What should a massage consultation form include?
A massage consultation form should say who the client is, then ask whether they’re pregnant, about recent surgery, blood clots (DVT) and heart or circulation conditions, whether they’re having or have recently finished cancer treatment, about skin infections, open wounds or a fever on the day, and about injuries, painful areas and anywhere they’d like you to avoid. Ask about allergies to your oils and creams too. It ends with their consent and a signature with the date. Check the final wording with your insurer.
We make Covered Beauty, which has a ready-made massage and body treatments form, so we’ve said where it fits. Nothing here is legal or medical advice. Your insurer’s rules and your training come first.
What does our massage form ask?
Every ready-made form in Covered Beauty starts with the client’s full name, date of birth and home address, so the signed form stands on its own as a record. Then the massage and body treatments form asks:
- Are you currently pregnant? (yes or no)
- Any recent surgery, blood clots (DVT), or cardiovascular condition? (yes or no)
- Are you currently having, or recently finished, cancer treatment? (yes or no)
- Do you have a skin infection, open wound, or fever today? (yes or no)
- Any injuries, areas of pain, or areas you’d like us to avoid? (written answer)
- I confirm the information I’ve given above is accurate, and I consent to this treatment. (a tick to agree)
Its note to the client explains that deep or firm massage can aggravate some conditions without them realising, which is why it asks about surgery, clots and the heart, and asks them to say if anything applies so you can adapt the treatment.
It doesn’t ask about allergies and has no aftercare tick, so add those if you need them.
Why does each question matter?
Stop, adapt or go ahead
The national occupational standard for body massage splits what you find at the consultation in two. An absolute contraindication stops the massage and may mean referring the client on. A relative one means deciding whether the treatment suits them and how to adapt it. It isn’t law, but qualifications are built on standards like it. It also asks you to spot anything suspicious on the skin and refer the client to a healthcare professional.
Recent surgery and blood clots
The NHS page on DVT says a clot in a vein can travel to the lungs, which can be life-threatening. It lists surgery, pregnancy, having had a baby in the last 6 weeks, the combined pill and HRT among the things that make a clot more likely. If a client mentions pain and swelling in one calf, leave that leg alone and suggest they get it checked.
Pregnancy
BABTAC’s Good Practice Guide, from 2016, is the trade body’s guidance for its members. Its rules for massage in pregnancy: not in the first trimester, not if there’s morning sickness, less movement from the baby over 24 hours, vaginal bleeding or bed rest, and only techniques and products made for pregnancy. Once the bump shows, it suggests supporting the client on pillows, tilted to the left. Our form asks whether they’re pregnant but not how far along, so add that question.
Cancer treatment
Cancer Research UK says people with cancer should talk to their cancer doctor or specialist nurse before having a massage, avoid very deep massage, and avoid the area being treated with radiotherapy, any broken, bleeding or bruised skin, and general massage on arms or legs swollen with lymphoedema. Its page was last reviewed in September 2022 and says it’s due for review.
BABTAC’s guide counts massage among the therapies that can help someone through cancer treatment. For invasive beauty treatments it asks for written consent from the client’s doctor, and its addendum says that applies until they’ve had the all clear for 5 years. Check what your own insurer asks for, and whether it counts your massage as one of those.
Infections, wounds and a fever
This one is about the day itself. A yes usually means rebooking, or working round an area, which is why it’s asked before you start rather than once they’re on the couch.
Allergies and oils
The standard asks for a pre-treatment test of skin sensitivity. Our massage form has no allergy question, so add one for the oils, creams and nut oils you use.
Hot stones and heated tools
BABTAC’s guide says to train before using heated tools, to test the client’s sensitivity to heat first, and not to use toe stones on a client with diabetes. If you use them, add a question about diabetes or less feeling anywhere.
What questions might you add?
- How many weeks pregnant are you?
- Have you had a baby in the last 6 weeks?
- Has your doctor or specialist nurse said massage is OK for you?
- Any allergy to nuts, oils, fragrance or skincare products?
- Do you have diabetes, or less feeling anywhere?
- Do you prefer light, medium or firm pressure?
