No doubt, if you are looking for a lucrative investment in a high-growth industry, look no farther than wellness trends like owning a spa franchise. The global spa market is expected to reach 52.9 billion by 2028, growing at a rate of just more than 12%. But understand, in advance, that you will have to choose between med spa vs. day spa. So, let’s take a look at the differences between these two options to determine what suits you best.

Med Spa vs Day Spa

Medical spas combine treatment services designed to enhance beauty in a more medical setting than a day spa. Many of the services offered at a med spa are procedures that might be performed in a doctor’s office.

For example, medical spas provide services such as:

• Injectables or Botox
• Skin Lasering
• Medical peels
• Laser hair removal
• Micro-needling
• Skin cell regeneration
• Advanced skin renewal

On the other hand, a traditional day spa franchise may focus on improving wellness through relaxation to enhance health, personal care, stress reduction, and appearance.

At a day spa, the menu of services usually includes:

• Massages
• Facials
• Aromatherapy
• Body wraps
• Body scrubs
• Mud baths
• Waxing
• Eyelash extensions
• Lash and brow tinting
• Manicures and pedicures

The difference between medical and day spas are the spa treatments offered. The goal of a day spa is to have a client leave feeling relaxed and pampered. Conversely, at a med spa, the focus is on cosmetic services for aesthetic purposes.

There’s a caveat to owning a med spa; in order to legally own one, you must either be a medical doctor or have an affiliation to one. Although regulations differ by state, in order to operate a med spa, a doctor must be a part-owner or operator or must oversee procedures. It is the doctor’s licensing that makes the med spa operational. Many of the treatments offered at a med spa do not actually have to be performed by a medical doctor, but they must be performed under medical supervision. It is common to see a dermatologist or plastic surgeon provide med spa services as part of their medical practice. Often, the doctor will train staff such as nurses, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants to treat patients.

Top Trending Services

While health and wellness treatments are trending, many med spa services are expensive and more invasive. That’s why trends indicate that people feel more comfortable pampering themselves with affordable options that go a long way to improving their overall health, their appearance, and reducing stress. Experts say that right now, the top services customers are requesting are massages, facials, meditation, and body therapies like scrubs.

Massages remain popular due to their healing properties, not only for stress reduction but for medical or health reasons such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, or overall wellness. Massages are often booked by clients on a regular basis to help with chronic pain and to ease anxiety and depression.

According to americanspa.com, providing a more custom experience at a day spa with add-on options, longer massage times, and the opportunity to improve the well-being of the mind tops the list of consumer desires this year.

Own a Med Spa or Day Spa?

Knowing that becoming an owner of a med spa or day spa is a solid financial decision, there are other factors to consider. According to the American Med Spa Association, many states prohibit non-physicians from owning medical spa practices. Some won’t even allow an entrepreneur to purchase a business and employ a physician to utilize the doctor’s license. In these states, only a physician may own a medical practice or medical spa. Legal experts call this the “corporate practice of medicine” doctrine. Additionally, there is a fair amount of risk associated with owning a med spa due to the nature of the procedures. Because many services offered at a med spa are invasive, there’s more opportunity for something to go wrong. Finally, the cost to start a med spa is far higher than a day spa. This is largely in part to the equipment and supplies needed in order to perform services. Med spas frequently utilize high-tech equipment, need expensive chemicals, and have higher labor costs.

Opening a day spa, on the other hand, is less risky and more attainable. Day spas have low product costs and state regulations are much easier to navigate. Day spas focus more on enhancing overall health and wellness versus physical appearance. You don’t need medical oversight or previous spa experience to be a successful day spa owner.

Franchise with MassageLuXe

If you are an entrepreneur that finds joy in helping members of your community with their wellness goals and you’ve always wanted to be a business owner in a growing industry, a day spa franchise like MassageLuXe is a strong choice that doesn’t require you to be a doctor or partner with one. Want more details? There are many answers to the question, why franchise with MassageLuXe?

Our franchise model allows you to pursue your dream of business ownership with an established operation and business model to follow. You benefit from a reputable and well-known brand name providing you with a customer base before you even open your doors. You will be well-trained, and at MassageLuXe, you are well-equipped with ongoing support from us and your fellow franchisees.

We lead the trends in the day spa industry with customized menus, massages, facials, waxing, and plenty more add-ons in a recurring revenue membership-based model, providing the best profit potential for you.

To learn more about spa franchise opportunities with MassageLuXe, scroll down to fill out the contact form below.