Today I get to discuss a business idea with staggering profit margins. Body therapy, over the years, has mostly been for the elite in Zimbabwe. That dynamic still holds for most of Zimbabwe. You go to places like Harare and you will mostly find therapy services in high-end locations e.g. Borrowdale. There seems to be a gradual shift though as such services are popping up in other locations. The other dynamic that must be buried is that of considering body therapy as a luxury. There are well-documented studies that have shown the colossal benefits of body therapy to health and wellness. Anyways, let us explore the body therapy services business idea.
Approaches
First of all, you need to have an appreciation of what body therapy is all about. Body therapy is a branch of wellness that focuses on techniques used to heal, relax, and rejuvenate the human body. Body therapy is also at times referred to as massage therapy.
There are basically 2 broad approaches one can employ here. One, you can partner with hospitality businesses e.g. hotels, lodges, and the like. You can even partner with private health facilities. You can enter a strategic partnership where you are given space or rooms to use for the business. That will be a symbiotic setup in that your business thrives whilst the business partner enjoys more traffic.
Two, you can simply look for your own standalone location where you run the business exclusively. The former is easier and can get your business off the ground quicker. Plus you somewhat get to ride on the brand of the business partner in question. That in essence is like free marketing as it were. Another approach that you can add to both of the above is house calls. You can offer a service package where clients can request to get your services at their homes, offices, and so on.
Important Things To Consider
You do not just wake and get into body therapy. You need to go for relevant training to get the necessary skills. Typically, undergoing a certificate programme can be enough to get you going. The duration of these certificate programmes can span from 8 to 12 months (or more). You can always scale your skillset by taking additional courses over time. It is highly advisable to actually get licensed as a body therapist. This all boosts your authenticity and that you will deliver good results as expected by clients. Bear in mind that some of the body therapy techniques involve sensitive anatomical dynamics. You really have to know what you are doing lest you compromise a client’s health or wellness. Of course, you must get the business formally registered – you must.
With time you might need to train others or have assistants. It is the kind of business that is not particularly easy to run solo. Well, at first you can but not for long. Virtually every service you get to provide takes time, so what happens to other clients? You see, it would be prudent over time to have a team to deal with a most certainly ever-expanding clientele. After all, it is very demanding on your mind and body so running solo is unsustainable in the long run.
Financial And Human Capital Requirements
There is some substantial capital required to start this business. There are numerous items needed for delivering your services. You need items like beds, couches (or specialized seats), blankets, sheets, towels, chemicals, cosmetic items, personal protective equipment, and several more. Though you can start solo, pressure will usually create the need for a more hands-on deck. So, human capital requirements will in due course make it imperative to hire more people. Being an employed body therapist has attractive prospects. On average, they can make at least US$10 per hour (varies mainly owing to whether or not they get tips from clients).
Market Prospects
There is a huge market, mostly untapped – across the broad age range. There are very few service providers in body therapy in Zimbabwe. Body therapy does not have to be elitist; that dynamic must change (it is changing).
To get a feel of the types of body therapy services that can be offered, here are some examples:
Full Body Massages
Back, Neck, And Shoulders Massage
Full Body Exfoliation
Back Deep Cleanse
Back Exfoliation
Underarm Facial
Express Facial
Deep Cleanse Facial
Deluxe Pedicure
Express Pedicure
Deluxe Manicure
Express Manicure
Foot Spa
You can come up with dynamic packages targeting couples. For example:
Back Exfoliation Facial and Express Pedicure
Full Body Massage and Express Pedicure
Back Deep Cleanse Facial, Manicure, and Pedicure
These are examples but there are several more services one can offer. Each of these services can cost (i.e. you can charge) anything from US$10 to over US$100 (flat charges). As for some, the charges can be hourly, ranging from at least US$20 (per hour). Understandably, this is a hands-on business but the prospects are quite good. You have to be prepared to exert your physical body – so it requires physical and mental stamina. You can also diversify your business empire by offering consultancy services. You can also make more money by providing training services.
I have a feeling this business idea will resonate with many of you out there. Soon I shall do an entrepreneur interview with a friend of mine running a body therapy services business. In the end that would also provide you with a reliable contact to engage for any further questions. So many cities and towns in Zimbabwe either do not have body therapy joints or few of them. The business opportunities in this space are evident. What are you going to do about that?
