Can a Non-Physician Own a Med Spa?

Yes, non-physicians can own med spas in most states. However, you must structure your business to comply with corporate practice of medicine (CPOM) laws.

CPOM laws prohibit non-physicians from directly owning medical practices. But they don't prohibit owning businesses that support medical practices. The solution is separating business operations from medical practice.

Two Common Approaches

Medical Director Agreement

You own the med spa but contract with a licensed physician who maintains complete control over:

  • All medical services and protocols
  • Clinical decision-making
  • Patient care standards

You handle business operations. They handle medical decisions.

MSO Structure

You own a Management Services Organization (MSO) that provides business support to a separate physician-owned Professional Corporation (PC). The structure works like this:

  • Your MSO handles marketing, billing, and facilities
  • The PC (owned by a physician) handles all medical services

The Critical Requirement: Physician Independence

The key to CPOM compliance is proving the physician has genuine clinical independence. They must be able to:

  • Refuse to perform procedures they deem unsafe or inappropriate
  • Modify protocols based on clinical judgment
  • Make medical decisions without your interference

Medical boards actively audit these arrangements. If your structure looks compliant on paper but you're actually controlling medical decisions, you're violating CPOM. This can result in:

  • License revocation
  • Business closure
  • Significant fines

Learn more in our complete Med Spa Compliance Guide, including how to set up compliant structures and avoid CPOM violations.

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