Starting your own salon business is a great way to make money and control your destiny. This article covers how to start a salon step by step, including what you need to do before opening your doors for business so that when the day comes, you’ll be able to jump right into making money.
This article covers how to start a salon step by step, including what you need to do before opening your doors for business so that when the day comes, you’ll be able to jump right into making money.
Importantly, a critical step in starting a salon is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Salon Business Plan Template here.
15 Steps To Start a Salon Business:
- Choose the Name for Your Salon Business
- Determine the Type of Salon Business You Will Launch
- Develop Your Salon Business Plan
- Choose the Legal Structure for Your Salon Business
- Secure Startup Funding for Your Salon Business (If Needed)
- Secure a Location for Your Business
- Register Your Salon Business with the IRS
- Open a Business Bank Account
- Get a Business Credit Card
- Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
- Get Business Insurance for Your Salon Business
- Buy or Lease the Right Salon Business Equipment
- Develop Your Salon Business Marketing Materials
- Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Salon Business
- Open for Business
1. Choose the Name for Your Salon Business
The first step to starting a salon is to choose your business’ name.
This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your salon:
- Make sure the name is available: Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
- Keep it simple: The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
- Think about marketing: Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your salon business.
2. Determine the Type of Salon Business You Will Launch
The next step is to determine the type of salon business you will launch. The four main types of salon businesses are:
- Hair Salon:: A hair salon primarily focuses on providing a range of hair-related services such as haircuts, hairstyling, hair coloring, hair extensions, and treatments. Hair salons cater to both men and women and may offer additional services like scalp treatments, blowouts, and specialized haircare products.
- Nail Salon: A nail salon specializes in nail care services, including manicures, pedicures, nail art, acrylic or gel nail enhancements, and nail treatments. These salons often offer a variety of nail polish colors, designs, and techniques to enhance the appearance and health of clients’ nails.
- Spa Salon: A spa salon offers a broader range of services, including skincare treatments, massages, body treatments, facials, and relaxation therapies. These salons aim to provide a holistic experience focused on relaxation, rejuvenation, and overall well-being.
- Beauty Salon: A beauty salon is a comprehensive establishment that offers a combination of various beauty services. In addition to hair and nail care, a beauty salon may provide services such as makeup application, waxing, eyebrow and eyelash treatments, and skincare. Beauty salons aim to provide clients with a complete range of beauty enhancement options.
3. Develop Your Salon Business Plan
One of the most important steps in starting a salon business is to write a salon business plan. The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.
To enhance your planning process, incorporating insights from a sample salon business plan can be beneficial. This can provide you with a clearer perspective on industry standards and effective strategies, helping to solidify your own business approach.
Your business plan should include the following sections:
- Executive Summary: This section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your salon business.
- Company Overview: This section provides the reader with information about the background of your salon business and the specific type of salon services you offer. For instance, do you specialize in hair salon services, nail salon services, spa and relaxation treatments, or a comprehensive range of beauty services.
- Industry Analysis: Here you will document key information about the salon industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
- Customer Analysis: In this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing the services like the ones you will offer?
- Competitive Analysis: Here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
- Marketing Plan: Your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
- Product: Determine and document what products/services you will offer
- Prices: Document the prices of your products/services
- Place: Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
- Promotions: What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your salon business? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
- Operations Plan: Here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
- Management Team: This section details the background of your company’s management team.
- Financial Plan: Finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
- What startup costs will you incur?
- How will your salon business make money?
- What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
- Do you need to raise funding to launch your business?
4. Choose the Legal Structure for Your Salon Business
Next you need to choose a legal structure for your salon business and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.
Below are the five most common legal structures:
1) Sole proprietorship
A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner of the salon business and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.
2) Partnerships
A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start a salon business together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business.
The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.
3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)
A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a salon business include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.
4) C Corporation
A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a salon business is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.
5) S Corporation
An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.
Once you register your salon business, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.
5. Secure Startup Funding for Your Salon Business (If Needed)
In developing your salon business plan, you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business.
If so, the main sources of funding for a salon business to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a salon business that they believe has high potential for growth.
6. Secure a Location for Your Business
Having an appropriate space holds significant importance for your salon business.
To discover the perfect location, consider the following steps:
- Exploring various neighborhoods while keeping an eye out for “for lease” indicators.
- Getting in touch with a commercial real estate agent specialized in retail spaces.
