Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brynn White, owner of Emendo Massage Therapy, located in Kanata, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Emendo Massage Therapy offers Registered massage therapy and Acupuncture to Kanata and the surrounding communities. All of our therapists are registered, which means the cost is covered by the client's insurance. Everyone can benefit from massage therapy, so we have such a wide variety of clients. There are so many reasons to come see us, from prenatal care to sports injuries to stress/anxiety relief. Our clients are looking to improve their overall well-being, and we strive to help them get back on track and live their best lives! We have a great team of therapists and a calm, comfortable environment, with the goal of every client feeling welcome and safe in our space.
Tell us about yourself
When I first went out on my own, I was working from my house as a Registered Massage Therapist, and then six weeks later, a global pandemic hit. RMTs were shut down by the government for ten weeks total. Since I couldn't work during this time, I decided to do some research to see what it would look like to open a clinic of my own. My mom said she would be my business partner, which is great because she has an accounting and bookkeeping background. We got to work and scoped out some available commercial spaces and went from there. All of the construction work to build the clinic was done by myself and my family members, which was great for our budget. I also think being the one to do the work really helps in terms of taking pride in the appearance of the space and keeping everything tidy and in good condition.
My clients and my team motivate me each day. I want our clients to look forward to coming to the clinic, and I want my team to be proud that they work at Emendo and enjoy their time here.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is probably building the team that we have here at Emendo. I honestly have no idea how it happened, but we ended up with such an amazing team. During the pandemic, there was (and still is) a huge number of clinics looking to hire RMTs. As a brand new clinic, it's hard for a therapist to commit to a new location where you have no idea how busy it will be, and we did miss out on a few potential hires because of that. Luckily we have five therapists (and an acupuncturist) that did take a leap of faith and decide to work at Emendo, and they are all SO amazing and get along great. I truly feel so lucky that we were able to find each of these therapists. We do still have room to hire a few more, though! Maybe this is more luck than an accomplishment, but either way, it's the best part!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
This sounds bad, but just being able to accept that things go wrong all the time. My first day of working in the clinic was horrible; so many things went wrong, and it was supposed to be this exciting sunny day after so much hard work put into opening the business and so many hours of manual labor building our space. I had a meltdown when I got home that night.
Looking back now, I am grateful for that first day because I expect things to go wrong now. When a problem arises, you just have to think of how to fix the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible, and being stressed out will not help fix things any faster.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't hold yourself back because you're scared of what might happen. Starting a new business is terrifying; let that fear drive you.
- If you are partnering with someone, be picky! I have heard too many stories of partnerships going wrong. Luckily I have partnered with my mom, who has to love me unconditionally no matter what goes on.
- Take it one day at a time. There are so many moving parts, and it's easy to get overwhelmed. Keep your schedule and literally go one day at a time, and try to stop and smell the roses while you're at it!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.emendo.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Emendo.massage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emendo.massage/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.