Last week, Fran sent a question into the “Just Ask Eileen” page which was a pretty good one. Here ’tis:
“OK here goes. I am currently renting space in what really is a Chiropractor’s office turned wellness practice. It’s a good thing. We all benefit from each other being there. The thing is I really would like to have a space of my own. I share the room with two other people. I’m paying $400.00 rent and that’s really great considering. But sometimes it feels a little crowded. I would like a spot of my own and wonder what will I be giving up and gaining from such a move.”
Okay, me again: I’m telling you right now, I have absolutely no experience in renting/leasing a place for bodywork. All my go-to therapists are in and out on summer vacations. So, folks, right here, right now, I’m going to Wing It. Feel free to add your thoughts. Please add your thoughts.
Fran, I’m Winging It. Fear not, I will get thoughts from people who have asked themselves this same question. I just don’t want you think I’ve forgotten you.
Here’s how I see it:
Pros of sharing a space. Lower rent, comradery, a united front for marketing (does the clinic pay for mailings and such?) and I take it there is someone to answer the phones and schedule for you.
Since you work through (essentially) a chiro office, I assume most of the clients you see are chiro patients. This can work to your advantage because the clients already have a degree of confidence in you: “If the doctor hired her, she must be good/qualified/share the same philosophy of healing.”
When you’re part of an office, you get to see and learn many things about running a business. If you pay attention, you’ll go through less trial and error when you go out on your own.
Cons of sharing a space. There’s not so much flexibility in scheduling, client choice, decor, set-up, etc. Maybe (again, assuming most of your clients are from the clinic) you don’t want to focus your work on the kinds of patients the doctor attracts.
Who markets for you? Who creates the message? Are they talking to the clients you want to work with? Do you communicate with your clients or do your clients get messages from the collective? I think if I didn’t have control over my message to my clients I’d go a little kooky. But that’s me.
And this is a little left field: Therapists make such a psychic stamp (for lack of a better term) on their spaces. It’s pretty obvious when a room is shared. Not bad, not off-putting, just obvious. To me it’s like the difference between walking into a chain “family” restaurant and a family-run restaurant. This makes a subtle impact. Clients may feel they need to rush because someone else is wanting to get into the room ASAP. The atmosphere isn’t as exclusive/calming. I occasionally have the irrational thought that someone is going to come into the room in the middle of a session to get a chart or sweater or something.
The not-so-subtle impact is when one person is running late and you all get backed up. I actually had a 45 minute wait once to get into a room. My poor therapist was terribly embarrassed.
Pros of having your own space. It’s all you. Everything.
Cons of having your own space. It’s all you. Everything.
When you go out on your own, do way more prep work than you think you need to. Serious. Make lists of everything. Make plans. I’m not kidding. One thing I love about bodyworkers in general is their easy going, right brained, universe-will-provide attitudes while they deal with me during a session. I think many healers have difficulty transitioning from a session to the business stuff that happens outside of sessions.
The most successful therapists I know are people who have trained themselves to make that switch from “table to desk.” They are very well prepared, mentally and financially. They have plans for building clientele, illnesses, acts of various deities, and sudden windfalls. They schedule time for all the usual stuff (paperwork and all) and also for stepping back and looking at the Big Picture. They ruminate about things, plan things three months ahead so when it’s time to do a mailing or rearrange the office, they are ready.
So I guess I’m suggesting that you pay close attention to what is going on around you in your current situation. What can you learn from it? Do you want to take on the task of … well, everything? Do you still need to learn a few things? Do you need to do some planning and to take a good look at realities?
When you feel you can eeeeease out of your current place, instead of breaking out, you are ready to go.
Fran, there’s a lot more to this, of course. I’m sure there will be some comments on this entry that will help you and I will get opinions from my go-to therapists.
Take a couple minutes and check out an interview with Jen Hathaway. She has a good approach. Also, you could do a lot worse than by going back to the planning worksheets by Cherie Sohnen-Moe (currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of the must-have Business Mastery). I’m sure you’ve seen these before. They are free on her website.
We also have a couple books in our store. I personally like 12 Months to Your Ideal Private Practice, but you should find something that is in your “language.”
Please keep me updated. I would like to know what you decide and how it works out.
