How Do I Open Aroma360?

ByWyatt Lewis

What is Aroma360?

Aroma360 is a health and wellness franchise centered around therapeutic scents and essential oils. The franchise offers customers a relaxing and rejuvenating experience through essential oil therapies and other treatments designed to stimulate the senses. Aroma360 was founded in 2017 and quickly expanded across the country, with over 150 locations currently open and operating.

An Aroma360 location provides a spa-like experience that focuses on essential oil treatments. Customers can choose from services like aromatherapy massages, foot soaks, facials, body wraps, and more – all of which incorporate essential oils and customized scent profiles. The signature offering is Aroma360’s patent-pending Vortex experience, which uses dry vapor dispersion technology to fill an entire room with essential oil molecules for sensory immersion and relaxation.

In addition to services, Aroma360 locations sell essential oils, candles, diffusers, and other related wellness products. The company focuses on natural ingredients and aims to educate consumers on the health benefits of essential oils and aromatherapy. With the tremendous growth in interest around wellness and natural health solutions, Aroma360 fills an important niche in the spa and self-care industry.

Determine if Aroma360 is a good fit

When considering any franchise opportunity, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to determine if it’s a good fit for your skills, experience and goals. Here are some things to think about when deciding if Aroma360 franchising is right for you:

Pros of Aroma360 franchise ownership:

  • Established brand – You benefit from an existing brand identity and reputation.
  • Training and support – Aroma360 provides training to help you get started and ongoing support.
  • Proven business model – The concept has been tested and refined by the franchisor.
  • Purchasing power – You get discounts on equipment, supplies, etc. through franchise agreements.
  • Networking – You can connect with other franchisees to share ideas.

Cons of Aroma360 franchise ownership:

  • Less independence – You need to adhere to the franchisor’s system and rules.
  • Upfront costs – The franchise fee and setup costs require substantial upfront investment.
  • Ongoing fees – You have to pay regular royalties and marketing fees.
  • Profits split – The franchisor gets a share of your location’s profits.
  • Contractual restrictions – The franchise agreement imposes geographical restrictions.

Required skills and experience:

Some key skills and experience that help with owning an Aroma360 franchise include:

  • Retail experience
  • Management skills
  • Marketing/sales abilities
  • Strong customer service skills
  • Ability to follow a system
  • Entrepreneurial drive
  • Financial resources

If you have retail management experience, enjoy interacting with customers, are entrepreneurial by nature, and have the financial capacity to get started, an Aroma360 franchise may be a good option to consider.

Research the financial requirements

Opening an Aroma360 franchise requires a significant financial investment. Be prepared to spend between $150,000 to $250,000 in initial startup costs. This includes:

  • Franchise fee – $39,500
  • Design and buildout costs – $75,000 to $150,000
  • Equipment and supplies – $15,000 to $30,000
  • Inventory – $10,000 to $15,000
  • Marketing and grand opening – $5,000 to $10,000
  • Additional funds for 3 months operating expenses

You’ll also need access to $100,000 in liquid capital. Ongoing fees include a 6% royalty fee and marketing fee of 2-4% of gross sales. Overall, you should prepare to invest a minimum of $150,000 to open an Aroma360 franchise.

Work with a small business lender to secure financing. The franchisor may also offer financing options. Have a solid business plan and be ready to personally guarantee loans.

Choose a location

When choosing a location for a new Aroma360 franchise, there are several key factors to consider:

Site selection criteria

Aroma360 will provide guidance on ideal sites during the franchise application process. Some key criteria to look for in a location include:

  • High foot traffic areas like shopping malls, lifestyle centers, urban retail districts
  • Areas with a demographic match for Aroma360’s target customer
  • Spaces with proper dimensions, visibility, signage opportunities
  • Accessible parking and convenient location for customers

Territories available

Aroma360 assigns protected territories to franchisees to avoid intrabrand competition. During the application process, you can discuss available territories in your region with the franchisor.

The Aroma360 real estate team can provide advice on identifying sites within your protected territory that meet the ideal criteria for sales and visibility. You may need to evaluate multiple potential locations before settling on the right site.

Complete the franchise application

The franchise application process for Aroma360 can take 2-4 weeks. You’ll need to submit a completed application form along with supporting documents like your resume, financial statements, proof of capital, and more. Here’s an overview of the application process and timeline:

First, request the application packet from Aroma360. This will contain the application form, instructions, requirements, and checklist of documents to submit. Review the application carefully and gather all required information.

Next, complete the application answering all questions in detail. Make sure to highlight your skills, experience, and financial qualifications. Include all requested documents like resumes, financial statements, proof of liquid capital, personal net worth statements, and anything else specified.

Submit the completed application and documents to Aroma360 and continue gathering any other required information as they request. The typical application requires:

  • Completed franchise application form
  • Business plan with 3-year projections
  • Personal financial statement
  • Last 3 years of tax returns
  • Resume(s) of owners and key employees
  • Bank statements proving liquid capital
  • Details on any loans, assets, or other capital

Aroma360 will review the application which takes 2-4 weeks typically. They will verify all information and follow up if any clarification or additional details are needed. If approved, you’ll receive the franchise agreement contract to review.

