Launch a Med Spa: The Complete Opening Guide for New Clinics

Opening a med spa doesn't have to be a daunting task. If you approach it step by step, you can build a thriving, patient-focused business that stands out in a crowded market. The U.S. med spa industry is booming and competitive, but when you follow a clear process, you're more likely to launch fast and keep growing.

Find out everything you need to know before you open your med spa. Learn about the targeting, licensing, finances, software, and partnerships you'll need to be successful.

Laying the Groundwork

First, define your niche and your target market:

• What specific services will you offer? Botox, fillers, laser, body contouring, hormone replacement therapy, skin rejuvenation?
• Who are your ideal patients? Busy professionals, women over 40, people seeking preventative care?

Your answers shape every business decision. They guide your choice of location, staff, and even the equipment you’ll need.

Do market research upfront. Check what other med spas offer in your area and find gaps in their offerings. Learn about your local demographics. The number of med spas grew from 1,600 to over 11,000 in 15 years, so competition is real, but so is the potential. Carve out your unique angle so you stand out from the pack.

This prep work means less guesswork later. You’ll know exactly where to spend your money. You’ll avoid sinking cash into services nobody wants or missing booming trends that could make your spa stand out.

Essential Steps to Launch

Once you’ve mapped out your vision, make it official. Choose your business structure right away. For most med spas, an LLC or Corporation is smart because it protects your personal assets if something doesn’t go as planned.

Some states have corporate practice of medicine (CPOM) laws, meaning only a Physician-Owned Professional Corporation or MSO model is allowed. Pick the best fit since it affects your risk and growth options.

Write a business plan. This is your blueprint. It covers key info like what you’ll offer, your pricing, financial projections, and your plans to grow. Without a business plan, it’s tough to get loans or stay organized as you scale. Your plan should evolve as your practice grows over time.

• Register your business name
• Get your EIN (employer ID number)
• Create a brand identity that matches your patient experience, whether you want a clinical, luxury, or accessible vibe

Licensing and Compliance

You can’t open your doors until you’re compliant. Skip a step and you risk shutdowns, big fines, or even criminal charges. Get your licenses and medical setup squared away before you book the first patient.

Med spas run on strict medical laws that change state to state:

• Who can own a med spa
• Who can perform each kind of treatment
• What level of physician supervision is needed
• Protocols for patient consent and clinical documentation

Every med spa needs a licensed physician as medical director. This physician oversees all protocols, ensures proper supervision, screens patients, manages adverse events, and keeps care quality high. State boards usually define all aesthetic treatments—Botox, fillers, laser—as medical, so you’ll always need either direct or indirect physician oversight.

Portrait's PC Membership and MD network help you find the right medical directors who know how to keep your med spa compliant and safe.

• Follow state sanitation rules, device registration, and chemical safety
• Meet HIPAA patient privacy requirements
• Keep up with OSHA safety standards
• Use FDA cleared products and registered devices

Portrait helps over 800 clinics stay compliant every year, so you can focus on patient care.

Getting Your Money Right

You’ll need initial capital to launch. Expect to invest $100,000 to $750,000 based on your location and set-up.

• Medical equipment: $50,000 to $200,000
• Build-out/leased space: $30,000 to $100,000
• Inventory and supplies

Don’t under-budget. You want extra cash for unexpected issues.

You can use SBA 7(a) loans for up to $500,000, usually at 10-13% interest. You can also finance big machines using the device itself as collateral.

Portrait partners with banks and credit providers that specialize in med spas, so you can get business cards with cash back or unlock special investment options as your clinic grows.

Plan for recurring costs like staff salaries, marketing, and monthly rent. Keep your cost of goods sold between 30% and 40% of sales if you want to keep margins healthy. The right partners help you buy smart and save more.

Location and Branding

Your med spa needs to be easy to reach, simple to park at, and right for your dream patients. If your spot doesn’t fit your market, it’s an uphill battle. So, before you sign a lease, think hard about who you want as patients and what part of town they go to for self-care.

Design your space to feel soothing but also super clean and professional. You want patients to relax, but you also want to show that safety comes first. Make sure your physical vibe matches your website and Instagram so patients feel the same experience everywhere.