- Conducting online searches focused on commercial real estate options.
- Sharing your requirements with your contacts and checking if anyone within your network has valuable connections to assist you in securing the ideal salon space.
7. Register Your Salon Business with the IRS
Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.
Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.
8. Open a Business Bank Account
It is important to establish a bank account in your salon’s name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:
- Identify and contact the bank you want to use
- Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
- Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
- Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them
9. Get a Business Credit Card
You should get a business credit card for your salon business to help you separate personal and business expenses.
You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.
When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.
Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.
10. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
To establish a salon business, you typically need several licenses and permits to ensure legal compliance and operation. The exact requirements can vary based on your location and the services you intend to offer. However, here is a general list of licenses and permits you may need:
- Business license – You need to register your business with your state and local municipality. Requirements vary but generally you’ll need to provide your business name, address, owner’s name, etc.
- Salon license – Most states require a special license to operate a salon. This involves submitting an application, paying a fee, and passing an exam on salon practices and regulations.
- Cosmetology licenses – Stylists need to be licensed cosmetologists in the state where the salon is located. This requires completing a certain number of training hours (often 1,500+ hours) and passing written and practical exams.
- Building permits – If you’re constructing or renovating your salon space, you’ll need permits for the construction work being done. Requirements depend on where you’re located.
- Sales tax permit – You need to register with your state department of revenue to collect and remit sales tax. You may also need a local business tax license.
- Insurance – Salon business insurance is highly recommended to cover liability, property damage, etc. Make sure your policy meets your state’s minimum requirements.
- Health department license – Most states require salons to have a health/sanitation license demonstrating you meet safety and cleanliness standards. An inspection is usually required.
So in summary – business license, salon license, individual stylists’ cosmetology licenses, building permits if renovating, sales tax permit, business insurance, and health department license are typical requirements to operate a hair salon legally. Check with your state and local government for specifics.
11. Get Business Insurance for Your Salon Business
Operating a salon business comes with potential risks, and having the right insurance coverage is crucial to protect your business, assets, and clients. Here are some types of insurance you may need for your salon business:
- General liability insurance – This covers any injuries to customers or damage to property that occurs in your salon. It protects you in case of slip-and-fall accidents, injuries from services, equipment damages, etc. Liability limits of $1 million per occurrence are common.
- Professional liability insurance – Also called errors and omissions insurance, this covers negligence claims if a stylist damages a client’s hair or scalp during a service. Limits of $1 million are typical.
- Workers’ compensation insurance – Required in most states, this covers medical bills and lost wages if an employee gets injured on the job. Rates vary based on salon size and location.
- Property insurance – Protects against loss due to damage/theft of your salon equipment, furnishings, inventory, etc. Make sure to get adequate coverage for high value items.
- Business owner’s policy – A BOP bundles general liability, property coverage, and business interruption insurance into one policy. This can be more convenient than separate policies.
- Cyber liability insurance – Provides protection if your salon experiences a data breach, network outage, or if clients’ personal info is compromised.
Check your state’s specific insurance requirements for salons. An insurance broker can also advise on appropriate coverage types and limits based on your operations and risks.
12. Buy or Lease the Right Salon Business Equipment
Here is an overview of some of the basic equipment needed to operate a salon business:
- Salon chairs – Sturdy, adjustable chairs so clients can sit comfortably during services. Often hydraulic or electric.
- Shampoo stations – Specialized sinks and chairs for washing/conditioning hair. Reclining backrests are common.
- Hairstyling stations – Includes mirror, countertop space for tools and products, drawer storage, and chair for client.
- Barbershop stations – Similar to styling stations but may include barber chairs and additional storage for shaving tools.
- Hood dryers – For drying and setting hair. Positioned at individual stations.
- Facial beds – Cushioned tables so clients can lie down for facials, waxing, etc.
- Towel warmers – Heated units keep towels warm for clients throughout the day.
- Salon sinks – Convenient sink areas for stylists to wash tools and hands between clients.
- Point of sale system – Computerized system to accept payments, schedule appointments, and track inventory.
- Disinfection tools – UV sanitizers, barbicide, autoclaves to properly clean and disinfect all implements.
- Hair washing tools – Spray bottles, pitchers, hoses for comfortably washing client’s hair in the sink.
- Storage – Rolling carts, cabinets, shelves to organize products, tools, and supplies.
