Need your input...expand business or stay small?

[citrine]

In the last couple of years, my business has really picked up and I am averaging 15-20 clients a week at my studio. At lot of it is through referral and many of them are weekly and bi-weekly clients. In my business 15-20 hrs is full time work, not counting the cleaning, admin, and laundry that I have to do!
I have a therapist who is pretty good and seems like a good partner to get into business with. I priced out an office in town for $350/month with utilities included. In another few months, I will have to start turning down clients since it is getting so big for me to handle....what a dilemma!
I do so well because I am able to give everyone the time they need rather than the churn and burn style of Massage Envy or Hand and Stone. I don't want to lose that if I bring in other therapists and become bigger. I know I would be a demanding boss, because I love what I do, take a lot of classes, and am constantly working on becoming better and providing a certain level of professionalism and care for my clients. I would expect them to be the same way....and not a lot of therapists have that work ethic.
So...what are your thoughts?

 

[Meadbh]

Citrine, you know that if you become a massage tycoon we will have to fire you from the board, eh?



Just joking, but you seem so happy with the life you have now, why would you want to increase your physical and mental stress? I have always thought that doing massage therapy must be physically demanding. Doing it for 30-40 hours a week could be problematic if you don't feel well. And expanding your business can bring its own headaches.

 

[Tyro]

So...what are your thoughts?

I get this pain right here when I....

Seriously, it's your life & business; if you're the boss there's no reason not to do things your way.

Any reason you can't expand on a trial basis to see how things go (find the bumps in the road, so to speak) and take it from there, one step at a time? (Cuz those are my thoughts -- one step at a time to see how things go before making serious committments).

Tyro

 

[ls99]

Not knowing anything about that business, I would ask the question: would doubling the number clients double your happiness?

 

[Koogie]

E/R scientists have reliably concluded that 10 times out of 9 doing more work is a bad thing.... ;o)