So, you’ve decided to open a med spa. Or at least, you’re seriously considering it.
The timing couldn’t be better! ⏰
The aesthetic industry’s thriving, injectables are becoming a routine part of people’s wellness regimes, and the “tweakment” generation is here to stay.
But before you start planning your grand opening, you’ll have to decide:
Do you buy into a franchise or open your own med spa?
Well, both have their pros and cons.
Franchises offer structure, support, and instant brand power, while going independent means freedom, flexibility, and full creative control. The right move depends on your goals, budget, and how involved you want to be.
In this blog, we’ll help you make the right call.
Understanding med spa franchising
Franchising means stepping into a proven business model — one that’s already been tried and tested across a franchise network. You pay a franchise fee and, in return, get access to a full playbook, including:
- An established brand
- A defined list of services
- Set pricing, software, and day-to-day operations
- Access to national or regional marketing budgets
- A built-in customer base
It’s a smart choice for first-time business owners or wellness entrepreneurs who want a faster, lower-risk launch into the aesthetics space.
Opting for independent ownership, on the other hand, puts you in the driver’s seat. You build your own brand, curate your treatment list, hire your team, set your prices, and craft the entire client experience from scratch.
And it’s what most people choose. According to the American Med Spa Association, 81% of med spas are single-location businesses — proof that having the freedom to run things your way is worth the extra hustle.
Is it cheaper to buy a franchise or start a business?
Both options come with significant costs, they’re just structured differently.
Here’s what you’re typically paying for in a med spa franchise:
- Franchise fee
- Clinic buildout and equipment
- Hiring and staffing
- Software, compliance, and local licensing
- Ongoing royalty fees and marketing strategies
- Meeting minimum net worth or liquid capital requirements
👉 To put that in perspective: VIO Med Spa — a rapidly growing med spa franchise in the U.S. — estimates total startup costs between $942K and $1.3M, covering everything from leasehold improvements to launch marketing.
When you go the independent route, you skip the franchise fee, but everything else is on you:
- Branding and web design
- Med spa software and setup
- Hiring and team training
- Marketing, social media, and client acquisition
- Building your own pricing and service structure
Overall, starting your own med spa typically costs between $100K and $500K+, depending on the spa’s size and luxury level. Simply put, franchising can initially cost from 10 to over two times more than opening independently.
Franchising vs. opening your own med spa business: Key differences
These are the six areas where the two paths diverge most. Let’s look at what you’re really choosing between. ⚖️
Startup costs and financial investment
As a franchise owner, you get predictability.
You know what you’re paying for: the brand, the buildout, the training, the support. However, as we just covered, the upfront investment is steep, and you’ll need to prove you’re financially solvent before signing a franchise agreement.
Starting your own spa lets you scale on your own terms.
Want to launch as a solopreneur working a couple of days a week and build from there? Go for it. Just keep in mind — you’ll be covering everything a franchise normally bundles in, from marketing to software to branding.
💡 Pro tip: Most new businesses underestimate how much working capital they’ll need. Plan for at least 6–12 months of expenses before you break even.
Brand recognition and marketing support
A franchise brand gives you instant credibility.
If clients see a name they recognize and trust they’re more likely to book with you. With regional ad campaigns, polished branding kits, and centralized social media support, you’re set up to attract attention right away.
If you’re creating your own brand, it’s a slower burn. But it also gives you the freedom to position your med spa however you want. You own the brand equity you build, and your reputation grows with you.
Of course, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and invest in:
- Branding
- Google and Meta ads
- Customer acquisition strategies
- Email, SMS, and social media marketing
The good news? It pays off. A 2021 study found that strong brand recognition directly increases a customer’s willingness to pay — meaning the clearer and more consistent your brand, the more value clients place on your services.
Control over services and pricing
In a franchise, the service menu and the pricing model are usually non-negotiable. You follow a set structure designed for consistency, not flexibility.
That’s great if your market aligns with their franchise model. But it’s not so great if local competitors are undercutting your prices or if clients are asking for treatments your franchisor doesn’t offer yet. You’re a little bit stuck.
In your own business, you can test what works — launch promos, create tiered packages, or tailor your service mix based on demand. It’s more work, but it also lets you adapt quickly to trends and client feedback.
Operational support and training
One of the biggest perks of franchising is the ongoing support.
From training programs to inventory systems, you get tools to keep your spa running smoothly, even if you’ve never run a business before.
Go independent, and you’re writing the med spa business plan, setting the vision, and making the big decisions. It’s a lot, especially if you’ve never done it before. You’ll probably be learning as you go (and making mistakes along the way).
Tools like Pabau can really help you here. As a practice management software, it handles taking bookings, planning your schedule, getting intake forms, and lots more – so that you can focus on delivering a great patient experience.
Profitability and revenue sharing
What about your earnings? 💰
In a franchise, you’ll pay royalties. That’s usually a percentage of your revenue plus a contribution to national or regional marketing costs. These ongoing costs eat into your margins, even if your calendar’s fully booked.
