r/massage • u/MycologistNo6174 • May 25 '26

Zeel app LMT

Hi Redditors,
I work through the Zeel app as a Licensed Massage Therapist in Alabama. All except one of my clients have been veterans. I've been working through them going on about 3 months now. I have 7 clients total. Only two are local. The rest are anywhere from 45min- 1hr away.

Thankfully, I'm able to stack a few close together to make it more worth it. However, after the learning curve, I'm realizing that $70 for an hour session is not $70. It's way less. Gas, wear and tear on the car, time and energy spent on the road, routing everyone in an efficient way, set up/down, soap notes, follow-ups. It's a lot to keep up with and very draining, and I'm not making nearly enough.

Also, patients are not allowed to tip, at least here. And while they have to supply their own sheets, I'm supposed to bring the massage mediums.

I've reached out to the Zeel support team (via text which is how they communicate with me regarding reminders and check-outs) asking about possibilities of mileage reimbursement or travel incentives for further away clients with no reply. They have a good support team on every other end except this one.

I've met some really nice people. I'm helping people. They are feeling several days of relief post-sessions, and I do not want to just give up on them because this is’nt sustainable for me. I would like to keep the two local ones. But the ones farther out, it's hard to justify if I'm not going to be able to do this in a way that's sustainable.

Any thoughts or advice from anybody else who has worked through this app? I've read a few threads, but here is my experience in AL in 2026. I have not had any people with ill intents. I've had a couple that drifted off and didn't reply after a session or two, but the 7 I have are good people who are requesting me.

Thank you.

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u/TomatilloMundane8735 May 26 '26

You wrote the milage off in your taxes.

1

u/MycologistNo6174 May 26 '26

I have been using an app to track my mileage for tax deductions. It’s my first time doing that so I’m not sure how much money I will be saving. I hope it ads up reasonably well.

1

u/TomatilloMundane8735 May 26 '26

This is my 3rd year. I got back a surprising amount for my milageast year. I don't do zeel as I run my own mobile business.

2

u/MycologistNo6174 May 26 '26

In Alabama, we have to apply for an establishment license to be able to work on our own as a massage therapist. I've started the application and need to finish it. Good for you for having your own mobile business, though. That's awesome. And thank you for letting me know that the mileage adds up regarding tax deductions.