Running a med spa is a lot of work. You’re focused on making clients look and feel amazing: Botox, fillers, lasers, the whole glow-up routine. The last thing on your mind is whether you’re overpaying for shipping or getting ripped off on gloves and syringes.
But that’s exactly where a ton of money quietly leaks out every month. Most med spas could save thousands (sometimes tens of thousands) without changing much of anything about how they run day to day. The easiest way to do it is by joining a group purchasing organization (GPO) like Una.
The Back-Room Tell
Walk into the storage area of a typical med spa and you’ll probably spot the same thing: stacks of cardboard boxes everywhere. Some still taped shut, others spilling packing peanuts and random supplies. It’s the universal sign that convenience is trumping cost control. That setup usually means one person (maybe the owner, maybe the office manager) is juggling all the ordering on top of a million other tasks.
When something runs low, the fastest move is usually Amazon, a familiar distributor, or a quick run to the wholesale club. It gets the job done, but it’s expensive.
The Shipping Profit Drain
Shipping is one of the biggest places money disappears without anyone noticing. Plenty of med spas handle mobile treatments, send aftercare kits to clients, or move product between locations. Without a real contract or dedicated rep, those FedEx and UPS charges pile up fast.
Our team has seen practices burning through $400k–$800k a year on overnight and two-day deliveries, just using whatever default account they set up years ago. These are small businesses - not big chains - that have no negotiated rates, no volume discounts, and no one looking out for them.
Switching to a GPO-negotiated account with the same carrier could mean a savings of up to 50% or more. Same service, same drivers, and way less money out the door.
Supplies That Matter
Neurotoxins like Botox and Dysport, fillers, syringes, cannulas, numbing creams, gauze, and alcohol pads are the essential treatment supplies. These are the high-volume, everyday items you can’t afford to run out of.
Because individual med spas typically buy in smaller quantities compared to larger hospital entities, and because they tend to not shop around, they often pay close to retail prices.
A solid GPO pools demand from hundreds or thousands of similar practices and locks in contracts that cut those prices by as much as 20–40%, depending on the category. Indirect purchases in non-clinical categories like office supplies, toner, cleaning products, and credit card fees can add up, too.
Working with a group purchasing organization hands you leverage to buy like the big guys, without turning you into a purchasing department.
What Actually Changes When You Join a GPO
(Spoiler: not much)
Most med spa owners are thrilled to find out that almost nothing about their daily routine has to shift when they join a GPO. The same processes can be followed and you can continue ordering from your preferred vendors. The GPO simply activates better pricing and contract terms in the background; there are no forced vendor switches and no new complicated portals. The best GPOs, like Una, are free for members because the suppliers cover the fees.
More Focus on What You Love
At its core, joining a GPO is about taking procurement off your plate so you can focus on what you do best: delivering exceptional consultations, refining new treatments, and watching clients leave feeling confident and cared for. Instead of chasing backorders or comparing vendor quotes, you gain a more predictable, streamlined way to source the essentials your business runs on every day.
Med spas already excel at creating incredible outcomes for their clients. The right procurement partner helps you create stronger outcomes for your business, too. With better-negotiated pricing, lower shipping costs, more reliable supply chains, and improved cash flow, you can protect your margins without sacrificing quality.
At Una, our sourcing experts speak with med spa operators every day and often uncover meaningful savings in the very first conversation. If you’re curious what that could look like for your practice, let’s start with a no-obligation chat and explore how a smarter purchasing strategy can give your operations a true procurement facelift.
Contact the Una team to get started.
