Dear Dangerously in Love with Finance,
I opened my medical spa in Iowa, three years ago, and on the outside, everything looks great. We’re booked solid. Clients love us. Instagram is poppin’. But behind the scenes? I’m always holding my breath. I’ve almost paid myself every month. Almost kept up with taxes. Almost had enough for inventory. And payroll? A few too many close calls.
Last month, I was two days late on rent. This month, I almost missed my injection reorder. Last week, my estheticians nearly didn’t get paid on time because we were waiting for payments to clear. I’ve been working nonstop trying to keep up, but every time I feel like I’m getting ahead, the numbers slap me back down.
I’m not clueless—I know this is a financial management issue. But I don’t even know where to start. Do I hire a bookkeeper? A fractional CFO? Is it too late to fix this mess? Or is this just how it feels to be a med spa owner?
Help me before this turns into “Sorry, we’re closed.”
Signed,
Tired of Living in the Land of Almost
Dear Tired of Living in the Land of Almost,
Here’s the truth: Almost doesn’t count—not in love, and not in business. That Brandy lyric? “Almost made you love me… almost made it right…”—it stings because we’ve all lived it. And right now, you’re living it through your bank account.
Let me be blunt: almost making payroll, almost having a budget, almost paying yourself… that’s not management. That’s survival mode disguised as hustle. And survival mode will torch your business if you don’t get a solid money strategy and support system in place.
This is bigger than just tracking expenses—it’s about leadership. Because you didn’t build your spa to chase invoices and panic every time payroll hits. You built it to serve, to grow, and yes, to profit.So let’s talk about how to shift from “almost” to absolutely thriving.
1. You Need More Than a Bookkeeper—You Need a Financial Strategy
Bookkeeping is important. But it’s just one slice of the financial pie. If all you’re getting is data entry and monthly reports you never open, that’s not financial support. That’s noise.
What you need is a money strategy. One rooted in understanding how your spa earns, spends, and grows. That’s what accounting services for medical spas should deliver. It’s more than reconciling numbers—it’s helping you make sense of them so you can make smart decisions.
2. Hire a Fractional CFO Who Understands Med Spas
Here’s the game-changer: a fractional CFO. This is not just someone who crunches numbers. It’s someone who builds out forecasts, cash flow strategies, and pricing structures that align with your goals.
Your spa has high overhead—staff, supplies, inventory, space. If you’re not reviewing cash flow weekly, building profit margins into your pricing, and preparing for seasonality, you’re gambling. And hope is not a financial strategy.
A fractional CFO for medical spas brings expertise without the full-time salary hit. They step in, get your financial systems in place, and help you run your spa like a business, not a guessing game.
3. Cash Flow Is a Timing Game, Not Just a Sales Game
You don’t have a sales problem—you have a cash flow problem. And the two are not the same.
Cash flow management means knowing exactly when money is coming in—and when it’s going out. If Botox orders, payroll, and rent all hit the same week and your client invoices clear two weeks later? You’re screwed unless you plan for that gap.
That’s why part of your money strategy must include a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast. It’s not sexy—but it’s your business’s lifeline. And once it’s in place, you stop reacting and start leading.
4. Pay Yourself Like a CEO, Not a Leftover Expense
You didn’t start this spa to make everyone else rich while you skip paychecks. But when you don’t build your salary into the budget, that’s exactly what happens.
This isn’t selfish—it’s sustainability. You are the engine of this business. If you burn out, everything goes down. Include yourself in the payroll, even if it’s small to start. Then build your financial systems around scaling that amount up, not cutting corners to squeeze it in.
5. “Almost” Builds Resentment—Consistency Builds Equity
You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be consistent. Every week, check your numbers. Every month, review your trends. Every quarter, reassess your pricing and expenses. This is how you build a business that lasts—not one that’s almost stable.
You’re booked. That means people trust your services. Now it’s time to trust your numbers. Because your legacy won’t be built on how many facials you sold last month—it’ll be built on whether you knew what that money was doing.
Let me say it again: Almost doesn’t count. Not with your vendors. Not with your landlord. Not with your team. And not with yourself.
You’re not failing—you’re simply running a six-figure business without a six-figure plan. And no, that’s not on you. You’ve been trained in beauty, wellness, healing—not accounting. But now’s the time to bring in the right financial partner who is trained in this stuff.
👇 Here’s What You Do Next:
🍃 A Mindful Thought to Carry Forward:
You didn’t build this med spa to operate on panic and prayer. You built it to thrive. You built it for freedom. Let’s stop “almost” hitting the mark—and start exceeding it.
You’re one decision away from financial peace.
Lots of Love, Coffee and Chocolate,
Dangerously in Love with Finance and the HBoF Family
☘︎ Ready to Ditch “Almost”?
Your spa deserves more than barely making it. Book a CFO clarity session today and finally get the financial management your business needs to grow with confidence. Whether you need accounting services for your med spa or a fractional CFO to lead the way—we’ve got you.
https://tr.ee/hbofcall
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