The specific equipment needs will vary based on services offered, but this covers some of the essentials for operating stations in a professional salon environment.
13. Develop Your Salon Business Marketing Materials
Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your salon business.
The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:
- Logo: Spend some time developing a good logo for your salon business. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
- Website: Likewise, a professional salon business website provides potential customers with information about the services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
- Social Media Accounts: Establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your salon business.
14. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Salon Business
Here are some of the key software solutions that are useful for managing and running a salon business:
- Appointment booking software – Allows clients to book appointments online and lets you manage your staff’s schedules. Popular options include Square Appointments, Booker, SalonRunner.
- Point of Sale (POS) system – Ring up sales, take payments, manage inventory. Some popular salon POS systems are Salon Iris, Rosy, Phorest.
- Accounting software – Track income, expenses, taxes. QuickBooks is a common accounting platform for small businesses like salons.
- Payroll software – Pay employees and handle payroll taxes. Examples include Gusto, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.
- CRM software – Manage client contacts, appointment history, marketing. Options like Insightly and SlickPie have salon-focused features.
- Inventory management – Track product usage and reorder supplies. Can integrate with POS system. Examples: BeautyTracks, Simplifi.
- Email marketing – Send promotions, announcements, birthday specials to clients. MailChimp is a popular email platform.
- Social media management – Schedule posts and engage with followers on Instagram, Facebook, etc. Hootsuite, Buffer are useful tools.
- Analytics – Measure website traffic, online bookings, sales data. Google Analytics provides good insight.
The right software can help salon owners maximize efficiency, organization, and productivity in day-to-day operations.
15. Open for Business
You are now ready to open your salon business. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.
How Big is the Salon Industry?
The business of beauty and wellness is a fast-growing and dynamic sector in the United States, with over 1.2 million total salon businesses and sales of more than $62 billion annually.
What are the Key Segments of the Salon Industry?
Salons are businesses that specialize in the application of cosmetics to both women and men. Hair salons, nail salons, and skincare treatments. Many salons promote themselves as full-service establishments that provide a wide range of services including haircuts, manicures, waxing, skincare, and tanning.
Hair and Nail Salons
Salons that specialize in hair and nail treatments are perhaps the most common type of salon. Many salons now offer a range of different beauty treatments such as waxing, skincare, manicures, pedicures, tanning, facials, and haircuts to name a few.
Skincare Treatments
There has been a growing interest in skin treatments such as Yon-Ka Oxygene and Oxygen facials, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion. These types of salon treatments can revitalize and rejuvenate your skin, leaving it looking fresh and young.
Facials
Facials provide an opportunity to relax while receiving pampering treatments.
Tanning Salons
Salon tanning beds are popular with clients who want to lose or maintain their summer tans. The Tan Co’s Salon Tanning Bed is becoming increasingly common throughout salons today.
Waxing and Skincare Treatments
These services are perfect for women who don’t have the time to do their own waxing and skin care treatments.
Salons provide a wide range of beauty treatments that vary from one salon to another. In addition, services can change rapidly due to new products, changing styles, and increasing demand for certain treatments.
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What External Factors Affect the Salon Market?
There are a number of factors that affect the salon market. Some of these include:
- New Beauty Technology and Products – Beauty salons need to keep up with new technologies such as the Beauty Light Pro-face and body machine which uses lasers to reduce acne scars, wrinkles, and stretch marks.
- Changing Styles – New hairstyles are constantly being created, and skin care trends change frequently.
- Competitive Pressures – Salon owners need to know how much competition they’re up against when setting salon prices, choosing suppliers, and marketing their salon services.
- Changing Demographics – demographics play an important role in who will use your salon’s beauty treatments. Consider the effect of an aging population on demand for skincare treatments, for example.
- Economics – The state of the economy has a major effect on the industry. When the economy is struggling, people tend to cut back on discretionary spending which includes beauty treatments such as haircuts and manicures; however, when the economy is thriving, business tends to thrive as well.
Who are the Key Competitors in the Salon Industry?
Direct competitors in the salon industry are other beauty salons and spas within your geographical area.
In order to attract clients, you’ll need to offer competitive pricing and a range of services that will help differentiate you from the competition. Some ways that you can do this include being open earlier, staying open later, have longer operating hours, having faster service times, providing gift certificates or coupons for future services, being more flexible on price, and providing a more luxurious experience with better seating arrangements and customer bathrooms.
