Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/885423
A B M P m e m b e r s e a r n F R E E C E a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e b y r e a d i n g M a s s a g e & B o d y w o r k m a g a z i n e 83 can easily earn extra income by selecting the hours you're available," he adds. "Rubzy does all the marketing for you—we attract the customers to our network, and they book with you." There are no start-up fees associated with joining any of these three on-demand massage platforms. In addition, since therapists working for Rubzy, Soothe, or Zeel are independent contractors, there are no restrictions on how many on- demand platforms therapists can work for—therapists are free to work with whomever they want, whenever they want. SAFETY FIRST A concern for many mobile MTs, not just those working with on-demand massage companies, is safety. When you get a call from a client who found your information on Yelp or Google, it can be difficult to fully ascertain the quality of the client, even with a thorough interview or intake process. Soothe offers a check-in, check-out process, and a GPS location monitoring system to ensure therapists always feel in touch and protected. There's even a 24- hour US-based concierge team to support therapists with appointment-related issues— parking, client not answering the door, etc. Zeel also has safety processes in place. "Our process is designed to safeguard the massage therapist," Carey says. "Any customer booking on the Zeel platform is required to verify their ID and mobile phone number through our security partners before they can book a first massage. Our safeguard process for massage therapists is best-in-class." Rubzy is a bit different in that its business model aims to cut out the middle man, and as such, third-party monitoring isn't offered; but that's a trade-off many MTs will accept, since it means they get to keep more of their massage fee—"up to 95 percent of it," according to Raschko. That said, Rubzy does implement a two- way review system where therapists can rate the quality of clients, which Raschko says will "quickly and effectively build a community of trust." That's already a step up in safety from getting a random phone call from a stranger who found your number online. Rubzy also allows you to specify whether you only accept appointments at your place of business, or whether you're willing to travel to a customer's location. THE FUTURE Rubzy is the new kid on the block, but Raschko says they've had no problem finding therapists who want to partner with them. "In just three weeks of operation, we have had a lot of massage therapists signing up," he says. Bishop says Soothe is "currently in over 55 markets around the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and grew five-fold in 2017." In 2018, Soothe plans to expand into many resort markets throughout the United States, while continuing its international expansion. Zeel likewise plans to continue growing and expanding. Carey says, "Zeel's mission is to 'Power Massage Everywhere,' and we're going to continue doing so with our rapid expansion and new lines of business." In many ways, it appears that offering services through Rubzy, Soothe, or Zeel can end up being the best of both worlds for a massage therapist. For many, the arrangement ends up a sort of hybrid between being completely independent versus working as a structured employee. With no additional financial commitment required beyond standard massage equipment, insurance costs, and licensing fees, and the ability to accept or decline any session, the partnership seems worthy of consideration for most massage therapists. Brandon Twyford is associate editor and award- winning writer for Massage & Bodywork and ABMP. Contact him at brandon@abmp.com.