Open A Day Spa – Earn By Pampering Clients

Do you want to open a day spa but haven’t started because you have no idea where to start? Opening a new business is serious stuff, especially if you are investing your hard earned money into it. The spa and salon business is probably a good industry to start a business since it is one of the few sectors that still grows despite a financial crisis or recession.

The salon industry makes over 3 billion dollars a year. The number proves a huge potential and market but before you jump into the spa business it’s important to know more about the industry. Many people lose money or actually close a business when they enter into a business venture with half the knowledge they need to make it work. So, it’s important to do your homework before putting money into a new business.

You have 2 options to open a day spa. One is to start a salon from scratch and the other is to buy a franchise. Opening a spa from scratch will need a lot of work. You will have to take care of practically everything unlike a franchise that lends support to their franchisee. You will have to train your staff yourself, hire a contractor and oversee the construction. You will also have to find your own suppliers and equipment.

A franchise does have a support system and can take care of marketing and training, and even supply you with affordable equipment and supplies. The disadvantage to buying a franchise is the price tag. You will of course have to pay the price of having almost everything set up for you. People who buy a franchise won’t have to worry about hiring an architect or designing the salon because franchises have standard equipment and a standard look that is similar in all branches.

If you want to open a day spa from scratch so you can implement your own ideas and concept, you should start making a business plan. A business plan will guide you through the process of starting a business, and helps you to stay focused on your goals and budget. You may also need a business plan if you have to approach lenders or a bank to borrow money for capital. Make your business plan complete with guidelines for budget, projected profits, management, marketing and training employees.

Search for a location with a lot of foot traffic and visibility. You will find many spas in commercial buildings like malls where there are a lot of people. You can also find salons near residential areas and even business districts. If a commercial space is too cheap, be wary as the space may nt be ideal for any business. Maybe it rarely gets any foot traffic, a number of things could be wrong with an extremely cheap location.

Salons use up a lot of electricity with all those electric equipment you need. Check energy rates in your prospective locations and choose a place with lower electricity rates. Prepare your documents and blue prints because you will need to submit papers for permits, safety and health clearances. Make sure the building rules don’t contradict your own requirements. Your building owner and permits may require you to detail your equipment.

Speaking of equipment, veteran spa owners know how to save on equipment and supplies. Don’t get brand new equipment if you can help it. Most new business owners fancy buying brand new spa equipment, but this is not a very cost effective way to open a day spa for the first time. It’s more important to spend more money on intensive marketing than on fancy new equipment. Marketing lets people know you will open a day spa they can go to. The more people know about you, the more customers and profit you will make. So, put extra effort and money on marketing and advertising to ensure a good start.

Running A Day Spa – Making A Salon Lucrative

One of your duties for running a day spa is to hire licensed employees like massage therapists. Be sure to check that their licenses are renewed and updated. You will also need to hire hairstylists, manicurists, and assistants. It’s best to get highly qualified workers who charge a little more than get someone who doesn’t know how to cut hair or give a proper massage. Make sure that they have pleasing personalities and excellent manners because working in a day spa involves very close contact with clients.

Search for an ideal location, an upscale neighborhood would be a good place to start a day spa. Your success as a salon will depend on cornering the right market. Choose a location with lots of parking and traffic. Make sure your salon will be visible from the road. Double check zoning laws to make sure you will be allowed to open a day spa in that area.

Running a day spa with a little sophistication is a must. Plan your salon’s design to appeal to the upscale market especially if you will be located in a high end neighborhood. Use high quality and pretty floor tiles like the ceramic kind. Install good quality mirrors. You shelves and furniture should finely custom built. Make sure your lighting isn’t glaring to the eye, but be sure to install proper lighting for the make-up and facial areas.

When you start interviewing employees double check their credentials and make sure they are licensed and that their licenses are renewed. Ask for references and make yourself a guinea pig for them to show how good they are. Work out a commission agreement with your staff to encourage them to work faster and get more clients in. Some day spa owners give a 30% commission to massage therapists. Some salons charge workers an hourly rate or monthly rent for space to do their work. You can also pay your employees a fixed monthly rate.

Running a day spa also necessitates you to buy equipment. You will need to buy massage tables, hair salon chairs, foot spa chairs and many more equipment. You will need a pretty long list for this one. Try going to a beauty school or massage therapy schools for a list of equipment you need. Maybe they can tell you where to get a catalog with a list of all the things you will need to buy including prices. If you can find slightly used equipment that still looks new, you can lower your capital expenses.

Treat your clients like a queen for a day. Running a day spa involves pampering your customers. Give them little tokens of appreciation for patronizing your salon. Give them a nice refreshing drink if they have to wait. Stock up on bottled water. Buy luxurious towels and robes. Make sure you massage table is comfortable. Keep up with the latest color trends for nail polish.

Marketing is an important part of running a day spa. Good marketing can get many clients to come. Let people in your town know that you will be running a day spa in the neighborhood. Print business cards, brochures and fliers. Advertise in your local papers and community newsletters. Register your business with the local business center and on online directories. Sponsor local events to get your business name visible to people. Do some internet marketing too because everyone searchers for what they need on the net.

There are many things to consider before you start running a day spa. Learn what’s new with massage techniques, take a course or enroll your employees in classes that have certification. Promote your specialties like hot stone massage or body scrub service. You can learn a lot from other salon owners who can give you priceless advice. Look for a mentor who can give you unbiased opinions on how to make your day spa lucrative.