There are so many factors that determine whether a new spa or salon will be profitable. It is critical to evaluate not only the location but the available labor pool, the competition, their pricing structure, the product lines used, employee remuneration, and research into what may be lacking in a community and can that need be filled. How long will it be until the business is profitable? What factors often lead to a lack of profitability? What should be done prior to signing a lease or purchasing the land for the new business? What are the current trends that should be incorporated into this new business? What research must be done to assure the location and the population can and will support your business? How and where will you find the right employees? All of these questions are addressed in the initial phase of the project. Making sure there is a comprehensive plan addressing all of these questions, plus many more is paramount and gives you a better opportunity for success.

Before a space is located or before a wall is drawn on paper, having a clear vision of what you should look for is very beneficial. Our concept allows you to experiment on paper and develop the scenario ideal for you. Our team then evaluates the concept and provides constructive ideas to take it to the next level.

Project Feasibility Analysis and Financials include the following comprehensive reports and spreadsheets

• Five-Year Operating Budget and Financial Pro Forma
• Maximization of Available Space
• Five-Year Treatment Room Revenue Estimates, Occupancy and Utilization Analysis
• Pre-opening Expense Worksheet
• Detailed Fixture, Furniture and Equipment List by Room (FF & E)
• Payroll Assumptions and Suggested Remuneration for Employees
• Staffing Forecasts and Analysis
• Cash Flow Analysis for Years One and Two
• Detailed Assumptions to accompany business plan

Up to the minute demographic information, market data, competitive analysis and more are utilized to for the assumptions presented. Although there is no guarantee for success, strong and thorough research and a keen understanding of the competition and to effectively compete against them gives you an advantage.

No spa project is too big or too small for our company. We work to fit our customer’s needs. Our company works across the United States and abroad. We can assist with your entire project or, simply in an advisory role. Call us at 480-460-7727 for more information and to discuss your project.

Computerized reservations, Point-of-Sale, and inventory management systems: Which one of the myriad of systems currently on the market is right for you? Since this is a critical component of your spa operation, we help you make the right decision.

Detailed scope of work encompassed in this phase includes:

• Selection of equipment based on Good, Better, Best Concept
• Preferred list of equipment vendors with a strong reputation for service
• Equipment specifications to architects and contractors
• Coordination of delivery and installation of equipment
• Review and recommend furniture fabrications throughout the facility
• Provide detail lists of optional and mandatory signing
• Coordination of demos for computerized system selections
• Provide input on guest supply and amenity programs

Professional Service Product Procurement:

• Identification of all professional product lines to be used in treatment. Negotiation of the best volume pricing available
• Creation of Cost of Service Matrix for each service performed
• Creation of professional inventory supply worksheets
• Operational strategies for professional product distribution and use guidelines
• Management training on professional inventory ordering, reorders, and par levels.

Medical spas are highly specialized business models with a myriad of distinctive design, staffing, and legal parameters. For example, “Location, location, location”, is the key to the well-placed, high-traffic area day spa. On the other hand, a medical spa, from which many clients emerge without their makeup or “just-coiffed” looks, may be better suited to a more discreet, yet easily accessible locale. Do you need to hire a physician? Or can you get by with a “physician-supervised” medical tech administering services? These are extremely sensitive issues that require sound decisions.

Whether you wish to add medical spa components to your existing spa, or plan to embark on a new facility, our consulting services encompass the full array of previously outlined planning and development phases, as well as the following specific to medical spas:

• Identification of the appropriate location for your facility
• Collaboration with architectural team for overall facility and procedure room design
• Feasibility and Competitive Analysis Studies for medical spas
• Medical spa equipment and ever-changing technology: Lease and purchase analysis
• Development of menu of services, pricing, and series programs
• Collaboration on medical grade product procurement for services and retail elements
• Identification of local, state, and national medical spa regulations as they apply
• Guidelines and regulations for hiring medical and support staff
• Guidelines for liability issues
• Medical spa marketing strategies

Products to Do-It-Yourself

Special note: These timelines are the exclusive property of Spa Advisors, Inc. All of these spreadsheets are meant for one-time use. If they are to be used for more than one property, permission must be obtained by the copyright holder, Spa Advisors, Inc.

