{"id":5314,"date":"2024-09-20T14:35:28","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T19:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps.html"},"modified":"2024-09-20T15:13:17","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T20:13:17","slug":"how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps.html","title":{"rendered":"How To Open a Massage Therapy Business in 9 Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section data-testid=\"fl-simple-hero\"  class=\"fl-simple-hero\">\n    <div class=\"fl-simple-hero-container fl-container fl-flex fl-items-center\">\n                <div class=\"fl-simple-hero-title\" data-testid=\"fl-simple-hero-title\">How To Open a Massage Therapy Business in 9 Steps<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/section>\n    <div class=\"fl-container\">\n        <div class=\"updated-breadcrumb-list\">\n            <ol>\n                        <li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\">FindLaw <\/a>\n                <span class=\"breadcrumb-separator\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\/<\/span>\n            <\/li>\n                                <li aria-current=\"page\">How To Open a Massage Therapy Business in 9 Steps<\/li>\n            <\/ol>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30  wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-section-main fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">How To Open a Massage Therapy Business in 9 Steps<\/h1>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image fl-no-margin\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/image\/upload\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/content-original-images-woman-getting-a-massage-.jpg\" alt=\"Woman Receiving Massage\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/acacia-wilson-esq\/\">Acacia Wilson, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/tim-kelly-j-d\/\">Tim Kelly, J.D.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            September 20, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-editorial-note fl-text-sm\">\n            <p>Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>You may be interested in opening a massage therapy business to help people. However there are many legal and financial steps to take when opening a business. Follow FindLaw&#8217;s guide for opening a massage therapy business.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><i><b>Form your LLC with confidence.\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/legalzoomcominc.pxf.io\/c\/4851649\/2115288\/26746?subId1=how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps-in-content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Our trusted partner LegalZoom has packages starting at $0 + filing fees.<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"tableOfContent\">\n    <div class=\"table-of-contents\">\n        <span role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\" class=\"table-of-contents__title\">9 Steps To Open a Massage Therapy Business<\/span>\n                <ul class=\"table-of-contents__list\">\n                        <li><a href=\"#Do\" title=\"1. Do Your Research\">1. Do Your Research<\/a><\/li>\n                        <li><a href=\"#Create\" title=\"2. Create a Business Plan\">2. Create a Business Plan<\/a><\/li>\n                        <li><a href=\"#Choose\" title=\"3. Choose a Business Name and Structure\">3. Choose a Business Name and Structure<\/a><\/li>\n                        <li><a href=\"#Decide\" title=\"4. Decide on a Home-Based, Mobile, or Brick and Mortar Business\">4. Decide on a Home-Based, Mobile, or Brick and Mortar Business<\/a><\/li>\n                        <li><a href=\"#License\" title=\"5. Obtain a Business License\">5. Obtain a Business License<\/a><\/li>\n                        <li><a href=\"#Insurance\" title=\"6. Get Business Insurance\">6. Get Business Insurance<\/a><\/li>\n                        <li><a href=\"#Bank\" title=\"7. Get a Business Bank Account\">7. Get a Business Bank Account<\/a><\/li>\n                        <li><a href=\"#Marketing\" title=\"8. Put Together a Solid Marketing Plan\">8. Put Together a Solid Marketing Plan<\/a><\/li>\n                        <li><a href=\"#Hire\" title=\"9. Hire Employees\">9. Hire Employees<\/a><\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Massage therapists thrive in many different settings, including chiropractic offices and spas. You could find owning a massage business appealing if you have an entrepreneurial mindset. Whether you&#8217;re interested in starting a small business in your home, renting an office space, or traveling to clients&#8217; homes, you can take a few critical steps to make your business a success.<\/p>\n<p>Figuring out the type of massage therapy business you want to run can be a great start to opening your new business. Think about your goals, the demographics of your target audience, and the reasons why they&#8217;d choose to use your services. Many people seek out massage therapy for stress relief or medical reasons. Keep this information in mind as you plan a strategy for opening your massage business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><a id=\"Steps\"><\/a>9 Steps To Open a Massage Therapy Business<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"general-step-component\">\n    <div class=\"steps-container\">\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            1\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"Do\">Do Your Research<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <p>You should research several important topics if you&#8217;re thinking about opening your own massage therapy business. You want to complete this step and avoid finding out about things you needed or should have done when it&#8217;s too late.<\/p>\n<h3>Education and Certification<\/h3>\n<p>If you haven&#8217;t already completed the required coursework at an accredited school, you&#8217;ll need to look into massage therapy education. Typically, you&#8217;ll be required to complete your training at a massage school, and then you can work on certification.<\/p>\n<p>Most states have regulations regarding the certification and licensure of massage therapists. You must meet the requirements to work as a certified massage therapist. Certification can come through the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbtmb.org\/\" title=\"NCBTMB Homepage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Massage Industry<\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re not already working in the massage industry, conducting market research could be a good idea. Familiarize yourself with your competitors, find out what massage business owners charge for their services, and learn how profitable the massage business is in your area.