Your Reiki Business

As a Reiki Master and practitioner of more than 26 years, snd the current Chair for Reiki Australia, I often have questions come up from my students and new practitioners wanting information about the steps and requirements needed to start their business, so I thought I’d address this here.

For all those doing Usui Reiki and moving on to create a business, there comes a point where we ask the following questions and more.

“Can anyone set up a Reiki business?”, “At what level can I start charging for Reiki?”, “How much do I charge?”, “Do I need Insurance?”, “do I Need an ABN?” and “Do I need to be registered with anyone?” 

These are my personal opinions as a practitioner of 26+ years, so I offer my experiences for your interest only. 

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REIKI AND OTHER FORMS OF HANDS-ON HEALING?  

Many people have a natural ability to heal and in fact everyone can channel energy. It is our natural birthright, and there are many systems around the world that teach people how to channel life-force energy, including Pranic healing, tai chi and qigong, and others, but they are not Reiki as such. 

In 1922 Mikao Usui had a mystical experience on Mount Kurama, near the city of Kyoto in Japan. After meditating for 21 days he has a spontaneous initiation into this energy known as Reiki. After that moment he was able to use this energy to heal himself and others, and pass this energy on to others. Since then, millions of people across the planet have been attuned to this wonderful system of energy healing, and it continues to grow and be accepted as a wonderful modality that has a can change lives. Reiki is also a spiritual practice, and there are different ways we can used our Reiki to help ourselves and others to bring about more balance and heal our lives and the lives of others, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

The thing that sets Reiki apart from other systems, is the attunement or initiation  process. Students are attuned to the Reiki energy by a Reiki Master in-person, who has a traceable lineage back to the founder, Mikao Usui. There are 4 attunements for Level 1, 2 for Level 2, and 1 attunement for the Master and Teacher’s Level. Although there are now people teaching Reiki online, this was not the intended traditional method as it is an oral teaching handed down from master to student, however we respect every person’s right to choose their own path to Reiki as an instrument in their own healing and connection to their spiritual nature. Many who first learn Reiki online will go on to find a Master they can then learn with in-person. There are also teacher teaching hybrid methods of hands-on healing, using their own symbols etc. This is not considered to be traditional Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki, so if you are teaching such a style, please give it your own name as to distinguish it from the traditional form, and if you are wanting to learn Reiki, please do your research. 

If you are looking at beginning or continuing your Reiki journey, you may want to check Reiki Australia’s Directory for Master/Teachers in your area, as their lineage and credentials have been verified, and all members must have been attuned to Reiki in-person with a traceable lineage back to the Founder, Sensei Mikao Usui. Here is the RA Directory Link: https://www.reikiaustralia.com.au/reiki-australia-directory/

AT WHAT LEVEL CAN I START TO CHARGE FOR REIKI? 

Generally Reiki Level 1 is considered to be for self-healing. The intention is for you to use your Reiki for yourself, your family and friends. When doing Reiki on others it is advisable that there also be an exchange of energy, one that honours both. So if it’s a friend or family member, get them to bring you a flower or bake a cake, mow your lawn or do something so that they too are contributing. It doesn’t have to be big, but it will help you to feel valued and respected, and help the other person feel that they deserve and can accept the healing.  

Reiki Level 2 is generally considered the level at which most Reiki practitioners feel confident to start their own business. At Reiki Level 2 you will have learned the 3 Reiki Symbols to increase the energy flowing through your hands, work more in the mental-emotional level, and send Reiki to others at a distance who are not physically present. After Reiki Level 2 you’ll have more tools in your tool kit and may then want to start working with others in a professional manner, charging money for your Reiki Treatments. 

Let us get one thing clear… you are not charging for the energy. It comes free from the Universe. You are charging for your time and the energy you have put in to do your training, set up your business and be able to sustain your Reiki practice. We all want to heal the world and do free work, but if you do this, you won’t be able to pay your rent or expenses that you incur, and pretty soon you’ll be out of business and then unable to help anyone. This is an important message for healers as we often tends to undervalue what we do or the impact it can have on someone’s life. We must get out of poverty consciousness and back into the abundant flow of the Universe. Fill up your own cup first and then overflow! This fundamental message of energy exchange was taught by Usui after healing the beggars in beggar-town in Japan, and they were then given jobs, but later returned to begging, and when Mrs Takata attuned her neighbours for free, so that they could do Reiki on their own children, but they soon came back asking her to do the healing again because they simply had not valued this gift. 

Many people choose to wait till they have completed their Reiki Master’s training before they start a professional practice as they feel more competent. To me the Master level signifies a level of self-mastery! It’s like getting a Black Belt- you are proficient in the basics, and for many, this is where your real journey begins, but everyone is different. 

Not every Reiki Master is a professional practitioner, or a Teacher, and many decide to do this level simply to get a greater connection to the energy and evolve their spiritual nature. Becoming a Reiki Master and Teacher does not mean you are obliged to teach Reiki and attune others to the Reiki Energy, but gives you the option. As a Reiki Master and Teacher for over 25 years with almost 1000 students, I can tell you however, that it is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things you can do. To be able to assist others on their Reiki journey and change and empower so many lives is such an honour and a privilege, so I highly recommend that you consider sharing Reiki when you feel you are ready. 

HOW MUCH DO I CHARGE?

