Dear Dangerously in Love with Finance,
My med spa is finally hitting its stride. Our calendar is packed, our membership is at its highest, and our marketing efforts and campaigns are finally paying off. Cash is steady, I have a nice reserve fund, and for the first time, expansion feels like more than just a dream. I’m even sketching out what a second location could look like.
I recently went to an industry trade show. And there it was — the machine. The one all over Instagram, the one promising jaw-dropping results. Days later, my biggest competitor blasted that they just bought it. Now the pressure is real. My staff is already asking if we’re getting one, and I can’t shake the fear that if I don’t pull the trigger, we’ll lose our edge.
The sales rep makes the $120,000 price tag look harmless with financing, and I keep hearing this voice in my head: “This is it. This is the move that cements our reputation and launches us into expansion.” But the other voice? It’s louder: “You’re about to strap debt onto a business that’s finally breathing.”
So here I am — standing at the crossroads between growth and risk. Is buying the machine a smart investment in my med spa’s future, or am I about to sabotage the bigger dream of expanding into location number two?
Regards,
— Feeling the Pressure
Dear Feeling the Pressure,
First, take a breath and look at what you’ve built. Your calendar is full, memberships are at their highest, cash is steady, and you’ve got a reserve fund. That’s no small feat. The mix of excitement and anxiety you’re feeling right now? That’s what happens when a medical spa owner stands on the edge of something bigger. You should be proud.
Now, about that machine. I get it. It’s shiny, it’s all over Instagram, your competitor just grabbed one, and your team is already asking, “Are we getting it?” That kind of pressure can make any aesthetic practice owner feel like they’re about to make a mistake either way. But here’s what matters: that pressure isn’t coming from your clients—it’s coming from a sales system designed to push your buttons.
Before you sign anything, run the numbers. This is where financial management for med spas becomes critical. What if the treatments don’t book the way the rep promised? How many months can your reserves cover the payment? What if you need an extra $3k–$5k in marketing every month just to fill the chair? And what will you charge—does that price cover every hidden cost and still leave you profit?
These are the financial scenarios that fractional CFO services help medical spa and aesthetic practice owners work through before making major equipment investments.
You also need to think about how this machine fits into your service menu. If clients shift from high-margin services like peels or microneedling to a new treatment with higher overhead, you’ll stay busy—but busy doesn’t always mean profitable. Strategic financial guidance helps you understand the real cost of every service you offer.
Clients don’t come to you for equipment. They come because they trust your team, your results, your expertise. Sometimes investing $20k into advanced training for your aesthetic practice delivers a bigger return than dropping $120k on hardware.
If, after running the numbers, the machine still makes financial sense, then move forward—but move forward smart. Look at certified pre-owned. Negotiate hard. Don’t chain your med spa to debt when you’re this close to funding a second location.
🍃 Mindful Thoughts
Growth and debt can feel identical in the moment—both create momentum, both demand action, both promise something bigger. But growth builds equity in your future, while debt borrows against it. Growth expands what you’ve already built. Debt tests whether what you’re building can handle the weight. One strengthens your foundation. The other strains it.
Before you move forward with any major financial decision, ask yourself: Am I building something sustainable, or am I chasing something shiny? The answer will tell you everything you need to know. Real growth doesn’t require you to risk what you’ve already earned—it multiplies it.
You’re not just deciding on a piece of equipment. You’re shaping the financial future of your medical spa. This is where fractional CFO services for aesthetic practices make all the difference—helping you ensure the numbers, and the story you want to tell, actually add up.
Shiny equipment won’t secure your future—but smart financial choices will.
Lots of Love, Coffee and Chocolate,
Dangerously in Love with Finance and the HBoF Family
If you’re ready to move past the pressure and create a clear, strategic path to your second location, let’s talk. Our Fractional CFO services for med spas are designed to help you analyze big decisions, manage cash flow, and build a profitable, scalable business.
Book a CFO Consultation for Your Spa today and let’s turn that expansion dream into a concrete plan.
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This article is designed to provide information only and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Because of the complexity of the law and the variables in your own personal tax and accounting situation, you can’t rely on our advice specifically related to your unique circumstances. In order to get the best tax savings and legal advice available to you, you should consult with your own accountant, attorney or advisor regarding your particular facts and circumstances. Healthy Bodies of Finance is an accounting firm that specializes in working with health and wellness providers. We provide monthly accounting & bookkeeping services and financial education. For more information on our specialized services for health and wellness providers please contact us at info@healthybodiesoffinance.com