Abigail is a Massage Therapist and Yoga Teacher. She was introduced to Catch after having a genius idea for an app that would automatically set aside money for freelancers. After doing some initial research, she found out that app already exists, and she became a Catch user!
Tell us a bit about the work you do and how you got started.
I was first introduced to massage therapy and bodywork after I suffered a back injury when I was 20. I spent nearly a year with doctors, physical therapists, medication, cortisone injections and nothing seemed to help. My ortho started talking about doing surgery but I was only 21 and I knew there had to be a better way. I began working with a bodyworker myself and took up a yoga practice and in just a few months, I was pain free.
For the next few years, I was constantly telling people my story, urging them to seek alternative treatments for their pain. Finally, I decided that I would go back to massage school so I could help people myself. Shortly after opening my practice, I decided to do yoga teacher training, which is something I have been passionate about for many years!
What do you love about the work you do?
I love being able to work for myself, to make my own rules and to create my own schedule. I never loved working for other people and love that how hard I work and what I do directly impacts my income. I also love being able to help others! I work mostly with people with chronic pain or injuries and it's amazing to see the transformation in their bodies and in their attitudes after working together. I see such an incredible shift in my clients during our time together and it makes it worth all the hard work!
Where do you hope to be in 3-5 years?
In the next 3-5 years, I hope to expand my business. I would love to own a wellness center and bring in some other practitioners. I love having a private practice but I think there is a lot to be said about having a community!
How do you use Catch to help you run your practice?
I have been using catch for about 6 months now. I use the app to set aside a portion of each business deposit to cover income taxes and put some money into an IRA account each month. I check Catch most days to stay up to date.
What's one Catch feature you couldn't live without?
Honestly, I couldn't live without the entire app. It was sort of a shock to see how much of my income I'm actually taking home, but has helped me to adjust my budgeting accordingly. Now there will be no surprises when I file my taxes. After I joined and realized how easy it is I actually increased the amount I was having withheld. Now I am setting aside some money in my Health Expense Account. Why not!
What's one piece of advice you'd give to others starting out in your field?
Being self employed is a financial roller coaster but I absolutely love it and can't imagine going back to working a job. One thing I've learned is to really rely on the tools I have to help me. Between my booking/ point of sales system and Catch- I am able to cut down on my stress and workload each month. We have the technology, so use it!