Deciding to become a Hand & Stone franchise owner is a significant milestone. It’s also when many prospective owners begin asking practical questions.
What happens after I sign?
Who helps me through the process?
How do I get from franchise agreement to opening day?
The first 90 days after signing a Hand & Stone franchise agreement are designed to answer those questions. With the support of experienced teams, franchisees move through a structured onboarding process that builds momentum from day one. That same support has helped hundreds of franchisees scale their wellness franchises across the country.
Your First 90 Days Start with a Plan
Once your Hand & Stone franchise agreement is signed, you’ll be introduced to the teams that will help guide your development journey.
Hand & Stone provides dedicated experts who help establish timelines, coordinate next steps, and keep projects moving toward opening day.
During these first few months, you’ll begin working through franchise onboarding milestones that include:
- Identifying and securing the right location
- Beginning lease and development planning
- Coordinating construction and build-out
- Preparing financing and project timelines
- Completing onboarding with corporate support teams
Because these pieces happen simultaneously, having dedicated guidance helps simplify what can otherwise feel overwhelming.
If you’d like a closer look at the investment process, including startup costs, development timelines, and the key variables that shape your investment, watch the short video below and explore our guide to understanding the investment behind a Hand & Stone franchise.
A Team of Specialists Behind You
Launching a spa franchise involves far more than opening the doors.
Throughout the process, you’ll work alongside specialists who focus on different areas of the business, including real estate, construction, operations, marketing, training, and customer experience.
One of your most valuable long-term resources is your Franchise Business Consultant (FBC).
Unlike a traditional field representative, your FBC serves as an ongoing business partner, helping you interpret performance metrics, identify growth opportunities, navigate operational challenges, and make informed business decisions long after your grand opening. They also act as a trusted resource, connecting you with the right corporate teams and helping you get the most from the tools, systems, and support available throughout your ownership journey.
Training That Builds Confidence
Many Hand & Stone franchise owners come from careers outside the spa franchise industry. That’s why the brand’s training program is designed to help owners build confidence in their new wellness franchise before opening day. Key instruction on topics include:
- Business operations
- Membership sales and recurring revenue
- Team leadership and staff recruitment strategies
- Guest experience
- Marketing fundamentals
- Operational standards
- Technology and reporting systems
In addition to classroom learning, franchisees receive guidance from experienced corporate teams who help translate training into real-world execution.
Preparing for a Strong Opening
As your spa moves closer to launch, Hand & Stone helps coordinate the final pieces needed for a strong opening.
The brand’s marketing resources are designed to help franchisees introduce their spa to the community, generate excitement around the grand opening, and begin building memberships from day one.
But opening day isn’t the finish line.
As your wellness franchise grows, you’ll continue working closely with your Franchise Business Consultant and the broader corporate team to review business performance, strengthen operations, identify new opportunities, and plan for future growth.
The same support system that helped you prepare for opening day continues to evolve alongside your business, providing coaching, accountability, and strategic guidance as your spa matures.
If you’re curious about what ownership looks like after your grand opening, explore what the day-to-day might look like as a Hand & Stone franchise owner.
Why the First 90 Days Matter as a Hand & Stone Franchise Owner
Opening a spa is a major milestone, but you shouldn’t have to figure it out alone. At Hand & Stone, those first 90 days are intentionally structured to give franchisees the support, resources, and expertise they need to move confidently toward opening day. And because that support continues well beyond launch, owners have a team they can continue to lean on as their business grows.
Take the first step toward Hand & Stone franchise ownership by filling out our online inquiry form!
A Few FAQs
After signing, you’ll begin working with dedicated corporate teams on development planning, site selection, construction, training, marketing, and operational readiness. Every step follows a structured process designed to prepare you for a successful grand opening.
Every development timeline is unique, but franchisees move through a proven onboarding process that includes real estate, construction, training, and pre-opening preparation before welcoming their first guests. While individual timelines can vary, opening a Hand & Stone generally takes 8-12 months.
New spa franchise owners receive comprehensive training covering business operations, membership programs, guest experience, marketing, leadership, technology and operational standards, along with ongoing coaching and support after opening.
Throughout the process, franchisees work with specialists across real estate, construction, operations, marketing and training, as well as a dedicated Franchise Business Consultant who serves as a long-term business partner before and after opening.