Key competitors of the industry also include manufacturers who produce chemicals, equipment, and other supplies required to run a salon business. In addition, home-based 1:1 beauty service providers such as skincare experts, make-up artists, and waxers should also be considered as competitors to your salon.
There are also a number of indirect competitors that you need to be aware of as well including:
Traditional hair salon services such as those offered by Sports Clips, barbershops, ethnic hair salons, Supercuts, and more. Barber Shops tend to offer more traditional men’s haircuts, but they also offer services that women are looking for such as straight razor shaves.
Traditional beauty salon services such as those offered by nail spas, meditation salons, karate dojos, and more. Meditation or wellness salons provide a wide range of treatments including skincare treatments, reflexology massage, reiki sessions, and more.
These establishments can be a challenge because they are often not considered a “serious” competitor by the typical owner who focuses only on competing against other salons. However, it is important to recognize the threat that these competitors can pose because they may attract customers who would typically come to your salon.
What are the Key Customer Segments in the Salon Market?
Your salon’s key customer segments are women who want to improve their appearance. However, it’s important not to forget men as well. In fact, some salons target men with specific haircuts and grooming treatments.
Beauty salons typically attract two main customer segments:
- Customers who regularly visit salons (e.g., weekly or monthly) for beauty treatments such as haircuts, manicures, pedicures, facials, and skincare treatments. These customers regularly purchase products to maintain their beauty treatments at home.
- Customers who only visit the salon occasionally – usually for specific events such as weddings or proms. These customers purchase a few beauty products a year to maintain their salon-purchased treatments such as those who buy shampoo from the grocery store but regularly go to the salon for haircuts.
Having a clear understanding of your salon’s key customer segments will help you create an ideal customer persona that can be used in the following sections when developing your marketing strategy.
What are the Typical Startup Costs for a New Salon Business?
The typical salon startup costs include the following:
- Physical location – You will need to initiate a lease agreement or purchase your salon’s physical location. The cost for monthly rent may vary greatly depending on the type of salon, its size, and location. For example, if you are planning to open your own hair salon in Los Angeles, California, expect the monthly rent to be $4,000 or more while the average monthly rent for a hair salon in Salt Lake City, Utah is around $700.
- Physical buildout – Most salons require renovation work to make the space look appealing and functional. You will need to update the lighting, floors, paint, wall coverings (e.g., wallpaper or large prints), counters, furniture (e.g., hair salon chairs, manicure tables), and salon equipment (e.g., hairdryers, shampoo sinks).
- Salon Equipment – These include the physical tools you will need to perform beauty treatments such as hairdryers, curling irons, straighteners, combs, brushes, rollers, styling products (e.g., hair spray), makeup, skincare products (e.g., facial creams or oils). You may also need to purchase beauty supplies such as cotton balls, napkins, tissues, disposable cups for beverages.
- Salon Operating Supplies – These are the items you will use on a daily basis in your beauty business while others are used less frequently such as cleaning supplies (e.g., disinfectants, bleach), paper towels, and plastic bags for rubbish.
- Salon Furniture – You will need salon furniture to seat your customers while they receive their beauty treatments. Consider purchasing salon-specific furniture rather than using generic furniture you already own such as dining or office tables and chairs.
- Cash Register – You will need a cash register to keep track of your salon’s revenue.
- Salon Supplies & Inventory – This category includes items that are paid for when they are purchased e.g., beauty supplies, inventory-items you pay only after selling them-and stored in the salon. Examples include shampoo, hair color, ties, headbands, cotton balls, facial washcloths.
- Business Insurance – You will need to purchase at least two types of insurance: salon insurance and general liability insurance (also called business owner’s policy). Ensure you contact an experienced independent insurance agent who can guide you through the process.
- Salon Accounting Software – There are many good salon accounting software options available on the market, but many salon owners use less expensive software such as QuickBooks instead of purchasing salon-specific accounting software.
- Marketing and Promotional Campaigns – Besides advertising, there are many ways you can promote your business including flyers, postcards, social media campaigns (e.g., Facebook ads or Twitter promotions), business cards, coupons, direct mailings.
- Legal and Licenses – You will need to purchase legal documents (e.g., business contracts) and licenses (e.g., tax registration certificate).
When you are trying to figure out how much money you want to start a salon, your main costs will be related to the physical buildout of your salon.
