Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1231077
F o r t h e l a t e s t i n f o r m a t i o n v i s i t w w w. a b m p . c o m / c o v i d - u p d a t e s . 33 Do that math to figure out how long you can live on the cash you have. That will give you some perspective and help you make decisions moving forward. CONSIDER ADDITIONAL INCOME IDEAS If your client base is economically diverse, you may be able to extend to virtual services that complement your practice or sell your retail products online. A pause in massage may also give you time to consider an entirely new business. Flexible online work options are only growing. You may have the skills to teach online or offer online services like web design, copywriting, transcription, or virtual assistant services. Many of us came to massage from other careers and will venture off into new ones. Now could be a good time to explore those options and brush up on the necessary skills. Keep in mind, if you are receiving unemployment or SNAP benefits, you may also be eligible for free or very low-cost career training and education. YOU'RE STILL A MASSAGE THERAPIST Even when you're not putting your hands on your clients, you're still a massage therapist. And your clients know that you are still their massage therapist. Stay in touch with your clients. They could probably use a little reassurance from you. Now is a good time to share all the self-care and wellness tips you've gathered in your career. Post to your blog (or finally start one!) and share via email and social media. If you had to cancel clients, you could even check in with them at what was previously their appointment time. PLAN TO REBUILD YOUR DREAM PRACTICE While massage is paused, do some work on your business. Consider what you love and what you don't. An extended absence is a great time to think about what you would do differently if you were starting from scratch. Soon enough, we will be starting fresh and the reemergence could be a great time to make the changes in your career that you've been thinking about for years. Life probably won't be the same as it was before this global crisis, and we need to continue to support each other with kindness and love. But there will be a time when you can massage again. Let's get ready for that day and use this time to prepare to emerge stronger than before. Allissa Haines and Michael Reynolds can be found at www.massagebusinessblueprint.com, a member-based community designed to help you attract more clients, make more money, and improve your quality of life. Know What the CARES Act Means to You The CARES Act is a massive piece of legislation designed to help individuals and businesses weather this unprecedented halt to our normal lives and work. It contains information regarding direct cash payments you can expect, expanded unemployment benefits (including those for the self-employed), and SBA loans available through the CARES Act . There are a variety of programs that may help you and your business survive this extended time away from work. As part of the CARES Act, most (but not all) federally issued student loans will pause required payments now through September 30, 2020, and interest will not accrue during that time. Check with your lender to see if your loans qualify. If they do not, you may still be eligible to have a few payments deferred with no additional fees or penalties. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) has also been expanded and the application process streamlined. Visit www.fns.usda.gov/ snap/state-directory to find your state's resources for SNAP benefits. If you decide to use a loan to cover business expenses while you are out of work, be mindful about the repayment structure. Make sure you will be comfortable making loan payments as you slowly rebuild your business in a recovering economy. For more information on the CARES Act, read "The CARES Act" (page 4) in this issue.