Small local day spa

Local residents, couples and friend groups, gift buyers and companies booking wellness days for staff.

Treatment fees, sauna and spa access, packages, memberships and gift vouchers, with extra income from retail products.

• Spa or massage therapy experience
• Managing staff and rotas
• Basic bookkeeping and marketing

• Planning permission or change of use for the premises, check with your council
• Council licensing or registration for massage and special treatments in some areas, check locally
• Public liability, employer's liability once you hire, and treatment insurance
• Fire risk assessment, building regulations and water hygiene for saunas and wet areas
• High fixed costs such as rent, utilities and business rates before bookings build up

Startup costs are typically around £25,000 to £120,000, depending on the premises, how many treatment rooms you fit out and whether you add a sauna. High fixed costs such as rent, utilities and business rates can arrive before bookings build.

Monthly revenue is typically around £6,000 to £30,000, depending on how many rooms you run, your prices and how quickly bookings build. That is revenue, not profit, so allow for staff and fixed costs. Hours start from around 35 a week.

Check planning permission or change of use with your council, and whether local licensing or registration applies to massage and special treatments. Also check insurance, your fire risk assessment, building regulations and water hygiene for saunas and wet areas.