Two years ago, I was sitting in a cubicle in the middle of the 18th floor of a large office tower. I was stressed, bored, and not entirely happy with the way my life was going. I mean, after all, I was nearly 30 and let’s just say that my 20s weren’t exactly as successful as I pictured them.
A lot has changed. Currently, I’m running my very own “wellness studio” that consists of daily yoga classes, guided meditation, and a variety of eastern medicinal practice such as acupuncture and massage.
How, you ask?
I opened the studio as a simple but peaceful place to give massages, as that was my core area of expertise. The “wellness studio” came about by linking up with like-minded people and sharing a space so that we could encompass a wide array of mental and physical treatment.
Choose a niche and expand outward.
If I had started offering a dozen or so services (like we do now), I feel that the business would have been a catastrophic failure. I chose one area – massage – and I went to classes until I had earned my massage therapist certificate. This gave me a core area to focus on. As someone that is a bit unfocused at times, zoning in on one area really helped to give me a positive start.
Buy quality equipment from a manufacturer you trust.
Buying equipment is a major expense, so I chose to do most of my initial shopping online. I purchased my massage table with an electric lift online. Being my greatest expense, I am proud to report that I saved a pretty penny (even after shipping) as opposed to the same table at a local medical supply store – who didn’t even have the table in stock (they had to order it, probably from the same online retailer, with a hefty mark up).
Going for a minimalist approach, my initial investments were pretty much the table, scented candles, massage oils, and a canvas sign above the door. I started small, and built as I went.
Value connections over income initially.
My husband and I would have been eating PB&J for the rest of our lives if we had to subsist on me giving massages for a living. Luckily, I linked up with some great people very early on (most were clients) who offered services that worked well with what I did.
After thinking about it for quite some time, I finally invited them all to coffee and we discussed plans to use my additional space in order to provide additional services. Since most of my new business partners were freelancers, they had no qualms about coming on board. Essentially, they paid a small amount of rent, and then we had a profit share agreement in which we’d split profits each month after expenses, based on total amounts of revenue that each person was responsible for. Each person would keep the bulk of their own income for the service they provided. It was a win-win for all involved.
Look to expand.
Providing the extra services was really a boost in business. Due to the symbiotic nature of our businesses, we each started to pick up new clients almost instantly. It wasn’t uncommon to see someone come in for yoga, get a massage, start an acupuncture treatment and then end the day by browsing for scented candles in the main waiting area. Having partners that worked so well together, as well as businesses that were so symbiotic, it really improved everyone’s bottom line.
As I said above, I’m not an expert in business, so I don’t want you to take this as a “go out and start your own business” type of guide. Instead, I want to instill in you that your life is what you make it, and the cubicle farm will be there if you fail. Once the first foot leaves the door, it’s always easier for the second to follow. Live your dreams!