Run your own med spa, and your profits stay with you. Yes, there are expenses like rent, medical equipment and supplies, marketing, payroll and software. But you control where your money goes and how to reinvest it.
Over time, that control can lead to significantly higher take-home earnings (assuming your business runs well.)
Risk and long-term flexibility
As we mentioned earlier, franchising gives you structure. But it also locks you into a specific way of operating. Want to test a new treatment, open another location, or rebrand? You’ll need to follow the franchisor’s rules.
Independent ownership gives you more freedom, although it comes with more risk. You’re making the calls, building the systems, and carrying the responsibility if anything goes wrong. But that same freedom is what allows you to scale faster, pivot when needed, and build a business that evolves with you.
Here’s a side-by-side breakdown showing exactly how the two paths compare. ⬇️
Key factors to consider before making a decision
Now that you know the lay of the land, it’s time to get honest about your priorities. Here’s what you should factor into your decision-making. 👇
Budget and financing
Capital and funding play a big role in which path makes sense for you.
If you’ve got access to significant funding and want a turnkey solution, franchising might be your best bet. Just be prepared for the franchise fee, buildout costs, and liquid capital requirements.
Running leaner? Independent ownership gives you the freedom to start smaller — maybe one room, one injector, and a tight treatment menu — and scale as you go.
Either way, you’ll need to budget for your start-up costs and ongoing expenses like insurance, payroll, and med spa taxes.
Risk tolerance
What’s your appetite for uncertainty?
Franchises come with a proven model, training, and operational systems already in place. That can be a huge relief — especially if you’re new to business. You’re trading risk for a repeatable, templated structure you can lean on.
But if you’re comfortable making decisions, testing new ideas, and adapting as you go, independent ownership offers a different kind of reward: full creative and financial freedom.
You just need to be ready for more ambiguity upfront. There’s no one holding your hand — but also no one holding you back.
Business experience
Seasoned business owners might feel right at home running things independently.
For aesthetic practitioners or clinicians without a background in business, franchising offers structure and support. Managing CRMs, scheduling, and compliance can feel like a lot, especially in the early stages.
They may even have tried-and-tested tools they use in their business to manage bookings and scheduling and patient record management, for example. Perhaps they’ve got a default practice management software they use, like Pabau!
Meanwhile, as an independent, you have to go out and research the tools that are the best fit for your business. It also may be harder to justify spending your budget for them at the beginning, even if it is a worthwhile investment.
A strong franchise helps you skip the learning curve.
Growth goals
Franchise agreements can restrict how and where you grow.
If you dream of expanding quickly, launching your own product line, or opening multiple locations on your terms, independent ownership gives you the flexibility to do it your way.
But if your goal is a smooth-running, high-revenue clinic that doesn’t require building every piece from scratch, franchising might fit better.
Marketing and branding
Franchise brands come with recognition baked in — and national marketing campaigns and strategies (with regional budgets) to back it up. If building an audience sounds overwhelming, you’ll appreciate the head start.
On the flip side, if you’re excited to carve out a niche, create a memorable client experience, and own every step of the customer journey — from the first click to the post-treatment follow-up — independent is the way to go.
Who med spa franchising is best for
Med spa franchising is a solid choice for:
- First-time business owners who want a roadmap
- Medical professionals who prefer clinical work over business ops
- Investors looking for a lower-risk path into the industry
- Entrepreneurs with access to significant capital
- Anyone who values structure, support, and speed to market
With the right franchise business, you can launch quickly, benefit from shared marketing, and lean on experienced operators when challenges come up.
Who independent ownership is best for
Independent ownership is ideal for:
- Business-savvy entrepreneurs with a clear vision
- Aesthetics pros who want full control over services, pricing, and branding
- Anyone looking to build a unique brand, not fit into someone else’s
- Long-term thinkers who want to grow, pivot, and scale on their own terms
As an independent, you’ll need to wear more hats at first. However, you’ll also have much more say in every aspect of your business. From your branding, to your patient communication to which treatments you offer, it’s all up to you.
Open and operate your med spa with Pabau
Running a medical spa isn’t exactly light work. From appointments and consultations to staff management, compliance, and marketing… it all adds up fast.
That’s why you need a tool like Pabau.
Our all-in-one practice management software helps busy aesthetic and wellness professionals streamline operations, deliver top-tier client experiences, and grow with confidence. Pabau supports you with:
☑️ Effortless booking and calendar management
☑️ Secure, organized client records
☑️ Automated marketing and communication
☑️ Digital forms and treatment notes to stay compliant
☑️ Inventory, sales, and performance tracking — all in one place
You’ll have the tech and tools to deliver a five-star experience while keeping everything slick behind the scenes.
🚀 Ready to open the doors to your med spa? Book a demo and see how Pabau can set you up for success from day one.
