Is Your Massage Therapy Practice a Business…or Just an Expensive Hobby?

When I started my massage therapy business, treating it like a hobby wasn’t an option. I’d been made redundant. I had no income, no partner to fall back on, and no financial cushion. I had to make it work.

Thankfully, I’d run a business before, so I had some idea of what needed to happen. But even with that experience, this felt different. It was just me now. And after being made redundant, I was carrying a heavy dose of self-doubt. I felt nervous about being visible and hesitant to promote myself.

But I couldn’t afford to wait for confidence to magically appear. I had to take action as if I were already a professional massage therapist and business owner, because that’s what I was.

That mindset is what helped me build a fully booked massage therapy practice from scratch. It didn’t happen overnight, but step by step, I made decisions, set boundaries, showed up, and learned what worked.

So, Does Your Massage Therapy Business Still Feel Like a Hobby?

If that question makes you squirm a little, then you’re not the only one.

I see it all the time: massage therapists who are passionate and well-trained, but still stuck in limbo. They’ve qualified, got their insurance, and started offering massage therapy treatments… but the bookings aren’t consistent. The income doesn’t cover their costs. And deep down, they feel like something’s not quite working.

So let’s take a gentle but honest look at what might be going on.

1. You’re Still Giving Free or Discounted Massage Treatments

It’s easy to do, especially for friends, family, or early clients. You want to help, and asking for money can feel awkward.

But when you regularly work for free or "just to cover your costs," you’re not running a professional massage therapy business. You’re giving your time, energy, and training away. And when people get something for nothing, they are less likely to value it.

Clients will be happy to pay for a licensed massage therapist. Charging appropriately isn’t about being greedy; it’s about being sustainable.

What to do:
Set your massage therapy prices. Stick to them. Offer the occasional treat or thank-you if you want, but do it intentionally, not out of guilt or self-doubt.

2. You’re Taking Course After Course, But Still Have No Clients

I love learning. But more CPD or massage therapy certifications won’t fix a quiet diary.

I made this mistake. I thought that if I added a few other massage therapy modalities to my menu, I would attract more clients. So I went through all the one- and two-day courses my training centre provided. And while it certainly wasn't wasted time, I hardly use any of them now.

It’s easy to believe that one more qualification will finally make you feel confident or “ready.” But actually, clients don’t magically appear because you’ve added a new skill; they appear when you become visible and clear about how you can help.

What to do:
Choose 1–2 core massage therapy treatments you love offering, and focus on getting the word out about those.

3. You’re Avoiding Marketing

This is a big one.

So many massage therapists feel awkward about marketing. They don’t know what to post, or they worry about being too salesy or annoying. But if people don’t know you exist, they can’t book in, no matter how brilliant you are.

What to do:
Think of massage therapy marketing as an introduction, not a sales pitch. It’s how the people who need you know where to find you.

4. You Have No Systems or Structure

With a hobby, you can dip in and out when you feel like it. In a massage therapy business, consistency matters.

If you’re not tracking your income, setting goals, or creating habits to attract clients, it’s easy to drift or panic when things go quiet.

What to do:
Set one or two small goals each month. Something as simple as “rebook 3 clients” or “post weekly on Facebook about massage therapy” can help you build momentum.

5. You’re Burnt Out But Not Making Enough Money

This is where things get painful.

You’re working hard. You’re drained. And yet… there’s not enough money coming in to show for it. That’s a sign that something’s got to change. Not you, but how you’re doing things.

What to do:
Focus on sustainable growth. One small change, like raising your massage therapy prices, setting policy boundaries, or getting visible, can shift everything over time.

Why This Happens

Most massage therapists didn’t train because they wanted to run a business. They trained because they love helping people.

But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the business side and expect everything to fall into place. In my experience, the massage therapists who thrive are the ones who accept that they are business owners and start acting like it.

That doesn’t mean becoming corporate or losing your soul. It means adding structure around your passion, so your massage therapy practice can support you long-term.

What Changes When You Treat It Like a Business?

• You stop waiting for permission and start showing up with purpose

• You value your time and price your massage therapy services properly

• You put systems in place to make life easier
  

• You understand that visibility isn’t vanity, it’s how clients find you

• You stop dabbling and start building
  
  

Final Thoughts

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not failing, you’re just at a fork in the road.

You don’t have to change who you are to treat your work like a professional massage therapy business. You just need to decide that what you do matters and that you deserve to be supported by it.

Your massage therapy practice has the potential to give you freedom, fulfilment, and a real income. But it won’t happen by accident.

It happens when you stop treating it like a hobby and start building it like the massage therapy business you deserve.

About the Author

Esther Smith is a fully booked solo massage therapist with a background in business and a passion for helping other therapists grow their confidence and client base. After being made redundant at 49, she retrained in massage and built a thriving practice from scratch, starting out mobile, renting rooms, and eventually creating her own garden studio. Esther now combines hands-on therapy with teaching others how to market themselves authentically and build sustainable businesses they love. You can learn more about her work at Building A Massage Therapy Business.