How I Grew My Spa Business with a Small Ad Budget
Whether you’re launching a spa, massage clinic, skincare studio, waxing bar, med spa — or even something totally unrelated like landscaping, plumbing, or electrical work — the truth is universal:
If you don’t have leads, your business is dead. No oxygen. No blood flow. Flatline.
I’ve been there. Starting from scratch, trying to get clients in the door. The services are amazing, the team is ready, the space is beautiful — but silence. Crickets. Because without traffic, even the best businesses can’t survive.
So here’s the hard truth: You have to figure out how to generate leads.
The Chicken-and-Egg Problem of Marketing
You might be thinking, “Well, I don’t have money to advertise!”
I get it. That was me, too. But this is the catch-22 of business:
No leads → No income → No money for ads → Still no leads.
So what do you do? You find a way to invest — maybe that’s with credit (again, not financial advice, always consult a professional). But you need to put something out to get something back.
Waiting for people to “just find you” doesn’t work in 2025.
You Have to “Make It Rain”
No clients = no revenue. And guess what? Your employees won’t stick around if they’re bored or under-booked. Your spa won’t thrive. Your dream business might crash and burn before it even takes off.
Your mission: learn how to make it rain.
For most service businesses, that starts with Google Ads.
Google Ads Isn’t as Complicated as They Want You to Think
I spent way too long thinking Google Ads was something only big agencies could manage. Some contractors make it seem harder than it is — why? Because they want you to stay dependent on them.
But the truth? You can do this.
You need to:
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Start small.
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Laser focus.
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Be strategic with your budget.
I’ve seen success starting with just $30–$50 a day.
It depends on your market and competition, yes. But especially in smaller towns or dense neighborhoods, if you narrow your radius and focus on one service, you can absolutely generate results.
Focus on ONE Service First
Don’t try to advertise everything all at once. Start with just massage, for example. Once that’s booking out, scale into facials, then waxing, and so on.
Same goes for Meta/Facebook ads — focus, retarget, grow.
Scale Up Gradually
Here’s the model that worked for me:
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Start small.
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Get a few clients.
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Reinvest into ads.
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Expand your radius.
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Grow your service offerings.
If you have a big budget from the start? Awesome. Go big and accelerate. But if you’re starting lean, be smart, be focused, and trust the process.
Marketing Feels Risky — But It’s the Cost of Growth
It’s still hard for me to spend on marketing sometimes. Even now, as we grow our Brilliant Massage & Skin brand and promote franchise opportunities, I wonder: “Is this really going to work?”
But here’s what I’ve learned:
50% of marketing doesn’t work… but we don’t know which 50%.
– Old saying, still relevant.
It’s part joke, part truth. But the bottom line? You must market to survive.
The Bottom Line
If you’re serious about building a successful service business, you need leads. The best place to start? Google Ads. Yes, Facebook and Instagram help build awareness and brand recognition, but the customers ready to buy right now?
They’re searching on Google. They’re the ones with their wallet open, looking for exactly what you offer.
So whether you’re in massage, med spa, facials, waxing — or plumbing, electrical, or landscaping — learn Google Ads, invest wisely, and don’t be afraid to go all in on yourself.
Ready to Grow?
If you’re looking for more tips, mentorship, or want to explore franchise opportunities with Brilliant Massage & Skin, reach out! I love supporting fellow entrepreneurs.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Have a brilliant day!
Join Free Spa Business Q&A Here or Schedule 1-1 call with the Founder Here
https://brilliantmassageandskin.com/franchise/
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Any contents of this video is not Medical or Financial advice, always consult professionals before taking any new action.
Brilliant Massage & Skin, LLC in Burlington and South Burlington, VT
Brilliant Franchise LLC
