Building Better Wellness Businesses
The Wellness Makers exists to help founders, owners and operators build credible, commercially sound wellness businesses — without guesswork, shortcuts or costly mistakes.
We work at the intersection of wellness vision and business reality, providing the structure, thinking and support required to turn good ideas into viable, well-run businesses.
A business-first approach to wellness
WHAT WE DO
The global wellness industry is rich in passion, expertise and good intentions — but many businesses struggle because they are built without sufficient structure, planning or commercial logic.
The Wellness Makers was created to address this gap.
We help wellness businesses by focusing on:
Strategy before aesthetics
Structure before scale
Financial clarity before assumptions
Long-term viability over short-term trends
Our work supports founders who want to build properly — not just beautifully.
Serious founders at different stages
WHO WE WORK WITH
We work with:
First-time wellness entrepreneurs (usually Corporate Escapees!)
Spa and clinic owners seeking improvement or growth
Practitioners stepping into business ownership
Developers and operators planning larger or more complex projects
Some clients engage us early, before committing to a concept or location.
Others come to us when they need clarity, support or course-correction.
Education, tools and targeted support
HOW WE HELP
The Wellness Makers supports clients through three complementary avenues:
The WellBusiness Builders™ Academy — structured, consultant-grade education pathways
Professional resources & templates — practical tools used in real projects
Targeted consulting services — specialist support at key decision points
Clients may engage with one, or combine them as their project evolves.
Wellness deserves the same rigour as any serious business
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe wellness businesses should be:
Thoughtfully designed
Professionally structured
Financially viable
Operationally sound
Aligned with genuine wellbeing outcomes
Passion and good intentions are not enough.
Longevity, impact and integrity require clear thinking and solid foundations.
ABOUT THE FOUNDERS
Led by global wellness business expertise
The Wellness Makers was founded by Samantha Dunn, a global wellness business consultant with more than 25 years’ experience across the spa, wellness and hospitality sectors.
Samantha has:
Worked on 80+ spa and wellness concepts
Delivered projects across 15+ countries
Taught professional wellness business development in live formats for over a decade, including at Chiva-Som International Academy (Thailand)
Advised developers, hotel groups, owners and operators
Served as a judge for multiple international wellness awards
Served on the boards of six national spa and wellness associations across Asia-Pacific
Is currently the Founding President of the Australasian Wellness Association
Her work bridges vision, strategy and commercial reality — helping founders build businesses that work in the real world.
Accomplished industry professional with a vast knowledge of the luxury spa and wellness market.
Sonja Sorich past experience includes personal training and teaching classes such as yoga, pilates, qi gong, meditation, dynamic fitness, dance and other movement modalities. She has managed wellness clinics, health and fitness clubs, resort and hotel spas, and Australia’s largest destination health retreat spa. In her role as a program manager, Sonja also led guest programs at Australia's leading lifestyle retreat.
With a passion for wellness travel, Sonja's journeys have taken her to some of the best healing sanctuaries and health resorts around the world. Her personal and professional interest in wellbeing and personal evolution, have her continually participating in the experience of therapies and programs. She has lived in ashrams, sat with Buddhist monks, attended many retreats and personal growth programs and continues to actively explore wellness and healing for mind, body, soul.
Spa Wellness Consulting was formed in 2014 to fulfil on providing bespoke consultancy to day spas, health retreats and other unique wellness businesses. During these past years, a wide variety of clients have utilised her consultancy - some for a full turn key solution, and others for certain aspects such as concept, design or feasibility. She has provided spa consulting, spa management, holistic business reviews and wellness solutions, to name but a few.
WHY THE WELLNESS MAKERS
Independent. Experienced. Practical.
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Experience-led
Grounded in real consulting work, not theory
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Independent
Not tied to products, equipment or franchises
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Practical
Focused on decisions, structure and outcomes
We don’t promise shortcuts.
We provide clarity, structure and support — so you can move forward with confidence.
HOW TO WORK WITH US
Start where you are
Depending on your stage and needs, you can:
Begin with WellBusiness Builders™ for structured guidance
Use professional resources to build independently
Engage consulting services for targeted support
If you’re unsure where to start, a Consultant Concierge session can help clarify the best next step.
Wellness is meaningful work.
It deserves to be built well