1. 7 steps to turn your
massage side gig into
a full time business
made with

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Introduction
Start finding your first clients.
Put plans for getting new clients on a timeline.
Define your business processes.
Know your niche
Create a professional brand.
Amaze your clients to win referrals.
Avoid analysis paralysis.
Start Your Own Business - Today
About the author
Table of Contents

3. If you are still on the fence about turning your clients on the side into a full
time massage business, there’s no time like now to get started.
Leaving the traditional full time job to pursue your dream of your own
business doesn’t mean you can’t return. Right now you can become your own
boss if you dedicate yourself, make a plan and focus.
I left my full time job to become a solo entrepreneur too. Based on my own
experience, I built Artichoke to help manage my own business and now I’m
sharing it with others to help them too.
Along the way I learned A LOT. And, I look forward to sharing what I know with
you.
There are also lots of free resources like Massage Business Blueprint which
provide real-world advice to help you get going and succeed. The American
Massage Therapy Association also offers tips and help for successfully running
your business while staying up to date on the latest trends.
If you are thinking about taking your side gig full time, I hope you will also
consider my "7 Steps to Turn Your Side Gig in to a Full Time Massage
Business"
Justin Shelby
Founder, Artichoke
Introduction

4. Make a plan so that when you take the leap, you will earn enough to cover
your expenses. This could mean finding enough new clients to cover your bills
before you quit your day job, or cutting expenses and saving up a little
cushion.
One method to start building your revenue stream is to identify the most likely
source of your first 20 new clients and develop strategies to reach them
quickly.
Will you get referrals from chiropractors and physical therapists?
Can you promote your business through marketplaces such as Craigslist
and Thumbtack?
Depending on your niche, are there coaches who might refer athletes or
new mother groups who might be interested in massage?
Is there a spa or a health club where you could work part-time if need be?
Planning before you start can mean earning more right away.
Start finding your first
clients.

5. Make a 30, 60, 90 and 365-day plan
Plan for how many new clients you’re going to get, and how you’re going to
get them. This doesn’t have to be complicated; it can just be bullet points.
Set Goals
Set goals so that you can estimate how much money to expect. The goals
will also help you understand how much to focus on marketing and sales.
Put plans for getting new
clients on a timeline.
Mapping out how you’re going to get 20 new clients is great,
but you’re a massage therapist, not a salesperson. It’s likely
that you will need a way to keep yourself accountable for
sales goals.

6. Define your business
processes.
What are the tasks that keep you from your craft,
and how can you simplify? Things like scheduling,
payments, client notes, expense tracking, and client
communications often become overwhelming
when you have more than a few clients. You need a
plan for managing these tasks, or you might get
swamped with administrative work.
You don’t want to be spending all of your time
dealing with spreadsheets and paperwork instead
of earning money. Billable hours = income.
Admin hours = no income.
Consider using software to take care these
processes. In addition to Artichoke, there are lots
of free and inexpensive tools that are just the right
size for solo businesses.
(Okay, we’re biased, but Artichoke makes it really
simple for solo business owners to get organized,
accept appointments, track clients and collect
payment right away. We're helping the smallest of
businesses grow into successful independent
businesses).
Wanna see? View Artichoke Video.

7. Decide what you’re going to offer, and why a client should hire you instead
of someone else.
Do you offer discounts for people who pay up front?
Will you offer treatment packages?
Are you exceptional at working with athletes or new moms?
This article offers a helpful example to help you define what makes you
different, and how to get the word out.
Know your niche
There are a lot of massage therapists out there. Why should
someone hire you?

8. It’s 2016—clients are going to expect a professional web presence from you.
Don’t worry: you don’t have to spend a lot of money to build a fancy
website.
You can quickly hire a designer to create a logo through an online
marketplace such as Fiverr and use easy site builder websites such as Wix to
create a simple, attractive website.
Create a professional brand.

9. Delight customers to keep them coming back.
Its not too soon to think about how you'll keep customers coming back.
Define ten ways you will amaze your clients throughout the year. Will you take
classes to learn new methods? Offer 10 extra minutes for free?
When your business and life is moving fast, remember this list so that you
continue to offer exceptional services.
Ask for referrals.
Don’t be shy about asking clients (and family and friends) for new introductions
and referrals.
Send thank you emails with links to online review sites.
Make it easy for your clients to refer you by sharing your booking site URL,
Facebook page and contact information.
When you get a referral, be sure to thank your client again for helping to grow
our business.
Amaze your clients to win
referrals.
Most of your business will come from repeat clients and referrals.

10. Of course, you need a plan to succeed as a solo massage therapist. But
don’t let over-planning keep you from taking the plunge.
Do the best you can to plan, and then get started!
Your plan will change as you build your business and discover new
opportunities - so it is critical to be nimble.
Avoid analysis paralysis.

11. Start Your Own
Business -
Today
These are the steps that I took to
get my business off the ground
and thriving.
It can be scary to quit your full-
time job to work for yourself, but
you will never feel so free and
powerful.
Today, new technology is making
it less scary (and easier) to start
your own business. By using tools
such as Artichoke to get organized
and communicate with clients, you
have the perfect starting point to
jumpstart your new massage
business.
Try Artichoke for FREE Today

12. Justin Shelby is the co-founder and CEOof Artichoke Client Management, a
web application that enables freelancers to more easily find new work and
stabilize their incomes through better business process, financial literacy tools,
and data driven tools.
Artichoke is the best way for the freelancer to get organized, get booked, and
get paid.
About the author
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