Thinking of opening a massage parlour? It is not an easy decision and I’m sure you have pondered over this business venture for a very long time. Now that you are on the edge of making this decision, make sure to ask these 7 questions that I asked myself before beginning this journey.
1. Where Will You Conduct Your Services?
There are many types of massage businesses. There are mobile massage businesses that are mainly home based and there are massage parlours that are rented out.
If you are planning to carry out your services at home, you need to inform the housing development in your country and even your insurance provider. You also need to work around your neighbours who might find the public crowd at your estate a problem. And what about your own personal life? How are you gonna separate your work from play since your service is right in the heart of your home?
Whereas if you are planning to rent out a space, should it be in a mall or in a more private area like under a row of shophouses? Would you rather have heavy foot traffic or tranquility?
2. How Much Are You Willing To Spend? [restrict]
Starting a business will require capital and taking out personal loans from the bank. You will need to purchase equipment like a massage table and products like skin scrubs, oils and aromatherapy.
Will you be buying from the same supplier to enjoy discount on bulk purchases or will you resort to different suppliers that provide the best quality products?
Most importantly, how much of your money are you willing to sacrifice for the losses that most massage services experience in the first few months of operations?
3. How Will You Reach Out To Your Consumers?
Creating a digital presence for your business is a non-negotiable. However will you rely more on a website or a Facebook business page to roll out promotions and reach customers?
And how much are you willing to spend on social media marketing?
There are pros and cons to both options. Facebook business pages make it easier to communicate with customers but does not allow you to display your services as aesthetically as websites.
So what do you prioritise and how much money are you willing to invest in it?
4. Have You Considered Your Competitors?
Opening up a massage parlour in a country saturated with other massage parlours means that you have to find your own unique selling point and niche in order to be relevant in the market.
So have you considered your competitors and what sort of theme their massage parlour has adapted? Make sure that you have come up with a distinctive niche that reflects what you want for your customers.
Actionable Takeaway:You will need a business plan before setting up your business. Get down to the nitty gritty details! If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
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