A sauna at any time of the year is an excellent business idea that requires quite serious investments, knowledge and, of course, a business plan. But if all is well, then this idea pays off quite quickly and brings in very good money.
So, first you need to draw up a business plan.
In order to open a sauna, you need to select a room. In this matter, its size is important: the minimum size of a sauna room must be at least 150 square meters. This room will accommodate such irreplaceable things as a steam room, a jacuzzi, changing rooms, a shower, a relaxation room, a toilet, and billiards. As for the location, the best rentals for a sauna are: fitness centers, hotels, entertainment and sports complexes. This location will improve traffic and, accordingly, income.
Equipment
Equipment for the sauna must be purchased: showers, pool equipment, floor heating, air conditioning. In the relaxation room you will need chairs and sofas, a table, and a TV. For the locker room you will need benches, hangers, and a mirror. It is also advisable to install billiards in the sauna: this will be an additional relaxation service.
Now let's talk about the staff. If you think that the staff is not of great importance, then you are mistaken: they really are! Personnel must be carefully selected.
Advertising
Once you have selected the staff and installed the necessary equipment, you just need to do advertising: this is a very important part. Depending on the location of the sauna, you can use the following types of advertising: newspapers, radio, television, and do not exclude advertising on the Internet, advertising on billboards. Know that the result of advertising is an influx of regular customers. Why is advertising a very important and practical component in this business idea? Yes, because your income depends on it!
Expenses and income
The income and expenses of the sauna are, of course, high. The first expense in this business idea is the purchase of premises. Of course, the ideal option would be to buy the premises rather than rent. The cost of the premises directly depends on its size and location. On average, this amount reaches 100 thousand dollars. Repair and purchase of all equipment will cost you 50-80 thousand dollars.
As for the cost of advertising, here it fluctuates around 10 thousand dollars. We will also add the salaries of your staff to the expenses. The sauna staff is its image. Staff salaries are $25 thousand per year. Now let's move on to something more pleasant - income. The income of a sauna can range from 100 to 150 thousand dollars a year. This way, your business investment will pay off in a few years.
Now let's take a closer look
For visitors, this is a place of pleasant and happy relaxation with dizzying temperature changes, immersion in a special atmosphere and a feeling of relaxation. And for the owner, this is a business sauna that brings good income and does not cause panic due to the seasonality of profits. If you were among those who wanted to take a steam bath, and now you have decided to be on the other side of the barricades, then anything is possible. Opening a bathhouse or sauna continues to top the list of profitable business ideas. The market for such services is not overcrowded, demand continues to grow, and most importantly, you have a chance to offer clients something unique.
At first glance, drawing up a business plan is a formal process that requires maximum rationalism. No. This is your creative search. If you spare no effort and inspiration, you will achieve success.
How to open a sauna from scratch
There are several ways: one of them will give the entrepreneur the opportunity to get a feel for the business, learn to understand the equipment, and learn the intricacies of working with a client. Another, larger-scale option will force you to run ahead of the train: the risk is high, but the reliability of such a business is much higher. The third option presupposes the presence of a certain acumen and experience in running a business - someone else's business. What will you choose?
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Option for a beginner - portable sauna
One way to set up a sauna from scratch is to purchase a portable infrared cabin and deliver it to the client.
In fact, you will conduct bath sessions at the client’s home at the agreed time
There is no need to prepare documents certifying and regulating your business activities. But an efficient dispatcher will be needed to accept orders and organize their timely execution. You cannot do without a vehicle on which the cabin will be delivered. In this case, you will have to include the financial costs of delivery in the cost of the session.
You should not just understand the functioning of a portable sauna. You need to have good knowledge, because the client’s health is in your hands. And your reputation is in the hands of the client.
- Minor expenses;
- Thermal insulation of equipment is not required;
- Absence of critical temperature marks in the portable cabin;
- Simple business structure;
- Small risk.
- Anyone can buy a portable cabin and use it without your help (its cost ranges from 8,000-15,000 rubles);
- At first, you will have to independently deliver the equipment to your home, contact an advertising agency and resolve other issues.
Please note that direct communication with a client requires you to appear appropriate, polite and patient.
Infrared portable sauna design
Perhaps a portable sauna will bring you enough profit. You will have an office, a dispatch service, a transportation system, and you will not need to visit clients in person. Or you will accumulate a small capital in order to open a stationary establishment.
