Ultimate Guide for Renting A Therapy Room

So you’ve decided to start your own therapy business? Congratulations! We know that starting your own business is a big step. It’s both exciting and scary. But it doesn’t have to be. At Wellshare, we’ve been where you are. We’re passionate about helping health and wellness professionals launch their business from our modern and functional co-working space.

Table of Contents:

1. Things to consider before renting a therapy room?    
2. Choosing the Right Therapy Room    
3. Booking a therapy room    
4. How to set up a beautiful therapy room    
5. Attracting Clients to your Room    
6. Keeping Staff and Clients Happy    
7. Ongoing Considerations in Renting a Therapy Room
8. Why Wellshare?  

Many of our tenants have started and grown their businesses using our rental rooms. Today we’ll be sharing our ultimate guide for renting a therapy room and growing your business! Are you ready?

1. Things to consider before renting a therapy room?

Where do you want to work? There is a wide range of options available to you. You could work from home, set up in an existing clinic, or explore something a little different… like co-working spaces.
Thanks to co-working spaces you no longer need to commit to a long term lease. Working from a rental therapy room will give you a bunch of benefits including:

• Affordable rent
• Low start-up fees
• Access to amenities 
• Great locations
• Flexibility 
• Business growth opportunities. 
• Being a part of the community

With all these benefits, it’s easy to get very excited about rental therapy rooms (we know we’re excited!). But there are a few things you should think about before you sign a lease. 

Insurance. It can sound boring, but insurance is one of the most important factors to consider when renting a therapy room. Making sure your insurance is in order early on in your business can save headaches (and money) later on! While we’re not insurance professionals, we think it’s a good idea. Do yourself a favour and ask the following questions:

• Do you have professional indemnity insurance?
• Who is liable if one of your clients injures themself in your therapy room?
• Does my current insurer cover me if I’m working from a co-working space/shared office? (You’d be surprised how many don’t.)
• Have you consulted an insurance professional?

Finances. Before starting any business venture, it’s a good idea to check your finances are in order. Doing so will help you start your business off on the right foot, and foresee some of the challenges that may be in store for you. 
Minimise your stress and ask yourself:

• Do I have enough capital to launch my business well?
• Do I have a business financial plan?
• What will I do if something goes wrong?
• Do I need to consult a financial advisor?

Your support crew. Starting your business can be incredibly stressful. Between paying bills and hustling to find new clients, you may find yourself burned out quick. In times of good times and bad, it’s important to have people to support you. Before you open the doors to your business, identify people in your life who can support you in your new venture.  Having a supportive network can protect your physical and mental health amid the strain you may be under. Think about those you can rely on. You’ll thank yourself later. 

• Who will I ask advice when I need it?
• What people in my life will encourage me?
• Who will give me honest feedback when I need it?
• Are there networking groups in my area I could join?

2. Choosing the Right Therapy Room

There is a wide range of therapy rooms available for you to base your business from. Whether you feel excited or overwhelmed by the choices is another question entirely. Regardless of how you’re feeling, here are a few tips to help you choose the therapy room that’s right for your business. 
Hourly or daily use. Rental therapy rooms now have a wide range of lease availabilities. No longer are you trapped into a yearly contract, left feeling mildly panicked, wondering if your fledgling business will fly or fall. When you’re just starting, consider renting a room that gives you the option to rent the room for shorter periods. The flexibility of coworking rooms is one of the biggest advantages for your business.  Some questions that might help you figure out what type of lease is best for you? 

• How many hours a week can I work with my existing client base?
• How many hours do I want to work? Does this space give me the flexibility to shift my leased hours if I need it?

    
Amenities. Many coworking spaces, such as Wellshare come with a range of amenities included in your lease. Think about what you need to run your business. In traditional startups, you need to pay for everything, from the furniture to the photocopier. All these amenities can add up as you start your business! Save yourself some cash and choose a therapy room that has what you’ll need. Put your money toward other areas of your business, like marketing that otherwise might get neglected. 

Wellshare therapy rooms include the following amenities:

• High-speed internet 
• Printer 
• Furnishings
• Access to kitchen, bathrooms and waiting areas. 
• 24/7 Access

Location. Where your business is located is vital. If clients can’t find you, your business won’t grow. Studies have shown that convenience is one of the most important factors in clients choosing which clinic to visit. They want to be able to access your services quickly. This means ensuring your business is located close by to public transport and is easily accessible. When picking your therapy room, consider your clients. 

• Will your clients need disability ramps or elevators? 
• How will they be able to travel to your business?
•  Is the signage for your business location visible?

Want to read more about what matters most to health care consumers? Check out this study:
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/life-sciences-health-care/us-lshc-cx-survey-pov-provider-paper.pdf

3. Booking a therapy room

Once you’ve decided on a facility you’d like to operate your business from, it’s a good idea to take a closer look. 

