Business Profile: Toronto Acupuncture Studio is a community acupuncture clinic that provides high quality care in a way that empowers patients and builds community. Their unique approach enables the studio to provide affordable acupuncture and herbal medicine to a wide audience. Patients pay a sliding scale rate; each person decides how much she or he wants to pay. This model allows people to receive more frequent treatments and enables them to fully experience the benefits of this medicine.

Her Story: Offering authentic services for everyone
Ash Yoon became interested in acupunture and herbal medicine through her maternal grandmother and after overcoming a personal health crisis, decided to pursue it as a career. A five-year degree and four years of clinical practice led to a search for a more inclusive and sustainable model of treatment delivery that was affordable for most people.

As a student, Ash found that she was unable to afford the ongoing acupuncture treatments that she needed. When starting her own business, she knew that she did not want to offer a service that she herself could not afford. She came across  the Community Acupuncture Network, a group of clinic owners that offers services on a sliding scale, in a communal space – which is how this medicine is traditionally practiced in South Korea and China.

With a vision in place,  Ash spent the next year researching, taking courses, meeting with other entrepreneurs and writing the business plan for her new venture, the Toronto Acupunture Studio. With the support of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) and guidance from her CYBF mentor Ella Nunes, Ash launched her business. A commitment to authenticity and careful business decision-making have proven to be a winning formula with the business breaking even in the first month and growing exponentially over the first year.

Ash has helpful advice for young entrepreneurs. “Be prepared to work harder than you’ve ever worked before, and be prepared for success,” she advised. “Being an entrepreneur will challenge and fulfill you at all levels – physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.”

Short Quote:
“CYBF steamlines the startup process in a way that makes it easy for young people to reach their dreams.”
- Ash Yoon, Toronto Acupuncture Studio

Long Quote:
“Having a mentor has been invaluable. Ella suggested that I offer studio opening packages where people could buy a set of treatments at great value. This was an excellent way to generate interest in the neighborhood and to bring in much needed cashflow after the initial startup costs.”
- Ash Yoon, Toronto Acupuncture Studio

About CYBF
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to growing our nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-39, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. CYBF is a founding member of the global G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA). Visit www.cybf.ca.