Massage

The path to becoming a self-employed massage therapist in Switzerland is very achievable, but it requires careful planning. Essentially, you'll go through the following phases:

• Phase 1 (1-3 months): Complete or plan your qualifications and continuing education. Choose your legal form and register as a sole proprietorship or GmbH.
• Phase 2 (2-4 months): Register for social insurance (AHV, BVG), take out professional liability insurance, find and set up your premises.
• Phase 3 (1-3 months): Apply for insurance accreditation (EMR/ASCA), build your marketing and website, win your first clients.
• Phase 4 (ongoing): Complete continuing education, build your client base, optimize your business.

Depending on your starting point, you can open your own practice within 3-6 months. If you start as a self-pay practice (without health insurance accreditation), it can be even faster. You can build insurance accreditation in parallel.

Important: Take your time to work through each step carefully. This guide helps you to not forget anything important and provides you with all the necessary links and information.

Good news: You can start immediately as a massage therapist, even without health insurance accreditation! As a so-called self-pay practice, you offer your services directly to clients who pay out of pocket. This is an excellent way to get started quickly and gain initial experience.

There are a few important points to keep in mind:

• Title: Without a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFA) or Advanced Federal Diploma (HFP), you may not call yourself a "Medical Massage Therapist." Instead, use terms like "Classic Massage," "Wellness Massage," or "Massage Therapy."
• No medical claims: You must not claim to treat or cure medical conditions. Phrase your offerings carefully.
• Supplementary insurance: Your clients cannot claim treatments through their supplementary health insurance as long as you don't have EMR or ASCA accreditation.

The big advantage: You can start generating revenue and building a client base immediately while pursuing EMR or ASCA accreditation in parallel. Many successful therapists started exactly this way. Don't underestimate the power of satisfied clients who recommend you, regardless of whether insurance covers the treatment or not.

Accreditation through a quality register is an important step so your clients can claim treatment costs through their supplementary health insurance. In Switzerland, there are two main registers:

EMR (Experience Medicine Register): EMR is the largest and most well-known register. For accreditation, you need at least 150 hours of method-specific training in your specialty plus 150 hours of medical basics (anatomy, physiology, pathology). The one-time registration fee is approximately CHF 400 plus CHF 200 per method, and the annual fee is approximately CHF 360.

ASCA (Swiss Foundation for Complementary Medicine): ASCA requires at least 200 hours of method-specific training plus 150 hours of medical basics. The one-time fee is approximately CHF 250, and the annual fee is approximately CHF 320. Additionally, you must complete 16 hours of continuing education per year.

Most major health insurers such as Helsana, Visana, Swica, and CSS accept both EMR and ASCA. EGK has its own accreditation system. Processing your application typically takes 4-12 weeks. Tip: Submit your application as early as possible so you can bridge the waiting period.

In Switzerland, there are several qualification levels for massage therapists. Your choice depends on your goals and desired specialization:

• Federal Diploma in Medical Massage (HFP): The highest qualification in medical massage. This Advanced Federal Professional Examination is organized by OdA MM and allows you to use the protected title "Medical Massage Therapist."
• Federal Certificate of Competence (EFA): A recognized diploma confirming solid knowledge in massage and medical fundamentals.
• Naturopath TEN: An alternative through OdA AM, covering Traditional European Naturopathy, which also includes massage.
• Private school diplomas: Many recognized schools offer their own diplomas that are sufficient for EMR/ASCA accreditation.

Regarding cantonal permits: For medical massage, you need a professional practice permit in nearly all cantons. The exception is the Canton of Zurich, which does not require a specific permit. For wellness massage, many cantons don't require a special permit. Be sure to check with your cantonal health directorate about the applicable regulations.

Our tip: Even if you already have experience, invest in a solid education. It gives you not only the necessary expertise but also the confidence to successfully become self-employed.

Joining a professional association is not mandatory, but it offers many benefits. Professional associations support you with expertise, networking, discounted insurance, and continuing education. Here are the key associations for massage therapists in Switzerland:

• OdA MM (Organization of the Working World for Medical Massage): The central organization for medical massage. Responsible for federal examinations and quality standards.
• SVBM (Swiss Association for Professional Massage): One of the most traditional associations. Offers discounted professional liability insurance, legal advice, and regular continuing education.
• VDMS (Association of Certified Medical Massage Therapists Switzerland): Represents the interests of certified medical massage therapists and also offers attractive insurance solutions.
• NVS (Swiss Association of Naturopaths): Relevant if you're also active in naturopathy. Provides access to a broader therapist network.

Membership in an association signals professionalism and quality to your clients. You also gain access to affordable group insurance, which can be financially helpful especially in the startup phase. Compare the offerings and choose the association that best fits your orientation.

First, you need to decide on a legal structure. For massage therapists, there are mainly two options:

Sole proprietorship (Einzelfirma): The simplest and most affordable option. You're ready to go as soon as you register with the AHV compensation office as self-employed. Once your annual revenue exceeds CHF 100,000, you're required to register in the commercial register. A sole proprietorship is ideal for starting out, as there are no formation costs and bookkeeping is straightforward.

GmbH (Limited Liability Company): Offers you the advantage of limited liability but requires minimum share capital of CHF 20,000 and notarial incorporation. A GmbH can make sense if you plan to hire employees from the start or if there are higher liability risks.