Book a tour, chat to the team from the facility. This is an opportunity to ask all the questions you might have about what operating from the room looks like. The team at Wellshare are all friendly, professionals who are keen to help you achieve your business goals. 

Following your tour, take your time reading over the lease and sign on the dotted line. As you assess your therapy room lease, take special note of the following details. 

Maintenance. Before you sign to book a room, take the time to understand the expectations of renting that space. Depending on the space, some facilities may expect you to pay an additional fee if the facility is damaged in any way during your hire time. Generally, best practice is to ensure that at the end of your hire time, leave the facility in the state you hired it in. If there’s any problems with maintenance, document these and report them to management early. 

• Who’s job is it to clean the facility? 
• Who do you call when something gets broken?

Minimum rental hours. Ensure you have a good understanding of what hours you would be able to rent the room for. If you’re just starting, you might only need the room for a few hours, rather than the whole day. Ask what rental packages are available, hourly or daily leases are common. The ability to hire a room for a few hours provides flexibility and can save you cash - don’t pay for a full day if you haven’t got a full day’s work. 

• Can you rent the room on an hourly basis?
• What is the minimum number of hours a room must be rented for?

Exit Policy. It may sound strange to think about leaving before you arrive, but it’s a good idea. Learn about the cancellation policy of the hired room to ensure you don’t accidentally incur fees when it’s time to eventually move on. Most facilities have at the very least a minimum 24hr notice cancellation policy. 

• What exit fees are there?
• How much notice must be provided for room booking cancellation

Ask what additional resources are available. Some co-working spaces, (including Wellshare) have a range of other services that may be helpful for you. Ask about these early on. Whether it’s consulting with a business advisor, marketing expert or a copywriter you may be surprised what additional services you can access when you hire the room. 

• Are there professionals available for business advice consultation?
• What PD or networking events does the facility host?

4. How to set up a beautiful therapy room

So you’ve chosen your therapy room! Well done! But your work isn’t over yet. It may seem fairly basic, but don’t undervalue the impact decorating and design can have on your business. Clients who feel welcomed into your space may feel more comfortable and have a positive experience. If they have a positive experience, they may tell their friends and family about your business! This can lead to… new clients. Here are a few things to think about to ensure your therapy room is looking and functioning its best. 

Furniture layout. Consider how the room is arranged. Depending on the arrangement of your lease, some furnishings may or may not be provided for you. Ensure furniture is comfortable and heavy enough to protect everyone’s safety (no one wants a chair thrown). Regardless, take a moment to consider how best to set up the room for your clients. 
- Avoid trip hazards like rugs, particularly if your clients may be prone to falls. 
- Consider the placement of chairs and other seating. Often, face-to-face seating can feel confrontational, so place chairs slightly off to the side to allow client comfort. 

Lighting. Through the use of lights, lamps and candles the atmosphere of your therapy room can be adjusted to suit the service you’re providing. Lighting also plays an important role in the safety of your practice. Ensure that the room is well lit so you can conduct your service safely, and people don’t stumble or trip because of poor lighting. 

Materials. Natural materials such as light woods seem to be preferred by clients, as opposed to glass and chrome.  Often, clients don’t want to think about the previous occupants in the room, so avoid materials that may show fingerprints more easily. 

 Go natural. Plantlife is a trend in decorating for a reason. Plants, whether real or artificial can have a big impact in the atmosphere of your therapy room. Consider how you can include the natural element into your therapy room. Whether through the inclusion of plant life, or a painting of a nature scene. These can often have a calming effect on clients. Likewise, your colour palette should be relatively neutral. 

Clean. It should go without saying, but presenting your therapy room in a tidy and clean state is one of the easiest ways to have a beautiful room. Show your professionalism in your space by avoiding clutter or rubbish. Clients will appreciate the attention to detail and will assume this extends to your quality of care. 

Budget. Decorating your room is essential, but it doesn’t have to be costly. Many quality decor items can be found at affordable department stores, second-hand shops and online. You might even be able to reach out to friends and family. Get creative. 

Artwork. Artwork can be surprisingly divisive. Be conscious of what pieces you choose to decorate your room with. A safe bet is usually calm, nature-themed pieces - such as of trees. 

5. Attracting Clients to your Room

You’ve got your business ready to go, your room is looking gorgeous, but without clients, your business won’t last long. Welcome to the hustle. Attracting clients is often one of the most challenging aspects of starting your business. There’s a wealth of advice online on this topic, and it can certainly feel overwhelming. So here are a few of the top tips we’ve heard of (and tested for ourselves). 

Marketing. It’s a word many in business are familiar with, but what does it mean? Marketing is your plan of action to attract (and keep) a steady influx of clients to your business. It’s how you get the word out. While you could just wait for people to show up, consider how you can actively market your business. Research and make a plan of action. 

