Three Tips for Partnering with a Chiropractor

By Daniel Ruscigno
February 8, 2016

Three Tips for Partnering with a Chiropractor

By Daniel Ruscigno
February 8, 2016

For massage therapists, partnering with a chiropractor is a smart and effective way to further your career. Not only can they give you referrals, collaboration with a chiropractor gives you the opportunity to teach each other about your specialties for a deeper understanding of your client's health, and helps to build your reputation in the field. If you want to build a relationship with a chiropractor but aren't quite sure how to do it, here are some tips to help get you started.

Identify your goal

The approach you decide to take when trying to partner with a chiropractor will largely depend on where you are in your massage therapist career and what your ultimate goals are. If you are just getting started, consider finding an hourly position at a chiropractor's office that allows you to build important relationships and add experience to your resume. Negotiate an agreement that everybody can be happy with before you start - generally an hourly rate, or a split percentage on each treatment. In this scenario, you would be an employee of the chiropractic office and the clinic would largely take responsibility for finding new clients.

If you are interested in owning and operating your own business, you can also consider renting space in a chiropractor's office. The benefit of this relationship is that you are the natural choice when the chiropractor recommends massage treatment for their client. Just remember, when you're running your own practice, you take on several new responsibilities for managing the business – like accounting, marketing, etc. Lastly, if you are already operating your own business, your approach will be a referral approach - where you will refer clients to the chiropractor, and they will refer clients to you.

Formally introduce yourself

There are many ways you can go about partnering with a chiropractor. But no matter how you choose to do it, make sure you effectively introduce yourself. First impressions are everything.

Whether you choose to apply for a position in a chiropractor's office, rent space from one, or simply network with the chiropractors in your area, always take a professional approach to your introduction. In your free time, stop at each office in your area and talk to the receptionist. Tell them about your services, give them your letter of introduction and business card, and request a 20-minute meeting with the chiropractor. Even feel free to win him or her over with a complimentary massage.

Alternatively, but less personal, you can call the chiropractic offices in your area. In either case, when you arrive at your meeting, be prepared with a professional business card and specific talking points on how working with you will benefit the chiropractor. Again, this meeting is not about how the relationship benefits you, it's all about how working with you will earn the chiropractor more money, improve their reputation, or further their career in another way.

Maintain your relationships

The end goal when partnering with a chiropractor is to get a steady stream of clients from a reliable source. In order to guarantee your success, make sure you touch base often and keep the relationship close. Networking and creating professional relationships is an important part of growing your business. Take some time each week to expand your network and you'll reap the rewards in the long term.

Networking with chiropractic and other healthcare professionals in your neighbourhood is a very worthwhile exercise. With not too much effort, and a little bit of persistence you can find a steady stream of new clients with the right relationships.