The most important piece of equipment you will work with is your massage table. My advice is to go ahead and spend the money for a quality table. You can buy a cheap massage table for under $200 but you and your clients will be happier with a comfortable, reliable table. After all, you want your clients to have the best experience possible in your therapy room. Keep in mind that there is a huge difference in the quality of tables on the market. I must say that I am spoiled with my Oak Works massage table! Occasionally I will exchange bodywork with an associate who owns a cheaper table with less padding and I can REALLY tell the difference! You must remember that you will be working on some heavy people and your table must accommodate them! The cheaper tables are sometimes not as wide as they should be. I once worked on a table at another clinic that was simply not wide enough for my larger clients to lay their arms on the table.
A lot of students buy cheap tables because they don’t realize that there is such a difference in quality. Even if you go on to work in a spa or clinic that provides massage tables you will still benefit from investing in a good massage table from the beginning. I recommend purchasing a table shortly after you start massage school because you will want to practice your bodywork on friends and family.