Massage & Bodywork

MARCH | APRIL 2021

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S tarting a business is a project that often leaves us running through a gamut of emotions—from excitement and happiness to fear and anxiety. We wonder if we're up to the responsibilities and challenges, but we're also determined to make it a success. When the pandemic began in early 2020, all practicing massage therapy professionals were faced with an unprecedented situation. We were immediately dealing with unexpected challenges, like the extra expense needed for personal protective equipment (PPE), extra time needed between appointments for amped-up sanitation procedures and COVID-19 screening procedures, clients who refused to wear a mask, and clients who canceled because of sickness or nervousness about getting a massage. Many long-term therapists have businesses in states that enforced shutdowns during COVID-19, while other therapists made the decision to close—either temporarily or permanently—regardless of whether it was mandated. We all hope that in 2021 we can return to some semblance of normalcy. If your plans before the pandemic included opening your own business and you're ready to 72 m a s s a g e & b o d y wo r k m a rc h /a p r i l 2 0 2 1 REALITY CHECKPLANNING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS Opening a Business By Laura Allen pick up where you left off, here are some specific steps to take to make your decision a success. CAREFUL PLANNING When opening a new business, there is no such thing as too much planning. It's like taking a road trip. If you're traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast without a plan, you might just follow the sunset, make plenty of detours, and take as long as you like to get there. On the other hand, if you have the goal of getting there within a certain time frame, you'll be more careful about planning your strategy. That's the best way to approach opening a business. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? Before you start your plan, write down your goals. It's important not to hold yourself up to someone else's idea of success. One person may want to own a ritzy day spa and employ a large staff. Another may want to work alone in a cozy space. One may want 30 clients a week, while another desires 10 clients a week and plenty of time off

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