Sauna is like big business
The business is really solid, but it will also require large-scale expenses. A sauna business plan will consist of fractional items and include many nuances. But more on that a little later.
First, you must contact the tax service and register as a private entrepreneur. This is not only more substantial, but also more profitable: state taxation will not be as expensive as the possible negative consequences of not having the necessary documents. A license to open a sauna is not required.
- More benefits for customers, most of whom still need a higher temperature than in a portable cabin;
- High profitability;
- You will have your own team to whom you can delegate your responsibilities;
- You have the opportunity to use all your creativity to create an exotic and attractive holiday destination.
- The volume of starting capital exceeds 10 million rubles;
- High operating costs;
- High risk.
The main difficulties of opening a stationary bathhouse depend on your financial capabilities. But for those who still want to learn about how to open a sauna from scratch, we will tell you everything in detail.
Sauna business plan: where to start
You have to decide on the answers to many questions.
- Who is your sauna for: the general public or VIPs?
- Will the sauna be intended for family relaxation, close company, or will it be public?
- What special thing are you ready to offer your clients? This could be a special menu, an avant-garde interior.
- What type of steam room will be built in your institution: Russian (Finnish) bathhouse, sauna, Turkish hammam, Japanese ofuro or black bathhouse, which is just gaining popularity.
Once you answer these questions, you will have a clear picture of exactly what you need. When you have decided on the target audience and the purpose of the sauna, proceed to further planning in order.
Room
The best option is to build a separate room for your future sauna. The layout of the room will be adapted specifically for the sauna, which guarantees a convenient and safe location of all its zones. You won't need major repairs.
The constructed building for the sauna will adapt to your idea, rather than your idea will adapt to the existing conditions.
To build a sauna, you need to have long-term plans and extraordinary thinking. It's not that simple. Most likely, you will need the help of people who are well versed in the construction of bathhouses and know the ideal area of all rooms:
Renting a room for a sauna is a short-sighted option.
As the owner of the building, you could resell it or rent it out, but if you rent the premises, you will have to save the necessary amount each month. The rent consists of payment for utilities and remuneration for the use of the premises. Choose a building according to the criteria that you would use when purchasing.
Room structure
Whatever area an entrepreneur has at his disposal, there is a certain set of functional areas that should be in such an establishment as a sauna for business.
You can design the rooms differently if you wish, but remember: the bigger the better. If you exclude something from this list, the range of services will be incomplete.
Water and electricity supply
The next point of the business plan is the supply of water and electricity. If a bathhouse space is being built from scratch, then resolving this issue may require much more time and money than if you were dealing with a purchased or rented space. If your sauna is located on the territory of a spa salon, sports complex or hotel, you will have to negotiate.
When choosing a room, pay attention to the proximity of electrical, telephone, and sewer networks.
Material and technical base
At this point in the business plan, you will have to analyze your project very meticulously so as not to miss some nuances that may later turn out to be decisive.
Having a bathhouse has long been a common thing for many people. This is primarily due to the growing popularity of a healthy lifestyle, and, as you know, bath procedures very well strengthen a person’s physical health. In addition to the main services, you can sell additional services, such as massage or a fitness room. In fact, the bath business has broad prospects for development.
Let's look at the main pros and cons of opening a bathhouse.
Pros:
- high demand for this service. A lot of people regularly visit such health centers.
- it is possible to expand the scope of services. The prospects are huge; as you develop, you can offer cosmetic services and massage, a fitness room and more.
- With a competent approach to this business, you can get high profits.
Cons:
- large initial capital;
- frequent repairs. Due to the increased humidity, you will have to regularly change the lining of the room.
- seasonality of the bathhouse rental business.
You will already decide whether it is profitable to start in this direction by reading this article to the end, but one thing is clear - that this is a promising direction that deserves the attention of entrepreneurs.
Do you want to beat your competitors? Launch an original business, namely a bathhouse on wheels. How to do this? Watch the video at this link. In fact, this is a very profitable thing. In fact, you can work in any corner of your city.
Place and premises
One of the main issues in this business is the selection of a location, or rather premises, for the business.
Depending on where the bathhouse is located, there are several main formats.
- Recreation complex. Usually baths are located in the countryside, somewhere near a forest. This way you can ensure maximum comfort and a relaxing atmosphere in the clean air.
- City baths. But there are options for opening a bathhouse business in the city; these are rather public baths aimed at a large flow of regular customers. Their range of services usually includes many additional wellness treatments.