If you post photos, ask for that separately, with its own tick that starts unticked. Every form also shows the client a short note about their health information and asks for a separate tick giving their explicit consent to it being used.
Do you need a licence to give massages?
The massage standard expects you to know your council’s licensing rules for you and your premises. In London, premises used for massage, manicure, light, electric and other special treatments may need a special treatment licence from the borough council under the London Local Authorities Act 1991. Wherever you are, ask your council what applies.
How do you get it signed before they arrive?
A clipboard at the start of a massage eats into the time they’ve paid for, and the paper needs locking away afterwards. Covered Beauty gives you three ways to have it done before you start:
- With their booking. Link the form to your massage and body treatments and it goes out with the confirmation, with a reminder 48 hours before if it isn’t done.
- A private link. Email it, or copy it into WhatsApp or a text. It works for 14 days and only for that client.
- On your phone or tablet. Set a kiosk PIN, then use Hand to client. It shows only their forms until someone from your team enters the PIN.
When the form comes with a booking and the client filled in the same form in the last 6 months, they see their previous answers and confirm nothing has changed, then sign again. That suits regulars who come every few weeks. If something has changed, such as a new injury, they fill in the whole form afresh. Forms sent as a private link or handed over on your tablet are always filled in fresh, so whoever holds the device never sees another client’s earlier answers.
The signed form lands on the client’s record, ready to print or download as a PDF, and Covered Beauty keeps it for 7 years from the appointment, or from the day it was signed for a form filled in without a booking, while your account is open. See how online consultation forms work. Try the massage form free for a week, with no card needed. Forms are on both plans, from £9 a month.
Download the free blank form
It’s an A4 PDF with every question our form asks (listed above), boxes to tick yes or no, a line for your business name, and lines for the client’s signature and yours with the date. The extra questions we suggest aren’t on it, so write in the ones you need. The foot of each page says it’s a free template from Covered Beauty. Print it, keep a few on a clipboard, and check the wording with your insurer first.
Paper still means the client fills it in once they’re in your room. Send this form before they arrive, free for a week, with no card needed.
Questions from massage therapists
Can you massage a pregnant client?
BABTAC’s 2016 Good Practice Guide says not in the first trimester, not if there’s morning sickness, less movement from the baby over 24 hours, vaginal bleeding or bed rest, and only with techniques and products made for pregnancy. Check what your own training and insurer allow.
Can you massage someone having cancer treatment?
Cancer Research UK says to talk to the cancer doctor or specialist nurse first, to avoid very deep massage and the area being treated with radiotherapy, and to avoid general massage on arms or legs swollen with lymphoedema. Ask your client to check with their care team, and check your insurer’s rules.
Why does a massage form ask about blood clots?
The NHS says a clot in a vein (DVT) can travel to the lungs, which can be life-threatening, and that surgery, pregnancy or having had a baby in the last 6 weeks make a clot more likely. That’s why our form asks about recent surgery and clots together.
How long should I keep massage consultation forms?
BABTAC’s 2016 Good Practice Guide says seven years, so check what your insurer asks for. Covered Beauty keeps signed forms for 7 years from the appointment, or from the day it was signed for a form filled in without a booking, while your account is open. If you ever leave, export them within 30 days of your account ending, as our terms say, so you still have them.
Is there a free massage consultation form template?
Yes. The blank massage and body treatments form on this page is free to download and print, with no sign-up. You can also try the same form in Covered Beauty free for a week, edit every word and send it before the appointment.
Sources
Each page was read on 24 October 2026. Our own form questions are printed as Covered Beauty’s ready-made forms ask them today.
Other consultation form guides
Every free blank form, sorted by treatment, is on free salon consultation form templates. Or read what to put in a consultation form for:
What else should you read?
Consent forms and GDPR: a guide for UK beauty salons
What counts as health data, the consent you need, how long to keep forms and what to do when a client asks you to delete them.
Read the guide ↗How to choose salon booking software
A practical checklist for your diary, client records and monthly costs, to take into any free trial.
Read the guide ↗Online consultation forms
Send a private link or hand over your tablet, with or without a booking. Signed forms land on the client’s record.
See how it works ↗