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A.
Dear Nlo,
The best way to get the demographics of your area is through the Bureau of
Census. They have recently released the results of Census 2000 and it contains a
wealth of demographic information down to your town level. To access the Bureau
of Census:
1. Go to the American Fact Finder http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet
2. You will find a dropdown menu that will allow you to select the kind of
demographic information that you want: Population and Housing; Age and Sex;
Household Unit Totals, among others
3. You will then select the kind of geographical area that you want: for the
entire US, by state, by county, by city or town, or by an American Indian
reservation. Select "county" if you want to know about your county.
You will then be asked to select the state, and a county for that state.
The initial investment to start a microspa is much less than other types of
spas. In this sort of environment, your staff has to be individually very good
at the services offered. There isn’t a big budget for promotions and the usual
fluff offered by a larger spa.
Your start-up costs will depend on many factors, including the kind of
services that you will offer, your location, your equipment, the quality and
look of your spa, among many others. Some of the start-up expenses you will
incur include the following:
Starting Costs You Only Have to Pay Once:
- Fixtures and equipment
- counters
- storage shelves and cabinets
- display
stands, tables, shelves
- cash registers
- safe
- outside sign
- window display
fixtures (if any)
- spa machines (e.g. skin scanner, galvanic high and current
frequency, etc.)
- massage tables
- Decorating and remodeling Installation of fixtures and equipment
- Starting inventory (depends on the kind of services that you will
offer, examples are as follows): bodywraps; deep hydrating facials; peels; lightening for hyperpigmented skins; eye and lip treatments; vitamin
facials
- Deposits with public utilities (find out from utility companies)
- Legal and other professional expenses (lawyers, accountants, etc)
- Licenses and permits
- Advertising and promotion for the opening
- Accounts receivables (what you need to buy more stock until credit customer
pays)
- Cash (for unexpected expenses or losses, special purchases, etc.)
Operating Expenses:
- Rent
- All salaries and wages (you and your staffs)
- Advertising
- Supplies
- Telephone and fax expenses
- Other utilities
- Insurance (payment required by the insurance companies)
- Taxes, including Social Security
- Interest
- Maintenance
- Legal and Other professional fees
- Miscellaneous
Although we feel that this question does not fall within the scope of a home
business, we hope that we would be of help.
Here are some books you can also refer to:
Good Luck !
About
the PowerHomeBiz.com Guide:
 Nach Maravilla is
the Publisher of Power Homebiz Guides. He has over thirty years
experience in sales and marketing of various products, which
covered as he jokingly describes, "from toothpicks to
airplanes" He also had extensive experience in
International trading and he always excelled in special promotional
ideas for retail outlets.
The opinions expressed in this column are
those of the author, not of PowerHomeBiz.com.
Users
should not treat the Guide's response as legal, accounting, or
professional advice as all answers are intended to be general in
nature. Such advice can only be properly given by qualified
professionals who are fully aware of a user's specific geographical areas or circumstances, such
as
an attorney or accountant.
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