Are you thinking about opening a wellness spa? This is an exciting venture, but one that can come with a lot of hurdles and difficulties. There will be a ton of things to think about as you start on this project.
The steps of how to open a wellness spa can seem lengthy and overwhelming, but we will help you take them on one by one. Breaking the task up into smaller parts can often help even a huge project like opening a business seem more manageable.
It is also entirely possible that all these steps aren’t for you. This is not a list of instructions as much as it’s a list of suggestions. Take what you need and ignore what isn’t as important for your specific circumstances and situation.
No matter how you plan to go about starting your business, here are 8 tips for how to open a wellness spa.
1. Buy an Existing Business
You don’t need to do this all from scratch. There are many existing businesses that you could potentially buy to give yourself a head start.
Buying a business can be a great option for getting your own underway. It takes a lot of the hassle out of how to open a wellness spa. There will already be a good track record you can refer to in regard to the property. You might even know how much foot traffic the business tends to get.
Of course, the trade you are making is less customization. There may be features or even problems with the property that you just have to decide to live with. For example, the flooring might not be very attractive right now but you may decide to just keep it to avoid having to tear it all up and replace it. Those kinds of trade offs are perfectly fine while you are still trying to get established.
You could also find yourself buying a slightly different sort of business, such as a salon studio or nail studio. These are similar to wellness spas and therefore might have some of what you need. However, they could lack certain features you need for your own business.
If you are buying an existing business to start your own, carefully comb over everything to make sure it has everything you’ll need. Know where you may need to invest in changing what’s already there so that you can make this business suit your needs.
2. Start Fresh –- But Know Your Limits
Of course, for a lot of people thinking about how to open a wellness spa, the unspoken assumption is that they will start from scratch, or close to it. This is different from buying an existing business and just tweaking things a little. This is a much bigger project, though it does offer the benefit of letting you as the business owner customize every facet of the business to your liking.
We will talk more about the specifics of this below. However, one major thing to consider when going this route is money. It can be costly to start a business from the ground up. You may find you need to talk to some hard money lenders or get a loan from your bank in order to finance the whole project.
However you go about it, the important thing when starting from the ground up is to be financially literate enough to understand the process all the way through. You as a business owner can take some financial training progress to help you learn how best to manage cash inflow and outflow.
Those kinds of classes won’t just help you in getting set up, either. They can be a big help in the long run as you continue trying to run your business and turn it into a profitable venture for a long time to come.
3. Get IT Help
These days, every business requires IT. It doesn’t matter whether you are trying to figure out how to open a wellness spa or a supermarket or a construction company. Everyone relies on technology for things like paying employees, getting paid by customers, and just keeping the business running smoothly.
It’s hard enough just running the business itself, though. Many business owners can’t also be their own tech departments. That’s why many business owners look to IT companies for help with technical issues.
If you are wondering how to open a wellness spa, you might want to invest some time and money into the technical side of things. Figure out what support you have in the tech department and consider investing in more. It isn’t just getting the computer up and running – it’s tech support for all aspects of your business. If you have someone technically savvy that you can call for help, that’s a very good thing to keep on your side.
If you don’t happen to have a techy friend, or even if you do, also invest in technical support. You likely have some sort of computer system in your business. You can pay for on-call technical support that can help you out in a moment of crisis.
4. Make Sure Your Physical Location Suits Your Needs
Starting from the ground up and choosing the site of your new business is super exciting. Don’t let that excitement cloud your judgment though. You need this building to stand the test of time.
Try to make a list of your needs before going to look for a location. For example, are you in a very warm part of the country? Make sure the building has a cooling system. If it doesn’t, figure out how much air conditioning installation would cost and factor that into your budget.
It isn’t just additions though. Yes, it’s important to make sure you will have everything you’ll need, but you also need to ensure that what is already in the building is in good working order.
There are a lot of fussy details that may not be high up your priority list when you think about how to open a wellness spa. For example, did you consider the flooring? Is it water resistant? Will it wear out quickly or can it weather the wear and tear you expect to put on it?
