The No Tax on Tips Act is being celebrated by some in the service industries, but there are several key details massage therapists need to understand before assuming it's a tax-free free-for-all.
Massage therapists often receive tips—especially those working in spas, franchises, hotels, and even private practice. This bill recognizes tipping as a customary part of compensation in “beauty service” roles, which includes body and spa treatments.
So YES—massage therapists qualify for this tax break if:
But the story doesn't end there. Listen to learn more about the nuance behind how this bill ACTUALLY works.
What if you could grow your massage practice without spending a dime on ads? In this episode, we sit down with returning guest Amie Kraft, a massage therapist who has mastered the art of leveraging Google My Business reviews to build a thriving practice.
Together, we unpack why Google reviews hold so much weight for local businesses, how to ask for them in a way that feels natural, and the psychology behind why potential clients trust reviews almost as much as a recommendation from a close friend.
You’ll learn:
✨ Why Google reviews boost your SEO and visibility in local searches
✨ The psychology of social proof and how it influences client decisions
✨ Amie’s personal system for requesting, tracking, and responding to reviews
✨ How to handle negative feedback with professionalism and grace
If you’ve ever hesitated to ask for feedback, consider this your reminder: reviews aren’t just “nice to have” — they’re one of the most powerful tools to grow your practice without relying on paid ads.
Have you ever wondered if a career in massage therapy could provide freedom, fun, and financial success?
Spoiler: It totally can.
In this episode, we are joined by the amazing Krista Dicks, Canadian RMT, clinic owner, and host of The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast. With nearly two decades of experience—and a resume that includes spas, multidisciplinary clinics, race crews, and tropical destinations—Krista is living proof that massage therapy offers unmatched flexibility and opportunity.
What we cover in this episode:
Did you know?
The U.S. massage industry is worth over $18 billion and projected to grow 22% between 2018 and 2028. Yet the number of therapists has only grown 4.6% in the last decade. The demand is there. Are you ready to meet it?
Whether you're a seasoned pro or considering the profession for the first time, this episode will remind you why massage is a career like no other.
This episode of Align with The Massage Business Mama dives into the natural ebb and flow of running a massage business. It explores why massage therapists often experience peaks and valleys in their client load and how these fluctuations aren't always a bad thing.
Ahhh, buying a home — the American dream! For many, it’s a goal woven into the fabric of our upbringing, a milestone that symbolizes stability and success. But in today’s world, especially for those of us in the massage industry, the dream of homeownership can often feel out of reach. Rising costs, fluctuating markets, and the unpredictable nature of running your own massage practice can make the process feel daunting.
That’s why today’s episode is so special. Beca has some BIG news to share — she’s buying a home! Cue the celebration music: Yippee, Beca!
This is such an exciting achievement and a moment of inspiration for anyone wondering if homeownership is possible for them.
As Beca has navigated this milestone, she’s realized that many massage therapists feel overwhelmed by the home-buying process. The terminology, the paperwork, the financial preparation — it can all feel like too much. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be! Today, Beca is breaking down the essentials of buying a home in a way that’s accessible and easy to understand.
In this episode, we are sans Beca and joined by Nicole Keane. Nicole recently published a book, "The Tao of The Polyvagal Theory." Inside the book, she teaches and explores the connection between polyvagal theory and five element theory as a means to heal the spirit and balance the autonomic nervous system.
We talk about how our interpretation of traditional eastern medicine might be flawed and why the method she has developed (while contradictory to much of the general knowledge around five element theory) has so many benefits!
Sometimes when we cannot work it is expected, like pregnancies or a planned surgery. Other times it hits you out of the blue. Either situation is hard as a therapist who only gets paid if they work!
But, with a little preparation, you can turn a potentially disastrous situation into a nice reprieve from an ordinarily chaotic schedule.
Tune it to hear our top tips for when life gets the best of you.
In today's episode, we delve into a crucial topic that affects every massage therapist's professional journey: safety. Join us as we explore the essence of our upcoming workshop, "Empowered Practitioner — A Safety Workshop for Massage Therapists." Discover how this workshop can transform your practice and empower you as a massage therapist.
Our workshop will be hosted on 12/8/23 at 9:00 am MDT and replays will be available!
Episode 051: The Neuroscience of Stress with Charlotte Roden
In this episode, we're delving deep into the fascinating world of stress and how understanding the neuroscience behind it can empower us to manage it effectively. We're joined by Charlotte Roden, an expert in stress management with a background in finance, neuroscience, psychology, and naturopathic health. Charlotte's mission is to help people proactively manage stress, enabling them to thrive amidst life's demands.