Timeline for Day Spa

This is a 60-page timeline with detailed information and tasks directly related to opening a day spa which would include facial, massage, body, nail, hair and other specialty services.

Timeline for Nail Salon

This timeline makes opening a nail salon or nail spa easy. Everything you need to know or research is presented in a logical and informative fashion. This timeline will save you thousands of dollars in wasted time.

Timeline for Hair Salon

Opening a successful hair salon is a very difficult venture. Employees are paramount to the salon’s success and competition in this industry is fierce. Let us help you efficiently development your salon from start to finish with an extensive time addressing every area of development including space planning, lighting, design, flow, equipment, software, common areas and more.

Timeline for Resort Spa

This highly extensive timeline incorporate every aspect of new spa development within a spa facility along with the incorporation of marketing within the property, package and group sales issues, fitness center operations, integration of spa, salon, fitness and other programs under one roof and more.

• Retail product training
• Retail Product Performance Analysis
• Visual display and product merchandising
• Skincare and body care product recommendations
• Retail Assortment Evaluation, Stock Control, and Product Turn Analysis
• Introduction to a huge array of unique retail product vendors, geared to improve retail sell-through.
• Vendor Negotiations and Analysis

Retail Store Design and Space Planning

Make sure your retail makes an impact on your customer. Is your environment comfortable and enticing for your customers? Is it convenient and well-planned or does it appear as an unimportant afterthought? Give this classification the space and the attention it deserves. The products sold in this mecca of profit should be visible throughout the spa in locker rooms and in treatment rooms. When we work on your project, you can assure this classification will not be neglected. Contact us for more information about these specialty services.

Existing spas or salons in need of specialized services relating to a variety of issues and challenges will benefit from our vast experience and proven solutions. We’ll show you how to increase efficiency and improve your bottom line. Our detailed review includes reviews of your areas of concern and key action steps to get your business back on track, or “jump start” it to a new level of performance.

We call our program the “Spa Performance 8 to Evaluate”.

We thoroughly review eight key elements within your salon or spa to determine where your profitability can be increased and where you are deficient. They include:

• Provider/Technician Productivity- Employee Remuneration and Space Rental evaluation.
• Non-revenue generating administrative expenses.
• Cost of Goods analysis-retail and service, inventory control, service menu evaluation and how these affect profitability.
• Expense Control and Performance Benchmarks coupled with cost saving suggestions.
• Service Sales, retail sales and their relation to the total.
• Marketing (print, social and other media).
• Facility and Resource Utilization Analysis.
• New potential revenue streams.

Employees versus Independent Contractors

To employ or not employ, that is the question. Make sure you get it right! There are very specific criteria determining whether you technician can be classed as an independent contractor or, whether they must be employed. Our company utilizes experts to assure you make the right decision. Feel free to click on the link below for more information relating to this issue.

Employee Remuneration & Competitive Wage Analysis

Employee compensation will be your single largest expense in your spa. How do you keep your payroll in control, be competitive, keep your staff happy with fair pay and some benefits, follow all rules and regulations dictated by State and Federal laws, etc.? We help you prepare for this in the early phase of our Business Plan and Project Feasibility. There are so many other expenses that must be covered also. How do you make it all fit into the budget? Let us help you answer some of that.

Staff Salary and Commission Structures

• What type of compensation package will be right for your new spa or salon?
• Do the technicians interviewed really have all the clients they say they do?
• Will their clients follow them?
• How will I help a new technician build a strong and loyal client base?
• How much should I compensate during that timeframe?
• How do I compensate technicians for training?

There are so many questions! Bottom line: you have a budget and expenses. Let us help you determine the most competitive packages you can afford and, how to compete effectively in your marketplace. Every marketplace is different. Some are heavy with booth-renters and tenants while other salons and spas in other cities employ most of their people. Understanding how each scenario works and what will work best for you is important.