Spare a moment to look up, as well. Roofs wear out over time. Every roof eventually needs to be replaced. Is the roof in good repair or will you be spending money early on commercial roof installation?
These considerations can have a major impact on your final decision. They weigh heavily on your budget. Don’t overlook possible fixes and improvements when looking for your location.
5. Think About Waste As Well
When you have employees and customers coming and going, you might find your business produces a lot of waste. That is a good thing to think about upfront.
Before you even prepare your space for customers, check out your waste removal options. Commercial trash dumpsters could be a necessity for your business. You will need to make sure you have access to those ahead of time.
Also think about recycling and sustainability. You may be able to choose products that are both better for the environment and better for your overall costs. This can be a real selling point to your customers as well, so spend some time considering if this might be a good move for your business.
Now is the time to get into the details of what you will offer. Every product used inside your store will create waste. You can choose to create more or less waste depending on the direction you go with some of your products and services, so just be aware of what waste you are likely to create.
6. Consider the Services You’ll Offer and How You’ll Offer Them
OK, you’ve chosen a space and you know it’s right for you. Now you have to think about what’s going to happen in that space.
When you think about how to open a wellness spa, you probably have a specific image in mind. However, recognize that everyone will have a slightly different idea of what a wellness spa is. So you cannot take it as a given that employees and partners are on the same page as you.
You should have a clear and specific idea of what you plan to offer at your spa. Will you do body waxing? How about massage and detoxification? What is the focus of your spa – therapy, beauty, health, or something else entirely?
These are important questions because they will also inform who you hire. You want to have the best staff possible, as they will build a rapport with your customers and keep them coming back. If you can get someone who specializes in the types of services you plan to offer, you will set up a better experience for your customers.
Likewise, if you plan to offer a range of services you will probably be looking for more versatile employees. You don’t want to overburden them, as many of these employees do have specialties, but if someone comes in with a more versatile resume they could be a great hire for your business. Be clear about expectations so that both you and your new employees know what to expect.
7. Think About Every Detail of a Sale
With all of this out of the way, you can finally envision the big picture. What does a day in the life of your new wellness spa look like?
This is an important consideration. You can’t just think about all the upfront work when you consider how to open a wellness spa. It is also important to visualize an actual normal day in that business.
Visualize a customer coming into your spa. What does the reception area look like? How are they greeted? What services are they offered? Where do those services take place?
It’s also important to think about what it is like when that customer leaves. You should consider your point of sale systems as thoroughly as you’ve considered every other aspect of your business. A POS system that is easy for both you and your customers will make the entire process go more smoothly.
When it comes to POS there are a slew of options these days. It is important to pair this consideration with any tech support you plan to have. A POS system going down can be a major hindrance for a business, especially as it gets up and running, so figure out how you’ll get support and back up if something should go wrong.
8. Take a Moment to Make Sure You’re Ready
Whew! Take a breath. That is all a lot to think about.
Opening your own business is no small accomplishment. It is a huge amount of work, time, and dedication. So if you have gotten this far pat yourself on the back. You have likely figured out by now that “how to open a wellness spa” is about so much more than just picking out a location and going for it.
This process can be really difficult and draining. When you run your own business, it is harder to leave work at work. The stress of bringing your job with you and constantly being “on the clock” can really wear people down.
Therefore, during all of this make sure you are also taking care of yourself. A minor cold might be something you usually ignore, but stress can weaken your body’s ability to fight off illness. Even if it’s just a little cold, get yourself stuffy nose and sore throat remedies if you aren’t feeling well. Your business can’t run without you, so keeping yourself healthy is actually a smart business decision.
Regardless of where you are in the process or where you want to end up, congratulations on taking the first steps into how to open a wellness spa. It’s not an easy task, but it can result in huge rewards for you as a business owner. Break tasks into smaller, more manageable achievements so you accomplish your goals and keep your vision in mind as you work toward your dreams.