Guest Introduction: Charlotte Roden, founder of Embrace Stress, brings over 20 years of experience in finance to her role as an Executive Coach. With a unique blend of expertise in neuroscience, psychology, and naturopathic health, Charlotte advocates for a holistic approach to stress management. She specializes in empowering individuals to recognize, reframe, and reset stress triggers, building resilience and confidence.
About Embrace Stress: Embrace Stress, Charlotte's brainchild, emphasizes putting you in control of your stress. It harnesses the motivating aspects of pressure while equipping you with tools to thrive through challenges. The "Embrace Reset" framework focuses on enhancing knowledge, self-awareness, and mindset, enabling the creation of personalized, practical strategies.
Talking Points:
Defining Stress: Charlotte explores the comprehensive spectrum of stress, from its definition to its dual role in both harming and motivating us. Understanding the intricacies of the stress response lays the foundation for effective management.
Recognizing Early Signs: We delve into recognizing the early signs of stress in our lives. By identifying these signs, we gain valuable insights into tailoring strategies for reduction and relief. This awareness is crucial for both self-care and helping others.
Strategies for Minimizing Stress: Charlotte shares practical strategies to minimize stress impact, both in the moment and over time. Discover daily habits that can be integrated into your routine, serving as effective stress-reset tools and building resilience against future challenges.
Challenges Faced by Massage Therapists: As massage therapists, the episode addresses the unique challenges you face. Balancing the emotional and physical aspects of clients' stress while managing your own can be overwhelming. We discuss the pressure of being self-dependent workers, exploring ways to maintain energy levels, stay focused, and strike a balance between work and personal life.
Join us in this insightful conversation as we unlock the secrets of managing stress through neuroscience and practical strategies. This episode is packed with valuable insights to help you navigate life's challenges with confidence.
Connect with Charlotte Roden:
Thank you for joining us in this episode! Don't forget to subscribe, and if you found this episode helpful, please share it with others. Stay tuned for more empowering discussions. Until next time, embrace stress and thrive!
Get ready to amplify your online presence and connect with your dream clients! In this episode, we're thrilled to have Stacey Hagen, a marketing and visibility coach, share her wisdom on navigating the world of social media with authenticity and purpose.
Stacey dives deep into the art of showing up confidently, crafting engaging content, and attracting the right audience. Discover how to honor your strengths, share compelling personal stories, and create a magnetic online persona that resonates with those you're meant to serve.
If you've ever felt the challenges of social media overwhelm or struggled to strike the right balance between marketing and passion, Stacey's insights are a game-changer.
Tune in to gain actionable strategies that will empower you to shine on social media and make a lasting impact.
In this episode of "Align with The Massage Business Mama," we are joined by Christine Boye to discuss diversifying by becoming a "soul care coach" – yes, you heard me correctly, that's soul care, not self-care.
Alongside her soul care work, Christine Boye is also a doula, cancer survivor, and podcast host. We explore the world of soul care, a realm that will transcend self-care and open up new avenues of revenue.
We discuss how to pursue true sustainability with less hustle and more impact. Using Christine's 3 pillar soul care work.
1) Breath
2) Mindfulness
3) Movement
We hope this episode will shatter the conventional limits we impose on ourselves and help you discover innovative ways to bring in revenue, and create multiple streams of financial abundance in your life as an entrepreneur.
This episode of "Align with The Massage Business Mama" is a nugget. A gentle reminder of what we all already know! That it is important and even cool to take care of your mental health!
We aim to break the stigma around mental health and encourage open conversations about our emotional well-being.
It's easy to neglect our mental health in today's fast-paced world! We get caught up in the cycle of trying to care for our clients, our families, and our friends, and all of a sudden, we are neglecting ourselves.
This episode addresses something especially crucial: taking care of your mental health is cool. We live in a time when self-care is gaining recognition and acceptance. Taking care of your mental health is a powerful act of self-love and empowerment. It shows that you value yourself enough to prioritize your well-being. It's cool to be proactive about your mental health. To invest in activities that bring you joy. To seek support when needed. And to break free from the outdated notion that mental health concerns should be kept silent.
Taking care of your mental health is not only cool, it's also a sign of strength and resilience.
In a world that often focuses on external achievements, how can we encourage others to embrace this mindset?
It starts with being role models ourselves. By openly discussing our mental health journeys, sharing our self-care practices, and highlighting the positive impact they have on our lives. In doing so, we can inspire others to follow suit. We can challenge outdated norms and create a culture where mental health is not only prioritized but celebrated.
