Tips for Thriving in Your Sims 4 Spa Business

In The Sims 4: Spa Day, players can embrace relaxation through yoga, massages, manicures, and pedicures. With the release of The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies, players can now also purchase and manage their own spa. Are you excited to bring your dream beauty spa to life?

Thanks to cross-pack integration, your Sims can oversee every detail of their spa, whether it’s at home or in a designated community space. Here’s a comprehensive guide to launching and managing a spa.

Setting Up Your Sim’s Spa

Your Sim can run a spa from home or a community lot. If you have enough Simoleons (or don’t mind using cheats), starting your spa on a community lot could be a better option, especially since Maxis has included prebuilt lots in the library.

Buying a Spa

Start by entering ‘Manage Worlds’ and selecting the world where you want to open your spa. Next, access your library or the gallery, filtering for Maxis content or specifically for spa lot types.

You have three pre-built spas to choose from:

If these spas are too pricey, think about buying a starter home and transforming it into a spa by adding the right items. Alternatively, you could dedicate a portion of your Sim’s home for the business.

After choosing a spa, place it on an empty lot and confirm your selection. Return to Live Mode with the household you want to manage the spa and use a computer or phone to select the Buy Small Business Venue Lot option.

Find and select the spa you just placed and make sure to buy it furnished. Be sure to check the box below the lot preview to automatically register the business, which will help you set the proper business settings later on.

Running a Spa from Home

Sims can also save money by operating a spa from home. To do this, simply follow the usual steps for starting a home business and purchase the necessary equipment, potentially hiring some staff as needed.

To register your home business, select your Sim’s phone and follow these steps:

1. Select the business section.
2. Click on ‘Register Small Business‘.
3. Fill in details about your business, including activities and a name.

This is an economical way to start a spa, but keep in mind you need 750 Simoleons to register your business. Additionally, ensure you have money set aside for any essentials, like massage tables or yoga mats.

Selecting Activities for Your Spa

After you’ve set up your business, it’s time to focus on the particulars, including:

• Selecting your business activities.
• Determining your target customer base.
• Branding your business.

To get started, open the ‘Owned Businesses Panel’ while playing as the Sim who registered the business. Next, navigate to the ‘Manage Businesses‘ menu to get an overview of your establishment.

A spa with automatic registration will include the spa preset, meaning it will be named ‘Spa’, feature a tranquil leafy logo, and have the ‘Do Spa Activities‘ business activity included. Spa activities cover:

• Bathtubs
• Massage chairs and tables
• Meditation stools (including cushions)
• Yoga mats
• Saunas/Steam rooms

If you’re customizing your business manually, Do Spa Activities is a crucial activity to include. You can add it by clicking on one of the plus icons in the business activities section or by selecting the Spa preset from the dropdown menu.

Additionally, you might consider adding other activities based on your DLC, such as:

• Drinking tea
• Using hot tubs
• Taking baths and showers
• Practicing yoga
• Meditating

Some activities like ‘Do Yoga’ and ‘Meditate’ are already included under ‘Do Spa Activities’, so you don’t need to add them again. But if you’d like more control over specific spa activities, you can adjust accordingly.

Hiring Staff for Your Spa

Although a single Sim can manage a spa, it can be quite challenging, especially if you offer various services that require attention. For instance, massage tables and chairs need employees to function.

Open the ‘Owned Businesses’ panel again and select ‘Manage Employee Tasks’. You’ll see the Sim who owns the business along with three empty slots available for hiring.

Now that you have employees, you can assign them specific tasks. Click the plus icon and select ‘Do Massages’ to enable them to manage the massage tables or chairs.

Be sure to have staff ready to handle any other activities offered in your spa. For example, if you’re including ‘Bathe and Shower’, ensure you have an employee with the Clean task to maintain hygiene in the plumbing.

Your employees will come for their shifts the next time you open your spa. The ‘Owned Businesses’ panel allows you to set their hourly wage and uniform style.

Tips for Operating a Successful Spa

With your spa operational, focus on enhancing the experience to make your first few Simoleons. Hire skilled staff, invest in quality equipment, and strategize your business approach.

Approaching Customers Directly

When a customer arrives, select them as if you were about to introduce yourself. If you have the appropriate equipment, you can offer them a service directly.

This approach can be beneficial, as customers may take time before spending Simoleons, but direct offers can expedite the process. It clearly indicates your potential earnings from the service.

Choosing Staff with High Wellness Skills

It’s advisable to hire the most skilled Sims possible. This can be tricky, as your Sim can only hire Sims they’ve met, and there aren’t any pre-made Sims with the Wellness skill.

A good strategy is to visit a spa community lot that your Sim doesn’t own and engage with the staff. This way, you can recruit skilled employees for your own business without worrying about competition rules.

Another method is to interact with spa equipment and hire staff. Initially, they’ll act as freelancers, offering their services to your clients. After introducing yourself, they can become potential employees.

Decorating and Furnishing Your Spa

Make an effort to furnish your spa with luxurious baths, massage tables, and yoga gear. A well-equipped spa will enhance customer satisfaction, providing more opportunities for them to spend their Simoleons.

You might also want to introduce other products that aren’t directly spa-related to encourage spending. Customers will buy food from vendors, or you could establish a mini gift shop for luxurious items like face masks, crystals, and candles.

Adding mood-enhancing features can significantly improve your business. Consider placing and lighting incense to influence customers’ feelings or using crystals around the spa for a similar effect.

Ticket kiosks are another new feature from Businesses & Hobbies that can increase your revenue. You can find them in Buy Mode and set prices through the Manage Business menu.

You can either charge a flat entry fee or charge by the hour for customers. This approach can generate additional income to offset expenses like staff wages.