Medspa Owner Survey

Hear from eight medspa owners on what they have learned along the way, advice for aspiring medspa owners and feedback on becoming a medspa business owner.

Working as a mentor and trainer in the aesthetics field Ive met dozens of medspa business owners. Although I have never owned a medspa myself, I have always admired nurses that have leaped into business ownership.

If you missed my webinar with Natasha Peters on Opening Your Own Medspa......Watch it free here

I asked the following questions:

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA?

How many years of experience do you have in healthcare total? How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total?

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? 

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? 

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? 

If you could go back in time, what would you change? 

How is your work-life balance?

Overall, are you happy with your decision to own and start your medspa ? 

Response #1

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA?

Rn for 18 years, 2 years as NP

How many years experience do you have in healthcare total?

25 yrs.

How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total? 6 yrs

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? 2021, 5 yrs

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? I fell in love with it 

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? It will be consuming me 

If you could go back in time, what would you change? Marry a rich guy and retire early lol jk! Seriously tho, have more funds 

How is your work life balance? 98.5 work 

Overall are you happy with your decision to own  and start your medspa ? Yes and no. I’m burnt out from hospital job which is a thankless job. No because it’s now 24/7 for me . It’s better financially tho and I get to control my time (somewhat)

Response#2

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA?

NP, 12 years

How many years experience do you have in healthcare total? How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total?

16+, 9 

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? 

2022

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? 

Found it interesting and seemed like a positive environment

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? 

business plan and market research. Was coerced to "just open" and "sell a few syringes of filler" to make rent but my area isn't big on filler. 

If you could go back in time, what would you change? 

Nothing. negative experiences have helped me better understand what to look out for in personality traits and how to set better boundaries. 

How is your work life balance?

Fairly balanced- but less business at the moment

Overall are you happy with your decision to own  and start your medspa ? 

Yes. 

Response #3

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA? RN BSN, Since 2009

How many years experience do you have in healthcare total? How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total? Nurse since 2009 and Aesthetics for 3 years

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? opened in 2023

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? Wanting to be self employed and seeing a need for a higher level of service in my area. 

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? 

The importance of getting administrative and legal help.  I tried to use legal zoom and then when I wanted to change my name learned I could not create a DBA. I ended up having to go back and redo things and I wish this foundation was strong from start. Also importance of having a mentor. There were things I just did not know. I did start small and lean so I am grateful for that.                                                                                               

If you could go back in time, what would you change? I would start with a strong foundation in training and administrative support. I feel like I got lucky but would not do it again. I would also really work with someone on the numbers side so I had a really clear idea of my profit and loss. 

How is your work life balance? I work three days a week and from the outside it looks really balanced but for me it has taken an emotional toll. Owning a business is stressful and I am really working on taking care of my mental health and keeping a balance between family and work. It is easy to get swept up in it all especially because there is so much potential for growth but it is important to always go back to what is important and what values are. My kids are young and that is a priority currently.                     

Overall are you happy with your decision to own and start your medspa ? Yes. It was the best decision I could have made. 

Response#4

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA?

NP since 2013

How many years experience do you have in healthcare total? How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total?

24 total, 14 in aesthetics 

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? June 2021

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? I honestly didnt want to, but landed a job at a medspa and all my friends forced me to keep injecting and the rest is history 😂

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? Buy used devices, not everyone offering training is worth your investment, join fb group for aesthetics and ask advice!!!

If you could go back in time, what would you change? No business partners!!!

How is your work life balance? I work wayyyy too much.  But I wouldnt have it any other way

Overall are you happy with your decision to own  and start your medspa? Mostly- wish I would have focused on KPIs and net profit sooner

Response #5

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA?

Co-Founder, NP-C

How many years experience do you have in healthcare total? 16 yrs…i think 🤔 

How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total? 11 years

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? 

2023

2 locations, 3 years

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? 

Freedom of creating my own brand. I had a vision of what I wanted for patients. 