We can empower individuals to embrace self-care and seek support without fear of judgment. Don't complicate self-care! It can be as simple as starting a gratitude journal, practicing meditation or mindfulness, engaging in regular physical exercise, or pursuing creative outlets that bring joy. Encouraging open conversations about mental health with friends, family, and colleagues can also normalize the topic and create a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable seeking help.
Above all, remember that you deserve to be mentally healthy and happy. Embrace self-care, seek support when needed, and never hesitate to prioritize your well-being. Taking care of your mental health is not only cool but an act of self-love that will positively impact every area of your life.
Note: This podcast episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. If you or someone you know is in need of immediate help, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional.
On this episode of "Align with The Massage Business Mama," we are joined by Christine Walsh — a money mindset strategist, mentor, and speaker who has used her 25+ years of experience in finance and accounting to help visionary businesswomen master their inner money game. Founded in personal growth and practical strategies, Christine brings clients her cutting-edge money wisdom, forward-thinking entrepreneurial mindset, and Wall Street investment experience together so they can breakthrough their money ceiling, reduce financial fear, and increase their income without compromising their lifestyle or busting their a$$ to get there.
Some believe that therapists should never discount. But here at Align with The Massage Business Mama, we believe there are times when it is appropriate! NOT all the time, but certainly at times. And today, we get into our top 4 times when we think it is appropriate to discount your services.
While it may seem funny that we have the power to "fire" our clients, the truth is that if clients aren't honoring the boundaries, policies, and procedures we have set up in our practice, we have every right to put them on the chopping block. And while it might seem scary at first, the idea of conflict and loss of income, sometimes moving forward in this manner is the best approach.
When you start to cut out clients who abuse your time and energy, you make room for those who respect and appreciate all you have to offer. You make room for increased growth and abundance. Your time and energy are no longer drained from negative interactions.
Listen on for our 6 tips for firing a client.
Us massage therapists are not notoriously known for our financial savvy. Having a scarcity mindset or "Starving Healer Syndrome" unfortunately describes an awful lot of us in the healing professions! We operate from the belief (often unconscious) that we don't deserve to become wealthy or even financially comfortable from the work we perform.
But Therapists, that's a lie! We deserve all that and more!
A few months back, inside my membership, we were focused on retirement—a topic I often see neglected by Massage Therapists. In fact, in an informal quiz I conducted on Instagram, 65% of you said that you hadn't started planning for retirement yet.
You might be saying, "Contribute towards retirement? Are you kidding me? There is nothing left over at the end of the month."
And I get it. It's really hard to budget when you don't know how much is coming in. Especially in the beginning stages when income and expenses are unknown. And it's not like we have anyone contributing to a 401k on our behalf...
But Therapists, there is a better way. I want to see you thrive and succeed NOT only during your career but also into your retirement!!! Which is why I invited financial literacy coach Sheri Rozeski to come chat with my membership group. This podcast episode is pieces of that conversation. Sheri has been a 1:1 financial coach for over 11 years and is passionate about helping people create positive relationships with their money.
Getting on track for retirement can and should be a priority! Listen on as we discuss how to kick scarcity mindset to the curb and create abundance. We HAVE resources within our control as self-employed entrepreneurs to change our destiny!
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Listen and Learn:
And, if you choose to tackle your money, what you give up:
What does a sober living group and massage business marketing have in common? You may just be surprised by the answer!
In this episode of "Align with The Massage Business Mama," we dig into a unique approach to marketing your practice.
Instead of pushing, pushing, we discuss the idea of drawing in potential clients with magnetic energy. How sharing what we are passionate about in life and massage can attract our ideal clients with a lot less desperation than other methods for promoting our practice.
In this episode of "Align with The Massage Business Mama," we unpack choosing a legal entity for your massage practice.
One of the big things that trip people up at the beginning of their massage business is figuring out what legal entity to set up. Whether to be a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or LLC. C Corp, S corp, it can be overwhelming initially!
One thing to note is if you take no action, the IRS automatically considers you a sole proprietorship. So, if you are struggling with paralysis analysis for how to structure your business. You have already inadvertently made a decision. By failing to make any official decisions or moves to create a business entity, you are operating as a sole proprietorship.
Listen on to hear more about the pros and cons of each entity.
Are you familiar with the doshas in Ayurvedic medicine?
All unique, and all with their own set of considerations when it comes to bodywork.
On this episode of "Align with The Massage Business Mama," we are joined by Kimberly Kubicke of Indra Holistic to learn a little more about this ancient Indian medicine and why tapotement and other methods might be more appropriate for certain body types.
Maybe you've noticed some changes with our podcast lately. Beca hasn't been present in as many of the episodes. And no, that isn't because we are fighting or we are breaking up the band...
In the latest episode, we share some of the reasons our format has changed.