All my best,
Eileen
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7 users commented in " A Room of One’s Own: whether to share or lone wolf it "
Thanks. Well here’s the behind the scene stuff. I personnel, create all my own, fliers, make appointments, talk to clients, promotions.
My clientel has grown everyone else is down. The Chiro is down from 70 patients per week to 15-25. Acupuncture has never gotten more than 5-8 per week, NP not focused on business because she still worked else where,
PT occasional appointments but he is total out of the above picture with these money matters. This is the Chiro’s boyfriend don’t know what the financial arrangement is.
I totally know what ever I bit off I EAT IT. You might ask me what my appointments look like Well I had to rebuild my practice after an absence due to surgery last Sept. I have for the last 5 moths I have had 30-40 in the month. Prior to that it was more. I’m looking to increase that with new out reach, services, product and educational seminars.
I guess I’ve answered my own question with some additional tips from you. I would say all that I have done for my practice was out of pure frustration to have it done right. I want to do much more than the current space will allow me, so I am getting itchy feet if you know what I mean!
I look forward to hearing more input from you all. I love getting feed back from more seasoned professionals. It is very rear for me. Most folks who I have come across have no real back ground in the field but money to open spas, or are working for someone not trying to branch out.
I really need to learn to ask for more details before I pontificate. Sigh.
First of all, what an insanely beautiful website! Would you mind if I posted it in my monthly Cool Stuff list?
Secondly, I feel your itchy feet from here. It sounds like you’re going at this decision deliberately and logically. Good for you.
Check out the next comment. It’s an email from one of my MTs. She moved from a well-established, multiple therapist business to her own place in a wellness center. While I always thought she was great at her previous place, she has positively blossomed in a Room of Her Own.
Eileen
The following is an email from Terra J, a marvelous MT here in Olympia. I asked her to weigh in on Fran’s question. Here’s what she has to say about moving into your own space (bear in mind she didn’t have all the information on Fran’s situation when she wrote this):
Here are some of my immediate thoughts of advantages and disadvantages of working in a shared office vs. being self employed. Mind you when I did work at Get In Touch I was self-employed. I do have peers who have worked in Chiropractic offices so some of my info could be coming second hand.
These are the topics that come to mind
1. Isolation; it is easy to become isolated in this profession. In an office setting you have support from those around you. It is important to reach out to peers when working alone, and to network with other professionals. Practitioners can loose sight of boundries and ethics with out proper supervision.
2. Self-employment is difficult for small business. Tax management has been my biggest challenge; remember everything is tax deductible.
3. Office & paperwork: managing files and billing. Paperwork can be a challenge to manage for us hands-on type of workers. Organization — being in an office setting it is required and usually provided by an office manager.
Being self-employed — it is extra work because you don’t have office help.
Scheduling — takes time and energy. One thing I have learned is answer your phone if you can. Sounds simple. It saves so much time. My schedule is always close at hand.
4. Client Base and referrals: these come almost automatically in a chiropractic setting. Otherwise it can be difficult to market yourself.
An advantage for working for myself is that I also don’t have to work on anyone I don’t want to. I found in a clinic I had to work on anyone who was put on my schedule. In my practice my clients are people I really enjoy and like seeing, and are based on personal referrals.
Marketing would be another subject. (chair massage has been my #1 marketing tool in 7 years of successful business)
5. Marketing: Usually is done for you within an office. In a clinic you are more likely guaranteed work. I have seen good therapists fail in self-employment because they did not market themselves well.
Find something that works for you and use it.
6. Creativity: This is an important part of life for me.
I find I have the freedom to be creative in my business. I enjoy the marketing piece for creative energy, like making simple post cards with discounts. Also having Creative surroundings. My office represents me. I like that.
In all I am glad that I have moved my massage practice into an office for myself. It has it’s challenges but is worth it. Self management is empowering! I enjoy it! I also realize I would not be as successful as I am without my previous experiences in a shared office. It is all gained experience.
I am sure I could go on, but these are some of the things that wanted to come out today.
I hope they make sense to you and are found helpful.
Enjoy your summer day,
Terra J, LMP
This was how I started. Too good to delete.
ADVANTAGES TO HAVING MY OWN OFFICE:
1. FLEXIBILITY! self management of scheduling; able to have time off when needed. Also able to work extra hours, for make up work.