- Bathhouse business at home. This format is popular in provincial cities, where businessmen, as an additional income, build a bathhouse on their site, draw up all the necessary documents, and then rent it out.
If we talk about cost, then the first option is the most expensive, plus you will need to spend money on transport. The second is the cheapest, but the level of service there is minimal. And the third is the average price solution.
You have three options for building a bathhouse:
- build a bathhouse complex from scratch - the price will be approximately $850 per 1 sq.m.;
- to repair an existing building and convert it into a bathhouse - the price will be about $300 per 1 sq. m.;
- purchase of a ready-made bath. The price tag is usually inflated, since you are buying not just a building, but a ready-made business, and in this segment the prices differ significantly.
What do you need to open a bathhouse? The premises need to be segmented into sectors, you must have:
- steam room;
- room with a swimming pool;
- rest room;
- bathroom;
- wardrobe.
All these rooms must be renovated using moisture-resistant materials, such as ceramic tiles.
The steam room itself is equipped with a section with stones to which the firebox is connected, sun loungers and boards for sitting, as well as wooden headrests.
The walls of the steam room are sheathed either with alder (a budget option), or best of all with linden. It is these materials that provide the most beneficial effect from visiting a bathhouse and they are more resistant to moisture and high temperatures than, say, conifers.
Equipment you will need:
- stone wood stove. It is this type of firebox that needs to be included in the business plan for a Russian wood-burning bathhouse. In a Russian bath, humidity reaches 90%, and the temperature is maintained between 80 – 110 degrees.
- ladle for collecting water.
- essential oils for the steam room.
- buckets that are placed when leaving the bathhouse. This is an alternative to the pool; if a person does not want to jump into the pool, he can simply cool off with a bucket of cold water.
- shower cabin equipment: faucets, shelves, drains.
- pool equipment. Filters, cleaning products.
- arrangement of bathrooms: washbasin, toilet, towel dryer, soap dish.
- furniture for the rest room: large table and chairs, sofa and armchairs.
- TV.
- wardrobe furniture.
- Sheets, towels and slippers for visitors.
This shows that a bathhouse as a business requires large financial investments and many novice entrepreneurs may not be able to afford this format of activity.
The room must be equipped in accordance with the requirements of the SES and the fire service, and all communications must be present in it: heating, ventilation, electricity, water supply.
By the way, also look at the business idea for opening a solarium. Lower costs and good profits. We wrote about this in more detail here -. In fact, this is an excellent line of business that will be very useful for existing beauty salons.
List of services
Before opening a private bathhouse, you need to clearly consider the list of all services and, if possible, decide how to expand them in the future. So, in addition to the steam room itself and the relaxation room, many clients prefer to visit a wellness massage, or SPA. You can also add here: salt baths, vats on fire, cafe services, billiards, table football, hotel, gym.
As you can see, there is room for improvement, but at the same time, expanding the number of services provided in a small bathhouse business requires serious financial difficulties.
Advertising
To grow your business, you will need to use different advertising options. The main types of marketing moves that work: announcements in the media and forums, word of mouth, distribution of leaflets.
It would be beneficial for a private bath to create your own website. This can significantly boost business. At the same time, you will need to engage in search engine optimization of the site and connect contextual advertising, which will bring the first calls already in the first days of operation of your Internet site.
The entire strategy for developing a bath business consists of developing a base of regular customers. You can even say there is a database of companies that will regularly order the services of your health complex. People go to the bathhouse in groups of 4–7 people. Thus, in order to have consistently high profits, you will need to attract about 25 – 30 groups of regular customers.
Consider a program of discounts and promotions for regular customers to retain visitors, and offer new services.
Staff
To get started you will need:
- Administrator. Working with clients, accepting orders and payments.
- Technical worker. Chopping wood, preparing a bathhouse and other physical work.
- Cleaning woman. Cleaning baths and rooms.
- Security guard. Often people relax in a private bathhouse in the evening, plus they often drink, so security will not be superfluous.
- Masseur.
How much does it cost to open a sauna?
Now let's look at what investments will need to be included in the bathhouse business plan, so that in the future you do not find yourself in a situation of a large number of unforeseen expenses.
- construction or renovation of a bathhouse – from $300 to $1000 per 1 sq.m. On average, the bath area is about 70 – 100 sq.m.
- purchase of equipment and furniture – $7000 – $9000. We reviewed the list of necessary equipment above.
- taxes - $150/month.
- payment of utilities.
- purchase of consumables (firewood, essential oils, etc.).
