There has been quite a bit of discussion lately about massage therapy franchises and how franchising effects the massage therapy industry and Massage Therapists. Personal opinions from members of the massage profession range from complete outrage to general acceptance with most opinions falling somewhere in between.
The massage therapy industry in this country has experienced tremendous growth over the past 10 years. The main reason for such a rapid growth has been because of public demand. More and more Americans are realizing the benefits of receiving massage therapy on a regular basis. Historical business perspective shows us that as consumer demand increases for a product or service, new avenues for supply are developed to answer the demand. As a result of this growth, franchised massage therapy clinics are becoming a popular business to own in the alternative health care field.
Franchising is often described as being in business for yourself but not by yourself. Most franchises are owned by local small business operators, known as the franchisees. They purchase the rights to use the trademark, trade name, or advertising symbol, agree to adhere to the Franchisor’s operational systems, and policies and procedures. In turn, the Franchisor supports their business through IT systems, marketing, training and general business operations.
Many therapists are worried that as massage therapy franchising gains popularity, the livelihoods of private practitioners are at stake. There seems to be the perception that all businesses offering massage therapy services are competing for the same client. However, just as clients have individual needs during a massage session, they also have their own criteria for selecting a therapist. Resort and day spas, medical offices, private practices, franchised massage clinics, outcall businesses, sports clubs, etc all offer different experiences. With the increased public demand for massage therapy services, there is plenty of room for all types of businesses to open and be successful. National Franchises are also contributing to our industry by creating more exposure of the work to a wider demographic population, which grows the industry for all of us.
Another point of resistance to massage clinic franchises is in regards to the amount wages massage therapists are earning. Typically, Massage Therapists, employed in a franchise organization, earn between $15 to $20 per treatment, plus gratuity. In addition, there are many other benefits a Massage Therapist will consider when researching places of employment.
Massage Therapists choosing to work for a franchised massage clinic will experience steady work and repeat clientele, as opposed to working in a seasonal environment that has peak and slow times. Franchised clinics offer flexible schedules for therapists, taking into account the therapist physical limitations and requests in regards to work time. In addition, all supplies, marketing, appointment setting and daily operational tasks are done by the staff, not the therapists. For Massage Therapists that only want to work part time, that are new graduates or returning to the field after an absence, that want to supplement their income from their private practice or that don’t want the responsibility of operating their own business, working for a franchised massage clinic would be a good fit.
There have been many discussions in our industry that massage clinic franchises are creating cookie cutter massage treatments, one size fits all. The concern seems to be that the individual style and flow of each therapist, which creates a unique experience for each client, is not being allowed or embraced. From my experience, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Franchise owners are very interested in maintaining therapists’ individuality in regards to treatment just from the advantage point of being able to address a wider demographic of therapeutic needs.
With the growth of massage therapy clinic franchising, there are also many opportunities for massage therapists to purchase their own franchise. If your dream is to own a business, but you need help getting started, franchising is worth investigating. You can begin preliminary research on the internet and then contact the franchise company you are interested in to get further information and have your questions answered.
Massage therapy franchises are contributing to our industry by growing our market, increasing awareness of the benefits of massage therapy, creating an affordable way for mainstream clients to receive massage more regularly, increasing job opportunities for graduating therapists, and serving the needs of their communities in numerous ways. And, what this means, really, is that profound differences are being made in more human beings’ lives through touch.