Are you a qualified massage therapist or therapist in training looking for sure-fire ways to build your own business, reach more clients, and become more resilient in today’s unpredictable economy? Then you may be considering investing in a portable massage table.
In fact, most massage therapists in South Africa today are including mobile massage in their business strategy, whether they treat all their clients on location, work from a home-based practice, or use a hybrid model of travel and working from a set location.
In a country with the highest jobless rate globally (estimated to reach 32,1% in 2024), entrepreneurship is the name of the winning game. Whatever you’re envisioning for your business, having a portable massage table at your disposal can be the key you need to unlock the doors to more flexibility, greater freedom, and those golden opportunities you’re looking for to smash your business goals.
Ready to learn how? Then read on!
The benefits of taking your business mobile with a portable massage table
Perhaps you previously worked at a larger salon or private practice that struggled or had to close down during the pandemic. Maybe you lost your job, are looking to start your own business, or simply want to explore new ways of working to help boost your income and increase your independence. Whatever your personal story, the ability to take your business mobile with a portable massage table comes with many benefits and opportunities.
1.Greater convenience for you and your clients
In contrast to stationary tables, foldable and portable massage tables are conveniently compact, easy to move and lightweight enough to carry around and take with you whenever you’re on the go, even if you’re travelling in a small car. The versatility of the tables means that they can be used anywhere, and easily set up or taken down single-handedly. You can meet your clients and set up your table wherever it’s most convenient for them.
2. A cost-effective way to reach more clients in more places
The good news is, a foldable table won’t cost you an arm and a leg—it’s an incredibly cost-effective way for any therapist to provide a professional service to anyone, anywhere. This allows you to reach more clients and spread the word about your business, while ensuring your clients receive top-notch professional service.
Owning your own portable massage table means that you can visit clients at their homes, businesses or even hotels, where tourists and travelling businesspeople may require massage therapy. You can save your clients time and reduce their stress by offering a professional service to individuals or groups in the comfort of their homes or offices. Mobile massage at business premises (also known as corporate massage) is often booked by companies for their employees, making this a great potential source of recurring income.
3. Increase your flexibility & freedom
Another major advantage of having a mobile massage business is that you can work during normal office hours and after hours, to suit yourself. The more hours you schedule for work, the greater your potential income. You decide the number of hours you work per day, and which days you work.
4. Reduce overhead costs
Building a mobile business also makes it possible to escape the overhead costs associated with owning or renting a facility or office space. Even though travel costs need to be provided for, these are generally lower than rent, utilities, and security systems.
Speak to a tax professional to find out what benefits and deductions are available for travel related expenses when running your own small business.
At home massage services – a lifesaver for you and your clients!
Having the ability to take your business with you and visit clients at their homes can increase your market and client base exponentially. In fact, for many massage professionals, offering home-based services became a necessity to keep business going during the Covid-19 pandemic.
For Colleen Lottering, an internationally qualified massage therapist and owner of Holistic Therapies in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), purchasing a portable massage table has enabled her to work more independently by offering a mobile service to clients at their homes and at other health facilities, in addition to working at her studio.
Colleen, who specialises in alternative pain management such as lymphatic massage, is just one of many therapists who’ve had to adapt to visiting clients in their homes more during and after the pandemic. According to Colleen, even with restrictions lifted many people are still very safety and security conscious, and many prefer to book home visits.
“Using a portable massage table for appointments at clients’ homes gives me a much better surface to work on, and it looks more professional, which builds trust between me and my clients”, says Colleen.
For pensioners, people who are not able to drive or travel, or in short anyone who needs massage treatment but can’t get to a salon or spa, your services could be invaluable. This could include pregnant mothers preparing for delivery of a baby, and patients who are bed-bound or home-bound due to recent surgery, injury or other conditions.
In addition to the normal fee for a relaxing or restorative massage session, clients may be willing to pay more for in-house visits. A patient may need after-hours assistance, regular treatment, or after-hospital care but not be able to afford to stay in a rehabilitation centre. All these possible scenarios present opportunities for increasing your income.
Build your massage business & brand visibility at public events
Setting up shop with a portable massage table at public events is another great way to increase your business opportunities, as well as build your brand visibility.
One way to do this is by participating in local community and business events as a sponsor or vendor, with a booth where you offer massage services along with an overview of your business. Sports, cultural and tourism event planners often provide options for setting up your own working space with your portable massage table.
At sporting events, massage services offer an essential health benefit. For example, Colleen was one of a team of massage therapists employed to treat cyclists at various stops along the route for a large cycling event in the Western Cape. This is common practice at many of the larger sporting events in the country.
Organisers may also be willing to book a massage therapist for holiday festivals or other cultural festivities, where the attraction of a relaxing massage can help draw more visitors. Corporate events also include this service as a rewarding activity during conferences.
Many events such as career and bridal expos, trade fairs and local markets can also provide the opportunity to set up your massage booth and do demonstrations to promote your business. Offering incentives such as massage session bundles and discounts for repeat bookings can attract prospective clients.
“It’s excellent for business exposure and for trainee massage therapists, to use public cultural events, where I set up portable massage tables,” says Colleen. “This promotes my business and gives trainees access to a wide variety of people, to learn to deal with different types of clients.”
Collaborations: share the love and watch your business multiply
Everyone knows the benefits of working together as a team and pooling expertise. If you’re able to take your portable massage table along to a beauty salon, hotel or spa and make your services available—perhaps on a reciprocal freelance basis—the potential is there to expand your client base and your income. You could work as a locum or freelance therapist for an established business, operating from a specific point, while still having the freedom to negotiate your own working terms. Or you could find a particular niche that you would like to fill which fits your experience and expertise.
“Working together with other practitioners in salons or practices, such as a beauty salon, hairdresser or spa, or physiotherapist, could potentially result in reciprocal arrangements”, Colleen shares. “For example, a client who has had a massage and feels all sweaty may want a hair or other beauty treatment afterwards, so in this way we share clients.”
Of course, there can be certain drawbacks to this arrangement, such as less freedom to set your own work hours, or possibly having to work on a commission basis. But the advantages of having access to an existing client base, an established reputation and regular income can easily outweigh the negatives.
As Colleen explains, “Collaborating as a freelancer when I worked with a physiotherapist meant that I rented my own room next to the practice, and took along my own kit. I worked on a booked appointment basis only for this to be profitable.”
To sum it all up, massage therapists can greatly expand their private businesses with the use of a portable massage table, by offering mobile massage services, participating at public events, and collaborating with other professionals.
Think creatively, use your ingenuity, and tap into your local network, and the sky really is the limit!
Where to buy portable massage tables on sale in South Africa
Buying a high-quality portable massage table that will help you grow your business successfully doesn’t mean you have to break the bank.
Massage Warehouse specialises in affordable, high quality portable massage beds, offering the best value for money to massage therapists on the go. We stock a modern range of wooden and aluminium deluxe massage tables manufactured using top–quality materials imported from Germany, available for nationwide delivery.
All of our massage beds are lightweight and support a working weight of up to 270 kg, ensuring you can serve a wide range of clients with ease and peace of mind. Our tables feature comforting high-density foam, a high–strength steel cable system, and are covered in super-durable PVC leather for a luxurious feel and easy maintenance.
View our range of exceptional portable massage beds on sale for your home, spa, or business, and order online today.
