The Med Spa Pre-Launch Checklist: 5 Things You Must Do Before You Open Your Doors

The excitement of opening a new med spa is intoxicating. You're designing the space, choosing a name, and dreaming of the day you can finally welcome your first client. It's easy to get swept up in the creative details. But the decisions you make in the months before you open are what will ultimately determine your success or failure.

Launching a medical practice is infinitely more complex than opening a salon or retail shop. Getting the foundational pieces right is non-negotiable. Here are five things you absolutely must have in place before you unlock your doors.

1. Secure Your Medical Director & Legal Structure This is Step Zero. Before you sign a lease or buy a single syringe, you must establish your compliant legal structure (often an MSO-PC model) and formalize a relationship with your medical director. This partnership is the legal bedrock of your entire operation. Trying to "find a doctor" at the last minute is a recipe for a delayed opening and a compromised, rushed partnership.

2. Finalize Your Service Menu & Pricing You need to know exactly what services you will offer on day one and what you will charge for them. This decision drives everything else. It determines what equipment you need to buy, what supplies to order, and what skills your initial staff must have. Calculating your true cost per treatment will allow you to set prices that ensure profitability from the start.

3. Obtain All Your Licenses and Insurance The list is long and non-negotiable. This includes your business license, your state's specific clinic or establishment license, and, most importantly, robust medical malpractice and general liability insurance. The insurance application process often requires you to have your medical director and protocols in place, which is why Step 1 is so critical.

4. Develop and Document Your Core Clinical Protocols You cannot safely or legally administer a single treatment without a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) signed by your medical director. This includes protocols for every treatment on your menu, as well as critical safety procedures like managing a vascular occlusion or anaphylactic reaction. Your "protocol binder" is one of your most important legal documents.

5. Build Your Pre-Launch Marketing Buzz Your Grand Opening shouldn't be the first time people hear about you. Start building anticipation 2-3 months before you open.

• Secure your social media handles and start posting behind-the-scenes content.
• Launch a simple "Coming Soon" landing page on your website to collect email addresses.
• Run a "Founding Member" promotion offering an exclusive discount to the first 50 clients who pre-book a consultation.

Opening a med spa is a marathon, not a sprint. By focusing on these foundational steps, you build a business that's prepared for success long before the first patient walks through the door.