FASTFACT
According to Funk, a Massage
Envy franchise fee would cost
$45,000. A Franchisee is also
responsible in securing the
real estate, the build out and
working capital which may run
from $300,000 to $500,000 in
total costs. In exchange, the
benefits and support are vast,
including a learning management system, a regional
developer support, media
marketing, annual franchise
conference, to name a few.
they realize that everyone has a need for
a regular massage.”
Massage Envy’s signature Wellness
Program also encourages clients to keep
coming back. Introductory massages cost
$49, and then for the monthly membership price of $59, members receive one
massage a month plus unlimited additional massages for $39. Some locations
offer a similar program for facials, and
offer four protocols developed by Dr.
Howard Murad. If a client misses one or
two monthly sessions, they simply roll
over to the next month, another feature
that helps ensure repeat business.
While both Fitzsimmons and Schermer
were massage devotees prior to opening
Massage Envy franchises, each brings a
business background essential to running
the day spa. A day spa administrator is
hired for each location who brings more
spa-specific knowledge, creating a relationship akin to that of a general
manager/spa director at hotel spas.
While franchise owners are tasked with
the daily grind of running the business,
Massage Envy takes much of the guesswork out of opening a spa. “Colors are
standardized,” Schermer explains, which
also means that clients see familiar surroundings no matter which clinic they visit.
Each location offers a handicapped-accessible room, and the corporate office requires
that each clinic be open a minimum of 88
hours each week. “You can go up, but not
down [in hours],” Fitzsimmons notes.
Most are open 92 hours per week. This
accommodates just about every work
schedule any client may have.
Often, the most difficult part of establishing a new franchise is finding the
location. This also affects the time
required between becoming a franchisee
and officially opening for business. “It
takes about two-and-a-half months once
the lease is signed,” Fitzsimmons says.
Staff Selection
Each Massage Envy location employs
about 30 therapists, and Schermer and
Fitzsimmons stay actively involved in the
August 2011
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