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Portable Sauna
Australia

Janosch

"The finishing and joinery is extraordinary. The sauna is built to a high standard and has met and exceeded my expectations. I cannot speak of the product highly enough."

Portable Sauna Shop Australia

Portable Sauna Details

  • Built on braked tandem axle trailers 

  • Weigh 1,800 - 2,400 kg

  • Come with Registration and Warrant of Fitness

Portable Sauna - A Guide to Opening a Mobile Sauna Business in Australia

15 Person Mobile Sauna NZ

If you haven't noticed a portable sauna pop up in your home town, it won't be long. In the last two years, mobile saunas seem to be the biggest trend, I mean, which seasoned sauna enthusiast wouldn't want to experience a traditional sauna right next to the beach, a lake in the mountains or with a stunning view, and earn an income while you do it? That is the ultimate sauna experience.

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Want to Get Paid to Sauna?

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If the health benefits of improved cardiovascular health, muscle recovery, weight loss, improved skin health and stress relief weren't enough, many are turning their heads to the those running outdoor sauna businesses. Parked at the beach on a Tuesday morning, sauna goers rinse off in the salty waves before returning to the dry heat of the wood-fired sauna for another 15 minute round, as the facilitator pours cold water mixed with essential oils over the hot stones, creating steam scented with lavender and lemon like a wellness wizard, taking their wellness journey to the next level.​

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How it Happens​

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Weekly, I get calls from people all over the country, ready to open their own mobile sauna business. They're finally fed up with the nine to five. Their most enjoyable moment in the week is sitting in their local public swimming pool dry sauna, the small electric heater struggling to maintain the tepid 67 degrees celsius, discussing in depth with their fellow sauna enthusiasts how the town needs a better sauna. The large glass door opens, the door is wide enough to let in a large bear, to ensure all the built up heat immediately exits the sauna every-time someone comes in or out. A young man pours his entire Hydro Flask water bottle on the hot stones and the sauna is out of order for another three months. And like that, their heat therapy wellness routine is out the window along with their other New Year's resolutions.

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Finally, they've had enough. With a sense of valour they exclaim to the local sauna goers 'I will open my own portable sauna that will be better than any you've ever seen before!' And with that they trump off.

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Already feeling like a saviour, they begin their research.​

 

Where to Run Your Sauna 

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Public Land

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Each council has different rules and you will need to navigate through the elusive wormholes of the council multiverse to find out what they are.

 

Some general information:

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If you've seen a food truck or another mobile business running in your dream car park, you're in luck. Either with or without a permit, it is possible. If you haven't, on the other hand, don't roll up until you've found out. Councils have already threatened naive portable sauna owners with $20,000+ fines. 

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With a disciplined mind, you can even start grooving to the early 2000's pop music you listen to while you wait on hold for your local council. They will tell you where you can operate,  just make sure you explain to them the a sauna is not the same as a spa pool, somehow a common misunderstanding in the kiwi mind.

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Private Land

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With or without the option to operate on public land, I recommend to all our customers to operate from a private location. The main reason is that you can leave the sauna there semi-permanently. This not only removes the set up and pack down time every session when you pull up to your favourite spot, but it lets you build consistency for your customers and lets you run many more sessions, and this is where you will make your profit.

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Don't Operate as a 'Pop-Up' Sauna

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Going to the sauna isn't a one off occasion. People want to integrate it into their weekly routine. When I opened the Redwood Sauna in 2022, I was amazed, every week, new people would come to the sauna and afterwards say 'I loved it, I am going to start coming weekly', and they would! Within a couple of months we had over 100 bookings per week and now we have up to 200. This is possible because we run from private land and run consistent sessions, allowing the sauna to become a part of so many peoples weekly routine. 

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The same goes for festivals, if you have a good set up, it won't be worth the hassle of going to festivals because you will have so many regular customers. 

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Facilities

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Even on private land, I didn't say it would be easy to find a location. Finding a location is the most difficult part of the process. Once you have a location, the rest of the process can flow smoothly.

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Why is it so difficult? Because you need access to the combination of the following:

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1. Parking for up to 15 people.

2. Bathrooms.

3. Water for drinking and showers.

4. Changing room (optional).

5. Electricity (if you want an ice bath).

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Somehow, this combination is like adding filters on Airbnb for the one date you can go on holiday and the results showing up empty. But it can found!

