Do you want to open a beauty salon? It is a project that tempts a lot of beauticians. But how do you get started with less than $10,000 in your pocket? From dreaming to setting up your own project, many concrete questions arise.
This guide will give you satisfactory answers to all your concerns to start your own business.
What is a beauty salon?
Beauty Salon is a commercial organization. It offers cosmetic treatments for men and women’s well-being in their daily lives and special events such as parties and weddings.
Beauty salons can offer various services such as hairdressing, makeup, cosmetic skin treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxes, massages, and many more. But they can also choose to specialize in a specific area, such as eyebrow drawing. Some companies still sell related products such as hair, beard, skin, etc.
Some beauty salons also provide customers aesthetic treatments other than medical or paramedical treatment. Besides, they also offer aesthetic comfort massages without medical purposes. This definition is inclusive. Therefore, it includes many specialized activities such as tanning, slimming, hand, and facial care salons. There are more than 80,000 establishments in the United States specializing in beauty and aesthetic care.
In addition to analyzing the planned activity’s financial viability, it is necessary to consider the entrepreneur’s required obligations wishing to open his salon. Indeed, there are obligations relating to the installation and operation of the salon.
Let’s discuss the essential factors that one should keep in mind when starting a beauty salon.
9 Steps to start a beauty salon business
1. Create a business plan
Business planning is essential if you want to achieve your goals. You should not ignore this first step. You need to include some key points in your beauty salon business plan, such as available funds, monthly rent, products, target customers, ROI, etc.
Get a license to open a beauty salon. The company’s required licenses largely govern hygiene, cleanliness, safety, and security standards. Maintaining quality standards is vital for maintenance and customer satisfaction.
Once you’ve done this, you need to understand your business better. Your profit margin, which treatment has the best profit, and how many customers you need to get through the door, etc. It makes everything very real.
2. Figure out how many cost you need
According to experts, you must have at least $40,000 to $250,000 to purchase an existing beauty salon. If you want to build up from scratch, you must have an average of $100,000 to $500,000 to build a salon. But this number will depend on the value of the property in your area. Moreover, it also depends on the number of seats you plan to have in your living room. (1,000 square feet will fit six chairs) Usually, the cost of the equipment will be about $27,000 to $30,000. The license fees of beauty salons vary widely (from $100 to $2000).
Advertising prices are also expected to cost up to $15,000 during television hours. Beauty salons worldwide can cost you a lot more if you choose the pay-per-click model for digital advertising.
3. Choose the right Location.
Location is the key to the success of your business. Consider these factors:
- Choose a high traffic area. On busy streets, malls, or places where people visit a lot (such as grocery stores).
- Try to have easy access. If parking on the way to the show is a nuisance and the traffic is congested, people don’t appreciate the effort.
- Stay away from the competition. Don’t find a place near another salon. You will both go down the drain. Instead, try starting in an area where you are the only salon for a few blocks.
4. Take care of any license.
Unfortunately, operating a business means dealing with red-tape, roadblocks, and paperwork. Here’s what you need to take into account:
License is compulsory for all companies in the United States. You can get help by visiting the Small Business Administration website.
In the United States, all personal professionals must be licensed. This includes cutting or dying hair, nail polish, waxing, and applying makeup. However, the rules vary from state to state, so contact your local and professional business licensing department.
Make sure your salon can do a health check. To avoid fines or (worse) closings from the health department, make sure your salon is intact and meets your state guidelines.
5. Set your service prices
The estimate of the total cost of services should determine effective pricing. Imagine overcharging or underpricing as low as you can in this competitive arena, it’s like a mantra. Rising raw material prices, competitive peer prices, and industry-standard prices can help set the best deal.
6. Get beauty products
Beauty salons require a lot of raw materials. From spacious furniture to chairs and tables with special attention to the mirror. Scissors, Comb, brushes, cosmetics, stools, herbal products, Trimmer, natural ingredients, and other ingredients. It is crucial to find the best quality equipment at affordable prices.
7. Employee recruitment
The operating budget should contain good information and skilled personnel. Hire qualified and trained professionals because inexperienced folks can cause health problems like acne and pimples. It is vital that you have a background check before hiring them. Understand this process and know the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of advising the client before the operation.
8. Marketing
Marketing is a unique selling proposition for a beauty salon. The type of display, the scrolling package for the associated services, the printing of brochures, and finally, the name also illustrate the marketing strategy. What makes it unique is the amount of customization it takes into account that everyone’s needs are different.
The most important part is being competent employees who know their jobs well. Do not wear poor and tight clothes, and do not pay attention to the customers’ characteristics. They need welcome, kindness, and an understanding of the client’s needs.
9. Create a clean environment.
Salons thrive in a clean, safe, and comfortable environment, where clients can get immediate professional services.
- Cleanliness is a critical factor that can attract customers over and over again. Make sure your towels, shoes, and other utensils are washed, clean, and odor-free.
- Keep your tools sharp and up-to-date. Your customers need to make sure that the products and tools you use on them are of high quality and safe. You cannot afford to expose your users to the infection, as it may damage your reputation.
- Make the environment comfortable. Listen to soft music, use soft lighting, and minimize loud conversations between your employees.
You now know how to open a beauty salon with confidence! So, go ahead to fulfill your dream.
Best of luck with your new journey!