The most effective way to ensure you never want for cash is to have a marketable skill. As a fallback plan, a marketable skill beats a degree every time.

If you can get people to pay for your skill by the hour or by the value of work done, you can pretty much write your own ticket. The amount of money you can make is only limited by the number of hours you can work.

Being a massage therapist is one of the skills you can use to make money on demand. If you are already well-trained and skilled at massage therapy, you can start earning money today. If you haven’t yet refined your skills, you can get your skills to a respectable level within a surprisingly short amount of time.

There are several massage therapy courses you can join today. Most of them will issue you with a certificate upon completion.   You can also go to a massage therapy school in your local area.  Many of these schools offer scholarships and tuition assistance and will help with job placement once you complete their course.   

After graduating from massage therapy school, you will need to get licensed by the state.   This is usually done by passing the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MDLEx).    

Mastering Your Craft

To set yourself apart from the crowd and make a decent living as a massage therapist, you must be above average at your craft.   You need to get your name out there and let word of mouth tell your story as being the best massage therapist in your area.    This may require additional training and certifications which is an investment in YOU that will pay dividends for the rest of your career.     A few massage therapy techniques you should specialize in are:

Swedish Massage which is the most common technique with the goal of relaxing the body by rubbing the muscles in long gliding strokes.   Swedish massage has shown to reduce stress, pain and joint stiffness.   It also increases oxygen in the blood, decreases toxins in the blood and improves circulation. 

Deep Tissue Massage which is similar to Swedish Massage but targets knots and releases chronic muscle tension by focusing on the deepest layers of muscle, tendons and fascia over your bones and joints. 

Thai Massage which is customarily performed on the floor but can also be done on a massage table.   This massage technique involves stretching movements, applying firm/ rhythmic pressure.   Thai massage reduces stress, improves circulation, and is helpful at increasing energy, flexibility, and range of motion in the joints.  

Sport Massage focuses on troublesome areas related to one's activity.   This can be helpful for event preparation or reducing recovery time after an event.   Sport massage can improve endurance, flexibility, and help prevent injuries.   Sport Massage is not just for athletes, it's helpful to any active individual. 

Electronic Muscle Simulation makes use of simulation pads that send gentle electronic pulses into the muscles that cause them to contract and relax.  This tones the muscles and fosters better circulation and reduces pain. 

Chair Massage is perfect for neck and shoulder massages.   Massage chairs are lightweight, comfortable and portable and adjustable for each client.   By making an investment in a good quality chair you can expand your service offerings and offer chair massage at birthday parties, girls nights out, office parties, bridal showers, sporting events, home shows, holiday parties, employee health fairs.  

Equine Massage (horse massage) is another massage therapy skill that requires additional training and certification and may require state veterinarian supervision.   It's popularity is increasing as the benefits are being realized.    

Setting up Shop

When you're starting out you can work for an existing massage therapy spa or can work for yourself and build your own business and clientele.   If you decide to work for yourself, you'll need a place to work.  You can offer your services in your home or you can visit clients in their home or office.   Where ever you decide to setup shop, be conscience of your surroundings and look out for your personal safety.   

If you decide to work for yourself you will need to invest in a good massage table and chair.   When selecting a table and chair inexpensive may not be the best way to go.  By investing in a more comfortable chair/table, you clients will be more comfortable which is the whole idea of massage therapy.  Don't cheap those tools out.  It will reflect poorly on you so get the best (not most expensive) you can afford.   Beyond your table and chair,  you can enhance your professional image by offering your clients Microfiber Quilted Massage Table Blankets, Flannel Massage Table Sheets, massage oils, gels, and creams, headrests and footrests and comfortable pillows. 

One of the first things you should do when marketing and promoting your services is to set up flyer and/or a website describing your services. Your marketing should contain all the information a client needs to make a decision including:

1. Services: It should be clear to anyone browsing your site the specific services you offer. Make sure that you’ve expressly stated what you are competent in. 
2. Location:  Where your shop is, or do you offer in the client house/office services.  If you are willing to work offsite, a good marketing tactic would be to offer your services at birthday parties, girls nights out, office parties, bridal showers, sporting events, home shows, holiday parties, employee health fairs, or one day a week at a local business.   
3. Prices: You should indicate how much you charge. Usually, massage therapists charge by the hour. Look up what other professionals in your area charge so you don’t price yourself out of the market.  Massage therapists are paid very well.  The reason for this comes back to the required training and certifications.   Through your training you'll learn how to heal and give relief to your clients.   In some cases insurance will cover massage therapy.   Another reason therapists are paid well is because its physical exhaustive.   It takes a lot out of the therapist.  
4. Testimonials: When there is verifiable proof that other people love your services, a prospect browsing your site will find it easier to trust you and so give you a call.
5. Contact Information: Make it easy for prospects to contact you. You should always provide a phone number and email address.

Local Listings

Listing your service business on sites such as Yelp provide an effective way to land your first few clients, build a track record and land amazing reviews. Use Google to find local listing sites where you can advertise your services.

Always check your state and local laws for licensing, bonding and insurance requirements before opening your business.    It's always a good idea to consult an accountant on tax and advice on setting up your business as well as a lawyer for ways to protect yourself and personal assets.