Shark Tank Musings

Sep 6 2016

I was watching Shark Tank the other day and something Mark Cuban said stuck in my head. "I don't want to be an owner, but will be a customer." We fellow mongers are consistently the customers at these fine massage establishments but what would it be like to own one.

Lets work through the pros and cons of owning a parlor.

Pros:

1. Cash money: These businesses churn a lot of money and mostly the money is cash.

2. Fairly low set up cost: Build up some temporary walls, a table, towels, and some mood music is all a parlor really needs to get started.

3. Low Barriers to entry: It does not take great specialized skills to open up a parlor.

Cons:

1. Getting busted: If you are on the up and up, you probably won't make as much money, so sometimes, offer things that are not on the posted menu. These things are what get some parlors in trouble.

2. Lots of competition: In any given Asian community, there are numerous parlors that are vying for the monger dollar. If you open one up, you best be sure you will be in a dogfight to earn that buck.

3. Shakedowns: Since these are all cash businesses, it is highly susceptible to shakedowns or robberies.

Any thoughts or insights on owning a parlor. For right now, I will stick Mr. Cuban's sage advice and be a customer.

Check the newest massage parlor reviews in Columbus, Ohio

Forest spa 670 Enterprise Dr Suite A Columbus, Ohio 1 week ago	Nana	$65	13.5 mi
New Spa 451 EastWilson Bridge rd Worthington, Ohio 4 weeks ago	Kila	$60	10.3 mi
Hongxing Massage 7504 N. High Street Columbus, Ohio 1 month ago	Jenny	$60	10.9 mi
Chinese Spa 1288 Delaware Ave Marion, Ohio 1 month ago	Amy	$65	42.3 mi
A & A Spa 2758 Sawbury Blvd Columbus, Ohio 1 month ago	Nina	$60	11.7 mi
Tai Chi Massage 5740 Frantz Road Dublin, Ohio 1 month ago	Cici	$55	9.9 mi
K & J Health Spa 5945 Sawmill Road Ste B Columbus, Ohio 1 month ago	Linda	$60	10.1 mi
LZ1 Foot Spa 15 South Maysville Avenue Zanesville, Ohio 1 month ago	Amy	$70	52.0 mi
Foot Spa 999 N 21st St Newark, Ohio 1 month ago	Cici	$60	31.3 mi
Troy Massage Spa 11 S Norwich Rd Troy, Ohio 1 month ago	Cici	$60	65.2 mi
7 Day Spa 4889 Sinclair Rd #104 Columbus, Ohio 3 months ago	Sisi	$65	7.3 mi
Dragon Spa and Reflexology 1984 Hard Rd Columbus, Ohio 8 months ago	Dory	$60	11.5 mi
Perfect Massage 2727 sawbury blvd. Columbus, Ohio 9 months ago	Nikko	$60	11.6 mi
Candy's Body & Foot SPA 253 E Church St Marion, Ohio 9 months ago	Lily	$60	43.8 mi
Green Shade Spa 820 Sunbury Road #606 Delaware, Ohio 10 months ago	Coco	$60	23.1 mi
Rejuvenation Spa 5841 Karric Square Dr Dublin, Ohio 11 months ago	Cici	$60	10.1 mi
Asian Massage 2151 E Dublin-Granville Rd Columbus, Ohio 11 months ago	Coco	$60	8.9 mi
White rose Asian spa 5230 westerville rd Westerville, Ohio 1 year ago	Wendy	$60	9.1 mi
MIMI SPA & MASSAGE 1269 Log Pond Dr Newark, Ohio 1 year ago	Lisa	$60	31.3 mi
ZZ Spa 1496 Morse Rd Columbus, Ohio 1 year ago	Cici	$60	7.1 mi

SearchingFTT :

10.19.2016 09:29:01

Ok...so I have been thinking of opening a spa or two. Connected with my ATF. How about taking these musings up a notch and providing information and/or advice on all of the particulars that come to mind. Licensing, insurance, advertising, etc., etc., etc.

oldfartakiss :

