In a world where self-care is the best thing you can do to take care of your health and manage your stress, the idea of owning your own spa is one that provides personal and financial gains. With both the day spa business and the med spa business booming, it can be difficult to understand the differences between the two. A careful evaluation of what it takes to start, operate, and succeed in each business is essential as running your own day spa varies significantly from running your own med spa.

Understanding the Difference

Although many treat “spa” as an interchangeable word that can be applied to any institution that provides health, wellness, and aesthetic personal services, there really is a difference between a med spa and a day spa. MassageLuXe and other day spas provide relaxing and rejuvenating services that promote overall health and wellness, both physically and mentally. A med spa, on the other hand, primarily focuses on the appearance and health of your skin.

Treatments Commonly Found at Day Spas

• Massage
• Facials
• Reflexology
• Trigger point therapy
• Waxing

Treatments Commonly Found at Med Spas

• Injectable neurotoxins and fillers
• Microneedling
• Laser skin resurfacing and hair removal
• Laser vein treatments
• Body contouring

Starting the Business

Whether you open one of these businesses with a franchise or on your own, the process of starting varies greatly. If you choose to open a med spa, you will quickly find that the process is difficult and time consuming. The crux of the issues lie in that in most U.S. states, the services that med spas provide are considered medical.  Under a legal doctrine known as the “corporate practice of medicine,” only a physician or a physician-owned corporation can own a medical facility. Furthermore, only physicians or physician-owned corporations can collect patient fees for providing medical services. It is because of this that if you open your own med spa you will need to partner with a physician, or a physician owned entity.

To open a day spa with MassageLuXe, you do not need to partner with anyone or have a medical background. While prior business experience is encouraged, as a franchisor, we provide you with the playbook and training you need to succeed in your business. The experts at MassageLuXe will answer your franchise questions and guide you through all phases and details of building and opening your new spa location. This includes assistance with financing, construction, demographics research, site development, and marketing. Learn more about How to Open a MassageLuXe Spa.

Operating the Business

Your day-to-day operations of the business will vary as well. Operations in a med spa business are going to be significantly more complicated. Each state has regulations on medical spas, but all medical procedures are required to be performed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or a certified aesthetician. Some states even require the physician be on the actual premises during all hours of operation. With med spas hitting popularity in the last decade, rules and regulations set forth by the state medical boards are constantly shifting. There is always a risk of the rug being pulled out from under you. It is because of this that your day-to-day operations of a med spa are more complex and ever-changing.

It is also important to evaluate the risk of a business you are looking to open. Complications with med spa services are more frequent. Med spa injuries are difficult to track, but people can get burned because of laser hair remove or become temporarily paralyzed from too much botulinum toxin (Botox).

Massage and facial services like that ones that MassageLuXe provides have been around for thousands of years. The industry has experienced explosive growth over the past decade, and the next decade proves to be just as promising. MassageLuXe has proven scalability and support in all facets of business operations. MassageLuXe makes operating your spa a turnkey experience. It is one of the main reasons Rebecca and Mike Collins wanted to become MassageLuXe franchise owners. Currently, the couple own multiple locations and have development rights for Kansas City and all of Kansas. “We’ve been very successful since day one,” says Rebecca. “MassageLuXe International does a great job of putting forth a business plan that is really easy to follow and takes all of the guess work out of it.”

Return on Investment

Starting your own spa is an investment and it is important to understand the start-up costs and profit opportunities of both a day spa and a med spa. Start-up costs for med spas are between $700,000 and $1,000,000. Approximately $300,000 will be invested in new laser equipment, which becomes obsolete in a matter of years, according to a recent report by Marketdata Enterprises, a Tampa-based market research publisher. It’s because of these high start-up costs that many sources cite years before a med spa can see profitability.

The MassageLuXe business model provides franchisees with a quick ramp-up and early profit opportunities. It also provides a consistent sales cycle for franchisees because of the membership-based offering. This reoccurring revenue paired with various and complementing additional revenue streams assists franchisees in profitability. The estimated initial cost to open a massage business varies from $449,900 to $564,500. The cost to open depends on a variety of factors, including spa equipment and supplies, leasehold improvements, and insurance. To find out how to finance a MassageLuXe, click here.

Franchising with MassageLuXe

If a great work ethic, determination, and a love of new opportunities are some of your top qualities, then perhaps a MassageLuXe franchise is for you! Whether you are a new entrepreneur looking to dive into the business world or a seasoned investor who wants to bolster your business portfolio, franchising with MassageLuXe has some incredible advantages.

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