Your rent is one of the biggest expenses for new salons, especially if you are located in an expensive city such as New York City or Las Vegas.
Location is everything in the industry so it’s important to choose your salon location wisely. You don’t want to be in a bad location that scares people away or makes it difficult for them to get to your salon.
Getting salon fixtures is a must if you are building the space from scratch. You will need to get shampoo stations, stylist workstations, reception areas, waiting spaces, etc.
Music and entertainment systems are also necessary parts of your buildout.
Things like nail bars can be added later but it’s easier to get those installed on day one.
You will need to get a general business license and apply for your salon license as well as any other state or city-level licenses that you think you might need.
Salon insurance is also essential to protecting yourself and your assets from business liability.
Your budget will look very different depending on the scale of your salon type and design. It’s important that you do not underestimate the costs when planning for your salon space, but also don’t kill your budget either.
Is Owning a Salon Profitable?
Yes, salon businesses are profitable. Some salons have a list of clients who visit frequently and return for the same services over time, while others need to constantly acquire new clients. To remain profitable, you must ensure that your business meets three criteria:
- Your salon is within an accessible location
- You have a good handle on salon finances
- You purchase salon supplies and equipment at the best price possible.
What are the Keys to Launching a New Salon Business?
If you’ve made it to the decision of opening a salon business, chances are that you have been planning for a long time already. It’s essential to be as prepared as possible before opening your doors.
Below is a list of essentials that every salon owner should look into:
- Salon management software – You need to keep track and organize all data related to the salon.
- Concierge services – These can help you with getting clients in the door. If you have an excellent service that people want, then they will be willing to pay for it.
- Salon website – Your salon website is one of your biggest marketing tools. It should look professional and convey a sense of your own salon brand.
- Business banking – Get a business account and debit card as soon as possible. While you’re at it, set up an automatic payment option like direct deposit and online bill pay to make your life easier.
- Salon insurance – From the salon’s property to employee compensation, you need good coverage for everything.
- Marketing plan – Create a salon marketing plan that will work best for you.
- Quality hair and beauty products – Invest in the best salon products. If your products are top quality, then all you have to do is get them out there and let results speak for themselves.
Be efficient with your time and resources so that you can focus on growing your business.
If you start building strong business relationships with your clients and getting their word of mouth, then new clientele will come to your salon without even needing a marketing plan. Everything comes full circle so make sure to spend effort on each part of the process.
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How to Start a Salon FAQs
How Do I Turn My Salon into a Thriving Business?
It's time to take your dream of opening your own salon and make it become a reality. Follow these simple guidelines to turn your startup into a thriving salon business:
Build Trust
Before people will trust any service or product being sold by you, they need to know who it is that they are trusting. This means that before starting any kind of advertisement campaign about the launch of your new salon you should work on building relationships with potential customers first.
You might do this by hosting demonstrations for how hairstyling works at an event near them which could also act as an advertisement for how qualified staff members are. If people are happy to buy your services then they are more likely to spread word of mouth about how great your salon is.
Promote What You are Selling
Once you have people's attention with the product or service that you are offering, it is time to use this opportunity to sell yourself.
Try promoting yourself through targeted online adverts which will let people who would most often visit a salon know that there is something new in town with your advertisement appearing on websites including social media accounts and others where people who might be interested in visiting a beauty salon might spend their free time.
This kind of press can go a long way especially if your stylists already have experience working at other successful salons which could potentially give an incentive for more customers to come to try out your salon.
Take on Contract Work
Some local businesses in your industry might only be interested in working with the most successful salons, but there is no reason why you can't prove that you are just as reputable. Try taking on contract work for major hair care brands at the launch of your new business, offering them a deal where they give you their business and in return, you promote their products to your customers. This could be extremely beneficial when trying to recruit new stylists especially if they have experience working under the same brands already. People trust familiar names so having these kinds of big-name companies involved with the wonders of your own work for credibility.
Keep Up Quality
Keeping high-quality standards across all aspects of running a salon is important to keep your loyal customers happy and could also potentially attract larger salons to work with you. After all, the more successful you are at running a high-quality salon the more people will want to come to you for their hair care needs. Make sure that everything from the salon equipment used to how well trained every member of staff is working is like clockwork if you want even bigger companies interested in having contracts with you.