09.28.2016 10:51:08

Hardest part of owning a MP is getting and keeping girls. You must speak their language and you must have a stedy stream of customers. As long as they make lots of money they will stay and get their girl friends to come work with them. If they don't make good money ther are gone. These girls network with each other.

max101 :

09.27.2016 04:33:43

Somewhat related, years ago, I got to know an owner of an escort agency. I got to know a lot of his girls as well! He said that the cops and local politicians would leave you alone if: 1. You were low-key and maintained a low profile; and, 2. You paid your taxes. I would think that an added wrinkle to the AMP scene would be human trafficking harassment.

jay66 :

09.22.2016 17:34:00

no health ins, no life ins, no paid vacations, no sick leave, no retirement, cash biz where you know they only report 70% of the income.

jay66 :

09.22.2016 14:22:21

well, obviously THOSE expenses exist--just as they do in every business. but after that they are pure profit--just like drugs and guns. that's why most are owned by old asian women.

bigsteve72 :

09.21.2016 04:23:41

Jay66: They are NOT pure profit. There are expenses like rent, utilities, insurance, etc. Every monger who's ever thought about this thinks the same way.

jay66 :

09.20.2016 12:53:01

um, if they're such a headache, why are there so damned many of them??????????? they're pure profit, and most city law enforcements don't bother them unless the city receives complaints from neighbors.

bigsteve72 :

09.17.2016 04:54:44

I owned a spa in the Philippines for 10 years. Life was good. Yes, there are lots of bribes and corruption in the business. The difference between the Philippines and the U.S is top talent was easy to find there. Lots of beautiful young women looking to either work their way out of poverty or put themselves through school. Few scholarships over there. Also, a non-stop flow of customers depending on your location. We were located close enough to a tourist area to get tourists and locals. Money rolled in. The overhead was high with the payoffs and upkeep, but girls made some nice money. Here, many markets are saturated leaving many girls frustrated and driving down the costs of extras. Owners don't make the money they thought they would either. Best chance is to go to a low cost area and keep 100% of the house fee. I would never do it here.

oldseaguy :

09.13.2016 20:07:16

Right! Those chairs with foot jacuzis are not cheap!

fit312 :

09.13.2016 16:46:36

I had a girl try to con me into underwriting her proposed massage venture and she did say that opening up a nail spa (my suggestion) was much more expensive. She acted strangely unaware when I mentioned the organized crime angle.

assjack :

09.10.2016 16:32:30

Cons 4. Having some Asian mobster types showing up at the door, wanting to have a little talk with you.

amp_lover :

09.10.2016 15:40:56

I'd think that a nails place would be as profitable to the owner as a naughty MP. The girls work for tips and you get paid cash. Plus you won't need as expensive facilities (though not by much)." That's actually the opposite of reality. Having been involved with several women who own nail salons, I can tell you it is NOT a cash business (mostly checks and credit cards), the start up costs are substantial (a spa chair can cost $5K and it must have electrical and plumbing connections) and while the girls get tips, most salons operate on a 70/30 split, with the owner getting the 30%. In addition, the state board--I'm speaking of California here--makes regular license inspections, the health dept does inspections, the fire marshall does inspections, and every owner I've known has had her own manicure license in addition to the business license. Some owners make great $$$$ but they work their asses off.

markoramius :

09.08.2016 13:43:57

I'd think that a nails place would be as profitable to the owner as a naughty MP. The girls work for tips and you get paid cash. Plus you won't need as expensive facilities (though not by much).

tdanielz :

09.08.2016 02:43:43

I agree with Mike, too many headaches going the illegal route. If you wanna go that way, just run a business out of hotels sending girls to do rubdowns.

lancmike :

09.07.2016 11:35:04

If you are thinking about it; I suggest open a legit massage parlour. It means that you have to know the business - yes you should have gone to vocational school for a year or so. Then open a legit $15/hr foot massage. I have seen a lot of legit foot massage which are always crowded, for example Olala, Palm Tree, King Massage etc... You can make decent living with a lot less headache. Good luck!

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