How I Started A $1M/Month Med Spa Business Focused On Client Experience
Who are you and what business did you start?
How I bootstrapped $10000 into a $20 Million Net Worth in 7 Years
Cheers! My name is Gary and I am the founder of ZZ Day Spa and ZZ Med Spa.
When people at a party ask me what I do for a living, I always reply with a wink, “I make women happy for a living!” Then I explain, “I own day spas and med spas where we provide Botox, fillers, laser hair removal, facials, massages, and more—and our clients always leave happy.” Our motto says it all: “Look Good! Feel Good! Do Good!”
What makes us truly unique is that we have created a niche within the wellness and beauty industry that focuses on delivering one-of-a-kind experiences rather than simply providing services. Not only were we named the #1 Day Spa in New York City by the International Beauty and Spa Awards, but we are also one of the highest-rated spa brands in the city, with more than 6,000 five-star reviews. This testimonial video is a great reflection of our commitment to customer satisfaction and creating exceptional experiences for every guest.
Today, I operate a chain of eight day spas and med spas throughout Manhattan, generating over $12 million in annual revenue.
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How do you come up with the idea for zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com?
In May 2019, I was down to my last $10,000. Not wanting to be deterred by a lack of funds—and having spent more than a decade in the wellness industry—I was determined to acquire a spa.
One day, I came across a Craigslist listing for a day spa that was for sale for $265,000. It was a 2,200-square-foot space located just one block from the Empire State Building and the world's largest Macy's. The location couldn't have been better. The problem was that I had virtually no money to buy it. I knew I had to find another way.
I approached the owners, who unfortunately had no experience running a day spa and were losing money. On the other hand, I had years of industry experience. I proposed a deal: give me 50% ownership of the spa at no upfront cost and full operational control, and I would pay them $350,000—more than their $265,000 asking price—over the course of three years.
It took four months of negotiations before they finally accepted. We were off to the races, and within six months, we had turned the business profitable. Little did I know, however, that the universe had other plans.
On March 16, 2020, COVID forced us—along with the rest of America—to shut our doors.
We barely managed to keep our heads above water. By the time we reopened, I was not only completely broke but also carrying a significant amount of debt. Still, I believe entrepreneurs are wired not to give up. Somehow, our team persevered. One day at a time, we worked our way back to break-even and eventually returned to profitability. It wasn't fun, but it taught us countless valuable lessons.
Then the tide began to turn.
After months of being cooped up at home, people were craving relaxation, self-care, and aesthetic treatments. Demand surged, and our business benefited from a powerful tailwind. What had once felt like a fight for survival became an opportunity for growth.
Within two years, we expanded from one location to three—each larger and better than the last.
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How did you launch zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com and get initial traction?
During the first few years, I was working from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM—what felt like eight days a week. I did every job that needed to be done. I still remember the days when a front desk receptionist would call out sick and I would have to rush to the spa and work the front desk myself for the entire day.
Money was always tight because growth required constant reinvestment into the business. When I first acquired the spa in September 2019, my personal credit wasn't great, so I didn't have access to substantial credit lines or credit cards to help bridge cash flow gaps during difficult times. I can't tell you how many times I barely made payroll.
Along the way, I made an incredible number of mistakes—some of them very expensive. However, I believe that's part of the entrepreneurial journey. Every mistake became a lesson and an opportunity to improve my skills as a business owner.
One of the most important lessons I learned took years to fully appreciate: the best path forward isn't trying to do everything yourself. It's hiring talented, capable people who are experts in their fields and empowering them to do what they do best. Learning to delegate was one of the most valuable investments I ever made in the business.
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What was the growth strategy for zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com and how did you scale?
From the very beginning, I knew I had to stay focused. Rather than trying to market on every platform, we concentrated our efforts on Meta (Facebook and Instagram). I followed a simple rule: to reach the first $1 million, focus on one platform, one service, and one customer avatar.
To generate growth, we relied on a three-step strategy, and each step was a critical part of the success equation.
1. Lead Generation Through Meta Ads
We used highly targeted Meta advertising campaigns featuring user-generated content (UGC), before-and-after photos, client testimonials, and influencer partnerships. These campaigns consistently generated a steady flow of qualified leads.
2. Converting Leads Into Appointments
Generating leads wasn't enough—we needed a system to turn those leads into booked consultations. To accomplish this, we opened a call center dedicated to lead follow-up and appointment setting. Initially, we made the mistake of locating the call center in the Philippines. After several months of disappointing results, we realized that having a U.S.-based team was critical to achieving the conversion rates we wanted.
3. Converting Appointments Into Paying Customers
The final step was turning appointments into revenue. We built a team of sales professionals called Patient Care Coordinators who conducted one-on-one consultations, educated prospective clients about their options, and guided them toward the treatments that best met their goals.