- advertising – $100/month
- salaries to employees.
As the bathhouse is used, there will be costs for plumbing, steam room lining, etc. Also, if you are considering this business idea not only in the format of opening a bathhouse, but also providing additional services, then you need to include the costs of launching them.
How much can you earn?
On average, the price for one hour of renting a bathhouse for the whole company ranges from $9 to $30. One company usually books a visit for 3 hours, which costs $27 - $90. There are from 3 to 5 companies a day. So, a small private bathhouse earns about $175–$290 per day. For a month this amount is $5250 - $8700. These are prices for a large city; in provincial cities these amounts will be lower, but the costs of opening a bathhouse will also be lower.
Also include income from additional services, sales of brooms, slippers, hats and other things.
After deducting monthly expenses, the bathhouse owner has about $3,000–$3,500 left on hand.
The payback period for this business is 1.5 – 2 years.
Conclusions. We have given you a business plan for a bathhouse with basic calculations that will help a novice entrepreneur form a complete picture of opening this business. This niche requires hard work and large investments, but the profitability is also encouraging, plus the demand for this service is constantly growing.
Do you rent a bathhouse? We look forward to your feedback on this area of activity.
Sauna and business are quite an exciting combination. Anyone who is not afraid of competition, knows how to quickly get together and make the only right decision, will be able to open a sauna with minimal costs. In the future, you can earn a good reputation and have a constant contingent of steam lovers.
Where to start a business?
Before implementing the idea of opening a sauna, you need to clearly understand the end result and draw up a step-by-step action plan. The more detail this is done, the greater the likelihood of success. Where to start?
Step 1. Define:
- type of sauna (Finnish (sauna) with dry air, Russian (bath) - with wet air);
- the need to install equipment (main and auxiliary);
- range of services provided (billiards, sports equipment, massage and beauty salon, solarium).
Step 2. Use of existing property, purchase or rental of premises.
Step 3. Development of a business plan.
Step 4. Repair, re-planning, re-equipment of the premises of the future sauna.
Step 5. Purchase of main and auxiliary equipment.
Step 6. Registration of individual entrepreneurs, obtaining various permits and operational documents.
Step 7 Personnel selection.
Is it profitable to open a sauna and why?
The profitability of a business is determined by the amount of income received. A well-thought-out structure of the enterprise with the provision of the most popular services in the sauna is the key to clients visiting such an establishment, which will contribute to further development.
Today, the sauna is perceived not only as a health-improving establishment, but also as a cultural and entertainment facility. It is very important that the business has some kind of zest, is strikingly different from similar ones, in modern terms, is a little creative. This could be the decoration of the premises, the installation of innovative equipment, or the provision of some service to clients free of charge. “Winning” a client is possible only with the impeccable quality of services provided and the high professionalism of the service staff.
Competent planning of the future business, flawless execution of plans, and hiring real craftsmen as employees will make the business not only attractive, but also profitable.
Business plan for opening a sauna
A business plan is a document according to which the business will be built in the future. All costs and estimated profits are calculated, as a result of which it is planned to receive income that would cover the costs. In the future, it is planned to receive dividends, which is the main goal of the business.
When calculating a business plan, you need to carefully study the main points for making a profit. Firstly, you need to pay attention to the location of the sauna, the internal selection of premises, the quality of furniture and special equipment.
Registration
The main activity of the sauna is providing relaxation services to individuals. An individual entrepreneur is the best legal form for this business. The tax system is better accepted as a “single tax on imputed income.” This type of activity, such as the provision of personal services, in accordance with the all-Russian coding of types of economic activities, has code 93. Sauna services fall under this item.
Selecting a location
The location of the sauna must be approached very carefully. The most suitable location would be one away from the main roads, quiet, surrounded by trees or a fence. The optimal location for the sauna is on the shore of any body of water. The presence of nearby power supply networks, water supply and sewerage play an important role when choosing a site for construction.
Selecting a room
The choice of premises is made when it is planned to rent it and equip a sauna. This method is one of the best in terms of upcoming expenses.
The size of the rented premises must be at least 150 m². This area should accommodate:
- steam room;
- pool;
- rest room;
- locker room;
- toilet room.
Depending on the planned volume of services, it is necessary to provide separate rooms for massage and physical therapy. Billiards can be installed in the recreation room.
It is better to place a bathhouse on the territory of a hotel, fitness club, entertainment or sports complex.
