Most massage therapists who do not succeed at working independently failed because they couldn't bring enough clients in. There was a time when our communities were smaller and word of mouth was enough to fill your schedule, but in today's world your best client's friends, family and coworkers may not live nearby. When you are competing with chains with national reputations and spas with a large local advertising budget, all of which have prime visible locations, it's a serious challenge to get people to know you even exist.

Stellar Massage is designed for Licensed Massage Therapists to work as true independent contractors. I look for people who have a strong desire to succeed and make a career of Massage Therapy as independent practitioners, but who do not want to have the worry of being able to fill their schedules by themselves or making enough to cover overhead and supplies as well as pay their non-business bills. I also look for LMTs who share my customer service philosophy so that clients can expect continuity in the way they are treated regardless of who they schedule with.

The relationship between Stellar Massage LLC and Associated Massage Therapists is symbiotic. Working together benefits us both. For example, instead of working 2 days a week on your personal clients and for someone else 2 or more days a week, limiting your availability to clients at both places, you can contract with Stellar Massage for a 4 or 5 day schedule, making yourself more available to both personal clients and Stellar Massage clients every day. You have a professional, furnished and equipped place to bring your personal clients for a per session fee, and make commission working on my clients. It’s a win-win for both of us because if you are successful at building your personal clientele I will need to hire another therapist (or open another location) so I will have someone to work my clients, or if you do not do well bringing in personal clients you will be more available to work on mine.

I do very well at bringing new clients in. If you Google "Massage Hoover" you will see my website listed in the top unapid listings. I'm also high on the Google map. I am rated 4.7* with 197 reviews on Google and 96% Recommendation on Facebook at the time of writing. I am confident I will continue to rank well because I am always researching ways to improve my website, SEO and marketing, and customer service is a priority.

I don't just rely on my search engine results. Prior to becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist, I was in administration. I gave up a position as Chief Financial Officer and have never looked back. Since I opened Stellar Massage in 2010 I've been growing, learning and evolving. Stellar Massage can compete because when people look at us they see a professional business they can trust. Our phone is answered 24/7 by myself or an auto text reply with relavant links and info. We have a massage club that encourages clients to come in regularly but doesn't trap them in a contract. We have agreed upon policies that ensure that clients feel they are treated with courtesy and respect, leaving happy and giving good reviews.

My philosophy isn't just to treat clients the way I want to be treated, I also treat my Associate Massage Therapists the way I want to be treated. You get paid on the value of the service, not what my client pays, so you get paid the same regardless of my client's discount. You get enough time between massages for intake, outtake, clients to undress/dress, and to take a break so no one is hurried. You schedule your own breaks and vacations other than breaks needed to ensure rooms are not overbooked. As a true Independent Contractor, everything about our working relationship is included in our contract so we each know exactly what is expected.