From Dream to Day Spa: A Step-By-Step Checklist for How To Open Your Own Beauty Spa

You earned your esthetician license, and you’re ready to start your new career. 

But you don’t just want to work at a spa: your dream is to own one. 

You daydream about the tranquil ambience, calm and relaxing environment, and the clients that come through your door to receive the perfect services. 

Your background isn’t in business, so you wonder what it will take to make your dream to open your own day spa become a reality. 

We will explore the steps and timeline for opening your business, possible profitability, and what to do if you don’t have money to start your business right away. 

Table of Contents

• 12 Steps for How To Open Your Own Spa
• Commonly Asked Questions About How To Open Your Own Spa
• Spectrum Advanced Aesthetics Offers Business Development Support for Students Opening Their Own Day Spas

#1: Create a Clear Vision

You’ve already achieved your esthetician licence. So what is next? 

Before you jump into buying or renting a space, it is important to hash out all of the details that could make or break your business. 

Consider these questions: 

• What kind of experience do you want to offer your customers?  
• What do you want the atmosphere to be like when your clients walk in? 
• Are you offering what is in demand in your area? 
• Do you know what customers prefer, and will you customize their experience? 
• Who are you targeting as potential clients? 
• What will your brand look like (logos, colors, fonts, etc.)? 
• What do you want the booking process to look like? 
• What kinds of after-products will you offer? 

Once you have a clear vision of what you want your business to be, look like, feel like, and who your ideal client is, you will be ready for the next step. 

#2: Know Your Target Market

As you decide what services you wish to offer, you need to know who will be using them. 

Will you offer services for both men and women? While men and women both enjoy spas, they typically prefer different services, such as sports massages vs. massages for relaxation. Men and women also have different skin care needs. 

How old will your targeted clients be? For example, teen facials would not appeal to clients in their 40s. 

How much income do they make? If your services aren’t priced appropriately to match the income of your clients, they may forgo spa services or come in less frequently. 

Determining who your target clients are will help you pick appealing services. 

#3: Choose the Right Location

Selecting the best location for your business is essential for its success. 

You wouldn’t want to set up your spa in a secluded location because you would be limiting yourself to clients who found you online or by word of mouth. You wouldn’t have the advantage of foot traffic and walk-ins that a busy area would bring. 

Setting up your spa in a shopping center that already has a spa wouldn’t benefit your business either. If you are near a competing business, you will need to find a way to make your spa stand out. 

Also, consider whether or not the businesses nearby would attract the type of client you hope to serve and if zoning regulations in the area would allow your spa to exist. 

#4: Design Your Service Menu

Having a beautiful logo or the perfect space won’t matter if you don’t have a well-thought-out plan for what services will attract clients. 

When deciding the services you want, consider your area of expertise and the other services you can offer to give clients a complete spa experience. 

Most spas offer services such as: 

• Massages 
• Steam rooms or saunas
• Body scrubs and polishes 
• Aromatherapy 

Some spas offer specialty services like: 

• Hot stone massages 
• Acupuncture 
• Salt therapy 
• Specialty facials

Consider potential clients and the spa services in demand in your area while creating your service menu. 

Are you ready to start your aesthetician career? Contact an admissions advocate at Spectrum Advanced Aesthetics today! 

#5: Determine Your Prices

When you decide on prices for your services, ensure that they reflect the value and quality. It is also important to make sure they make sense for the market you are in. 

Direct costs to ponder include the costs of: 

• Products used in services 
• Equipment
• Wages of employees 
• Rent
• Utilities 
• Internet
• Advertising costs 
• Insurance 
• Software for booking 

Other aspects to consider include: 

• Prices of local competitors 
• If you want your spa to be seen as a luxury spa vs. a budget spa 
• Offering premium vs. standard treatments 
• Offering package pricing 
• Hourly rates for services like massages
• If you want to offer basic treatments with add-ons 
• Offering discounts or promotions 
• Gift cards for purchase
• Offering memberships 

#6: Secure Financing, Permits, and Insurance

Creating your dream spa requires money. Unless you already have the funds to start up your business, you will have to raise it, secure a loan, or find other ways to finance your business. 

To lawfully open your spa, you may also be required to get permits such as building, plumbing, and electrical permits. Your business will typically be subjected to a health inspection as well before opening and periodically after.  

If you are offering clinical treatments like Botox, you may need a license to operate with those services, depending on your state. In Oregon, you must provide services in a licensed facility.  Non-invasive and non-medical treatments are allowed without a license in most areas. 

Spas must also operate with insurance. The type of insurance required depends on your area. Typically, spas must have: 

• General liability insurance 
• Professional liability insurance 
• Workers’ compensation insurance 
• Commercial property insurance 

Depending on your insurance company, you may be able to bundle these insurance policies into a business owner’s policy (BOP). It is also recommended that individual massage therapists and cosmetologists have personal liability insurance. 

#7: Choose the Right Spa Management Software

Having your business run smoothly can be achieved with the right software. 

