We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adrienne Permar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adrienne below.

Adrienne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I was let go from a very comfortable job working as a massage therapist in a deep tissue massage clinic. We had some disagreements about time management and other issues, as well as a mismatch in practice styles. I was looking to do more lymphatic work, which was very light, and I was having a hard time communicating the benefits to clients in that environment. I had worked at the clinic for a few years, and it was very upsetting for both the owner and myself when she decided I was not longer a good fit for her clinic. It was a tearful goodbye for both of us. I interviewed with a number of spas and clinics, and nearly accepted a position with a physical therapist specializing in post-cancer rehabilitation.

Then a friend asked me why I didn’t just start something of my own. That kind of blew my mind. Why not? I decided to open a lymphatic massage clinic that would specifically educate clients and offer manual lymph drainage treatment. It was a big risk: would enough people be interested in receiving lymphatic massage? Could I really start and market a clinic with such a specific and unique offering? I decided to go for it. I filmed a promotional video which I advertised on Facebook. I found two fully certified lymphatic therapists who wanted to work with me. We were busy! And in less than a year we were ready to bring on another team member. After two years, I sold the business to pursue my dream of homesteading outside of the city. I learned a lot in that venture which I have brought with me ever since.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am currently the Director of Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage, near Athens, GA. We offer the fastest and (we think) the best entry-level massage therapy training in Georgia. Our program is full-time and is completed in less than four months. We love the intensive nature of our program as it encourages students to commit to making a life change. Our program aims to integrate clinical training which equips students to help clients heal from physical ailments while also incorporating a holistic perspective. We have high standards and the results speak for themselves: we have a 100% graduation rate and a 93.5% pass rate on the national exam, the highest in the state. All of our licensed graduates have jobs in the industry, often being hired before graduation.

Our mission is to inspire passion for the art and science of massage therapy through research-based, student-centered learning experiences. We truly believe massage therapy is an art, and as classical educator Andrew Kern put it: “an art is a set of skills with breath in between.”

Conversations about M&A are often focused on multibillion dollar transactions – but M&A can be an important part of a small or medium business owner’s journey. We’d love to hear about your experience with selling businesses.

I sold “The Lymphatic and Massage Clinic of Vancouver” in 2017, two years after I started the company. Though the business was a success, I sold it at a loss for a few reasons. Firstly, I had spent WAY too much on the renovation of the space. Secondly, I wanted to leave the city for health reasons in a short time span, which meant the business had not had time build equity. Overall, I sold the business for a small sum. I had repaid myself for the construction and salary, but had not shown much profit above and beyond this. I also had a pretty niche business, and I wanted to sell it to someone with similar training and experience as myself. The business had a lot of clients, a good reputation, and little overhead, so it was set to thrive under the new management. Unfortunately, the new manager did not get along with the landlord, and ended up suing him over a parking space. The court found in favor of the landlord, and the business was forced to close due to legal fees.

If I can offer some advice for other entrepreneurs, here it is:

1) Never sign a “cost plus” construction contract. The contractors originally quoted my $25,000 for the renovation. When all was said and done, I paid them $69,000!

2) Don’t enter into a legal suit if you can help it! It’s not worth the hassle and expense and may end your business.

3) From my current venture I will say, make sure you get everything in writing before signing a lease. Our current landlord made verbal promises which he later reneged, and we had to pay for repairs out of pocket for things that were damaged prior to our taking possession.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

One of my defects is that I’m very idealistic and I’m often not happy working for someone else–I always think I can do it better myself! That idealism spurs me on, even when I face tough challenges. It’s almost like I’m compelled to try to create something better. A lot of people told me there was no way my massage school would be approved by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy and discouraged me from trying. It was certainly intimidating, but I kept pushing through the layers of regulation until we got our approval. I knew I could put in the work and get it done. I have confidence in myself and a willingness to work hard for unknown reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oconeemassageschool.com
• Instagram: @oconeemassageschool
• Facebook: /oconeemassageschool