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Booking System and Website

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Another common barrier that keeps many up at night is the daunting task of creating a website and booking system. We feel ashamed to admit we don't even really understand what the word 'coding' means, let alone how to create a website.

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No-Code Website Builders

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Luckily, we don't need to. Website builders like Wix, Squarespace and Wordpress allow you to easily create a website from a template, you might even enjoy it a little, while only paying $300-$500 per year for the subscription.

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Booking System

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We have found that the cheapest, most affordable booking system, is the one that comes with Wix. It will handle your customer demand up to around 100 bookings per week. After this you might have to start thinking about specialised booking platforms such as Momence and Mindbody, which cost around $300/ month.

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​​What Type of Sauna to Run

There are three main types of sauna: traditional Finnish sauna, infrared sauna and steam sauna (wet sauna).

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Traditional sauna

Finnish saunas or wood-burning saunas use hot rocks and a higher temperature to create a dry heat experience. With low humidity, these saunas allow for deep sweating and ultimate relaxation, where the hot stones allow essential oils mixed with water to be poured over creating waves of scented steam.

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Infrared Sauna

Infrared saunas use infrared light to heat the body directly, while traditional saunas heat the air. Along with far-infrared saunas, these offer a milder experience with lower temperatures, which some find more comfortable.

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Steam Sauna

Steam saunas, also known as wet saunas, differ from traditional saunas by utilising steam instead of dry heat. The high humidity can have health benefits of respiratory health, skin hydration, and overall relaxation. While they provide similar health benefits, a steam sauna session offers a distinct experience tailored to those who prefer moisture-rich environments. I am yet to see a portable steam sauna, but that would be cool.

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Sauna Tent (bonus!)

For some reason, when trying to find portable saunas on Google, the most widespread offering is the sauna tent. We will not go into these in depth here, needless to say, the sauna tent does not offer the same quality of sauna experience as a fully framed sauna.

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Heating: Wood-fired 

Most of our portable saunas are wood-fired, this means you don't need to rely on electricity access and can run them from anywhere. ​

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Heat Up Time

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The 15 person mobile saunas takes 90 minutes to heat up to 100 degrees celsius. This is, refilling the fireplace every 20 minutes.

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What Firewood to Use? 

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'Thin and crispy' is what I tell my firewood supplier every time I order. At the Redwood Sauna in Raglan, we use Kiln Dried Douglas Fir. It may sounds over the top but I promise you it is not. Firstly, to get the sauna temperature pumping, you're going to want to use soft woods, like Pine or Douglas Fir. We want it to burn hot and fast. We are looking for different properties than the 'Hot Mix' that is usually advertised for your home fireplace, which contains a lot of slow burning, hard woods like Gum, Oak and Manuka. You can get away with diluting in some harder woods when the sauna is at temperature, but not before.

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We want thin so that it burns fast. Large logs will take a long time to catch and will release their heat slowly. Remember, hot and fast is what we want. Find a supplier who can give you the right sized pieces, you don't want to get out your axe every time a load is delivered. The novelty wears off. 

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And finally, we want dry wood. It shouldn't need mentioning but too many times have I been delivered a load of damp firewood. If you have the option to buy kiln-dried firewood, it is worth the extra cost, and have a large storage area where you can keep 2-3 cubic meters of firewood dry.

 

How Much Wood Does It Burn and How Much Does It Cost?

 

There are many factors that determine this. On average, one cubic meter lasts about 10 one-hour sauna sessions. So if you're paying $200/cubic meter, that's $20 per session, which is a pretty low running cost.

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If you're running 3-4 days per week and a few sessions each day, you can assume you'll be burning through one cubic meter per week. That's a lot of dry, well-sized wood for your local firewood supplier to keep up with. I recommend you find a commercial supplier who can give you a GST tax invoice so you can claim your firewood as an expense.

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​How Long Will The Sauna Take to Pay Off?

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It depends on which sauna you get, how many sessions you run per week and how much you charge. Let's do some simple math assuming you're running it yourself:

 

Main Expenses

Firewood - $700/month

Rent (if private land) - $1,000

Website - $40

total/month = $1,740

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Revenue

(10 people per session, 3 sessions per day, 3 days per week)

=90 bookings per week (we get over 150 bookings per week in Raglan, population: 3,000)

Average price per session: $20

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Revenue = $1,800/week

= $7,200/month

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Income

Income = $7,200 - $1,740

= $5,460/month

After tax (28%)= ~ $4,000 

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If you bought a 15 person sauna for $60,000 it would take you 15 months to pay it off, that's just over a year. That's a pretty good return on investment.