It is possible to rent a small room - 50-60 m². This sauna can accommodate 4-6 people at the same time. Refurbishment costs will be significantly reduced, which means that the cost of services can be made more affordable.
Equipment selection
To popularize the sauna, comfortable conditions for a good leisure time are important. It is advisable to purchase and install comfortable furniture, a plasma TV, karaoke, and a billiard table with a full set of accessories in the recreation room. The shower must be equipped at the exit of the steam room, preferably next to the pool. You will need a standard set of bath accessories: a ladle, a basin, a tub.
In the locker room, install separate lockers, a shelf for shoes, ensure the availability of bath slippers, hats, bathrobes, and install a mirror. Provide sheets or towels for visitors. This can be scheduled for a fee.
If there are massage, physical training or beauty rooms, equip them in accordance with the requirements: armchairs, chairs, massage tables, various sports equipment.
The sauna requires special equipment:
- steam room oven;
- water heater;
- boiler for space heating;
- pool water filter system;
- indoor and outdoor lighting;
- steam generator;
- alarm system, fire extinguishing system.
Staff
“The customer is always right” - from this position it is necessary to select employees for the sauna - polite, courteous. The more tolerant and loyal the employee, the more willingly people will come here. The sauna must have an administrator to regulate, place and accept orders; cleaning lady to keep the premises clean; technical worker for steam and communications maintenance. If there are massage and beauty parlors, appropriate specialists are required. They can be involved under a separate agreement.
Considering the round-the-clock work schedule, the issue of organizing shift work is relevant.
Advertising and promotion
Advertising is the engine of trade, and no one can object to this. The better the advertising campaign for the opening sauna is carried out, the greater the guarantee of success. It is necessary to involve the media, produce and distribute visual advertising (install navigation signs, rent a billboard, distribute business cards, invitations, booklets, leaflets to passers-by on the street). If possible, place advertisements on all local Internet sites and social networks.
Estimated cost calculation
Costs paid monthly are shown in the table:
One-time expenses that are necessary when starting a business are shown in the following table:
| № | Types of costs | Amount, thousand rubles |
| 1 | Registration of individual entrepreneurship | |
| 2 | Room renovation | 500 |
| 3 | Sauna equipment set | 40 |
| 4 | Pool equipment set | 30 |
| 5 | Energy equipment set | 45 |
| 6 | Set of furniture for a rest room | 50 |
| 7 | Set of household equipment | 20 |
| 8 | Furniture set for massage room | 15 |
| 9 | Set of equipment for the gym | 18 |
| 10 | Locker room furniture set | 15 |
| 11 | Administration furniture set | 15 |
| 12 | Billiard table included | 25 |
| 13 | Soft inventory | 10 |
| Total | 713 |
Prices for all types of furniture, technological and special equipment are approximate. They depend on the manufacturer, power and other parameters that affect the cost.
Payback forecast and profitability
An individual entrepreneur sets prices for visiting the sauna independently, based on the expected payback time. Based on the practice of operating establishments such as saunas, the most visited day of the week is established - Saturday.
For ease of calculation, let's consider an example. We accept the price of 200 rubles. per hour per visitor. Possibility of simultaneous visits – 10 people. The duration of the work shift is 12 hours. Since on weekdays the sauna occupancy can be up to 50%, simple arithmetic calculations show that monthly revenue will be 350 thousand rubles. Monthly income is 63 thousand rubles.
With such a monthly income, taking into account all unforeseen expenses payback sauna will be 1.5 years. Reducing the price and increasing the operating time per day will increase the payback period. If the “load” of the sauna increases, it will decrease.
When drawing up a payback forecast, the main thing is not to go too far with setting the hourly rate. Setting a tariff that is too low will cause wariness; setting a tariff that is too high will “discourage” the visitor.
Providing guaranteed quality services is the key to an establishment’s impeccable reputation and an influx of visitors.
Necessary documents for opening a sauna
Opening a sauna is a responsible and troublesome task. A license to provide such services is not required. In addition to arranging the premises, it is necessary to collect a package of various documents:
- permission from the sanitary and epidemiological service to operate the sauna;
- approval from the fire service for the start of work;
- developed and approved sanitary and industrial control program;
- contracts in accordance with the established procedure for disinfection, deratization, disinfestation of sauna premises;
- for maintenance of the ventilation system;
- for the removal of household waste;
- for washing clothes;
- service contract for internal electrical networks;
- for the supply of electricity, water supply and sanitation.
