Neighborhood sauna studio in a rented space

Local residents, gym and recovery fans, couples and friend groups, plus people who want regular heat sessions without owning a sauna.

Drop-in sessions, bundles of sessions, monthly memberships and private bookings. Add-ons such as towel rental, drinks or hosted group nights can bring in extra income.

• Customer service and hosting
• Managing a lease and budgets
• Cleaning and upkeep routines
• Marketing to a local community

• Zoning, building and fire code approval, and electrical or ventilation permits, so check with your city or county before signing a lease
• Whether your health department regulates shared bathing facilities, showers or plunge pools in your state
• General liability insurance, workers' compensation once you hire, and a signed guest waiver
• Accessibility requirements (ADA) for public spaces, so check what applies to your building
• Utility costs, laundry and cleaning time can be high, so test your numbers before committing to a long lease
• Guest safety: heat can be risky for some medical conditions, so post clear rules and avoid making health claims

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on your space, the number of saunas, showers and any cold plunge. These are estimates, so test your numbers before committing to a long lease.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how many sessions and memberships you sell. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, and utilities, laundry and cleaning time can be significant.

Check zoning, building and fire code approval, and electrical or ventilation permits with your city or county before signing a lease. Also check whether your health department regulates showers or plunge pools, ADA accessibility requirements, and insurance.