While your passion for the beauty industry can motivate you to start your business, opening a brick-and-mortar establishment requires a well-thought-out plan and many resources. Opening a salon can be a challenging feat, but it isn’t impossible. Here’s everything you need to know about opening a salon to get you started.
Create a Business Plan
Your salon’s business plan is one of the essential steps to complete before moving forward with your vision. This plan acts as a detailed road map that states your objectives and outlines all the stipulations to help you achieve your goal.
Business plans are a necessity when starting your salon, as it guides you through all areas of your business. The plan encourages you to consider aspects like the financials, your intentions with your shop, and the culture you would like to see in your salon.
Familiarize Yourself With Local Laws and Regulations
Before establishing your salon’s permanent location, remember to research your area’s local laws and regulations. These standards can differ by region and the types of services you hope to offer through your business.
For example, if your future establishment focuses solely on hair, regulations will mandate different licenses than beauty shops that concentrate on multiple services. If needed, remember to adjust your business plan to avoid an interruption in operation or receiving a fine in the future.
Here are a few of the most common licenses and permits needed before the opening of a salon:
- Salon license
- Employer identification number
- Sanitation
- Building permit
- Cosmetology license
- OSHA compliance
Establish What Makes Your Business Unique From Competition
During the planning and researching phase of your business, there’s a possibility of running into some competition. Make sure to research your area thoroughly, so you’re aware of similar establishments in your market.
Once you compile your list, it’s time to think about what sets your salon apart from the others. Think about why clients should do business with you and trust in your services before anyone else. Having a specialty or niche service can increase interest in your salon and attract potential clientele to visit upon opening.
Consider Your Distributors
Of course, you can’t have a fully operational salon without the proper tools to provide service to your clients. Once the previous steps check out, now’s the perfect moment for researching your distributors. Determining the equipment you’ll need to acquire will depend on the services your shop will offer.
Another aspect to consider before obtaining your equipment and products is the size of your location. If your salon is small, the chances are that you won’t need as many stations and chairs to fill the floor as you would with an establishment of a larger scale.
When weighing your distributor options, you want to prioritize equipment price points and their quality, along with customer service quality, deals, and perks.
Larger stations such as styling chairs and shampoo units should all include warranties in the event of damage or malfunction. If a distributor’s product does not have a warranty contract, you might want to consider another option.
Have a Reliable Client List
If you don’t have a solid client base already, you can obtain one through advertisements. Marketing your business through the radio, having partnerships with other companies, or even participating in a beauty expo can promote your salon and its services.
At a beauty expo, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your skill to a crowd and exhibit what the experience in your establishment will look like. You’ll want to have business cards readily available so potential clientele can contact you for more details.
Locate the Ideal Spot for Your Salon
Whether you buy or rent a space, the location of your budding business is perhaps the most significant expense. Apart from scouting out the competition, your site should be in a populated area that can help generate the clientele you’re looking for.
Your salon should be easy to find and access by car or public transportation. The more convenient the location, the more interested clients will be in visiting your shop.
Talk To an Interior Designer
Interior designers specialize in designing a space that appeals to your vision and is functional for stylists. Working with a designer takes the stress off your shoulders and places the task on experts who know how to maximize your location’s revenue potential.
Knowing the area’s dimensions beforehand allows you to accommodate all furniture you desire to have in your salon.
Employ Those With the Same Passion
The heart of any business is the staff who is responsible for carrying out the daily duties. Beauty is a personal industry and having the most knowledgeable individuals with skill and excellent customer service is crucial to the success of your salon and the building of your brand.
During the hiring process, prioritize thorough training that educates stylists and technicians on strategies that help facilitate your business’ operation. A prepared staff will make all the difference in how clients perceive your business and its longevity.
Prioritize Your Clients
Without enough clientele, upkeeping any business can be challenging. Part of building your brand is creating a vision that caters to your target audience’s senses. How do you want your clients to feel upon stepping foot in your establishment?
Stating your objectives and placing yourself in a guest’s shoes can help you determine what you would like them to experience during their appointment.
Set Prices According To Your Quality of Service and Worth
Establishing service price points can be challenging, especially when first starting. It may feel like you’re caught between providing services at an affordable cost to cater to your clients and charging what you think is appropriate for your stylists’ skills.
To meet in the middle, you can begin at a price point appropriate to the level of expertise most of your stylists have. You can acquire a general idea of basic earnings for a budding stylist through research. However, consider your skills and training before establishing a final price. If you know you are highly skilled and great at what you do, people will be willing to pay a little extra.
Everything you need to know about opening a salon is in the research and planning. As long as you have a business plan and the funds, achieving your goal should be significantly easier than walking into the process blindsided.
At Salon Equipment Center, our mission is to deliver top-tier salon equipment to fill your future business. We have all-purpose salon chairs for sale at an affordable price, and our warranty contract is incomparable!
Our warranty agreement offers you a three- to five-year coverage plan on your furniture and equipment should there be damage present. Check out our selection for other deals and products you won’t want to miss out on.