Portrait’s team can help you find locations and set up your space. You can see a few spots, pick one, and let your project manager handle design, furniture, and move-in so nothing slips through the cracks.

Simplifying Operations with Technology

Modern med spas use all-in-one software to keep things running. Look for practice management that handles everything: patient records, scheduling, payments, charting, and inventory. If you store patient data, make sure it’s HIPAA compliant and you have a solid Business Associate Agreement on file.

Portrait is an all-in-one clinic operating system. You get EHR, payments, charting, online scheduling, inventory, and more. Online appointments auto-sync to your calendar. Intake forms attach right to a patient’s chart. Consultations trigger MD oversight for a Good Faith Exam. When you do a procedure, your supply levels update instantly and emails go to patients to remind them about follow-ups. It saves time and cuts mistakes.

Portrait’s platform locks down HIPAA security with encryption, custom user permissions, and full audit logs to keep PHI private. Plus, you get payment flows that work with CPOM rules for easy, legit transactions.

What to Look for in EHR/EMR

Pick software that makes your day smoother. Features should include:

• Smart booking so patients can schedule online in seconds
• Fast charting with templates or automation
• Inventory management with auto-ordering
• Integrated, secure payment processing

Portrait brings all these features together—including built-in medical oversight and GFE workflows plus access to Portrait’s MDs. Solo and new clinics get Portrait’s EHR for free if you have under 50 patients. Bigger practices pay $99/month per spot.

Look for a platform that also includes a patient CRM. Keep all your patient interactions, notes, treatment history, and preferences in one secure place. A patient portal keeps patients engaged, lets them book, and makes two-way communication simple.

Marketing and Patient Acquisition

Opening the doors is just the start. You need a modern, simple marketing plan. Digital channels now drive 70% of med spa bookings, so your website and social pages are key.

• Launch a mobile-friendly website with local SEO. Most patients use search terms like “med spa near me.” If your site isn’t fast and doesn’t convert, you’re leaving money on the table.
• Use Instagram for organic social (it’s the top channel). Facebook is next. Share before-and-afters, post about new treatments, and do some Q&A sessions with your providers.
• For ads, start with Meta (Facebook/Instagram). When you’re earning $100k+/mo, add Google Ads for more reach.

Portrait provides built-in, pro marketing support. Get a branded site, SEO, email and SMS workflows, ready-to-use social posts, and direct help from med spa marketing pros. All campaigns, bookings, and follow-up are tracked so you can see what’s working and what’s not.

Growing with Smart Partnerships

Partnerships cut costs and help you expand. Smart clinics use group buying to save on injectables, supplies, and devices. Don’t pay retail—order like the big chains do.

Pharmaceutical Discounts and Procurement

Join a group purchasing organization (GPO) to access deals:

• You’ll typically save 10-18% or more on supplies and meds
• Some clinics report cutting supply costs by 20% or even 60%

Portrait’s built-in marketplace gives you group pricing on injectables, HRT, GLP-1s, peptides, devices, and all the consumables you use every day. It takes a few clicks to place or track an order and saves you a ton long-term.

Portrait even has a Rewards Program where you get instant savings and quarterly rebates. If you save $200, you get $100 off right now and earn $100 in credit for future orders—so your cost of goods drops as you grow. Everyday purchases start working like a rewards program.

Launch Packages and Support

Portrait helps you open and grow your med spa at every stage. Get launch support, automated compliance, pro marketing, and exclusive group buying from day one.

With Portrait, most clinics can launch in about 30 days. The platform helps you handle setup, compliance, EHR, payroll, marketing, supply contracts, and more. You can add more clinics or scale locations later with hands-on help from their operations team. You’ll also get project managers, design help, vendor contacts, and coaching, so nothing is left to chance.

Set Your Med Spa Up for Success

If you follow a step-by-step process, follow state/federal laws, and keep learning as you go, you can launch a reputable med spa that delivers great patient care and grows for years. The right strategy and the right partners make it much easier.

Portrait takes the stress out of launch with free EHR and supplier savings of up to 60%. 1,000+ clinics use Portrait as their platform for growth.

When you open with Portrait, you get connected software, services, and top pricing. Launch faster, run smoother, and grow smart with features that update every two weeks. Launch your med spa in 30 days with Portrait.