LinkedIn. Social media can sometimes be overlooked by health professionals. But online platforms can be a great place to connect with clients, educate and attract them to your business. Choose a platform where your clients are spending time, be it Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest (the list goes on, so I’ll stop there) and engage with them. We don’t mean spam their feed but offer great content. Spotlighting members of your team, sharing some top tips or sharing useful resources are a few ideas. On social media, it’s easy for clients to tag friends and family or provide reviews of your service. Leverage this for your business. 

Signage. It sounds pretty basic, but you’d be surprised how many businesses don’t use signage to their advantage. Increase your visibility by ensuring your rooms use signs that are easily visible to passersby (or other clients if you’re in a co-working space).

Networking. Connecting with other professionals provides the opportunity for referrals. Be friendly and open to discussing your work with others, you never know who might refer someone to you down the track. Return the favour when you can. Both clients and businesses benefit when collaborative care is given. 


6. Keeping Staff and Clients Happy

Running your own business comes with many challenges. One of these can be retaining good staff. While there’s always a natural time for people to move on, retain staff the best you can by providing a respectful workplace and valuing their work. Manners shouldn’t be under-appreciated. 

When it comes to keeping clients happy, focus on what you can control and what you know about your client’s needs. Evaluate your business and do your best to provide an efficient and comfortable service. Keep wait times to a minimum when possible, and utilise technology that enhances your service. 

• Clients value convenience.
• Clients value economic transparency. 
• Clients value collaboration and opportunities for feedback. 

Healthcare clients are functioning more and more as consumers. Speed and ease of access are important. Enable your patients to plan for the financial impact of their visit, many will appreciate not needing to ask the price - but have it offered readily. 

Consider how you can collaborate with other health and wellness professionals to offer holistic care to your clients. This can be as simple as having a flyer available for a complimentary service from a practitioner you trust and are happy to refer to. 

At the end of the day, you won’t make everyone happy. Thinking you can lead to exhaustion. Just do your best and focus on offering quality service to your clients and staff. 

7. Ongoing Considerations in Renting a Therapy Room

​So you’ve been in your rental therapy room for a while, and you’re thinking ‘what’s next?’. Here are a few things to consider as you continue to operate your business. 

Room to grow. Has your business outgrown your room? You may need to consider other options for your business if your room is starting to feel a little small. Maybe you’re thinking of taking on a team member to help you manage your client list. Evaluate where your business is at, and reflect about where you’d like to be in future. 

Opportunities. You may have unexpected opportunities arise from working from a co-working space. Maybe it’s attending a networking event, speaking at a conference or building a referral network. Whatever the opportunity, you’ll need to evaluate these on an ongoing basis. Your time is limited, especially as your business grows. Say yes to those that are likely to take you toward your goals, or you’re interested in. 

Consider mentoring. Starting your own business, you will have learnt a lot! Consider registering with a mentor program, or taking someone under your wing to share your knowledge with. You’ll reinforce your learning, as well as be a part of someone’s professional/personal journey. 

Professional Development. While many professionals require a certain level of professional development to maintain registration, this isn’t the case for all health and wellness jobs. Or for business owners. Education is inherently valuable and can help your business grow. By investing in yourself, you shift your business model towards that of practice-focused. The skills and lessons you learn, you take with you wherever your career takes you. 

-What conferences are on in your field?
- What online courses could you take?
- Do you subscribe to any journals or industry newsletters?
- Do you attend business growth events?

Wellshare knows how important development and learning is in our professional journey. That’s why we have a team of in-house entrepreneurs and business experts. We regularly put on events designed to help you grow your businesses. No, attendance isn’t compulsory if you rent a room from us - but you’ll be missing out! 

Remember why you started. Sometimes, in the humdrum of running our business, we can lose sight of why we started. It’s important to reflect and try your best to keep your goals in front of your mind. Doing so can make the journey more motivating, and rewarding. 

8. Why Wellshare?

​You’ve made it through the Ultimate guide for renting a Therapy Room! Well done! Before you go, here’s one question we haven’t answered yet. 

Why rent a therapy room from Wellshare? 

If you’ve been looking into rental rooms, you probably know there’s a bunch available. What makes Wellshare different?

Wellshare is specifically designed with health and wellness practitioners in mind. We know that as a health and wellness business, you have unique needs from a rental space that your average co-working space may not be equipped for.

Wellshare therapy rooms are located in Sydney CBD in the historical Dymocks building. Your clients will enjoy our purpose-built waiting room (great for building those business referrals) and cozy, but not cramped, therapy rooms. All rooms ensure patient/practitioner privacy. You can enhance the room to your preferences, to offer your clients the experience you want. 

Store your equipment on-site and enjoy 24/7 access to grow your business how you want, when you want. 

Our various therapy rooms are suitable for:

• Psychology
• Psychotherapy
• Counselling
• acupressure 
• acupuncture 

• Chiropractic therapy
• massage therapy
• occupational therapy
• physiotherapy
• speech therapy
• craniosacral therapy