Preparing for Your Exo Float Tank
There’s plenty to think about when it comes to starting your new sensory deprivation tank venture. At Exo we will support you on your journey to owning our state of the art float tank.
Before you purchase your Exo Float Tank, there are two main considerations, finding a site, and funding.
Location
For those looking to set up a brand-new centre, deposits, rent, and site fees for your chosen spot are going to vary wildly depending on location. This is where good local research comes into play.
Starting a float centre in a central urban area may provide you with more footfall, but the lease is likely to be much higher. Instead, you might find an accessible neighbourhood with a strong health and wellbeing scene, one which doesn’t command the highest commercial rates in town. Generally, people who want to benefit from floating are willing to travel to the facility.
It also worth considering expansion space. Even if you don’t intend on installing more float tanks, having the extra space to expand is extremely beneficial for the future. Float tanks pair well with other fitness or spa equipment.
Funding
Once you have found a suitable location it is possible to put together a plan for what capital you will require. It may not be possible to be very specific at the start however the capital outlay and building costs can be significant. It can save a lot of time and wasted effort to know what budget you have available before deciding on the size and type of facility that you wish to build. Often securing the funds can be the longest part of the project.
It is also important to decide how many float tanks you want. While one float tank can easily bring in profits, you’ll find that you will make a higher profit running multiple tanks. A single staff member is able to run multiple tanks at the same time with ease so you can increase your capacity whilst retaining the same number of staff.
Once you have purchased your Exo Float Tank (or even before), it is important to consider the next steps, building and marketing.
Building
The level of technology required to build a successful float center or float room is quite straight forward and within the capability of most builders/constructions’ teams. With advice straight from us, it is relatively easy to create the right atmosphere for your clients. This can include ensuring that heating, ventilation and air conditioning is installed, along with appropriate water and soundproofing in each float tank room.
Float therapy customers will need to have access to a shower which should be placed within the float rooms themselves. When it comes to designing the layout it is often more space efficient if possible to create a separate plant room for reservoirs and filtration systems, although not necessary. The components that would be in the plant room (Reservoir and Pump) can be dressed up/disguised if they do end up in the same room as the deprivation tank.
Depending on the number of sensory deprivation tanks installed initially, it can pay to plan for additional rooms for expansion at a later date to achieve the minimum of disruption should you decide to install additional deprivation tanks.
Marketing
Whether you’re adding deprivation tanks to a list of services already provided, or setting up a brand new float centre, the success of your venture in its initial months will likely rest on getting the word out to the right people. Float therapy has been around for over 50 years and is medically proven to offer benefits for people with conditions ranging from, Stress, Anxiety, difficulty sleeping, MS, Parkinson’s, Sport injuries, Fibromyalgia, easing the strains on the body from pregnancy, and many more. There is however a lack of awareness by the general public that such therapy exists. This is improving as a result of Covid and social media.
The first priority for the success of your facility is letting people know where you are located and what you are offering that will make their quality of their life better.
With build-out costs, initial ground rent, and staffing fees all vying for financial attention, marketing can be the area that new business owners try to cut corners on. If you are investing in a new venture, it’s worth going the extra mile and making sure all these efforts are accompanied by a worthy marketing campaign. Look into our Buying process plans where we provide business assistance, including marketing!
After the installation is complete and your marketing campaigns are running smoothly, you should be ready to serve your first customers.
Offering Floats
When a customer a first arrives, you’ll need to greet them, show them to their float room and perhaps explain to them what to expect if they’re a first time floater. Afterwards you need to start the float from your Exo Control PC. To do this press the “start” button. After this, the Exo will fill, run the float, and empty with no interaction on your part. The Exo has been designed to be easy to use and learn by any staff. It also offers multiple different customisation options for floats, from different lighting sequences, to custom music tracks.
Maintenance
It is important ensure your Exo tanks are kept clean and running in a good condition. After each customer, it is advisable to wipe down the Pod. You should also change the pump filters every month, though you can increase the frequency if you are especially busy. If all maintenance is carried, you should not need to replace solution, something that traditional float tanks generally require after 9 months of use.
Once your business has settled in, you may wish to expand. Running multiple Exo tanks can offer a great return on investment. However, if you can’t expand this way, there are plenty of other services you could offer. Floatation tanks pair very well with the majority of Spa and Fitness equipment.
Physical Recovery
Floatation tanks can assist in the recovery from the strenuous activity athletes endure to reach peak physical form. By offering fitness equipment alongside your Exo, you can differentiate yourself from local gyms, giving people to ability to exercise and recover, all in one location.
Mental Recovery
Floatation tanks have been shown to destress and relax it’s users. By pairing up your Exo float tank with traditional Spa techniques, you can offer your customer a way of recovering and relaxing in one package.
Beauty Therapy
The solution used in the Exo tank contains large amounts of Epsom Salt. This can improve the complexion and appearance of the floaters skin. By combining your Exo float tank with other beauty packages, you could offer an all in one treatment to help bring the beauty out in people