Posted on June 7, 2022

When certifying people as Reiki healers, part of the training offers recommendations about starting your own Reiki practice. The formal requirements for starting any business, such as creating a fictitious business name and registering it, creating a logo and website, and then developing a marketing plan for your Reiki practice, have not changed. Listed below are 12 DO’S and DON’TS that you should also take into consideration when starting your own Reiki practice.

The Do’s

Do #1- Be Realistic About Your Situation.

Being realistic prepares you to take on the responsibility of starting your own practice. Assess your life situation and come to an honest conclusion about how starting a business will affect it. Starting a business takes a lot of time and effort. You must follow all the legal requirements to create and protect it while also spending most hours of the day thinking of ways to make it successful. If you have a stressful life now, take some time to settle things down on all levels before you start a Reiki practice.

Do #2- Save Money for Business Expenses.

It is important that you assess how much money you need to start your business. There are a lot of costs associated with hiring independent contractors for website design, designing business cards, media marketing; paying rent for space or renovating your home office; government filing fees; staffing, and other miscellaneous costs. You may not have enough clients to cover these costs. I recommend you research what your initial expenses will be in the first few years, so you can estimate the amount needed. There are also ways to save on costs, such as working out of a home office, sharing rental space with another Reiki healer, and using one of the free templates offered online to design your own website.

Do #3- Know Your Target Clientele

Understand who your target clientele is for each service. Knowing who your clients will be is essential for any practice. Your target clients will determine the prices you charge and how you will market your business. You should know in advance whether you like to work only with animals or would like a variety of clientele – from animals to adults, to children, to the elderly, to those with incurable diseases/conditions. If you know you are not a people person, then focus on animals or building clearings don’t force yourself to work with people just to earn money. Remember, you are also establishing your reputation with each client and if you do not want to be in the room, the client will feel that energy. So remain true to yourself and pick the perfect clientele for your Reiki practice.

Do #4- Research the Area to Learn the Standard Rate for Services

Go online to research your area and the surrounding areas to discover what other Reiki healers are charging their clients and the type of people they are targeting for services. Consider the background, education and training, and specific services offered by each Reiki healer, and then price your services. Also, take into consideration what your expenses will be and what you will need to make to make a profit. Meditate and Reiki the situation if the price still doesn’t feel right to you.

Do #5- Seek Help and Advice

If you know someone who has a successful Reiki practice, ask for advice. Most, if not all, healers are more than happy to assist and advise you on the path they took. Read articles from various experts who are working in and out of the Reiki field. Try to use some of the advice for your practice. Another method is joining professional organizations that helps members start their own practice and provides marketing tools for use. By joining an organization, you are also better able to connect to fellow healers all over the world for advice.

Do #6- Make a 3-to-5-year Plan for Your Business

Be sure to plan out the first three to five years in a business plan. A good business plan will tell who you are, what you will do, how you will do it, and the costs involved to make it happen. There are many companies out there offering to help create a business plan. I recommend you write your own. Only you know what you want to accomplish in your Reiki practice. Keep in mind, it does not have to be a formal business plan. At least, not initially. Once your Reiki practice takes off, you can work on a formal business plan with the help of a professional. Write out your three-to-five-year business plan, which includes goals for each quarter, semester or year. As always, be sure to include all expenses.

The Don’ts

Don’t #1- Don’t Fear Failure

You may put everything together, but fail or fall short of your expectations. Do not fear rethinking your original plan and taking a route that is not as comfortable or common. Look at the situation as a stumbling block to help you fine tune your Reiki practice. What you think is great for you may not be where the Universe wants to take you. Sit, Reiki, meditate, and reposition yourself. Failure in one situation is the potential success in another. Therefore, fear should not be a part of your energy when starting your Reiki practice.

Don’t #2- Don’t Underestimate the Time to Create a Steady Client Base

Understand that although Reiki is gaining in popularity, there are many people who do not know what Reiki is and others who know but do not believe in it. It may take some time to build a steady client base. Once you create a good marketing plan, clients will seek you out. To speed up the process, be sure they can find your business online. Think about hiring someone to assist you in search engine optimization for your website so that people can find you on Google, Instagram, Facebook, local directories and other media outlets. Also, if possible, discount or donate services to help build your reputation and advertise. Word of mouth always has been and always will be one of the best advertising methods for a business.

Don’t #3- Don’t Fear Diversifying

Do not get stuck in believing there is only one way for you to run a Reiki practice. Make your business stand out through creative methods. Some healers offer readings, crystal work, Animal Reiki or meditation classes. Other healers become Reiki Master Teachers and then add certification services to their practice. Think of your own unique background and skills from previous positions, then integrate them into your practice. For instance, if you were an event planner, then hosting Reiki events and gatherings will be easy for you to combine with your business model. Keep looking forward and thinking of new ways to integrate other skills with Reiki for your practice.

Don’t #4- Don’t Forget to Stay on Top of Your Finances

As your business grows, you will need more money to keep up. To do this, you need to ensure that you understand all financial statements and documents. If you have applied for loans or grants, make sure your records are up to date with costs. If needed, get advice from an accountant on how certain financial ventures will affect your practice and taxes throughout the year. Maintain a proper ledger by investing in financial software that helps to balance expenses and income.

Don’t #5- Don’t Forget It’s About Image

In this present society, most businesses have customer reviews on Yelp, Google or other sites. If someone recognizes you, it is very easy to go online and offer opinions about behavior that would not be an issue. Remember, they will associate you and your Reiki practice as one. As a new business owner, you must present the best image for your Reiki practice. This includes customer service. Your healing skills may be the best in the area, but if your Reiki practice is not professional, or you or your staff behave in a rude or nonchalant manner with your clients, prepare yourself. There may be some blunt and sometimes brutal responses from clients, actual and potential, online. I am not recommending you pretend to be someone else, but that you remain cognizant of this world where everyone videos and posts online. If you are starting a new Reiki practice, the last thing you want to worry about is adverse publicity. Remain true to who you are as a healer, business owner and private person while keeping your business face forward.

Don’t #6- Don’t Forget to Relax

As a Reiki healer, you are always sending energy to people, situations, or the world. As a business owner, you will process and oversee all legal requirements, marketing, finances, customer service, personnel, the day-to-day operations, and any unexpected incidents. The stressors involved with assisting clients, supervising personnel, and running your own Reiki practice will take a toll on you. Don’t forget to take time out and relax. Get those moments of peace and solitude. The worst thing you can do for yourself and future employees is to become a healer who is always in need of healing.

In the end, starting your own practice is hard work, but liberating. It is a major accomplishment when you take your first client and teach your first class. I send Reiki to everyone who is on this journey to start a Reiki practice.

From my heart chakra to yours, all the best!

Article by LaTanya L. Hill, JD. For More Informati on, Get in touch at (323) 427-3001.