Are You Giving Your Profits Away?

Selling product is a challenging prospect for many massage therapists. They may fear that they will be viewed as pushy, money hungry or somehow unprofessional by their clients if they sell products. On a different note, we’ve all experienced the client who thinks every treatment should be free; the one who doesn’t respect you or your services as being worthy of the term professional; the type who thinks minimum wage is a good idea for everyone but themselves. You can grow old quickly trying to please these people, so let’s focus on living in the real world instead.

When did making money - more specifically - profit, become an evil thing? Why is it that people in the health care or healing industries tend to shy away from admitting to wanting to make a good income? Why do we shun other practitioners who make a good income? Is this attitude part of the reason we are not viewed as being professional enough to be included in the same league as other medical practitioners? Does anyone ever ask his or her doctor (or their lawyer) for free services?

If you are still not ready to make money from selling products, you may consider this suggestion. Have a selected product or products for sale at your office and then take the money that you profit from them and donate it to your favorite charity. This allows you to offer an extra service to your clients, but not feel like they are being judged by profiting from it!

You can get your clients involved in the process by changing the charity you donate to on a quarterly or semi-annual basis and allowing them one vote for a cause of their choice with each purchase/treatment/session. Have a sign over the shelf where the products are displayed that outlines the policy and place the voting box beside it.

While you aren’t making money from sales, you can use this as a valuable marketing strategy. Send the local paper a press release letting them know how much you have raised for your charity and how you have done it. Be sure to get a photo of you and a charity rep shaking hands as you hand over the check and include that with the press release. You can also ask the charity for a tax receipt for the amount of the donation, which can help you at tax time!

On the other hand, if you believe that the services you provide have real value, but still feel conflicted about deserving a profit from the work you do, read my next column!

Come back next issue for Dana’s next installment: Money Isn’t the Root of all Evil!