Technician Proficiency Evaluations

So many characteristics and skills culminate to create a strong technician. Do you know what those skills are and, do you feel you are qualified to evaluate each technician’s skill level? Again, we can help you through this process. Each technician must be coached and assessed periodically to assure growth, retention and most importantly, to be sure they are happy and productive members of the team. Our skilled educators are available to assess each team member, make recommendations and coach them.

Technician Client Retention Evaluations

Do you know how many of your valuable clients return and how many don’t? Do you know why guests don’t return? Do you ask clients for feedback? Do you make it easy for clients to provide feedback on your web page or via e-mail? Most spa software systems have the ability to capture this data and, have reports available. They will provide valuable insight to the effectiveness of each staff member! This should be one of the tools used to evaluate each technician twice per year and their understanding of the process should be as good as yours. Let us help you set goals and evaluate performance.

Technical Training

When opening a new spa, a tremendous amount of time is needed to train all new employees. Technicians must master a variety of services and perform to the high expectations you have set for your facility. We can help with this. Let our technical training staff work with your new employees to bring their skill levels to your expectations and to assure they understand how to deliver each unique service we create for you. We offer technical training for:

• Nail services including manicure training, pedicure training, acrylic training, gel nail training and more.
• Esthetics training including facials, wax, peels, lash and brow tinting.
• Massage training including specialty massage techniques developed for each individual spa’s menu.
• Body treatment training including body wraps, exfoliations and scrubs, hydrotherapy and more.
• Desk staff training and development
• Spa attendant training and development

Management Training

Our company offers a wide array of spa or salon management training; however we feel the best way to develop you spa management is to involve them in the program early. We recommend key management staff is brought on a few months before opening, allowing them input in the development stages based on your budget. We work with them step-by-step through the process so they have a clear understanding of how the facility should operate and exactly what will be expected upon opening. This highly effective means of staff development helps to assure a smooth, seamless opening.

Mystery Shopping Services

What do you customers experience when they visit your spa? Your perception may or may not be a reality. Make sure your level of expectation is being filled by your staff members. This inexpensive investment gives you piece of mind and will provide valuable input about your facility. Contact us to learn about our services. Highly-trained spa professionals perform this service. They look at every aspect visible to the guest and report back to you in writing. The service is very inexpensive and will pay for itself in future guest satisfaction.

For a nominal fee, we will evaluate the current dynamics of your business.

1. Current menu
2. Service sales by item and category
3. Skincare and retail assortments
4. Cost of goods per treatment
5. Facility capability and capacity
6. Internet marketing and web page
7. Demographics of current client
8. Analysis of pricing and services of competitors provided by you.

We call these the “8 to Evaluate”. With this data, we will be able to tell you where you can make improvements, how to maximize service and retail sales, how to improve margins and more.

Contact us here to discuss how we can improve your business’s image and performance.

Developing a unique spa concept is an important step in the process. Potential guests often want to experience new environments that offer new and innovative treatments; however those must compliment the basic standards in the industry. Unique concepts are developed in a variety of ways and those concepts and vision should be incorporated in space design, décor, service products, retail product assortments, specialty services, menu design, common area, even the aroma within a facility. Making sure those responsible for design, the décor, the flow and the mood of facility, is critically important.

Our development staff specializes in the unique, original and profitable spa concepts. The products used, the design of the treatment rooms, the quality of the amenities provided all work together to make your environment mirror your guests needs. Whether you have a spa theme in mind or, if you want us to develop one for you, Spa Advisors has the talent to deliver to the standards you expect.

Once we identify your potential clientele and what will bring them to you, this phase of development will include:

• Creating a distinctive concept or central theme
• Determining the types of services available by classification
• Creating a menu of services and packages that will entice the client
• Customizing packages of services for hotel and resort guests
• Integrating the spa into the community by offering membership, guest loyalty programs, and strategic business alliances which support cross-referral of clientele
• Developing a profitable retail environment and culture to include the recommendation of products as a part of the service
• Integrating medical, health and wellness into the spa environment