To prevent fines imposed by regulatory authorities, it is necessary to comply with all requirements for the legal conduct of business activities.
Possible risks when opening a sauna
Starting your own business always involves risk. When opening a bathhouse, an entrepreneur faces the question: when will income cover expenses? Sometimes fears arise - what if the project does not pay off. To prevent this from happening, you must adhere to certain rules for running a sauna business:
- The services provided in the sauna should not be harmful to health.
- Business profitability will be ensured by timely execution of all necessary documents and contracts in accordance with current legislation.
- Do not provide services that fall under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (intimate services, distribution of narcotic and psychotropic substances, etc.).
- The business owner and staff must strictly maintain confidentiality regarding visitors.
Following these simple rules will create a positive reputation among clients, increase traffic, and, therefore, double or triple income, and increase profitability.
An important factor in increasing the number of visitors to the bathhouse is the sanitary condition of the premises, equipment, and the level of culture of the staff.
You should not neglect business insurance against bankruptcy and sauna accident insurance.
Sauna power supply
The sauna room is classified as a room with a large number of people and a high fire hazard. The electrical wiring in the sauna is subject to increased safety requirements. The thermal insulation of the wire must withstand high temperatures. According to the “Rules for the Operation of Electrical Installations”, it is strictly forbidden to install switches, sockets, and distribution boxes in the sauna. The best option is to lay the wiring from the outside of the steam room wall. You need to lead the ends of the wiring directly to the pantograph through the wall. If an electric oven is installed in the steam room, the cable must be routed through a monolithic floor structure. It is prohibited to use metal hose, corrugation, or any type of cable ducts for laying power supply wires in the sauna.
You cannot install lamps in the steam room on the ceiling. The lighting device must meet the requirements for heat resistance (withstand temperatures not lower than +125°C), and have an increased level of moisture resistance. In rooms with high humidity (swimming pool, shower room), it is recommended to install moisture-proof lamps and fittings (sockets and switches).
It is better to install the power supply control panel at the entrance to the sauna (vestibule, locker room).
All current collectors in the sauna must have a separate grounding circuit.
Sauna water supply
Water supply for the sauna is not the last thing on the list of mandatory solutions. Business development depends on the quality and quantity of water.
If water is taken from the city network, it is necessary to install a cold water meter and a filter system. Purified water fills the pool and is supplied to the heating device for use in the shower room. The durability of the heating boiler and shut-off valves depends on the quality of water purification.
It is better to install electricity and water supply using a ready-made design solution.
How to open a sauna (video)
The presented video describes, using “live” examples, how to open a sauna from scratch, and what is needed for this.
From an economic point of view, this type of business such as a sauna is profitable and profitable. Initially invested funds bring net income within a year or two. A business plan drawn up correctly, taking into account all needs and financial capabilities, will ensure stable business operations that will bring not only monetary profit, but also moral satisfaction.
For a Russian person, a bathhouse is not just a place where you can wash yourself, it is a whole ritual of sacred rites, hereditary traditions and hospitality of the northern country. For the Russian mentality, a bath and shower have nothing in common with a ritual visit to the bathhouse. Here you can quickly recover from a lingering cold, improve your health, biologically renew your body and improve your immunity.
Types of baths popular in modern Russia
The hammam of Turkey or the sauna of Europe, along with the original Russian bathhouse, are becoming increasingly popular for domestic consumers.
The use of useful thermal procedures, during which you can not only meet with friends, but also receive SPA services, massage and relaxation, has led to the fact that, according to statistics, at least 20% of the country's residents regularly visit establishments.
Apart from the gentle Turkish hammam, where the air temperature does not exceed 50°C? and saunas with hot and dry air, the modern steam bath lover can choose the increasingly popular Japanese bathhouse “ofuro”. This is an exotic bathhouse, where the bathing tank is a barrel of hot water, sawdust and healthy herbs.
Recently, a fashionable novelty has become especially popular in prestigious complexes - an infrared bath. Here, useful radiation comes from a device with an emitter. This procedure is credited with many positive effects on the body - increasing the elasticity of blood vessels, increasing the speed of blood circulation, and saturating the blood with oxygen.
The popularization of a healthy lifestyle, along with the social needs of people for communication, makes opening your own sauna or bathhouse always in demand and profitable business project for an entrepreneur.
The question of what type of bathhouse a businessman will prefer to organize depends on the individual needs and wealth of the city or region. Step-by-step instructions - the answer to the question of how to open a bathhouse from scratch, practically does not depend on the type of establishment.