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? 

There isn’t much that I would change. We built our business with cash. Go slow and add things as you make money. That alone made us profitable our first year. 

If you could go back in time, what would you change? 

Start interviewing employees a few months before you actually need them to find the perfect fit. 

I wish I would have had someone in the medspa industry who could have given more advice. 

How is your work life balance?

It can be challenging. I will say I am good at turning it off when I need to. I am to a point now where I do not work on the business during weekends (for the most part). 

Overall are you happy with your decision to own  and start your medspa ? Very happy I did this, but I will reiterate, it can be very stressful. 

Response #6

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA?

-RN since 2003

How many years of experience do you have in healthcare total? How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total?

-RN since 2003 (in-center hemodialysis nurse)

-Facility Administrator 2014 (in-center hemodialysis center)

-Aesthetics 2023 (business formation)

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? 

September 2024

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? 

originally wanted to put up a wellness spa only but ended up tapping into aesthetics due to the overlap in a lot of services

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? 

- CLINICAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IS TOP PRIORITY

If you could go back in time, what would you change? 

- I would develop my skills FIRST AND FOREMOST

How is your work life balance?

not that great like before but still able to have quality time with family, regardless.

Overall are you happy with your decision to own  and start your medspa ? 

yes, it is a dream come true and a privilege but in hindsight, I would have invested in training and development versus acquiring all these devices.

Response #7 

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA?

Rn BSN- nurse for 16 years 

How many years experience do you have in healthcare total? 

20 years, started as a CNA 

How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total? 

5 years 

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? Established 2024, 2 yrs 

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? I’ve always loved aesthetics but was steered away from it being told it’s a fad. Wish i did it sooner before it became overly safe. 

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? 

You’ll be broke! Clients just don’t come. Mistakes are okay, things can be fixed. Failure makes you stronger 

If you could go back in time, what would you change? 

I would have opened a med spa first than another business. 

How is your work life balance?

I don’t. I feel like I’m constantly in survival mode. 

I do make sure i have time to workout then start my work day. I make my schedule based on kids in school and after school activities. 

Overall are you happy with your decision to own  and start your medspa ? 

50/50-some days i want to close it down and clock in and clock out. But i know i can’t handle anyone telling me what to do. I do wish there was a turn off time.  

As we grow i hope that becomes something i can do 

Response #8

What is your title and how long have you been a nurse or PA?

- RN and I’ve been a nurse 7 years

How many years experience do you have in healthcare total? How many years experience do you have in Aesthetics total?

- I’ve been in healthcare since I was 18, started working in a long term care home and then became a CNA and then worked at multiple Drs offices and then started RN school, started aesthetics 3-4 years after getting my RN

When did you open your practice and how long have you had it open for? 

- been open for 3 years i think?

What was your reason for going into aesthetics? 

- being able to provide quality care and taking the time to really educate and empower my patients. I also felt like aesthetics was something that I could really stand behind in being able to take care of myself mentally, emotionally physically and I wanted the same for my patients in caring for them hollistically 

What are some things that you wish you knew when you were first starting out? 

Start SLOW and focus on getting good quality training and staying on label and don’t buy big purchases until your financially ready. Don’t people please 

If you could go back in time, what would you change? 

Tell patients and people NO. Be firm but kind, listen to that voice inside my head when there are red flags 🚩 

Also, maybe keep a per diem job for the first few years. 

How is your work life balance?

there wasn’t much work life balance but now that I have another nurse it has opened up so much capacity. Finding the right ppl to work with will make things feel lighter and create more clarity and space. 

The wrong ppl will make you confused and feel stressed. 

Overall are you happy with your decision to own  and start your medspa ? 

I’m so grateful for my decision. I’ve met the most wonderful people through this industry and it has changed my life for the better! It’s allowed me to want to live by what I preach and that is taking better care of myself. 

Continuing the conversation, please add your medspa owner advice in the comments!