For most massage therapists, a sole proprietorship is the ideal starting point. You can always switch to a GmbH later if your business grows. Don't forget to apply for a UID number (company identification number) and check the SME Portal for further obligations.

As a self-employed person, you're responsible for your own social insurance. This is one of the most important administrative steps when starting your business. Here's an overview:

AHV/IV/EO (1st pillar): Registration with your cantonal compensation office is mandatory. You pay contributions based on your net income. The minimum contribution is approximately CHF 514 per year, and the maximum is approximately CHF 25,700. Register within 90 days of starting your business.

Occupational pension (2nd pillar / BVG): As a self-employed person, you're not required to have BVG insurance. However, you can voluntarily join a pension fund, either through your professional association or the BVG Substitute Institution. This is especially recommended if you want to build good retirement savings long-term.

Private pension (3rd pillar / Pillar 3a): Without a 2nd pillar, you can pay up to 20% of your net income (maximum CHF 35,280 per year, as of 2026) into Pillar 3a and benefit from tax deductions. Definitely take advantage of this option.

Tip: SVA Zurich offers particularly good online services for registering and managing your AHV contributions. Even if you don't live in the Canton of Zurich, it's worth checking their information pages.

Proper insurance coverage is essential for massage therapists. Here are the key insurances:

Professional liability insurance: This is the most important insurance for your practice. It protects you if a client is harmed by a treatment. Through professional associations like SVBM or VDMS, you can get discounted rates from approximately CHF 150-400 per year. Direct policies with insurers cost approximately CHF 400-800 per year. Make sure the coverage amount is at least CHF 3 million.

Accident insurance (UVG): As a self-employed person, you're not mandatorily covered by accident insurance. However, it's strongly recommended to take out voluntary UVG insurance, as massage therapists face certain injury risks (e.g., strain on hands and back).

Daily sickness allowance insurance: Covers your lost income during illness. As a self-employed person, you don't receive a salary when you're sick. A daily allowance policy pays you a daily benefit after an agreed waiting period (usually 30-90 days). Costs vary depending on age, waiting period, and insured daily rate.

Get multiple quotes and compare the benefits. Professional associations often offer the best conditions, as they have negotiated group contracts.

Good business administration is the foundation for smooth day-to-day practice operations. Here are the key points:

Business account: Open a separate business account to clearly separate personal and business finances. Good options for small businesses include Migros Bank, UBS, Raiffeisen, and PostFinance. Compare account fees, as they can vary significantly (from free to CHF 15+ per month).

Invoicing: Use professional invoicing software like Bexio, Klara, or Smallinvoice. This ensures your invoices contain all legally required information (name, address, UID number, VAT if applicable, etc.).

Appointment booking: An online booking system saves you enormous amounts of time. Platforms like Treatwell, Shore, or Calendly allow your clients to book appointments around the clock. Many also offer automatic reminders via SMS or email.

Business phone: Consider whether you need a separate business number. A prepaid plan or virtual number can be a cost-effective solution. This way you can clearly separate business and personal calls.

The choice and setup of your practice premises has a significant impact on your business and your clients' well-being. Here are some considerations:

Location choice: Consider whether to rent your own practice, sublet a room in an existing practice, or work from home. Each option has its pros and cons. A subletting arrangement is often the most affordable start and allows you to share infrastructure (reception, waiting room).

Equipment: You need at minimum a professional massage table (approximately CHF 500-2,000), towels and sheets, oils and lotions, laundry service or a washing machine, as well as appropriate lighting and a music system. Invest in quality, especially the massage table, as it's your most important work tool.

Hygiene standards: Cleanliness is non-negotiable in your industry. Ensure you change towels and sheets after every treatment, regularly disinfect all surfaces, and ventilate the room. Create a written hygiene plan and follow it consistently.

Also think about building regulations: In some municipalities, you need a permit to conduct business in a residential zone. Clarify this early with your municipality.

Even the best massage therapist needs clients. With a smart marketing strategy, you'll attract attention from the start:

Website and branding: A professional website is indispensable today. It's your digital business card and often the first point of contact for potential clients. smedium specializes in helping self-employed professionals in the health and wellness sector with professional web design, branding, and digital marketing. From concept to finished presence, smedium supports you competently and straightforwardly.

Social media: Instagram and Facebook are excellent for showcasing your work and building a community. Share self-massage tips, show your practice premises, and share client reviews (with consent). Consistency is more important than perfection.

Google Business Profile: Create a free Google Business Profile. This way you'll appear in local Google searches and on Google Maps. Ask satisfied clients for reviews, as positive Google reviews are worth their weight in gold.

Directories: Register in relevant directories like local.ch, search.ch, and the therapist directories of your professional associations. The EMR and ASCA therapist directories are also important sources for new clients.

You've made it this far, and that shows you're serious! Here's your summary of the key steps:

• Choose your qualification and training path
• Decide on your legal structure (sole proprietorship recommended to start)
• Register with the AHV compensation office as self-employed
• Take out professional liability insurance
• Find and set up your premises
• Apply for insurance accreditation (EMR/ASCA)
• Open a business account and set up bookkeeping
• Build your website and marketing
• Win your first clients

You don't have to do everything at once. Go step by step and celebrate every milestone. The path to self-employment is a marathon, not a sprint.

Need help with your website, branding, or marketing? smedium supports self-employed professionals in the health and wellness sector with tailored solutions. From the first idea to the finished online presence, so you can focus on what you do best: helping people.