The popularity of spas has exploded in recent years as baby boomers look for ways to feel younger and stay healthier, said Susie Ellis, president of industry tracker Spa Finder. New types of spa-goers looking to be pampered - namely men and teens - are also driving the growth.

While that makes for plenty of customers, the number of spas grew about 12% last year, according to Spa Finder, meaning more competition. With about 16,741 spas nationwide, their numbers now exceed that of all Starbucks outlets, Ellis said. New York's five boroughs are home to about 640 spas, a number that doesn't include the city's countless nail salons.

High labor costs can be an obstacle to profits, Ellis said. "The majority of day spas are fairly small in size, and the profitability isn't that high. We're talking 5% to 7%," she said. "But we find a lot of people are in the business because they're passionate about the work."

Source NY DailyNews