Woodhouse Spa Franchise: Daily Life and Work-Life Balance

For many entrepreneurs considering a career change from corporate life, understanding the daily reality of running a spa franchise is crucial. Kayla Potts, a Woodhouse Spa owner of 14 years, offers valuable insights into what prospective franchisees can expect.

While many business owners embrace the fact that every day can be different in business ownership, Potts takes a more structured approach.

"I like routine; I like schedule,” she said. “In my own life, I create a pretty consistent daily schedule, and that carries over to the business. You have to stay nimble because you don’t know what curveballs you’re going to get when you own a business, but overall, my schedule remains pretty consistent.”

The details of a daily schedule evolve over time and can be adjusted as a Woodhouse franchisee becomes more steady in their ownership career. Potts explained that this has been the case throughout her tenure.

In the early years, Potts worked in the spa five days a week as the general manager, handling everything from team scheduling and inventory to payroll. As the business grew, she gradually built a leadership team, including department leads, a coordinator and a general manager, allowing her to focus on higher-level responsibilities.

Today, after 14 years of ownership, Potts primarily works from home, focusing on her strengths.

"At this point, I handle our big marketing pieces and anything that has to do with financials and accounting. I'm a numbers person, so I'm constantly doing spreadsheets," she said. “The growth has allowed me to spend time on what I love and build teams to support me with things that I’m not so good at. It’s really wonderful.”

Potts also participates in weekly webinars and monthly regional meetings with the franchisor, and she occasionally mentors new franchisees.

For those considering the transition from corporate life, Potts offers a realistic perspective: "It's not all of a sudden, ‘I went from a nine-to-five job and now I'm free.’ It's like having a new baby,” she said. “But now, I get to be a business owner and continue to work while being a stay-at-home mom. I get the best of both worlds, and that is the absolute best thing about it.”

Potts shared that finding the ideal work-life balance can be an adjustment, but for owners who prioritize it, it’s certainly attainable with the Woodhouse business model.

“Work-life balance is super important to me. I have a specific time to workout every day, and I have designated times in which I take meetings,” she said. “Over time, finding the work-life balance that’s perfect for you is possible. It might look different everyone, but it’s just about prioritizing at the end of the day.”