Small Business Saturday® was started by American Express in 2010 and is celebrated each Saturday after Thanksgiving. This day provides an alternative to the big box stores’ Black Friday madness, and has blossomed into a grassroots movement across the country!

At MassageBook, we focus on supporting the small business owner.

Here are no-nonsense reasons why you should consider scheduling a massage for Small Business Saturday:

Massage Franchises run a numbers game.

To big box massage therapy franchises, you are just another customer. If you’re looking for a personalized experience from a seasoned professional that wants to develop a relationship with you, then you need to search for a skilled and experienced independent massage therapist in your area.

MassageBook’s massage therapist search directory allows you to quickly connect with professionals in your area who specialize in certain bodywork methods or in treating specific conditions – and who are looking to earn your repeat business.

This means they’ll go above and beyond to make your experience great. Their business growth depends on it.

Individual Practitioners Provide Top-Notch Quality Care

Independent massage therapists are committed to honing their skills because they understand that the difference between success or failure is being a master in the field.

Small practices are constantly continuing their education to better serve the needs of their clients. These individuals bring service to the next level by keeping abreast of the latest treatments and techniques, and resisting the trend to provide “one size fits all” care.

Support the Hustle

Local bodywork professionals are small business owners and are wearing many, many hats: service provider, accountant, marketer, advertiser, partner, etc. And that’s just their professional lives.

If you want to support your community and build the economy in your area, you can applaud their tremendous efforts by giving them your business.

By supporting them, you’re supporting their drive to be self-employed, you’re supporting their kids’ soccer or ballet lessons, or their partner’s dream of going back to school. And that is something that we can all get behind.

You Need a Break Before the Holidays

Between scouring the shelves to find this year’s “it” toy and organizing your seating chart to keep Aunt Rachel and Uncle Robert from speaking to Cousin Sally, the holiday season can be stressful—and it’s just beginning.

By scheduling a massage on Small Business Saturday, you can re-energize for the days ahead of holiday parties, awkward coworkers, political conversations and yes, an inordinate amount of pie. Independent massage therapist that you’re ready to take on all that the season requires.

So before you go out searching for more presents, consider taking some time for yourself.

And consider finding an independent massage professional or bodyworker who has more to gain and more to offer than a big box franchise in the spirit of small business.