My focus was always on four key areas: acquiring new clients, increasing our average transaction value, generating more repeat business from existing clients, and strategically raising prices over time. I learned that it is often easier to market premium services to affluent customers than to compete solely on price.
That combination became our secret sauce, and it's a strategy I would strongly recommend to other entrepreneurs looking to scale a service-based business.
What were the biggest lessons learned from building zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com?
Here are eight business lessons I've learned over the years, in no particular order:
1. Think Bigger Than You Think You Can. The saying "10x is easier than 2x" has proven true in my experience. Think big, set ambitious goals, and don't limit yourself with small thinking.
2. Be Customer-Obsessed. Customers have choices. They can take their business elsewhere at any time. Never forget that your success depends on consistently delivering exceptional experiences and earning their trust.
3. Hire Exceptional People. Hire the best people you can find and pay them above industry standards. I look for four qualities above all else: integrity, intelligence, a strong work ethic, and congeniality.
4. Work Hard. There is no substitute for hard work. In the early years especially, a business is like a newborn baby—it requires constant attention, care, and commitment.
5. Never Quit. I don't know a single successful entrepreneur who hasn't faced countless obstacles and setbacks. The difference is that they got back up, learned from their mistakes, and kept moving forward.
6. Learn to Delegate. Trust talented people to do what they do best. Often, the fastest way to grow is to stop trying to do everything yourself and empower others to take ownership.
7. Don't Be Afraid to Raise Prices. If you provide exceptional value, don't be afraid to increase your prices over time. Competing solely on price is rarely a winning long-term strategy.
8. Choose Industries With Tailwinds. Before starting a business, study the industry carefully. Whenever possible, enter markets that are growing significantly faster than the overall economy. It's much easier to succeed when the industry itself is expanding and creating opportunities.
zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com Acquisition: How much did zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com sell for and what was the acquisition price?
The other day, I entered our financial data into Claude, and it estimated the business's enterprise value at approximately $20 million. Not bad for a company that started with a $10,000 investment seven years ago.
When the time comes to sell the business, I plan to donate 90% of the proceeds to charity. There is so much pain, suffering, and need in the world. I arrived in America with just $500 in my pocket, and I've been fortunate enough to experience opportunities that many people only dream about.
Where else can someone arrive with almost nothing and, through hard work, persistence, and determination, build a business and become part of the top 0.5% of households by net worth? I don't own a fancy car or a large house. I prefer to live simply.
I'd like to end by saying: Thank you, America.
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Recommended Tools:
CRM: GoHighLevel
Booking Software: Zenoti, Booker
SMS Marketing: ClubTexting
Email Marketing: Mailchimp
Marketing & Research: Gemini, Claude
Bookkeeping & Payroll: ADP, Claude
Internal Communication: Slack
Customer-Facing Technology: 8x8, Hot Prospector
Books & Resources:
Books:
- $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi
- $100M Leads by Alex Hormozi
- $100M Money Models by Alex Hormozi
- How to Make a Few Billion Dollars by Brad Jacobs
- Traffic Secrets by Russell Brunson
- 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
- Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
- Recruit Rockstars by Jeff Hyman
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Influence by Robert Cialdini
I don't spend much time reading motivational or self-help books. In my view, if you're an entrepreneur, motivation is already part of your DNA. Instead, I prefer books that improve my skills, expand my thinking, and help me see business and growth from new perspectives.
Resources:
- The free books and videos available on Acquisition.com
- Claude Pro
- Gemini Advanced
Advice for Founders
I'll break my advice into four categories:
For Those Thinking About Starting a Business
Nike said it better than I ever could: Just Do It.
Take action. Don't wait for the perfect moment because it never arrives. Focus on serving customers who value quality, invest in advertising because nobody knows you exist yet, and become obsessed with customer satisfaction. Above all, work hard—very hard.
For Businesses Doing Up to $1 Million in Revenue
Advertising and lead generation should account for 80% of your focus.
Stick to one channel, one product, and one customer avatar until you've achieved product-market fit. Don't be afraid to raise your prices. Start documenting every process and creating SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for all key areas of the business.
For Businesses Doing $1 Million to $20 Million in Revenue
Raise your prices again.
Remember that 10x is easier than 2x. Think bigger while maintaining focus. Attention and focus are often more valuable than time itself.
Don't worry so much about the "how." Focus on finding the right "who." There is nothing more important than building a great team. I'll repeat that because it's worth emphasizing: there is nothing more important than building a rockstar team.
For Businesses Doing $20 Million and Beyond
I'm probably not the right person to give advice on that yet—I haven't gotten there myself. LOL.
Discover Similar Business Ideas Like zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com
More about zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com:
Who is the owner of zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com?
Gary Oberoi is the founder of zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com.
When did Gary Oberoi start zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com?
2025
How much money has Gary Oberoi made from zzmedspa.com and zzdayspa.com?
Gary Oberoi started the business in 2025, and currently makes an average of $12M/year.
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