How much does it cost to open a day spa?

A day spa typically costs $100,000 to $350,000 to open, with the wide range driven by location, number of treatment rooms, and level of build-out. A small 2-3 room spa in a suburban strip mall can open for $80,000-$120,000, while a luxury urban spa with wet rooms and saunas can exceed $300,000.

How many treatment rooms does a new spa need?

Most new spas start with 3-5 treatment rooms to balance capacity with overhead costs. Each room costs $5,000-$15,000 to equip and build out. You want enough rooms to keep therapists busy during peak hours without paying for unused space during slow periods.

Is owning a spa profitable?

Spas can be profitable with net margins of 10-18% once established. The average day spa generates $300,000-$800,000 in annual revenue. Profitability depends heavily on keeping therapist utilization above 60% and selling retail products, which carry 40-50% margins.

Spa Startup Cost Comparison

Raleigh, NC vs Chicago, IL

Raleigh, NC

$84,000 - $322,000

COL Index: 100.8

Chicago, IL

$99,000 - $376,000

COL Index: 107.8

Detailed Cost Comparison

Expense	Raleigh, NC	Chicago, IL	Difference
Business Registration & Licenses	$1,400 - $5,100	$5,600 - $10,900	-61%
Commercial Lease (First + Last + Security)	$11,000 - $54,800	$17,600 - $88,000	-38%
Spa Equipment & Furnishings	$20,000 - $80,000	$20,000 - $80,000	Same
Initial Product & Supplies Inventory	$5,000 - $20,000	$5,000 - $20,000	Same
Interior Build-Out & Ambiance Design	$25,500 - $91,800	$28,800 - $103,500	-11%
Business Insurance (Annual)	$3,000 - $8,000	$3,000 - $8,000	Same
Marketing & Launch	$3,000 - $12,000	$3,000 - $12,000	Same
Working Capital (3 Months)	$15,100 - $50,400	$16,200 - $53,900	-7%
Total Estimated Cost	$84,000 - $322,000	$99,000 - $376,000	-15%

Local Market Factors

Factor	Raleigh	Chicago
Cost of Living Index	100.8	107.8
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)	$16 - $40	$25 - $65
Labor Rate Index	1.02	1.15
Sales Tax	7.25%	10.25%
Minimum Wage	$7.25/hr	$15.80/hr
LLC Filing Fee	$125	$150

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