How Noterro GO Helped Me Build a Hybrid Massage Practice

I never thought I would want to have my own clinic.

The things that attracted me to working at a franchise were real. Front desk staff handling customer care, check-in, checkout, phone calls. A team to help keep things flowing. Only having to worry about massaging.

That setup made sense for a long time. Until it didn't.

When the Math Changed Everything

At Massage Envy, I was fully booked weeks in advance. The majority of my clientele were regulars. People who specifically requested me. People who waited for my schedule to open up.

Then I did the math.

I realized I could do 7 massages a week for a month and make the same amount of money as doing 30 massages a week for a month at the franchise.

Seven versus thirty. Same income. That number changed how I saw everything.

Around the same time, I started noticing friction with the team environment. My level of cleanliness and my desire to keep things efficient no longer aligned with my coworkers and the staff. Instead of getting upset at them, I took that feeling as a sign. It was time to move on and forward.

Building Something Different

I wear a mask when I massage. Some of my regulars noticed and appreciated it. They were COVID-conscious and started asking if I could work in their homes instead.

I also had clients interested in mobile massage work for groups at Airbnb locations. The demand for something different was already there.

So I started thinking bigger. I wanted to provide an office space arranged with immunocompromised people and their loved ones in mind. I wanted to offer mobile sessions for clients who needed care at home. I wanted to serve people the way I believed they deserved to be served.

That meant building a hybrid practice. Both mobile and in-clinic. Flexible enough to meet clients where they are.

The Tools I Had Weren't Built for This

Before Noterro, I was using Google Forms for my intake forms. I hated how they looked. I hated how they were presented to my clients. And I really hated how clients would need to completely re-fill a new form if something needed to be updated in their health history.

I wanted my SOAP notes, forms, and paperwork to be clean and clear and easy to navigate. For me and for my clients.

When I started looking at other software, I wasn't even thinking about the hybrid workflow yet. What I cared about most was my client's experience. I have older clients. I wanted to make sure their user experience was seamless and intuitive. If the booking process confused them, I'd lose them before they even got on my table.

What Noterro GO Got Right

The first time I used Noterro GO, I was mapping out my service area. I had to open Google Maps to set up city boundaries since I need a business license for each specific city I work in. That part took some figuring out.

But then I saw the questions that Noterro GO asks about mobile locations. Are there stairs? Are pets present? What's the parking situation like?

These were all questions I forgot to ask. Questions I didn't even think to ask. And Noterro GO already had them set up. It helped me avoid big, embarrassing mistakes before they happened.

I also love how easy it is to change the color of my booking site and app. Yelp doesn't allow me to post a masked picture of myself. With Noterro, there are no restrictions on how I present myself. I can show up as who I actually am.

What Changed

Now I can make bookings for both mobile and in-office appointments on the same day without completely blocking my schedule for one or the other.

That flexibility is everything. It's the whole reason I left the franchise model. I wanted to work in a way that served my clients better. Noterro GO actually supports that.

The first time a mobile booking came in automatically, without back-and-forth messaging, without me manually coordinating everything, I knew this was working. Noterro GO wasn't just software. It was the foundation I needed to run the business I wanted to build.

Tech Support That Actually Feels Supportive

I'll be honest. I still have things I'm figuring out. Like how to set up mobile massage booking for more than one person without manually making each booking. My mobile massages are $100 more due to a travel fee, but that fee only applies once for a group. I'm still working through the best way to handle that.

But here's the thing. I really love the tech support. Everyone is open and genuinely helpful. I never feel dumb for asking questions or for not knowing how to navigate something. There's no obstacle I have to hurdle to ask for help.

The only hurdles I have are my own. And that's a big deal when you're running a business by yourself.

What I Thought vs. What Actually Happened

I thought going independent would be too complicated. The right system made it surprisingly smooth. Not effortless, but manageable. Doable. One step at a time.

I thought mobile scheduling would be messy. Noterro GO handles it without friction. The built-in questions about stairs, pets, parking? Those details matter more than I realized.

I thought I'd miss having a team. Sometimes I do. But the trade-off is worth it. I work cleaner. I work more efficiently. I work in a way that aligns with my standards.

For Anyone at a Franchise Dreaming of Going Solo

My goal is accessibility. I want to offer care anywhere. To clients who can come to me and clients who need me to come to them. Noterro GO helps me do that.

If you're dreaming about leaving a franchise, don't wait for the "perfect moment." It doesn't exist. Start building your confidence one client at a time. Do the math. Look at your regulars. Think about what you actually want your days to look like.

And when you're ready?

Let's go! 

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