My 7-Year Experience Running a Spa Business - The Money and the Challenges

The rise of mental health awareness birthed the self-care movement that is taking the market by a storm. Spa dates are now a popular activity among friends and couples. Even men are embracing mani-pedis—nothing wrong with that, just a testament to how the industry has evolved.

This shift can largely be attributed to the growing influence of Millennials and Gen Z, a generation that prioritizes well-being and mental health. To gain insight into how the spa business operates, Money254.co.ke spoke to Sharon F. Kendi, the owner of Princess Paradise Beauty Parlour & Spa in Thika.

"The enemy is poverty" is a familiar phrase in Kenya’s social media circles. But for Sharon, poverty was the fuel that ignited her entrepreneurial journey. In 2018, while still a student at Mount Kenya University, she started the business to make ends meet – you know how campus life can be.

With determination, she gathered the little savings she had and bought cosmetics products that she would carry around in school. After her lectures, she would then offer her services to fellow students.  

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Soon, her small beginnings turned into a fully fledged business when she decided to set up a physical location just outside the university. What started as a side hustle to make extra money became a dream to create a space where women feel pampered and rejuvenated. A business that now generates monthly revenues of between Ksh200,000 and Ksh250,000 - on a good month. 

Day to Day operations of a Thriving Spa Business

“Running a successful spa goes beyond offering beauty treatments and services. You have to create a seamless, relaxing experience for clients while ensuring that back-end operations run smoothly,” Sharon says.

At Princess Paradise Cosmetics and Spa, every day begins with careful planning and preparation to maintain high standards of service. The spa opens its doors at 8:00 AM, but the staff arrives an hour earlier to set up for the day. The morning routine involves cleaning and organizing the spa and salon spaces, ensuring a fresh and inviting atmosphere.

A short team briefing follows, where appointments are reviewed, and tasks are assigned based on the day’s bookings. The aim is to ensure each client receives personalized attention and quality service.

Throughout the day, the team caters to clients by offering a variety of services, including a nails bar, dreadlocks styling, makeup and facials, pedicures, designer perfumes, and beauty products. Essentially, Sharon has created a one-stop shop for beauty products and services.

Walk-in clients are also accommodated, with the staff efficiently balancing pre-scheduled appointments and spontaneous visits to ensure seamless service.

Beyond service delivery, the team actively manages product inventory, bookings, and client engagement—particularly through social media. Her TikTok page has become a key driver of customer traffic.

The spa remains open until 9:00 PM, though closing time may be extended if clients are still being served.

Like most businesses, the spa business also has peak moments and slow seasons. Traffic tends to be high at the beginning of the month from 1st to the 5th, and towards the end from 23^rd to the 31^st of each month. Other seasons such as Christmas, Valentine and Mother’s Day tend to attract more clients. A slight drop in demand is witnessed between the 18^th to the 23^rd 

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Start-up Costs and Initial Investment

A year after opening her first physical location, her business flourished—so much so that she took the leap and expanded to the CBD.

The initial investment was about Ksh700,000, which mainly went into:

• Securing a location – Ksh80,000
• Purchasing salon equipment – Ksh150,000
• Interior decoration – Ksh200,000
• Buying products – Ksh250,000
• Initial marketing and branding efforts – Ksh. 20,000

Other small costs included licensing and permits, such as business licenses, health and safety certification, and business insurance.

Difficult Times

For Sharon, the journey of running a successful business has come with many challenges. During the pandemic, she faced significant challenges that led to the closure of her CBD branch.

 At the time, she had just taken a bank loan to finance the expansion. This created extra financial pressure on her and the business. She decided to focus on the Thika Branch to offset the loan while continuing to serve her loyal clients. After the pandemic, she decided to diversify into estates within Thika. 

Challenges and Mistakes

The entrepreneurial journey comes with major challenges. For Sharon, one of her major mistakes was failing to diversify marketing efforts, relying only on word of mouth and traditional methods. The failure to build an online presence limited their online visibility.

At the onset of the pandemic, Sharon was yet to build enough cushion to weather business emergencies. Yes, emergency funds are not just for your personal expenses. Having one set up for your business helps ease the pressure that comes with unexpected business expenses or in this case, partial business closure.

However, despite the challenges, Sharon has since expanded into the cleaning industry by launching Paradise Hygiene Limited, where she serves as the CEO. Her journey proves that challenges are not meant to hold you back but to make you stronger.

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 Final advice to Aspiring and new Business owners

Sharon emphasizes the importance of planning for the unexpected—having a financial cushion provides stability when things don’t go as planned.

She also highlights the power of building an online presence early, as it not only drives business growth but also strengthens relationships with existing clients. In today’s digital world, online marketing is non-negotiable.

Moreover, while the customer may be King, employees are the kingmakers. Investing in your team—through training, support, and appreciation—leads to higher productivity and exceptional customer service. Fostering open communication further enhances teamwork and overall business success.