<\/p>\n<p>Learning about your competitors can help you brainstorm how to ensure your business stands out. Generally, massage therapists charge $60-$130 per session. Pricing strategy can affect your cash flow, so think carefully about how your potential customers could react to your prices. Getting repeat customers and referrals is important. You&#8217;ll want to ensure your customers are satisfied with the fee for your service.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll also need to make sure that your business can stay afloat. Many massage therapists make $40-50,000 per year. As a business owner, you must consider expenses when considering how profitable the business can be.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            2\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"Create\">Create a Business Plan<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <p>There are a couple of good reasons to create a solid business plan before you think about opening your own massage therapy business.<\/p>\n<p>One reason to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/creating-a-business-plan.html\" title=\"FindLaw | Creating a Business Plan\">create a business plan<\/a>&nbsp;is that it&#8217;ll help you figure out your goals and how to reach them. Between start-up costs and the costs of education or certification, it could take months or years for your business to break even. When do you expect to break even, and how do you plan to fund your business?<\/p>\n<p>If you plan to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/getting-a-loan-for-a-small-business.html\" title=\"Securing a Loan for Your Small Business: A Guide\">secure a small business loan<\/a>, you have another reason to create a business plan. The bank or other financial institution from which you seek a business loan will likely require that you provide a business plan so that they can see how you plan to make your business a success.<\/p>\n<p>What should you include in your business plan? Several items are commonly addressed in business plans, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pricing strategy<\/li>\n<li>Marketing strategy<\/li>\n<li>Market research<\/li>\n<li>Estimate of start-up costs<\/li>\n<li>Estimate of ongoing expenses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Remember to include everyday expenses for massage therapy practices in your start-up and ongoing cost estimates. Common expenses include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lotions and massage oils<\/li>\n<li>Massage tables<\/li>\n<li>Sheets and towels<\/li>\n<li>Robes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The type of business that you decide to run can also have a significant effect on your expenses. For example, massage business owners who lease office space for their practice must include rent and utilities in their cost estimates. Massage business owners who opt for a home-based or mobile business may take on other expenses but avoid renting a space. Getting your massage business up and running could cost $10,000-$20,000.<\/p>\n<p>Insurance is another expense that you should consider when you&#8217;re drawing up your business plan. Whether you&#8217;re leasing a space or providing massage services in someone&#8217;s home, you&#8217;ll want to ensure you have coverage if a client gets injured or suffers a loss. Shop around for a general liability insurance policy to get the best rates for your business. Also, look into worker&#8217;s compensation insurance for your employees. If an employee suffers a work-related injury, your worker&#8217;s compensation insurance can kick in to cover their financial losses.<\/p>\n<p>You should also include the type of business structure you&#8217;ll use for your massage business in the business plan. The business structure that you choose can have tax and liability implications.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            3\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"Choose\">Choose a Business Name and Structure<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <h3>Choosing a Business Name<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/choosing-your-business-name.html\" title=\"FindLaw | Choosing Your Business Name\">Choosing a name for your massage business<\/a>\u00a0can be fun. Take your time and list names that you think will appeal to your target audience. Next, check to see which names are available.<\/p>\n<p>To see if the business names on your list are available, check out the business records in your state. Also, look at the trademark database to make sure that you don&#8217;t end up choosing a business name that&#8217;s already\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/naming-a-business.html\" title=\"FindLaw | Business Names and Trademarks\">trademarked<\/a>. Your business name will be a part of your brand. So, make sure it is unique.<\/p>\n<h3>Picking a Business Structure<\/h3>\n<p>You can choose from several different types of business entities for your massage therapy practice. The most common business structures are the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/sole-proprietorships.html\" title=\"FindLaw | Sole Proprietorships\">sole proprietorship<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/llcs.html\" title=\"FindLaw | LLCs\">limited liability company (LLC)<\/a>, and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/corporations.html\" title=\"FindLaw | Corporations\">corporation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>How do you\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/choosing-a-legal-structure.html\" title=\"Choosing a Legal Structure\">choose which type of business structure is right<\/a>\u00a0for you? Understanding the differences between the most common types of business structures can help you make this critical decision.<\/p>\n<p>Limited liability companies (LLCs) and <a href=\"https:\/\/legalzoomcominc.pxf.io\/c\/4851649\/2115291\/26746?subId1=how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps&#038;auto-aff-c-corp\" class=\"diy-biz-affiliate\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-cta=\"Biz Auto LZ - LATL Txt\" data-cta-url=\"legalzoom.com\" target=\"_blank\">corporations<\/a> differ from sole proprietorships regarding asset protection. Limited liability companies and corporations are considered separate entities. So, the owners of these types of entities have personal liability protection. This means that their personal assets, such as houses and cars, are protected if someone sues the business. Sole proprietors don&#8217;t have limited liability. If you run your business as a sole proprietorship, you could lose your personal assets due to a lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>You might be wondering why you&#8217;d want a sole proprietorship instead of one of the business structures that provides liability protection. A sole proprietorship is the easiest and cheapest business type. To form an <a href=\"https:\/\/legalzoomcominc.pxf.io\/c\/4851649\/2115288\/26746?subId1=how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps&#038;auto-aff-llc\" class=\"diy-biz-affiliate\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-cta=\"Biz Auto LZ - LATL Txt\" data-cta-url=\"legalzoom.com\" target=\"_blank\">LLC<\/a> or corporation, you must file paperwork with the secretary of state (or other appropriate agency). You must also submit a filing fee, which varies from state to state. You don&#8217;t have to undergo this formation process if you choose to operate your business as a sole proprietorship.