Software can help you manage and simplify daily tasks and make it easier for your clients to book services. 

Utilize software will assist with: 

• Scheduling appointments 
• Managing your team
• Payroll
• Marketing 
• Performance reports
• Inventory 

If you don’t want your time to be consumed with paperwork and you don’t want to juggle several different platforms, look for software that streamlines your operations and automates tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming, like inventory or reports. 

#8: Build Your Team

Unless you plan for your business to be a one-man show, chances are you will need a team of people to help you run your spa business effectively. 

Do you need a massage therapist? A receptionist? 

Questions to consider before advertising job openings are: 

• How many people do you need for your business to function? 
• What jobs will these employees do? 
• What skills should they have? 
• How much will you pay them? 
• Are the wages you offer comparable to your area? 
• Will you offer any benefits for employees? 

#9: Design an Innovative Client Experience

The goal is to create an atmosphere that will make clients feel welcome and relaxed as soon as they set foot in the door. 

Will you be playing tranquil music? 

Will the air have a scent of lavender or sandalwood? 

Will the walls be painted a soft shade of green or a pale shade of blue? 

The choices you make will either have your clients desiring to return or could have them looking for services elsewhere. 

Outside of a calming environment, personalized services and taking note of client preferences may create an experience that will have your clients wanting to come back. 

Customized treatments and allowing customers to have a say in the ambiance during their treatments may go a long way toward client satisfaction. 

#10: Market Your Business

Even if you have ample esthetician knowledge under your belt, marketing your spa is an essential piece to attracting clients and launching a successful business. 

When creating marketing materials, keep your target audience in mind. If your ideal customer would get information largely from the internet, a flyer may not be your best option to reach them. 

Understanding what type of communication preferences your ideal client has will help you create engaging content and personalize your outreach with potential clients and the larger community. 

Consider marketing platforms such as: 

• Social media: Launch with a promotion to attract clients 
• Email and SMS: Send out special offers and advertise new services 
• Flyers or postcards: Place them in retail shops where your ideal customers are

Whichever methods you choose, remember to budget the cost for initial and monthly marketing campaigns. 

#11: Set Up a POS System

For your spa to be profitable, your clients must have a way to pay you. 

Setting up a Point of Sale (POS) system allows you to receive payments for the services rendered at your spa. In turn, you will have money to pay yourself, your staff, purchase new inventory, etc. 

When deciding which POS system you want, some factors to consider are: 

• Affordability 
• User-friendly interface 
• Flexibility 
• Customer loyalty tools

You don’t want paying to be a hassle for your clients, and you don’t want bookkeeping to be a nightmare for you. Finding a POS system that can streamline your systems and help your spa have a professional feel and look is important. 

#12: Launch Your Spa

Opening your spa will be a labor of love. When the first clients walk in the door on opening day, you will see the fruits of your labor. 

Be prepared for some hiccups along the way, but use those minor problems to make adjustments and grow your business even stronger. 

As your first clients have great experiences, they will likely spread the word about your spa by word of mouth and social media posts, leading more potential clients your way.  

How Long Does It Take To Open a Spa?

Getting your business from idea to reality can take anywhere from a few months to more than a year. Taking the time to make sure all of your bases are covered and your business is properly set up likely won’t be a quick turn around. 

To get your business ready, consider the time it will take to: 

• Consult a lawyer
• Meet with a business consultant 
• Find an accountant/bookkeeper 
• Research and purchase equipment and inventory 
• Create and finalize your business plan 
• Find a medical director (if needed) 
• Contact financial institutions for loans 
• Find and prepare a location 
• Create a website 
• Interview and hire staff 
• Onboard and train staff 

Is Owning a Spa Profitable?

Yes, owning a spa can be profitable. How profitable it will be depends on a variety of factors, including: 

• Type of Spa: Med spas tend to have more profit due to more expensive services compared to day spas or luxury spas. 
• Location: High-traffic locations are more likely to have more clients. 
• Services: Popular services bring in more revenue. 
• Marketing: Effective marketing will bring in and retain clients. 
• Efficiency: Managing costs effectively is necessary for profit.  

How Do I Start a Spa Business With No Money?

Opening a spa with no money would be challenging but not completely impossible. 

There are several avenues you can explore if this is your situation, including: 

• Business partnerships: Do you know someone who can contribute to your business financially in exchange for shared ownership or equity? 
• Small business loans: Find loans for spas through the Small Business Administration. 
• Grants: Search for grants for small businesses, especially in the wellness industry. 

These methods allow you to start your business without having the money come directly out of your pocket. 

Spectrum Advanced Aesthetics is the most advanced esthetician school in Portland. With qualified staff, state-of-the-art equipment, and a variety of programs, you can get started with your esthetician career today! 

After becoming a qualified, licensed esthetician, you will have the background knowledge to begin offering spa services to clients. 

Is it your dream to own and operate your spa? 

Spectrum Advanced Aesthetics provides business development support for students who desire to open medspas. 

Contact us today to take the first step in making your spa ownership dreams come true.