05/15/2026
A little insight into small business reality, Massage Therapy Private Practice Edition
People may see a $100 massage and assume the therapist is taking home $100. We wish that were true!
The reality is that a “1 hour massage” is rarely just 1 hour of work.
Personally, for every one hour of massage I do, I work an average of an additional 2 hours which mostly goes unpaid.
Those additional hours include:
• laundry
• sanitizing and disinfecting
• charting / client notes
• booking, scheduling, marketing, planning
• restocking or managing supplies
• time and commitment to continuing education hours
• self-care (so we can continue doing this work long term)
Our appt fees also go towards;
• rent, utilities, software subscriptions, payment processing fees, phone, internet, laundry costs, business insurance, licenses, our car, car insurance and expenses, health insurance, self employment tax and other state and local taxes
(For reference, for massage therapists, 20–30 hands-on hours a week is considered full time because of the physical demand this work puts on our bodies. Honestly for me at 61, I can't do more than that. Since Long Covid, I'm no where close currently.)
On a $100 massage session, after taxes, processing fees, overhead, supplies, and business expenses, my actual take-home is usually closer to $25-$30 per session, depending on circumstances.
I do this work because I honor this work.
It's a calling and a blessing to do so.
I genuinely care about helping my clients get better.
I do also think it’s important for people to understand more about what goes into a workday in a private practice.
Every appointment fee supports much more than the hour spent on the table.
You’re not just paying for a massage — you’re paying for your therapist's experience, education, care, preparation, and the years of earned skill behind it.
Now you know!
Thank you for partnering with and supporting small business!