Where to start opening a sauna: registration of entrepreneurship
The best option for opening a bathhouse or sauna is the status of an individual entrepreneur. Taxation - UTII. The activity is not subject to licensing, but if you decide to sell alcohol, you will need the appropriate permits.
The service falls within the description of OKVED 93.04 “Physical and recreational activities”, where the functionality of saunas and baths is on a par with resorts and springs.
When selecting premises, study the requirements of firefighters - SNiP 31-05-2003 clause 6.3.9.
The choice of real estate should comply with sanitary and hygienic standards, prescribed in SanPin 2.1.2. Here you can see what requirements are imposed on the ventilation, microclimate and heating system of the premises to provide services to the population of this nature.
Business plan for a sauna and bathhouse: choosing a room
To the question of how to open a sauna, where to start, there is a clear answer - from choosing a suitable room. To do this, you should analyze what kind of bathhouse you are going to open - a small wooden log house in the village, an apartment on the outskirts of the city, or a cultural entertainment establishment in a residential area of the city. The final amount of expenses for opening a new business will depend on this decision.
Building requirements
- To open a sauna with a swimming pool, you should look for a room with an area of at least 150 meters, where about 50 meters are allocated for the pool, and 10-15 meters for the steam room. The remaining rooms are a massage room, a relaxation area and a utility room.
- The location in a residential area, with proper advertising, can make the sauna a popular place in the area where, thanks to the discount program, there will be no downtime.
- If you decide to purchase a building as private property, then it is better to buy not a ready-made bathhouse building, but a plot of land. Due to frequent use, the walls and ceilings of the sauna are so damaged by moisture that the reconstruction of the room will require more investment than the construction of a new one.
It should be remembered that the sanitary standard includes a significant number of requirements for sauna equipment - flooring, autonomous ventilation, lighting requirements, which requires large investments in the repair and reconstruction of the building.
Since opening a bathhouse is an expensive procedure, you should invest money in decorative design and technical equipment, furniture and many interior elements to create a cozy, inviting environment. Therefore, renting a building for this type of service is risky due to loss of investment.
If there is an option to rent a ready-made, operating sauna, then entertainment centers and hotel complexes are the best choice for location.
How to open a bathhouse: business plan
After the premises have been selected, the business plan for a sauna with a swimming pool provides for a significant one-time investment. This includes:
- iron stove on wood or electric;
- floor electric fireplaces;
- steam generator;
- pool equipment (bowl, pump);
- floor heating (adjustable);
- showers;
- air conditioner.
Furniture for recreational areas consists of a set of natural leather or artificial upholstered furniture, chairs, benches, tables, hangers and other interior items.
Consumables
Also, a business plan for opening a sauna should take into account not only one-time and capital expenses, but also spending on purchases disposable slippers, brooms, herbal teas and infusions. The entire range of related services that will be provided by the owner of the bathhouse will attract new customers and allow you to generate additional profit.
A huge number of entrepreneurs are interested in a bathhouse as a business, and everyone is looking for answers to a number of questions - is it profitable, where to start, how to open it?
Today, a private bathroom is a common occurrence in apartments and private homes. Recently, such a pleasure was not available to everyone, which is why the Russian bathhouse was extremely popular. In villages there were bathhouses in almost every area, and this pleasure found its consumers at any time of the year.
And, if previously there were only a few owners of bath complexes, today the opening of such an establishment for both private and public use is an excellent business.
Choosing a direction
Without fail, everything starts with choosing a concept on which the entire process will be built. There are several options - there are small private buildings, saunas of various types, baths in a barrel, and even large public institutions intended for mass visits.
You can choose any option you wish - your future project can be a bathhouse for a family holiday, or it can be a full-fledged elite complex with various types of steam rooms and additional types of recreation. Each sample must be checked against a financial model that suits you, and then any business will bring profit and pleasure to regular customers.
At the initial stage, it is important to decide who will be your target audience. It is the category of people that you should focus on when creating a business plan, etc.
Selecting a bath type
Entrepreneurship today allows you to combine types, but even with this opportunity, it is necessary to fully address the needs of the audience, which may vary depending on the region. The examples provided below will allow you to select a category and properly promote it:
- The classic Russian bathhouse, to which the vast majority of people are accustomed, requires a temperature of 50 to 90 degrees, and the visitor can stay in the room for up to 25 minutes continuously. It is convenient to provide additional services here, such as massage and the use of fragrant fresh brooms.