2. everything is tax deductible
3. I enjoy the people on my schedule
4. increased creativity
5. I love my boss, I’m so nice to me.
Eileen,
Thank you for the compliment about my site. You may absolutely use it on the COOL STUFF list. These comments are all very helpful. By the way I think it to be a happy thing that you didn’t have part two of my situation. You gave me a nice little diagnostic check list to follow. (love ya for that!) I went back and have started tightening up some admin work and thank God for my girlfriends daughter. We have created and arrangement for her and mom to help me get…what??? Into whip snapping shape! I know I can be successful in my own space. It’s so part of my thought process everyday! Terra, THANK YOU! This is like having a big sister that has gone through the mill and is steering me in the right direction! I’m the oldest in my family so I’m big sis, it’s nice to switch off.
Anyway, I feel slightly torn (i said slightly) about moving out because I will miss seeing everyone. Even though we don’t see each other all the time. We call or text, but you know what… let me get over that. It’s all been about what’s been not working and I’m so frustrated! O.K a quirky comment and chuckle here and there. We are very caring towards one another but business is business. The other part of that is that I’m finally hitting the population I have been striving for for two years!! I want to ensure that they are getting above and beyond what they expect when coming to me on the larger scale.
It is helpful to know that someone has had the experience of leaving the nest so to speak and truly been able to soar as a result. Whew!
Now just a note as I said in my second comment. I have little to no front desk assistance. It’s been screwed up so many times I took matters into my own hands. Now finally, but not really, I saw the magic word pop up for me INSURANCE!! YEAH! I have been discouraged from working with insurance by the chiropractor. She said in her opinion it was not worth the effort, stick to cash. Well I must say telling me that just made me even more curious about adding this to my practice. I appreciate her but we just see things differently. Now can you give me a guide on how I find out requirements in my state, the hassles, rewards and balance in my practice. How have you successfully used it in your practice if you are also accepting cash? How do I find out what insurance companies “are massage friendly” and pay well for it/and or reimburse the client for it?
This is the best thing that you could have done, this blog. I have often come to this site in that past for product only and used some forms and guide just recently. Now I feel I truly have a support system. You’ve lifted a huge boulder off my shoulders. Thanks
Something new has developed. I was offered an opportunity to take over a small spa connected to a doctor’s office. Contains two treatment rooms, dry sauna, use of exercise area, staff room, 1 full bathroom, common waiting, 4 therapists and 3 aestheticians on call, access to 5,000 patient data base. Fab locale in the heart of downtown amount courts, schools everything. asking btwn. 1,200 - 1,500 monthly. Not including laundry, supplies, phone, advertising.
She can not run both her rehab practice and the spa. She’s tried the employee thing was not pleased. Wants someone to take it and run with it. We are looking at a 6 month trail run. She has the same mind set as I in terms of common goals. I can see growth with this connection. I want to know what I need to be mindful of in this type of arrangement.
I want to have in writing all my concerns and additional questions that I need to ask myself, cost to look out for and staff when stepping in.
Wow!
That funny little bonging noise you heard on Aug 13, 9:45 PST was the sound of my jaw hitting the floor.
How very cool! And exciting. I’m excited.
From experience, I can tell you that you need to be very, very clear in what you expect and what the Good Doctor is expecting. This is time to do all that “active listening” people keep telling you to do.
Also, when you have the contract drawn up, seriously consider getting a legal beagle to interpret it into English for you so you, once again, are very clear about what you are signing your name to … including what will happen if the Dr’s practice goes belly up. What will you be liable for?
So give me a couple days to put my ducks in a row and we’ll post an entry on this and see what kind of response we get.
Ooo! I’m very happy for you.
Eileen
: ) I’m happy too thank you. And I thought that sound was my eyeballs rolling out and hitting the floor!
Since writing the last post, I was able to get in touch with an old spa co-worker who happens to be well versed in putting together packages. So she has agreed help me to put my thoughts down on paper in exchange for a reference for a business concept she is developing.
I need to see where the money is going to generate from. There is already a preexisting menu of services, so if I don’t need to reinvent the wheel… just to add a little more to this. I am aiming to take over the end of Sept. Just in time to prep for the holidays.
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