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Grants?
Posted by on 2024-07-04 at 1:03 PM
I’ve searched the forum, but haven’t seen anything related so I thought I’d ask. Does anyone know of any grants that might be specifically available to this kind of business, or really any others to be honest. Small business, women owned, etc? Any info would be greatly appreciated. I just completed the course this morning and could really use some help figuring out where to get some funding for things. I plan on doing both online and in-person and I would like a space outside of my home, and then furniture, utilities, you know all the good stuff. As I am currently under poverty level and with inflation killing us all, especially those like myself it has really hit the hardest. So any info would be VERY MUCH appreciated!
That aside, I am SO EXCITED to start practicing now! Thanks and blessings to all!
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9 Replies
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Hi,
I’m in the UK so my info may not be relevant depending on where you live.
Most people just starting rent a space in an established therapy centre in their area. It can be by the hour or by the day. My local village has a community hub with a rentable therapy room which is quite cheap. They tend to cost more in bigger towns and cities. Sometimes people use the village hall or other suitable space. I have done sessions at my home, though this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
I don’t know of any grants for this sort of work. There is a government loan for new businesses but it has to be repaid and I think it’s means-tested. Doing it online is probably the cheapest option to get started.
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@luminis Thanks so much! You’re right though, I’m in the US. Have an amazing day/night!
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Ah ok! When I clicked on your profile it said your timezone is UTC+0 so I thought you might possibly be UK.
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@luminis Oh jeesh, I guess I’d better fix that, thank you!
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B”H
Try checking out the Small Business Association in your area. Also the Chamber of Commerce. Ask about woman owned businesses services.Since you are below poverty level this may be helpful, and your family status also.
You may want to emphasize the emotional benefits, and relief from symptoms. Unless you are a therapist, you can’t call yourself one. Also saying that you heal, or are a healer can be problematic in official circles. I haven’t heard of grants but loans may be possible.
Since you’ve just finished your certification, getting practice sessions in is key. If you can get a testimonial for each successful session, this is worth it’s weight in gold.
Many new practitioners start out from their home or going to client’s homes. If there is a space that you can rent out per session, this is also quiet helpful. Motels and Air BandBs can also work well. It’s a good time to start putting out some inexpensive advertising and making connections to get a feel of how to reach your local and online client bases.
Wishing you much success!
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Hi there- From my experience many spiritual stores and healing centers will rent space or have space available that you pay for by percentage of your own sessions. So say you have a session for $200 the business you work out of can split your fee with you 60/40. You get the 60% they get the 40%. This way you don’t have any upfront costs they process payments and will usually do some marketing for you. Of course you may be able to negotiate a different percentage but that is the rate in my area.
I’m speaking from personal experience in and around the Boston area. Good Luck on your new endeavor!
Warmly,
Leiza
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@malka-ahern Thank you. I have contacted those places and there isn’t anything available at the moment. I’m definitely not looking into getting too much until I get enough practices under my belt to get comfortable and learn even more, but in the near future I’d like to get a spot outside of my home. Mostly because although I keep my home looking nice, my neighbors have all let theirs go so I don’t really want anyone coming to my house. LOL! Have a great day/night!
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@leigrisgmail-com So I live in a smaller town (Vernal, Utah 10k people) and we used to have a center here for that, but they closed early this year. They rented out spaces but now that’s not an option. And there’s really not a lot of other options here unfortunately. Thank you so much for your input! Have a great day!
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Grants for starting small businesses tend to be very locally based, so those of us who don’t live in your town/county/state won’t have much particular info to share.
Having been involved in bootstrap businesses/ self-employment for most of my working life, I’ve seen how grants often require a financial investment on your part, and ask you to create a business plan and cash flow – which is like writing fiction when you’re starting out (and even later). It has made me really cynical about grants, to be honest. Also, conforming to the requirements of a grant can be a mismatch for what you’re really trying to do. You can end up having to spend money on stuff you don’t need. It might require you to register or even incorporate a business at a level you’re not ready for, as well.
So grants can be a double-edged sword. The best programs are the ones that are designed for people on unemployment insurance or other benefit programs to get on their feet. But even then, things can be weird. I have stories….
Since you’re already strapped for cash, I highly recommend not going into any debt over it. Find ways to not pay for things until you’re really ready. If you can do practice sessions at the client’s house rather than your own, they might like that. It doesn’t work for people with kids though. All you need for online sessions is a computer and internet connection which you have already, a decent mic and maybe a pro Zoom account.
This kind of spiritually-oriented work has long been done out of the practitioners’ home. I’m fortunate to have a spare bedroom with a door to the deck. Eventually, I painted and decorated it for calm and healing. I enjoy spreading one of the pretty sheets I inherited from my mother on the bed I inherited from my father, under my late sister’s chakra painting, and use her voice recorder. They’re all with me when I work. If I had to rent a space, I’d have to charge a lot more, and I live in a low-income part of the country, so I don’t want to make it unaffordable, and I get to keep the money and deduct some “business use of home expenses” on my income tax (I’m in Canada).
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