Seitai practice in a rented treatment room

Office workers, tradies, runners and people with stiff backs or necks who book and pay per session.

A fixed price per session (often 45 to 60 minutes), with repeat clients and package bookings. Your main running cost is room rent, so it pays to fill your booked days.

• Hands-on bodywork training
• Clear, calm communication with clients
• Basic anatomy knowledge
• Booking and record keeping

• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and check the insurer covers seitai specifically
• Don't use protected titles such as chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist, and check your state's rules on health claims
• Check whether your state or territory has any registration or code of conduct for massage and bodywork therapists
• Private health fund rebates usually depend on recognised qualifications and association membership, so don't promise rebates until you've checked
• Avoid promising cures, and refer clients with serious symptoms to a doctor

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $9,000, depending on your setup and the room arrangement you choose. These are estimates only, so your own costs will vary with equipment, insurance and how you rent the space.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how many sessions you book and how often you rent the room. These are estimates, so your results will depend on your client base and hours.

Check that your insurer covers seitai specifically, and avoid protected titles such as chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist. Check your state's rules on health claims and any registration or code of conduct for bodywork therapists, and confirm health fund rebates before promising them.