Updated October 21, 2026
Where paying customers come from
Most paying clients in Latvia come from a few predictable places. Neighbours, friends and family who try you first and then recommend you make up an early core. Workplace colleagues and staff at local businesses or gyms bring regular weekday bookings. Schools, sports clubs and community centres can be sources for short contracts or group sessions. Online search and social media bring people who look for a therapist now and want quick booking. Word of mouth grows over time and becomes a steady channel once you have repeat clients.
In practice you will use several channels at once. A local listing or profile that links to your contact details and booking is useful for people who search online, while direct outreach or flyers work better for workplaces and clubs.
- Neighbours, friends and family - first testers and referrers
- Workplaces and gyms - repeat daytime customers
- Schools and sports clubs - occasional group work
- Online search and social media - people who need a therapist now
- Word of mouth - grows with repeat clients
How to set a first price and talk about money
Start by listing your direct costs and the value of your time. Direct costs include oils, linens, laundry, travel and any booking fees. Add the time spent travelling, setting up and cleaning. If you plan to scale, factor in administration and taxes. Use those numbers to set a baseline hourly or per-session price.
When you talk about money with a client, be clear and professional. State the total price for a session, whether it includes travel or materials, and your cancellation policy. If you offer a first-time discount, describe it as a limited introductory price and give the exact conditions. Avoid promising income or guaranteeing results.
- Calculate direct costs and time to find a baseline price
- Decide whether to charge by hour or per session
- Be explicit about what is included and about cancellations
- Offer a clear introductory or package condition if you use discounts
What the first ten customers usually look like
The first ten paying clients are often a mixed group: friends and neighbours, a few colleagues, one or two people found via a social post or local marketplace, and sometimes a repeat from a single flyer or event. You may get a sports player who wants regular sessions, or a one-off customer who booked online because they needed relief that week.
Expect variety in needs and communication styles. Some will ask many questions before booking, others will book by message and pay on arrival. Keep early bookings simple so you can test pricing, timing and travel costs without adding too much complexity.
- Friends, neighbours and colleagues usually book first
- One or two online or marketplace leads often appear early
- Some clients become regulars quickly, others are one-offs
- Use the first ten to refine your process and estimate real session time
Legal and tax basics to sort out when you take money
Rules about registering income, invoicing and social contributions are handled by the State Revenue Service - Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (VID). If you plan to accept payments as an independent person, contact VID and ask whether you must register as a self-employed person or sole trader, what records you must keep, how to issue receipts or invoices, and how social tax and income tax apply to small-scale earnings.
Check with your municipality about rules for running a business from home or offering services in rented premises, and ask any profession-specific body or your insurer whether you need liability insurance or permits. If you are unsure about health or hygiene rules for a massage room, ask municipal health authorities which department enforces those rules and what to prepare.
- Ask VID how to register, how to invoice and what taxes and contributions apply
- Ask your municipality about home-business or premises requirements
- Ask an insurer about liability insurance for massage work
- If unsure about health and hygiene rules, contact the local health authority
What tends to go wrong in the first months
Common problems are underpricing, poor scheduling, and insufficient record-keeping. Underpricing makes early work unprofitable once you include time for admin and travel. Without clear booking and cancellation rules you can get many last-minute changes that waste time. People also underestimate the importance of simple bookkeeping from day one, which makes tax time stressful.
Other issues include unclear communication about what the session includes, no written consent for certain treatments when required, and not having basic liability insurance. Market your services slowly and test one channel at a time so you can correct problems before they scale.
- Underpricing when you forget indirect costs
- No cancellation policy or poor scheduling
- Weak bookkeeping and missing records
- Insufficient communication about session content and limits
How a Websta profile fits into your work
A Websta profile gives you a page you can send to anyone and a place people can find when they look for massage therapists nearby. The profile shows services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking, and it appears in a marketplace where local people can post tasks and providers can make offers. Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe, and you set your prices.
Use the profile as a stable, shareable front door for all other marketing - link it from social posts, include it in messages to workplaces, and add it to printed flyers. Keep the services and prices on the page accurate so potential clients have the information they need to book.
- A single page you can share with clients and colleagues
- Shows services, prices, photos, contact form and booking
- Appears in a local marketplace for people posting tasks
- Card payments routed to your bank account via Stripe
Practical steps to get started and keep growing
Start with a short list of services, a clear price, and a simple cancellation policy. Ask friends and neighbours to try you and to give honest feedback. Register or check requirements with VID early so you know how to report income. Create a Websta profile and use it as your booking page. Track where each client came from for the first months so you can budget marketing effort.
Keep the first months focused on learning: refine your timing, check supplies, and adjust prices if needed. Plan basic bookkeeping and set aside money for taxes. Over time you will see which channels bring paying clients and can decide whether to expand hours, work with workplaces, or add targeted online ads.
- Begin with a simple service list and clear price
- Ask for feedback and referrals from early clients
- Register income with VID and set up basic bookkeeping
- Use a Websta profile as your public booking and payments page
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to register with VID before taking any payments?
- Contact the State Revenue Service - Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (VID) and ask whether your planned activity requires registration, how to issue receipts or invoices, and what records to keep. Requirements depend on your exact situation.
- Can I accept card payments through Websta and get the money in my bank?
- Yes. Card payments from customers are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe. You set your prices and receive payouts to your account.
- How should I set a first-time discount without devaluing my work?
- Make any discount explicit and time-limited, state the exact conditions, and use it to get the first bookings and feedback. Calculate the discount into your costs so you remain profitable after materials, time and travel.
- What happens if a client cancels at short notice?
- Have a clear cancellation policy that you communicate at booking. Policies vary - some providers charge a partial fee for late cancellations. Decide what you will do and include it on your booking page or in messages.
- How do I advertise locally without high cost?
- Start with a Websta profile linked from social posts and messages, print simple flyers for nearby buildings and workplaces, and ask early clients for referrals. Track which methods bring bookings and focus on the most effective ones.
About the numbers
Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.
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