Startup costs from franchise filings

How much does it cost to open a day spa?

Opening a day spa costs $916,674 to $1,409,460, going by the 2 day spa franchises whose current disclosure documents are on file in Minnesota: those are the medians of their low and high estimates for one new location, from the franchise fee to the first months of working capital. The biggest single cost is build-out and construction, typically $466,591 to $703,350. An owner opening independently pays no franchise fee and can often spend less on the space, which the budget below lets you test line by line.

Typical range: $916,674 to $1,409,460
Lowest to highest filed: $496,450 to $2,022,969
Filings compared: 2 brands

Read from Minnesota's franchise registry on October 16, 2026. Build your own budget · Download every line (CSV)

By brand

What 2 day spa franchises say it costs to open

Item 7 of each franchise disclosure document, the legally required estimate of the initial investment for one new location, low and high.

Brand	Total initial investment	Franchise fee	Build-out	Unit described
SpaviaFDD issued Apr 2025	$496,450 to $795,950	$59,500	$288,000 to $485,000	2,600 to 3,300 sq ft
Woodhouse Day SpaFDD issued Apr 2026	$1,336,897 to $2,022,969	$60,000	$645,182 to $921,700	5,000 to 7,000 sq ft

By cost

Where the money goes when you open a day spa

The median low and high of each kind of cost across these brands. A brand that folds a cost into another line is left out of that line's median, so the lines are a checklist, not a sum.

Cost	Median low to high	Brands
Build-out and constructionLeasehold improvements, plumbing, electrical, flooring, lighting and finishes, less any landlord allowance.	$466,591 to $703,350	2
Furniture, fixtures and equipmentChairs, stations, shampoo units, treatment beds or devices, reception and waiting furniture.	$209,924 to $290,793	2
SignageExterior sign and interior graphics.	$18,324 to $32,637	2
Computers, POS and softwarePoint of sale, computers, phones, music and security systems, software set-up.	$30,225 to $35,975	2
Opening supplies and retail stockBackbar and service supplies, linens, sanitation, retail products for the shelf.	$53,965 to $151,877	1
Grand opening marketingPre-opening and launch advertising, promotions and events.	$15,000 to $15,000	1
Rent and deposits before openingSecurity deposit, rent before opening, utility deposits.	$13,840 to $35,392	2
Professional fees, permits and licensesArchitect and design, legal and accounting, building permits, business and establishment licenses.	$36,725 to $56,000	2
InsuranceFirst premiums or deposits for liability, property and workers' compensation cover.	$4,625 to $7,250	1
Working capital (first months)Cash to cover payroll, rent and bills until the business pays for itself, usually the first three months.	$37,500 to $100,000	2
Franchise feeFranchisees only. The one-time fee paid to the franchisor for the right to open.	$59,750 to $59,750	2
Franchise training and travelFranchisees only. Travel and living costs to attend the franchisor's training.	$7,000 to $8,500	2

Your budget

Budget a day spa of your own

Start from the filed medians, without the franchise fee or the franchisor's training travel, and replace each line with your own quotes.

What are you opening?

Start from

Each line starts at the middle of the brands' low estimates across 2 filed day spa disclosures, with franchise-only costs left out. Replace any figure with your own quote; switching the business or the starting point resets the lines.

Build-out and construction

Leasehold improvements, plumbing, electrical, flooring, lighting and finishes, less any landlord allowance.

$466,591 to $703,350median of 2 filings

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

Chairs, stations, shampoo units, treatment beds or devices, reception and waiting furniture.

$209,924 to $290,793median of 2 filings

Signage

Exterior sign and interior graphics.

$18,324 to $32,637median of 2 filings

Computers, POS and software

Point of sale, computers, phones, music and security systems, software set-up.

$30,225 to $35,975median of 2 filings

Opening supplies and retail stock

Backbar and service supplies, linens, sanitation, retail products for the shelf.

$53,965 to $151,877median of 1 filing

Grand opening marketing

Pre-opening and launch advertising, promotions and events.

$15,000median of 1 filing

Rent and deposits before opening

Security deposit, rent before opening, utility deposits.

$13,840 to $35,392median of 2 filings

Professional fees, permits and licenses

Architect and design, legal and accounting, building permits, business and establishment licenses.

$36,725 to $56,000median of 2 filings

Insurance

First premiums or deposits for liability, property and workers' compensation cover.

$4,625 to $7,250median of 1 filing

Working capital (first months)

Cash to cover payroll, rent and bills until the business pays for itself, usually the first three months.

$37,500 to $100,000median of 2 filings

Your startup budget

$886,600

Franchised day spa units disclose a median of $916,674 to $1,409,460, franchise fee included.

Reading the filings

What these numbers mean for a day spa

Two day spa franchises file here, and they bracket the trade: Spavia ($496,450 to $795,950) for 2,600 to 3,300 sq ft, and Woodhouse Day Spa ($1,336,897 to $2,022,969) for 5,000 to 7,000 sq ft.
Size and equipment explain the gap: Woodhouse lists $349,848 to $476,585 for equipment, against $70,000 to $105,000 at Spavia.
Treatment rooms, wet areas and laundry make the build-out the biggest line by far ($466,591 to $703,350). A space with plumbing already run to the back of house saves the most.