city for 6 years, every year, I pay them $240 just so I can keep working. (Really, I think it’s because of things like that new show on Lifetime that perpetuates the idea that massage and prostitution go hand in hand. But that’s a post for another day!) I also have certifications that need to be kept up. My professional organization (also a requirement of the city) membership costs me $324/year. So in the first 4 months of every year, it costs me around $3,000 just to be open!
Every 3-4 years I have to pay a recertification fee of anywhere between $70-$150, depending on which certification I am renewing, all of which require continuing education hours, which means I am paying for classes several times a year. And don’t even get me started on the double-tax I pay as a sole-proprietor! Additionally, there are the “incidentals” and routine costs of advertising, toilet paper, massage oils & creams, etc that need to be purchased on a regular basis. I also estimated that I take home and wash approximately 28 pounds of laundry or more every day!

The average massage therapist, according to AMTA, had an annual income of $31,980 in 2010 and 57% of therapists work a 2nd job outside of the massage profession. The numbers were bleaker according to another massage organization, ABMP, which stated that in 2009 the average massage therapist had an annual income of $16,790. So , let’s split the difference and say that the average massage therapist makes $24,385 a year. If you subtract just the $3000 I pay each year before I can even unlock my doors, I’m looking at about $22,000 a year. But, remember, there are every day expenses that go into the proper running of a business, including rent for the rest of the year (after those first 4 months), my continuing education, additional certifications, and taxes (can’t forget about those pesky quarterly expenses)…this is all before I can even pay myself to take money home to my own family.

The long and short of it is this, most massage therapists know before we even graduate massage school, that money cannot be our motivation for being in this profession. Most of us are in it because we care about helping others and are blessed with the skill/talent/gift/training to do that well. That being said, we still have families to feed, bills to pay, cars that need repairing, and all of the same struggles any of our clients suffer.

If you get a coupon or a discount, it is because we want you to know how much we appreciate you! We know that you have your own financial struggles and want to reward you for keeping massage therapy a priority in your life. But, it is not without cost.

Speaking for myself, I absolutely love being a massage therapist and birth doula. It is my passion and giving to you actually nurtures me in many ways. I have been blessed with a group of clients who, even if you didn’t know all of this before, really appreciate the work that I do. When a client states how much regular massage has helped her maintain a better level of health, or that massage has been vital to support her when coping with a devastating loss, it reaffirms the reason I decided to become a massage therapist. In the end, I would do this for free if I didn’t have to earn a living. Also, I have the gift of some pretty keen business sense, thanks to my mom, and am very grateful that I have seen my business continue to grow.