Hi there! Welcome back! I hope you all had a Happy 4th of July! I can’t help to say how much I enjoyed the day because it was my birthday! Yep! Fun fact– I was born on the 4th of July. For many, many years I believed all the fireworks were for me! Hahaha… I actually kind of still think that to this day! This year, I decided to take some of my own advice for my birthday…I focused on taking care of me! I celebrated by doing some of the things I enjoy like enjoying a nice dinner, going to the spa, eating some sweet birthday treats, and spending some good quality time with my family! I was, indeed, one happy and grateful birthday girl!
This week I wanted to provide some tips for anyone who may be thinking about entering into the spa industry. I’ve been chasing this dream for quite a while now, worked with many people, learned a lot of lessons and decided to share in hopes of helping someone while on their own journey!
Here are 7 tips to remember when starting a spa business:
- Remember why you started
There will be many good days and some not so good days while on a journey to fulfill your dream. Therefore, we must remember why we want to become a spa owner {or whatever your dream may be}. When we take time to remember our why it’ll push us to keep going on the days we need it the most! I’ve personally had to do this very thing countless times. I realized a long time ago that this dream is so much bigger than me. I remember that God called me to do this and no matter how hard this journey gets at times I remember I was created for this and I have everything in me I need to accomplish the assignment. And guess what??? So do you!!!
- Plan, Plan, Plan
If you fail to plan you plan to fail. I know we’ve all heard this one before but it’s SO true! One of the first action steps I took on this journey was write a business plan. Yes, I may have been dreaming of this for years but it’s nothing like putting your plans on paper. There are numerous aspects to opening a spa like marketing, financial projections, inventory, operations, location, etc. All of these areas require a well, thought out plan so it is imperative that you take all the time needed to prepare yourself.
- Stay connected to a community of like-minded individuals
Listen, this journey was not meant to be taken alone. Surrounding myself with like-minded individuals has been one of the best decisions I’ve made while on this journey. Have you ever heard the term “if you’re the smartest person in the room you’re in the wrong room?” Surround yourself with people who have been where you are trying to go, people who are smarter than you that you can learn and grow from, people who motivate and inspire you. Who we connect with matters so make sure you connect with the right people!
- Invest in professionals to help
Don’t be afraid to invest in industry professionals who can help you accomplish your goals. I believe the saying “it costs money to make money” applies perfectly here. We don’t have all the answers nor are we experts in everything which is why we must hire the right people to help us get the job done. For example, while writing my business plan I knew I didn’t have the skills necessary to produce the financial projections/worksheets that were required. So, because I was connected to a spa community, someone within the group referred me to an industry professional who could help me get it done. Not only did he help me get my projections done, his company will also be handling my bookkeeping as well. Hire professionals to help you on your journey but, of course, make sure they’re the right fit for you and your needs.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest in the industry
Things change and evolve quickly no matter the industry. Always stay up to date with the latest in your industry no matter where you may find yourself on your journey. It will help you remain competitive & full of knowledge, help you stay in the know with consumer demands, and help you keep pulse of the industry and where it’s headed. Never stop learning and growing as a professional as your success will depend on it!
- Save, Save, Save
I can’t stress this tip enough! We must have savings set aside when building a dream/business. This goes for everyone, even if you don’t need to borrow capital to fund your business. Why is savings so important you ask? Because when you’re starting a business we all know that most businesses don’t make a profit starting out. No one has a crystal ball and can tell you how much money you’ll make starting out; we can only make projections. There’s a lot of uncertainty and we never know if we’ll need additional funds to carry us through those beginning months…whether it be monies to help keep the business afloat or just monies to help pay your personal financial responsibilities. It is wise and highly recommended for every one to save money before opening a business, no matter the industry.
- Stay focused on the end goal
Don’t ever lose sight of where you are going! Remember, you are only in a race against yourself. Stay the course when things get hard and remember…everything you go through during the process will work for your good in the end…if you don’t give up! Stay FOCUSED, stay DETERMINED, stay COMMITTED, and BELIEVE!