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Conclusion

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And with that, you're ready to create your own sauna business! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about location, saunas, or starting your own mobile sauna business!

For those who prefer the comfort of their own space, investing in a home sauna is an excellent way to enjoy the benefits of heat therapy without leaving the house. A traditional home sauna provides an authentic experience, while our modern compact design make it easier than ever to set up a regular sauna in your garden.

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Many models today come with remote control options, allowing users to adjust settings effortlessly. Whether you’re looking for the best home sauna for deep relaxation or an energy-efficient model that runs on a standard outlet, there are plenty of options available.

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With regular use, a home sauna can be an essential part of your wellness routine, offering a spa-like experience whenever you need it.

6-8 Person Home Sauna

6-8 Person Sauna

$35,000

Stationary, Electric

Saunas are well known for their incredible health benefits, from improving blood circulation and easing muscle soreness to providing stress relief and deep relaxation.

 

Just 10 minutes in a steam sauna session or dry sauna can promote detoxification, skin rejuvenation, and better sleep quality.

 

For those seeking the benefits of thermal therapy, whether through a traditional home sauna or the lower heat of an infrared sauna, regular sauna use can be a powerful addition to any wellness routine, leading to long-term improvements in both physical and mental well-being.

Outdoor Sauna

All of our products, portable saunas and home saunas, are built for the outdoors. They are constructed by licensed builders and built in the same way a home is built. This leads to exceptional quality and durability in harsh environments, creating a robust outdoor sauna.

6-8 person Sustainable Sauna

Portable Sauna

Portable Sauna NZ

Our portable saunas are our best selling product, as owners can take them to the beach or lake, near cold water and let the transformative power of contrast therapy do the rest! Customers often operate their sauna commercially, getting a return on investment while enjoying the heat and health benefits of the sauna. 

Home Sauna

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We build dry saunas for your home so that you can get the most from traditional sauna therapy. Stress relief, lowered blood pressure, improved circulation and better sleep are just some of a long list of health benefits from regular use of a home sauna.

Wood-Fired Sauna

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When the heat source is a roaring fire, compared to electric or infrared saunas, fresh air is drawn into the sauna, giving you the best experience from an oxygen rich environment, while the warm glow of the flames in the wood-fired sauna creates a cosy ambience, adding to the relaxation from regular sauna use. 

Enquire 

  • What is the current lead time?
    The next available order would be ready Mid July.
  • Is shipping included in the price for NZ sales?
    Shipping of our home saunas is not included in the price, they will be quoted to the buyer's nearest Mainfreight Depot, from where the buyer organises delivery to final location by Hiab. All portable saunas are to be picked up from Christchurch.
  • Do I need an electrician to wire in electric heaters?
    Yes, a qualified electrician is required to wire in all electric saunas.
  • Which sauna is big enough to lie down in?
    Our 6-8 person sauna is 1.8 x 2.4m, allowing two people to lie fully outstretched.
  • Do you ship your saunas to Australia?
    Yes, we ship our outdoor home saunas and portable saunas to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Get in touch for other location.
  • How is the sauna paid for?
    All saunas are built to order and require full upfront payment via invoice.
  • Do you have gas powered saunas?
    We do not currently offer gas powered saunas or infrared saunas, only wood-fired and electric saunas.
  • Do you build infrared saunas?
    We can build infrared saunas on request, get touch for more information.
  • Can the saunas run off solar power?
    Please ask your electrician, the power of each sauna is stated on its respective product page. For off-grid saunas, we recommend using one of our wood-fired saunas.
  • Can you build the 2-3 person sauna with a wood-fired heater?
    We cannot build a 2-3 person wood-fired sauna . The fireplace requires more space, therefore, the 6-8 person sauna is the smallest model we offer with a wood-fired heating option.
  • Do you offer financing?
    We do not offer financing for any of our home sauna or portable saunas.
  • Do you sell building plans?
    We do not sell our building plans for our outdoor saunas.
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