Sign and return the franchise agreement along with the franchise fee to secure your new Aroma360 franchise. Then you can move forward with training, opening your location, and more. Allow plenty of time for the application process as approval can take over a month.

Get financing

Financing is a critical step when opening an Aroma360 franchise location. As a franchisee, you have several financing options to cover the initial franchise fee, equipment, inventory, and other startup costs.

One popular option is small business administration (SBA) loans, which are partially guaranteed by the U.S. government. SBA loans offer competitive interest rates and long repayment terms up to 25 years for real estate and equipment. The two main types are 7(a) loans up to $5 million and 504 loans for commercial real estate and other fixed assets.

To qualify for SBA financing, you’ll need a good personal credit score, collateral, and a solid business plan. Work with an SBA preferred lender to apply for these loans. The SBA guarantees a portion of the loan, helping mitigate the lender’s risk.

Other financing options include traditional small business loans from banks or credit unions, merchant cash advances based on future credit card sales, 401(k) business financing, Crowdfunding, home equity loans, and financing from friends and family. Explore all options to find the best fit based on costs, terms, eligibility, and repayment schedule.

With an estimated initial investment between $361,050 – $558,000 for Aroma360 franchises, you want to secure financing with competitive rates and flexible terms. Consult with a small business finance advisor and the Aroma360 corporate team for guidance on how to fund your new venture.

Complete Training

As an Aroma360 franchisee, you will go through an initial training program to prepare you to open and operate your store. This comprehensive training covers all aspects of running an Aroma360 franchise, usually taking place at Aroma360’s headquarters.

The initial training will provide an overview of Aroma360’s operations, including:

  • Learning the Aroma360 system and proven business model
  • Store operations, management, and procedures
  • Customer service standards and best practices
  • Aroma science and signature scent development
  • Retail product knowledge
  • Marketing, social media, and grand opening strategies

You’ll also receive onsite support when you open your store. Aroma360 will send trainers to work alongside you and your team during the store setup and grand opening launch. Ongoing training is available through annual conferences, webinars, online courses, and refresher workshops at the headquarters.

With Aroma360’s initial and ongoing training, franchisees gain the knowledge and support needed to successfully operate their scent-based wellness store.

Prepare and open the location

Once training is complete, it will be time to prepare for opening your Aroma360 location. There are several key steps in this process:

Lease negotiations

If you don’t already have a location selected, you’ll need to find and secure a retail space. Look for a high-traffic area with good visibility and accessibility. Negotiate lease terms that fit your budget. Aroma360 can provide advice on site selection and lease negotiations.

Buildout

Work with Aroma360 designers to create a layout for your location. Aroma360 will coordinate the buildout of your space, including lighting, fixtures, furnishings, and more. They have specifications for everything needed to create the Aroma360 look and experience customers expect.

Hiring staff

You’ll need to hire and train staff to operate your location. Post jobs and interview candidates with customer service skills. Thoroughly train staff on Aroma360 products, services, and operations procedures before opening.

Licensing

Make sure to obtain all necessary local business licenses and permits. Aroma360 will guide you through this process to ensure you have all required documentation before opening your doors.

With a great location, built-out space, trained staff, and proper licensing in place, you’ll be ready for an exciting grand opening!

Market your new business

After putting in all the hard work to open your Aroma360 location, it’s time to spread the word and attract customers. A strong grand opening event and local marketing campaign will let people know you’re open for business. Ongoing social media marketing will help you build a loyal following.

Grand opening event

A grand opening event creates excitement and draws a crowd to your new business. Consider having special promotions, giveaways, or coupons during the event to entice people to visit. You could also offer free samples or demonstrations of your services. Promote the event on your website, social media, local media outlets, and with flyers around town.

Local marketing

There are many ways to market your business locally beyond your grand opening. Print flyers and distribute them around town. See if you can put up signs or posters in local shops. Run ads in local newspapers and magazines. Sponsor community events to get your name out there. Offer promotions through direct mail to neighborhoods nearby. Leverage local directories and business listings.

Social media

An active presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter is essential for promoting your new Aroma360 location. Share photos and videos that showcase your services. Run social media ads targeted to your local area. Offer discounts for liking or following your page. Respond promptly to comments and messages. Post regularly to build your audience and engage with followers.

Ongoing operations and support

Once your Aroma360 location is open and running, you’ll need to focus on day-to-day operations to keep your business thriving. This includes tasks like:

  • Maintaining adequate staffing levels
  • Ordering supplies and inventory
  • Providing excellent customer service
  • Tracking sales and expenses
  • Complying with health regulations

The Aroma360 franchisor also provides ongoing support to help franchise owners succeed. This can include:

  • Ongoing training and operational guidance
  • Marketing tools and assistance
  • Access to new products and programs
  • Advice on local store marketing
  • Periodic operational assessments

With hard work and utilization of franchisor support, Aroma360 owners can build a thriving local business.

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