Be Consistent
Your salon brand should be recognized before long as one which always keeps up its promises; this kind of reputation can help generate word-of-mouth advertising rapidly. The name 'Salon X' might not mean much now, but after three years of offering high-quality services, it might be known throughout your city as being a salon that consistently delivers the highest quality services. This kind of brand awareness can be a great help when trying to get more contracts from big-name brands.
How Much Does it Cost to Start a Salon?
It is subjective how much money you need to open a salon but most salons will spend around $300,000 for their buildout. If you want to make sure that your salon is successful, you should be prepared to invest at least 6 months’ worth of your salary as well as the cost of your buildout.
What are the Financial Requirements to Open a Salon?
The financial requirements for opening a salon will depend on how much you can personally invest in your business. Salons generally start with developers that want to get into the salon industry, but then there are also models where salons are franchised or managed by existing salon owners.
Small Business Administration loans - These are available for small business owners that meet certain requirements, but it does require a decent credit score and a history of on-time payments. Read more about how to get an SBA loan here.
Equity financing - This generally requires setting up some sort of contractual arrangement between yourself and investors. The more capital you can provide yourself with, the better.
Business loans - There are a handful of bank options available for small business owners that meet certain requirements to get a loan from a bank. Read more about how to get a business loan here.
Partnerships and collaborations - Depending on your experience in the salon industry it might be possible to find a partner that will invest in your salon/salon business.
The more capital you can bring yourself, the better off you'll be long-term. Make sure to budget accordingly before opening your doors.
How Can I Get Clients in My Salon?
It's one thing to have a new salon and a solid business plan, but you need to make sure that people actually come in and try out your services.
You'll want to think about:
- How will you get the word out there? Social media campaigns, flyers on community boards, direct mailers, etc. Try not to use too much advertising or you'll burn through your budget quickly.
- What's in it for the client? Obviously, you want to have happy, satisfied clients who want to come back. This will be easier if you offer excellent customer service and quality products.
- How much are you charging? If your services are affordable, then people won't think twice to book an appointment. If you offer higher-end services, then make sure to have a clientele base that is willing and able to pay for them.
- Will you offer specials? Offering a special for a limited time is a great way to attract new clients and let them feel how much they can save by booking an appointment with you.
- What will your salon environment be like? Make sure that it's clean, peaceful, and relaxing to help clients feel at home.
There is no magic wand or quick fix for getting new clients in the door of your salon business. It takes hard work and patience but if you can provide quality products and services, then your clients will come running.
How Do I Improve Salon Business Operations?
You want to make sure that every part of your salon's operations runs smoothly from massive production to everyday tasks. Things should run as seamlessly as possible between making appointments, scheduling employees, tracking inventory, and receiving payments. That way life is simple for the owner and managers so they can focus on improving important things such as revenue or cost-efficiency. In order to keep your business up and running, you should also follow these steps.
Make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to salon documentation. For example, what information goes into the client record? How are appointments scheduled? What are different appointment types? Make sure that all employees know this information so that there aren't discrepancies in how tasks are carried out or who is responsible for them.
Be flexible with scheduling time off for employees. It makes sense to have set times off, but make sure to be accommodating if they need to reschedule their appointments due to an emergency or personal reasons.
What will your salon's payroll look like? Will you hire freelancers or permanent employees? Keep track of each person's hours worked and time off.
Lastly, you should always be trying to improve your salon business operations so that your salon can run as efficiently as possible. This will leave the owner more time for important tasks such as growing their clientele or expanding services offered.
How Do I Grow My Salon Business?
Growing a salon business is hard work but there are some things you can do to help boost your success rate. If you want to grow a salon business, make sure to:
- Focus on branding. Make sure that people recognize your name and what it stands for. This way they will know exactly what they're paying for every single time they walk through the doors of your salon.
- Promote your salon business through social media platforms. This is a great way to promote new products or services and let people know what's going on at your salon.
- Attend industry events. Make sure that you attend as many beauty conventions, expos, and salon expos as possible. These events are a great place for networking with other professionals in the industry which can be very beneficial to promote your brand name.
- Make as many connections as you can. The more people that know your name, the more likely they are to return for future services.
- Be consistent with your pricing and products. If clients feel like they can rely on you then there is a higher chance that they will return to your salon business time and time again.
Where Can I Download a Salon Business Plan PDF?
You can download our salon business plan PDF template here. This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.