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that the type of business structure you have affects your tax treatment. For corporations, owners must file a personal tax return and a tax return for the entity itself. <a href=\"https:\/\/legalzoomcominc.pxf.io\/c\/4851649\/2115288\/26746?subId1=how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps&#038;auto-aff-llc\" class=\"diy-biz-affiliate\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-cta=\"Biz Auto LZ - LATL Txt\" data-cta-url=\"legalzoom.com\" target=\"_blank\">LLC<\/a> owners have pass-through taxation, and sole proprietors also report their business income and losses on their individual tax returns.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            4\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"Decide\">Decide on a Home-Based, Mobile, or Brick and Mortar Business<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <p>Many new business owners are considering different ways to provide their products and services to the public. In the wellness industry, entrepreneurs are also branching out from the traditional brick-and-mortar business. Renting an office space could be an excellent fit for you and the clients you expect to attract. On the other hand, you might prefer to save on the costs of renting office space.<\/p>\n<p>One option is to work from your own home. Another option is to run a mobile massage business. If you&#8217;re interested in running a mobile massage business, remember that you need portable equipment. For example, you&#8217;ll need to ensure that the massage table you use is easy to fold and transport into clients&#8217; homes. You might also need to get a van if you don&#8217;t already have a large vehicle for your massage table, oils and creams, and sound system.<\/p>\n<p>Although you&#8217;ll avoid the cost of rent and utilities for office space if you have a home-based or mobile business, you could incur other expenses. For a home-based business, you might have to modify your living space. For a mobile business, you&#8217;ll have costs associated with travel.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            5\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"License\">Obtain a Business License<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <p>To make sure that you can lawfully operate your business within the limits of your county or city, you need to make sure that you have the proper&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/business-licenses-and-permits.html\">licenses and permits<\/a>. Local governments usually handle the issuance of business licenses at the county or city level. You could get fined or shut down if you don&#8217;t obtain the appropriate licenses and permits to operate your business.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            6\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"Insurance\">Get Business Insurance<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <p>It is critical to have business insurance to cover liabilities from lawsuits. Determine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/what-is-business-insurance-.html?fli=latl_biz_howto:diy_biz_ins:txt\">what business insurance you need<\/a> and the appropriate amounts.<\/p>\n<p>Many entrepreneurs start with a general liability or business owners policy (BOP). If you have employees you may have to provide Workers&#8217; Compensation. A knowledgeable insurance agent can guide you in what is best for your situation.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            7\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"Bank\">Get a Business Bank Account<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <p>There are several benefits to keeping your business funds and personal funds separate when you run a small business.<\/p>\n<p>One good reason to keep funds separate is that it makes accounting much more manageable.<\/p>\n<p>Another reason to keep funds separate is to maintain any liability protection that you have. Although the LLC and corporate structures come with liability protection, there are ways for a creditor to reach personal assets under certain circumstances. This is called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/small-business\/corporation-basics-piercing-the-veil-and-personal-responsibility\/\" title=\"Corporation Basics: Piercing the Veil and Personal Responsibility\">piercing the corporate veil<\/a>. Keeping your business and personal accounts separate could help you keep your personal assets protected.<\/p>\n<p>Also, consider getting a credit card or debit card that you use only for business purchases. It&#8217;ll be easier to track your business expenses if you use a card only for business expenses.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            8\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"Marketing\">Put Together a Solid Marketing Plan<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <p>Word of mouth is a great way to reach potential customers. But you don&#8217;t want to rely on it alone. You should develop a solid&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/marketing-and-advertising-laws.html\" title=\"Marketing and Advertising Laws\">marketing<\/a>&nbsp;plan to promote your massage services to as many people as possible.<\/p>\n<p>The internet provides many avenues for your marketing efforts. One of the first things you&#8217;ll want to do is build a website. If you feel uncomfortable making a website on your own, you can use one of many websites that provide helpful tools or hire help.<\/p>\n<p>Set up your social media accounts and establish a social media presence. You can use social media platforms to provide information about your massage techniques and services. You can also use social media accounts to interact with customers and inform them of any specials or discounts you&#8217;re running.<\/p>\n<p>You can also use signage, flyers, and business cards for your marketing plan. If you have a brick-and-mortar office, you can pass out flyers and cards to local businesses in the area. If you open a mobile massage business, then you can display your business name and logo on the side of your van.