As a small business owner since 2004, I’ve seen a lot.

You see, I started Michigan Massage and Wellness in October 2004 (back when it was known first as Customized Massage Therapy by Rebecca (and shout out to one of our OG clients who was still carrying that card around in his wallet after all these years!), then it was Royal Oak Massage, and when I moved my practice to Troy in early 2017 we became Michigan Massage and Wellness. However, starting a business on a whim isn’t easy, and it took me several years to build up my clientele and build a name for myself, but slowly and surely, I did. I was also living at home with my parents at the time, so I was able to grow slowly and intentionally, and focus on growing my business while not having the stress of wondering how I would pay rent or a mortgage on a home of my own.

Then, in early 2008, I found a great little house in Clawson, where I have now lived for 17 years (and had I only done a 15 year mortgage and never done a refinance I would now own that home free and clear, but such is life. And most of us who are old enough remember what happened in 2008, a global financial collapse of epic proportions. I often joke that I am forever grateful for that collapse because in todays housing market I could never afford my little ranch home.

Truthfully, it’s hard to remember that time. It was SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO! But somehow, I managed along with so many other small businesses, and we came out on the other side stronger and better.

Fast forward several years, and I was ready for growth and expansion, which landed me in our current home in Troy, where since 2017, I have been doing the same growing and building and surviving.

2020: The Year Everything Changed

It’s one thing to go through the general ups and downs and struggles as a small business owner on a daily basis. It’s another thing entirely to be part of another crisis, this time a global pandemic. And 2020 was different for me because I wasn’t a solo therapist anymore. I had 2 great massage therapists working for me, who at the time were independent contractors, so none of us were privy to a lot of the economic support that traditional employers were getting. All of us had to file for unemployment, and when you own a small business, you’re often the last to get paid and sometimes, you get paid the least. So unemployment, for me, barely covered my living expenses and I still had rent on my office and all other operating costs to worry about! Thankfully PPP funds and some small but very generous donations helped keep us afloat while we were unable to operate our business for 12 weeks.

What happened after we were allowed to reopen was nothing short of amazing. I had spent 12 weeks stressing about the future of my business, keeping my staff busy and profitable, navigating the ever changing territory of this new landscape we suddenly found ourselves in, but my biggest fear was “what happens if people realize they don’t need us after not seeing us for 3 months?” but that turned out to be a non-issue because after we reopened after 3 months of nothing, people were desperate for not only bodywork, but an escape. They were stuck at home with their spouses and children. Sitting in front of a screen all day. Not getting the socialization that they were used to going in to the office. Not getting enough movement.

And for several years, we enjoyed coasting. I grew my team, we were not only surviving, we were THRIVING. Something I wasn’t used to but I thought “Finally! All of the blood, sweat and tears I’ve poured into this little business of mine is finally rewarding me!” And it was great. I was growing something bigger and better than I ever thought possible, and everything felt good.

Don’t Get Too Comfortable…

Anyone that does own a small business knows this. Yet we all let it happen at some point. We start to take our foot off the gas, maybe even tap the brakes a bit, slow down and enjoy the fruits of our labor and trust that your business is running like a well-oiled machine. Until something happens to cause a little disruption. We’ve all been there. Maybe it’s a bad investment. Or a key employee leaves and takes clients with them. A health issue that causes a setback. Family troubles that seep into the business side of things. Bringing on a partner that takes the money and runs. Spending money on efforts that get you nowhere. Understaffed and overbooked, or on the flipside, overstaffed and underbooked. I could go on and on, but anyone who has been a small business owner knows the ups and downs. I mean, are we all masochists deep down? I often joke that in my next life I’m going to just work my way up the ranks at Costco. And when you’ve been self-employed for as long as I have, it’s hard to even fathom working for someone else. I’m sorry, you want me there at what time? And I have to stay for how long? What do you mean I can’t wear yoga pants and flip flops?!

How To Support Your Local Small Business

Now, in early 2025, we are experiencing yet another global crisis. Trade wars are threatening to cause a lot of chaos and problems across the globe. Job security is not very secure at all for a lot of people. Nearly everyone is taking a closer look at their finances and non-essential purchases, and people are scaling back. And I get it, I’m right there with you. A friend recently commented that she hadn’t seen any updates lately of my travels. Right, because when you own a small business that is going through it, you need to make sure your staff gets paid and the bills get paid and the lights stay on, and these days, there’s not much leftover at the end of the day/week/month/year. And unlike some of the larger places out there, we don’t have the financial backing of a corporation, or aren’t part of a franchise model that can give us the tools that we need to be successful. That falls on our shoulders. So we need to push a little harder, talk a little louder, and try to get ourselves heard and recognized through all of the noise and chaos.

So, what can you do if you’re in a similar position of “I don’t know what’s going to happen next so I can’t do anything”? Actually, there’s a lot you can do to support your local small businesses during these lean times……

• Share their posts on social media. (Like, maybe you even share this blog post!)
• Leave a Google review. Pro tip: words go farther than stars, so while it’s great to leave a 5 star rating, consider leaving a short (or long) review about your experience. 99% of our clients find us on Google, and they come in because of the stellar reviews that we get, and we work hard for those!
• Purchase a gift certificate. Maybe coffee isn’t your cup of tea, but you have a friend that loves a good dark roast. Find a local coffee/pastry shop and get a gift card for someone that is going through a challenging time. Or you know they are due for a cut and a color soon, find out what salon they go to and buy a gift card for services. Or maybe Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up and you want to thank those brave warriors that deal with your “angelic” children 5 days a week.
• Make a referral. Is someone complaining about this never ending pain in their shoulder or back? Say “hey, I go to Michigan Massage and Wellness and they do great work, you should check them out!”

So, there you have it. An honest account of what it’s like for us small business owners during these scary times, and a few things you can do to help support us. It doesn’t take much, and sometimes it doesn’t have to cost a thing. And trust me, we appreciate any support you can give.

In Good Hands,

Rebecca Tamm, LMT