Thinking of starting your own clinic?

Starting your business can be both scary and exciting. The overwhelming feeling and emotions are well worth the outcome if you execute with a proper business map. I say “map” instead of a business plan because we cannot plan what lies ahead, but we can map out a direction we want to go and have a destination we want to reach.

My journey starting Raw Canvas was not the easiest but it was well

worth each setback and each lesson I learned. I remember I started my business in 2016 and epically failed three months in because I didn't map it out. My goal for you here is to provide helpful tips and specific areas to think of if you are planning on opening a clinic, studio, spa or space to offer services in the aesthetics industry.

Do you have passion?

Passion for the skin business and helping people with their skin goals gets me out of bed every day. I am excited to start my day and head to the clinic. This passion is forever ignited in me, so ask yourself if this a passion - do you love what you do? If the answer is yes, continue to follow that passion and I promise you, you will work harder, harder than you ever have but it won't feel like you did. If you're eager to help patients with skin problems and want to be your own boss while you do it, consider the next step.

Check the demand in your area

How many other locations are there in the area in which you're planning to do business? If there are none, you have a market gap that you can exploit! (Although, if there are none, you also must wonder where everyone is getting their professional skin care concerns attended to.) If there are other practices in the area, then there may still be gaps you can exploit. What exactly is missing from what the other practices offer? Can you be different? What will set you apart? I suggest digging deep and finding out what you feel you can offer that will be different. It does not necessarily mean the services you provide but the SERVICE you provide… remember that passion…. fuel that and strive for better.

Decide on the services you'll offer

This is where you should start setting yourself apart from the competition. You need to be strategic and come up with your goals of how you will execute your consults and work with your team with a plan from the first initial meeting with a client to the follow-up. A lot of clinics/spas don't take the time to follow up. Follow-up is critical to setting you up for success and ensuring your client is guided and feels valued and is well educated on the process.

Think carefully about marketing

When coming up with a clinic business map, many people forget to think about marketing. Your business will need marketing, even if there isn't any competition in the area. (How else are people going to find out about it unless they happen to walk past it one day?) The best thing you can do is hire experts in marketing to help you out. Trying to do this yourself simply isn't get you very far. Marketing was never something I was good at and I learned in business to focus on what you are good at and hire out what you are not. My marketing team propelled my business forward and is a tremendous asset to my company.

Hiring

Of course, your clinic/spa is going to need some help! Or maybe you are starting small like I did. Whatever the case, there will be a point when you need help and need to hire a team. A lot of the people who want to start these sort of businesses are going to have some expertise themselves however, when the time comes to hire, my advice is to hire on personality and teach the rest. Personality is everything in this line of business. You want to ensure you have someone who is aligned with your goals and shares your Passion. Anyone and everyone are teachable in a trade.

Getting capital

The reason it's so important to have a good business map – with experts in marketing and a hiring plan in mind – is because it will help you get your hands on the funding you need to start a business. There are many grants offered for entrepreneurs. I advise looking for a grant offered and finding as much information as possible to assist in the ease of starting up. When I started, I went to my bank for a government-funded mortgage that covered up to 90% of the fund to buy my location. This was a huge help in securing Raw Canvas's new location.

REMEMBER…

Going bigger doesn't always mean better. I started my business in my townhouse. I transformed a room into a small clinical space. I started with a beautiful skincare line I knew I trusted. I practiced dermaplaning and microneedling at first and as my clientele grew, I started to invest in the next steps of buying my first laser and slowly growing. My mother always said you can't eat a the elephant in one bite, so take small bites and chew thoroughly.

– Amanda Connolly