Neighbourhood hammam and scrub house

Locals looking for wellness and relaxation, people from communities where hammam is a tradition, couples and friends, and visitors looking for a spa day.

Entry fees or session packages, paid add-on treatments (scrub, foam wash, oil massage by qualified staff), memberships, gift cards, and tea, snacks and retail items.

• Hospitality and customer care
• Managing a small team
• Hygiene and facility upkeep
• Local marketing

• Building permits, zoning and fit-out rules for wet areas, check with your municipality
• Public health requirements for steam rooms, water quality and cleaning, which vary by province and health unit
• Commercial general liability insurance, and check what cover you need for slips, burns and health incidents
• Heat and steam can be risky for some guests, so use health notices and consider waivers
• Massage is regulated in some provinces, so check who can legally offer it before advertising it
• High heating, water and laundry costs, plus mould and ventilation upkeep
• WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire staff, and GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $120,000 to $400,000, depending on the premises, the fit-out of the wet areas and the equipment you choose. Heating, water and laundry costs are also worth planning for.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on the size of your premises, how many sessions you can book and the treatments you offer. Estimates suggest a minimum of about 35 hours a week.

Check building permits, zoning and fit-out rules for wet areas with your municipality. Also check public health requirements for steam rooms, water quality and cleaning, which vary by province, and who can legally offer massage in your province.