To think I can make a living wage as a reflexologist?

[wizardora]

I have always been interested in reflexology and need a career I can work around my three DC's although I have heard I can't expect to make much money doing it, any advice?

All boils down to location, advertising, and building up a good reputation. I would imagine it will take time, but go for it.

Lots of beauty salons, health spa's etc, have rooms that they hire out for things like that.. or you could even branch into training others once you are qualified.

weigh up the pros and cons of it, but if you can afford to train and have the patience, then why not!

Only, having run my own business for 5 years in the past, that it takes an awful long time to build up a worthwhile client base, and you need to factor this into any business plan.

If you get a tenth of the number of clients you want in the first year, you are doing well.

Advertising is a black hole for money, and word of mouth is the best way to build clients.

There's quite a lot of useful info on www.businesslink.gov.uk

I do think there are a lot of reflexologists here where I live as they do a course at the local college

I think you would struggle.

My friend gave up her job to be a masseuse. She's trained for years and does: sports massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and indian head massage.

She works 6 days a week and covers a very upmarket London suburb and only just makes ends meet.

She's happy and fulfilled - but not well off

I have a friend who is a qualified reflexologist. She doesn't make massive amounts of money at it, so has branched out into other areas of complimentary therapies and now does quite well. I doubt it'll ever make her a millionaire, but she makes enough to live on and she's happy doing it.

Reputation is everything though, so try building up some experience that will also afford you word-of-mouth recommendations, perhaps some voluntary work with a charity?

Good luck!

I'll be your first customer! I love having reflexology done :)

I'm a qualified Complementary Therapist. Reflexology, Therapeutic Massage, Indian Head Massage and Reiki.

If you have a room in your house you can use it is much easier. I have a part time job as something completely different and do occasional CT at the moment, hope to do more in the future when ds starts school.

I'm a mobile therapist as house is too small to have a treatment room in - means travelling to clients and it's hard to get away as they like to tell you all their problems.

I do voluntary work in a local hospice, which is the best thing I've ever done (apart from have ds). Meet loads of other therapists, got great advice from them. Though despite some of them being qualified for years and having so much word of mouth recommendations they don't need to advertise - none of them are rich and you will have to be prepared to work to suit clients - evenings mostly.

I did the IEB in Reflexology and the ITEC courses for massage. You have to do lots of case studies and exams, but most of the people on the course left school at 16 and hadn't studied for years and still did well.

You will also have to to an Anatomy and Physiology Course (A & P), colleges that offer ITEC CT courses will also offer this, sometimes as part of the massage/reflex course, sometimes as a separate course. When I did it is was a multiple choice exam.

Reflexology is a fabulous thing to train in and practice. I love giving it - you can find out so much from peoples feet - or hands as the reflex points are also on the hands.

I'm hoping to do a maternity reflex course this year.

You could go and have a course of reflexology and ask the therapist where local to you is good to train and where they advertise etc.

Round here (Hampshire), most therapists charge around £35 for a treatment. Though bear in mind that even if you have a room at home you won't be able to have one client after another all day as you will need a bit of space between each client.

Costs - think I paid about £400 for my reflex course - in London. Plus books, towels etc.

You will need a reflex stool, which you could get second hand, think mine cost about £100.

On your course you will learn about professional bodies you can get membership with and get insurance, think both these together will cost about £80 a year, you can pay monthly.

Good Luck.