This is a personal decision, but many practitioners will check what the average rate is in their area, or make it similar to the fees charged by massage therapists in the area. Some Reiki Level 2 and Masters charge $80 to $200 per hour or per session. In our modern day and age, people often don’t value what they don’t pay for. When you are just starting out you may only get 2-3 bookings per week, so make sure that you are charging enough to be able to pay your rent and remember, if you don’t charge enough, you may have to close your business and get another job that you are not passionate about. Reiki Masters will often charge more due to their level of experience and knowledge and the strength of the energy being channeled. Again, this is a personal decision that no-one can determine but you. 

A recent student of mine told me she was a hairdresser and said that often people think nothing of paying $300 for a hair treatment etc, so start thinking from this larger perspective. You can also offer a discount for a first session or fir students/pensioners etc, but it’s not so easy to put your price up when you are treating a millionaire who can easily afford your services, especially if you have only ever charged $50! Your attitude, self-belief and what you think you deserve will determine what you get. So do some work on your self-worth if you want to raise your level of abundance and help more people. 

When it comes to teaching Reikj, this can vary enormously, depending on the amount of time for each workshop and the support offered afterwards. Do your own research and settle on what feels right for you. 

Once we had a woman come through my home town who offered to attune people to levels 1, 2 and 3 if they let her stay at their home for a week or in one case in exchange for a meal. There were no manuals or written material and no follow up support. So in this case as you would imagine, those students got what they paid for! Others still charge $10,000 for the Reiki Master and Teacher’s Level, just as Hawayo Takata did, as she believed that people in our Western world only value what they pay for and that money is simply another form of energy. She really wanted them to value the gift of Reiki so it meant they would have to work hard and save for years in some cases to be able to afford this training. 

My personal opinion is that we need to bring Reiki into the modern world where there are lots of workshops available on everything you can imagine. We can make Reiki accessible to everyone that feels called to this art, but not give it away for free as it devalues what we do and sets an agenda for competition rather than co-operation. We can also allow students to do payment plans, so look for different ways to help people get what they want. You will have to determine what you feel is right for yourself. 

SHOULD I GET INSURANCE? 

I recommend that if you’re going to make Reiki your life and your business, you should definitely have insurance. Even though Reiki can never do any harm, in today’s world, some people do look for opportunities to take advantage of others, and I am of the belief that it also helps us to look more professional. I’ve always through that if I have it I’ll never need it, but if I don’t, something is sure to happen, lol. 

Fenton Green are a well-known Insurance company that are recommended by Reiki Australia, and there are many others that will now insure Allied Health Practitioners. You can do this simply and easily and add any other modalities you do to your coverage. 

Here is the link for Fenton Green’s Allied Health Practices page:

Allied Health Practitioners

SHOULD I JOIN AN ASSOCIATION? 

Reiki Australia are Australia’s peak not-first-profit membership organisation, run by members, for member, snd most of us are volunteers. As mentioned above, all members of RA must have been trained and attuned in-person and have a traceable lineage back to Mikao Usui, the founder. There are a few other criteria you’ll need to meet, but once you are a part of a professional association, you’ll have more credibility and will be seen as a professional. There are also lots of other benefits that can help you run your business, such as a Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics, and many other resources to support you. 

To get insurance you will also need to be registered with a Peak Industry Body such as Reiki Australia. Here is the link the RA website’s membership page: https://www.reikiaustralia.com.au/join-reiki-australia/

I know all of this doesn’t ’feel’ like a heart-centred spiritual practice when we get caught up in the nitty gritty if running a professional business, but put this in perspective. In the long run it will build greater confidence and trust from your clients and community, and this will ultimately help you to get more clients and continue to do this wonderful work. Once you become a member, you’ll feel confident to maintain a level of professionalism and then use it as a base from which to grow the spiritual side of your Reiki. 

Here is our Blog laying out the benefits of Joining, with fees etc: https://www.reikiaustralia.com.au/why-join-reiki-australia/

DO I NEED AN ABN AND WHAT ABOUT GST?

It is not necessary to get an ABN if your Reiki is just a bit of a hobby and you’re not earning much, however after reading the information from the Tax Department, they state that if you don’t have an ABN, other employers you may do work for can tax you 47% of your fee. Here is a link to apply for an ABN: https://www.abr.gov.au/business-super-funds-charities/applying-abn

If you do decide to get an ABN, you won’t have to register to pay GST until you earn over $75,000 per year. This means you can’t charge the GST, or claim it back, but if you have an ABN you can claim on other work expenses such as your Reiki Bed, oils, Incense, music, linen, and any other expenses, so it may be worth your while to go ahead and register.

Check the ATO website for more information here: https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/registering-for-gst

Many Reiki practitioners have other modalities as well, but if your only modality is Reiki, you’ll also need to have a Business Code for your Category for the ATO to register for an ABN. Now it’s tricky because Reiki is not mentioned, and I’ve been searching. So the nearest I can find is Other Allied Health Services 8539, although you may prefer to register under Complimentary and Alternate Health Services 85391. Here’s the link to the website with this information:  

https://buscodes.com/anzsic/8539

If you’re just doing Reiki for yourself and your family and friends, then most of this knowledge will not be necessary, but if we as Reiki Practitioners and Teachers want to be seen as professionals in todays world, we sometimes have to do the work to lift our level of knowledge and become more professional, to make sure we feel confident and competent.

These are just my personal ideas, but I hope that this knowledge has been helpful to all. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Namasté 

Carol Macrae xo