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"steps-container-item\">\n                <div class=\"category-overview category-overview-item-steps\">\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-heading category-overview-heading-steps\">\n                        <div class=\"category-overview-steps\">\n                            9\n                        <\/div>\n                        <h2 class=\"category-overview-steps-title\" id=\"Hire\">Hire Employees<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"category-overview-content-steps\">\n                        <p>If you don&#8217;t need help from the start, you might soon need help as your massage therapy practice grows. There are a few questions you need to ask yourself when it comes to hiring staff.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How much are you willing to pay your staff?<\/li>\n<li>Do you need to put together a staff manual?<\/li>\n<li>Do you plan on offering benefits?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve considered your ideal candidate&#8217;s requirements and what you&#8217;re willing to provide, you should be able to begin the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/hiring-process.html\" title=\"FindLaw | Hiring Process\">hiring process<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>Thinking About Opening a Massage Business?<\/h2>\n<p>When you are ready to start your business you can let our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/legalzoomcominc.pxf.io\/c\/4851649\/2115288\/26746?subId1=how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps-custom-content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trusted partner LegalZoom<\/a>\u00a0handle your business formation filing for $99 plus filing fees.<\/p>\n<p>You might not feel ready to make all the crucial decisions you must make to open a massage business. This could be because you still have questions. Don&#8217;t hesitate to contact a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/business-commercial-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business lawyer<\/a>\u00a0if you have any questions or are unsure about your next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\" fl-section-sidebar  \"><div class=\"generalCard\">\n            <div class=\"disclaimer--newLegalZoom general-card--newLegalZoom__disclaimer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p>FindLaw will earn a commission if you purchase business formation products through these affiliate links.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"general-card general-card--newLegalZoom\">\n        <div class=\"general-card__header\">\n            <div class=\"general-card__header-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"general-card__header-image--newLegalZoomText\"\n                     src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/ability-law\/resources\/images\/legal-zoom\/legal_zoom_text.png\"\n                     alt=\"\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"general-card__header-image--newLegalZoom\"\n                     src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/ability-law\/resources\/images\/legal-zoom\/legal_zoom.png\"\n                     alt=\"\">\n            <\/div>\n            <span class=\"general-card__header-title fl-text\"><p>Meet FindLaw&#8217;s <b>trusted partner LegalZoom<\/b>, an industry leader in online business formations<\/p>\n<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"general-card__body\">\n            <div class=\"text section\">\n                <div class=\"cmp-text\">\n                    <h2 class=\"general-card__h2--newLegalZoom fl-h3-landing\">Let&#8217;s start your free LLC!<\/h2>\n                    <div>\n                        <\/p>\n<p>Join the millions who launched their businesses with LegalZoom.<\/p>\n<p><b>LLC plans start at $0 + state fees.<\/b><\/p><\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"general-card__footer\">\n            <a class=\"general-card__footer-link fl-text-lg diy-biz-affiliate\" data-cta-url=\"legalzoom.com\" data-cta=\"Biz LZ - StateLaws ESum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/legalzoomcominc.pxf.io\/c\/4851649\/2115288\/26746?subId1=how-to-open-a-massage-therapy-business-in-9-steps-esum\">\n                <p class=\"general-card__footer-link-text fl-no-margin fl-text-lg-medium\">SELECT AND START LLC<\/p>\n                <i class=\"general-card__footer-link-icon fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"general-card--newLegalZoom__bottom\">\n        <p>Prefer to work with a lawyer?<\/p>\n<p><a>Find one right now.<\/a><\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business.html\">\n                        Starting a Business\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-taxes.html\">\n                        Business Tax Law\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/closing-a-business.html\">\n                        Closing a Business\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/business-organizations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business Organization Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/mergers-acquisitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Mergers &#038; Acquisitions Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/antitrust-trade-regulation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Antitrust Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/banking-finance-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Banking &#038; Finance Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/franchising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Franchising Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/business-commercial-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business &#038; Commercial Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/employment-law-employer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Employment Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn the nine steps to opening up your own massage therapy business on FindLaw including planning, business formation, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":5123,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleDIYConversionController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-5314","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-smallbusiness"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5314\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5314"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=5314"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=5314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}