A “How to Open a Med Spa” checklist might look very different depending on where you are in the country. Medical spa treatments are often considered the practice of medicine, and state laws can vary greatly in how they regulate medical spas. While requirements differ depending on the treatments provided, there are common business best practices that can help any med spa succeed.

Though the path to success might seem complex, let this be both your starting point and your road map to the medical spa practice you’ve always wanted. Understand the most important med spa law concepts, learn the business practices that drive profitability, and get the training and resources you need to protect your practice and your patients.

Medical spas have become incredibly popular, offering treatments that make you feel glamorous and pampered. In many cases, however, these procedures also fall within the realm of medicine. As a result, medical spas are subject to many of the same regulations that govern other medical practices. As more people make med spas part of their lives, attention from regulatory agencies is only increasing.

Whether you’re interested in injectables like neuromodulators and fillers, energy devices such as lasers and body contouring, or treatments like thread lifts, microneedling, and IV therapy, it’s essential to know that these often carry legal requirements. The baseline of medical spa legal compliance focuses on three areas:

Physicians can own medical practices throughout the country. After that, things get complicated. The corporate practice of medicine doctrine restricts who can own practices, employ physicians, and receive payment for medical treatments. A Management Services Organization (MSO) offers a legal pathway for non-physicians.

The prospect of starting up a new med spa business can seem overwhelming. Any new venture has dozens of components that nobody learns in training as a medical professional, and even for experienced entrepreneurs, there are unique challenges in the medical aesthetics space.

A business plan isn’t just an idea in your head. It is a detailed document laying out the specifics of your goals and how you are going to achieve them. Building a medical spa business plan involves detailed financial planning and understanding the numbers step by step.

Getting a lot of patients in the door doesn’t necessarily mean you will end the day with more money than you started with. Efficiency and profitability are key.

Building the right team is essential to providing great results, boosting retention, and generating revenue. Be intentional when bringing on new team members. With compensation structures, it’s important to incentivize your team, allowing them to share in the growth of the business.

For more in-person and in-depth coaching on how to open a medical spa, attend one of AmSpa’s Medical Spa Boot Camps. Learn from experts with years of experience in the industry, connect with owners and practitioners just like you, and give yourself the best possible start. These two-day trainings help you: