Are you ready to give this profession a try? The good news is it is not that difficult to launch a career as a massage therapist or to set up your own mobile massage business. As long as you have made up your mind about this business, the path is steady and quick to start and finish.

Check out the steps below that outline how you can become a mobile massage therapist to generate an income that will sustain your traveling all across the globe:

1. Align your interests.

Anything becomes easier when you are naturally interested in it. To become an excellent massage therapist, you should be passionate about healing and helping other people. This job falls under the service industry. It is a must that you want to work with people and desire that they feel better.

2. Get certified.

Invest in your hands and obtain the qualification. There are many kinds of massage. Pick one that interests you most and get certified. Enroll in a teaching institution and put the hours in. Immerse yourself in comprehensive training to ensure your skills are as sharp as can be!

We studied Ayurveda Massage in Rishikesh, India. The course cost $200 and ran for a week. Ideally, you should do the massage course before traveling long-term to ensure your source of income on the road. But there is nothing wrong with picking it up along the way. Do your research and find a good teaching institution. There are plenty in India, Thailand, and Indonesia. Asia is a good place to learn it because the courses are more affordable.

3. Practice! Practice! Practice!

Attending the course is the preliminary requirement. Now that you are qualified and certified, spend all of your time practicing and getting hands-on experience. You want to be sure you’re your skills are on exactly on point before accepting paid clients.

At times, we do donation-only massage therapy. We provide the service to clients and they pay us what they feel is a fair price. You can do this if you are at the cusps of your practice. The more confident you become on your skillset, the easier it will be to practice and attract customers.

IMPORTANT: Remember to give your best effort to every customer!

4. Appraise your services.

How much will you charge for your services? There are certain ways to determine this figure. Go around the area and find out the average cost of massages. You can drive more customers to your mobile massage business by going slightly lower the average cost.

If there is a high demand for massages, the prices are going to be high. However, in places where the locals offer massages, it may be difficult to compete because they often charge incredibly low prices.

Consider your living expenses when appraising your service. We charge $40-$50 per session so if we have three or four clients in a day then we can easily earn $120 to $200, which is a good amount for a mobile massage therapist. But the cost of a massage varies drastically from one location to the next so adjust accordingly.

5. Select a great location.

Touristy places are often great stops to set up shop. For example, while we were staying in Cuzco, Peru, there are packs of tourists keen on seeing Machu Picchu. We volunteered in a lodge and during our free time, Jon would push our wheelbarrow and we went to different hotels to offer our services.

In addition, we made friends with hotel and hostel owners. We gave them a 10% commission for every client referral. We then moved to Arequipa, the second biggest city in Peru where we targeted the ex-pat community and some locals who worked for the mining industry.

TIP: Essentially, it is all about foot traffic when selecting a great location. Always think about where would your target customers be and make it easy for them to reach you and find you.

6. Advertise.

Spread the word! Let other people know that you are offering awesome massage service. There are plenty of ways how to do this and we will discuss it in-depth later.

7. Work!

Focus on your goal: to have a steady source of income to sustain your travel lifestyle. Work as many hours as it will take to reach your target income. Let your hands take you there! It can be three clients in a day or five. It is all up to you. After all, you control everything about this mobile massage business, from the number of working hours to the location of your office.

But remember, do not work so much that all of your time and energy go into it. Strike a balance between work and leisure. What is the point of being in an exotic destination if all you do is work and see nothing of the beautiful country in front of you?

8. Network.

The best way to get clients is by word-of-mouth advertising. Getting people to refer your services is gold for your business. Apart from satisfied clients recommending you, it is a great idea to partner with other establishments that cater to tourists, too. This can be hotel and shop owners, tourist operators, restaurateurs – anyone who can drive more people to your business. Make it a point of networking every day and spreading the gospel of your services.

9. Cultivate your skill.

Do not stop at acquiring your initial certification. Always be on the lookout for ways to sharpen your skill. Is there a new kind of massage gaining popularity? Learn it and update your qualifications. Staying on top of trends is an awesome way to sustain your clientele. There is always something new to offer them so there is always a reason for them to come back. Constantly invest and reinvest in your skills. There is no way your money will not return to you!

10. Check visa or tax rules that apply.

Often, you do not need to apply for a work visa because you are only staying in one destination for a few weeks or months. A tourist visa is enough to get you started. However, check with the authorities on the specific rules that apply, not only regarding visa requirements but also taxes. It is better to be safe than sorry!