Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/81195
and Gibbons, and the fees they command, are exceptions, and not representative of what most therapists charge.) When you're pricing your services, you have to take into consideration the amount of money it takes you to pay the overhead at your business, and how much money you need in order to meet your obligations at home as well. market in the right place, with more of the money staying in your pocket. According to a 2011 Income Survey Never pass up an opportunity to talk about the benefits of massage! • Your website is a prime place to start sharing research articles about the proven efficacy of massage therapy. Use a credible source like PubMed to find articles from which to quote. • You could also ask existing clients if they would be willing to give you a testimonial to share on your website or brochures. • Civic groups are always looking for speakers. Senior citizen communities, health fairs, or community networking events are always good places to spread the word. Many of the massage therapists on my Facebook page responded to my request for their rate for an hour of massage. Among those who are working for someone else, the average price of massage was $60, with the therapist receiving $25 plus gratuity. The going rate for massage among those who are self-employed varies widely across the country. According to my latest informal survey, most therapists in larger cities are charging more than those in small towns and rural areas; on average, from $75 to $135 in private practice. The therapists who have outcall businesses in larger towns tend to charge an average of $100 per visit, with some adding additional fees for mileage or massage after a certain time. Outcall therapists and those who offer chair massage have less overhead than a therapist with a physical location, so that can be a lucrative conducted by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), the average annual income for a massage therapist who is an independent practitioner is $25,365, while those who are employees make an average of $19,605. Remember that employees don't have overhead, and in many instances may come out better than a self-employed person by the time that is accounted for. ABMP's Massage Metrics (available at www.massagetherapy. com/media/metrics. php) shows that almost 80 percent of therapists report being self-employed, 6 percent report being exclusively employees, and slightly more than 15 percent report being a combination of the two. ADDED VALUE When people enter a massage franchise, they know what they're going to get—and for some, that may be part of the attraction. Frequent business travelers, for example, can patronize a Massage Envy wherever they go, 26 massage & bodywork march/april 2012