On Becoming Self Employed

We did it, friends.

Two weeks ago today, I officially left my primary massage job at a spa. I had been working towards self-employment since before I graduated massage therapy school. As a student, I gave away over 200 hours of free in-home massage in my community in the hopes of building a private clientele and fine tuning my abilities as a massage therapist. Then I became licensed in June of this year. The summer, as it transpires, is a very slow time for massage around these parts, so I took a job (or two) at a spa. Since then, this little mobile massage business has picked up. I love doing in home massage--meeting people literally where they are, in the comfort and safety of their own homes, to help them with muscle tension, chronic pain, or just general relaxation. As I got more and more private clients, it became harder to justify my time working for someone else, both financially and in terms of time away from my family, so I left. Quitting is scary. As a mom of six kids, with a massage school student loan coming due this month, there was a lot at stake. Fortunately, amazingly, things have gone well--better than I ever dreamed. Last weekend, I did my accounting of the first two week period I've worked without spa hours and it was the best two week period I've had as a massage therapist.

To meet my baseline goal for the next two weeks, I only need 2(!) more hours' worth of work. Given that same-day appointments are something I am proud of offer and many people are happy to find, I'm optimistic.

Tangent: Yes! Most days, you can get a same-day appointment with me, often as late as 9 pm! If you don't see it on the online booking schedule, simply drop me an email (apotheosismassage@gmail.com) or a text (843.212.0661) and we'll get you set up. I can book you in today. Yes, you. Do it, friend. Your rhomboids will thank you.

I'm stunned and grateful to all of you who have taken a chance on me, and especially to those of you I'm privileged to see regularly. You're supporting the smallest business there is, which is me, a mother of six, newly re-entering the workforce after 17 years of raising small children. To all of you who are considering in home massage, I can tell you it's worth it, but of course I'm biased.

To those of you who would like in-home massage but are nervous about inviting a stranger over, you can also book with me at The Lon Next Door, where we can get acquainted and you can try me out as a not-in-home massage therapist first.

Thank you, all of you, for your support of this small, local, woman-owned business.