How to Start Your Own Massage Therapy Businessby Owen E. Richason IV, Demand Media

A massage therapy business can be lucrative to an entrepreneur and provide the opportunity to work independently or with a health care professional, such as an orthopedic doctor or chiropractor. Massage therapists can provide an array of services, such as therapeutic massage, sports massage, and other like services. An advantage of opening a massage therapy business is being able to accept insurance payments as well as private-party payments.Step1Determine services to offer. Decide which types of massage therapy you will offer to clients. You may consider taking on a partner or contracting other massage therapists to help fill the role of providing various massage services.Step2Lease space or contract your services. Licensed massage therapists can choose to open a retail location and cater to walk-in and referral clients or contract with a health care provider or another massage therapy business. Consider starting with the latter to build a customer base and then opening a retail space. Price local retail locations to help determine startup costs.Related Reading:How to Start a Massage Home Business

Step3Choose a business name. Pick a business name and conduct a fictitious name or Doing Business As name search with the county or state agency in charge of registering business names. Request a fictitious or assumed name application from the government agency, complete it and register your massage therapy business' name.Step4File your incorporation documents with the state. Visit the secretary of state's office online or the division of corporations website for information about submitting your massage therapy business' incorporation documents. Determine which business bests fits your business: a corporation, sole proprietorship or limited liability company, and write the applicable incorporation documents or hire an attorney to write them.Step5Apply for an Employer Identification Number. Go to the Internal Revenue Service website and navigate to the EIN application page. You will need an EIN to hire employees and open a business checking account.Step6Find financing. If you are opening a retail location, apply for a small business loan through lenders listed on the Small Business Administration's website. Commercial loan lenders typically ask for a written business plan and pro forma statement, and generally require the borrower to make a down payment ranging from 10 percent to 40 percent and/or collateral.Step7Obtain insurance. Contact a licensed insurance agent and inquire what types of insurance your massage therapy will need to protect it from liability and malpractice. Also inquire about obtaining health insurance and dental insurance benefits if you are hiring employees.