- It is very profitable for business to open Finnish saunas with a different type of steam. The temperature here is much higher, and the residence time should not exceed ten minutes. However, additional procedures will require a separate room.
- Turkish baths are also characterized by high profitability and payback, while the walls are necessarily made of marble, and a specialized boiler is responsible for heating. The air temperature here is lower than in other types, while the humidity is much higher, which distinguishes such baths from others.
Baths can be private, where people spend time in small groups, or they can be public, where you can meet a variety of people and make acquaintances. It is convenient to provide separate women's steam rooms for the fairer sex who want to relax in privacy.
Advantages and Disadvantages
You should become familiar with both the positive and negative aspects of such business activities.
- It is worth organizing a bathhouse, if only because this service has always been considered extremely in demand. Regardless of the type of bathhouse, a person visits it regularly, spends holidays and birthdays here, and simply relaxes pleasantly. A bathhouse, even if there are bathrooms and summer cottages, is always popular with people of any class and financial income, so the issue of recoupment does not arise here.
- A private bathhouse does not require a large plot of land - you can set up such an establishment on your own land, the main thing is to competently cope with the calculations and begin construction, already having a ready-made plan.
- People who have organized a private bathhouse and have been its owner for many years claim that creating a business does not require large investments - just start-up capital is enough, which will be used for the manufacture and production of the bathhouse itself, the purchase of equipment and maintenance.
The main disadvantage of this area is the long payback period and high utility costs - you won’t be able to save on water.
Public baths
An entrepreneur does not always choose a scenario in which the bathhouse is private and secluded. Today, the fashion for public baths, which we know from old films and stories of the older generation, is returning. Is it profitable to create such an institution, what are the features of such an enterprise?
Today's public bathhouse is radically different from what we are used to seeing during the Soviet Union. The requirements for them have increased significantly, and now it is a relaxation space with a large number of steam rooms, a cozy atmosphere and a variety of services that anyone can use.
Consider these points:
- It is mandatory to have individual showers;
- in addition to steam rooms, it is necessary to provide a place for relaxation;
- It is recommended to organize a swimming pool in the building;
- You can also sell snacks and drinks here.
Here the entrepreneur faces complex accounting, and at the initial stage a lot of calculations need to be done. But with a competent approach, the establishment will bring colossal profits. Take care of additional services that will make the client come back to you again and again, as well as polite and responsive staff that will leave a positive impression on the visitor.
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Documents
The creation of any private enterprise requires the mandatory preparation of all necessary documentation. This is the only way to ensure the legality of your business and avoid unpleasant situations that can cause serious financial damage. It is recommended to collect a package of documents in advance, since this way you will be able to open the establishment at the time strictly established by your plan and avoid additional costs.
To register a business, you will have to contact the local tax service and obtain the status of an individual entrepreneur for sports and recreation organizations. In this case, you will be subject to a tax that must be paid, and you will perform all actions as an officially registered person.
Registration of an individual entrepreneur is usually quite inexpensive, is completed within three days and does not require the presence of a lawyer. Only after receiving this status can you engage in activities and open your own business.
In the future, you will have to undergo several inspections, which include sanitary-epidemiological and fire inspections. After inspection, they must issue papers confirming full compliance with the requirements, and after that your activity is considered completely safe and permitted.
Pay attention! If your enterprise will be engaged in the sale of food and alcoholic products, you must obtain the appropriate permits. Otherwise, you face a fine and the inability to sell such products.
Staff
You will have to select employees with a valid health certificate, among whom will be the following professionals:
- One or more bathhouse attendants.
- Administrator.
- Cleaners.
- Kitchen staff, if available.
- Masseur.
- Specialist in charge of inventory.
Be sure to include employee salaries in your expense item, this will make your task much easier.
Video: home business in a Russian bath.
Benefit
Costs must be calculated in strict accordance with the region and the scale of the establishment. This is the only way to determine the starting capital and figure out future profits.
Initial costs include the following:
At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the purchase of all accessories for visitors, which will include brooms, bathrobes, towels and other services. If you correctly set prices for the provision of all services, including renting halls, barbecues and other opportunities, with an average workload, you will receive about 220 thousand rubles monthly, of which 70 thousand is net profit.
A bathhouse is not only a pleasure that hundreds of people have been striving for for many years, but also an opportunity to earn good money, while at the same time getting the opportunity to independently carry out wellness procedures.
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