Author: Bartek Kulasza
9 Mar 2022
Working on opening a salon in the UK? How exciting?!
Starting a new hair salon takes a lot of hard work. The key thing is to do proper research and plan out all your business activities first. Our guide will help you out to set up a well organised process, taking some of unnecessary stress off your shoulders and allowing you to have some fun.
We will go over the process of starting a new hair salon, together with giving you examples, recommendations, and checklists for every new salon owner.
As a business owner, there are lots of things you'll require to prepare when opening a salon.
Licenses and permits can vary between states and provinces and, in certain cases, even between towns.
Ensure to do your homework and learn whatever you require in your area. It's a good thought to include these when starting a salon checklist and approximating your startup expenses.
Here's a summary of the basic business license actions and permit requirements to help you get started:
The price of insurance coverage usually varies greatly, but it takes care of you, your staff, and your customers. Check out the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC) website for details and also some specially tailored insurance packages for salons.
A legal professional can help you draw this up, although templates are readily available online. You'll wish to make sure to have this signed and ready to go before you invest any money in the existing salon or make any changes to the location. If you're buying the space, ensure to seek advice from a lawyer to close the sale.
The total amount you'll have to spend on acquiring all the necessary licenses, permits, certificates and registrations can easily add up to about £2000, including processing fees. If you need the help of a lawyer, expect to pay around £200 for each hour of their work.
How much does salon equipment cost?
Salon owners have the choice of leasing equipment or buying it outright. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.
A brand-new total set of hair salon equipment and tools may cost you anywhere between £5,000 and £30000, depending on the number of workstations you'll have and the class of the equipment you're going to purchase. Whereas with leasing, you make month-to-month payments. These rates will depend upon the provider, and many do give you the option to purchase the equipment or lease new items later.
Many companies will offer you the possibility to lease bigger, more costly items such as styling chairs, hood dryers, and backwash station chairs, but be prepared to search for smaller items such as carts, trolleys, and service accessories.
When you begin stocking up, bear in mind that your salon's requirements may change in the future, so you'll wish to prepare not only what you purchase now but what you may require later on.
Your salon website is among your salon's essential marketing tools, especially if your target market is younger or professional. They tend to value the convenience of online booking and make use of social networks to discover the services they need.
You can build your salon website utilising a totally free design template online or employ a specialist to help. They normally charge between £300- £700 for this service. Or, you can purchase solid salon management software that includes a website building function.
Don't ignore business cards and leaflets, too. Make sure to connect to the local community utilising printed materials that you can hand out at your salon and local businesses.
You might even want to buy an advertisement on the radio or in the local newspapers.
Your total stock will vary depending on the size and staffing needs of your salon. When you work out product needs, make certain to include disposable materials utilised in each service, along with retail products and professional supplies.
Professional Products: These are your "back bar": what your hairdressers will utilise on customers and must be inventoried apart from sellable stock. Hair salon software can assist you to monitor these.
Retail Products: Track what you sell to customers separately from your supplies budget. How much cash you invest in these items will depend upon your marketing and the items you choose, in addition to any specialities your salon provides (such as hair shampoos and conditioners for curly hair or treatments for greying hair, for example).
Some people are curious about how to start a hair salon. Similar to any new business venture, a little bit of planning goes a long way. Here are the steps that you can follow to assist in turning your dream into a profitable business.
Will you join a franchise (this comes along with a great deal of support but less autonomy), or will you run your own business? You'll need to decide whether to pay your staff on commission or rent chairs/ space to independent hairdressers.
That helps new salons to remain on budget and will give you a roadmap to put together your business. Include a marketing strategy, your target market, budget, and the type of products/ services you'll offer customers. Include in this a breakdown of your basic recurring costs like personnel salaries, insurance, back bar expenses, and marketing.
That will depend a lot on your brand and target market. Will your customer base be professional and young? Then look for something near a local downtown or business centre. If this fits their clients and brand, other salons might do well in little towns or quiet neighbourhoods.
Insufficient money at startup is one leading reason that salons fail. Attempt to have at least six months in reserve. Sources of funding can include your own savings, assistance from friends and family, your local credit union, and loans and grants for industry startups. Make sure that you have a budget and strategy to pay it back, too.
Your brand defines your business and clientele. It includes everything from your logo design and name to your website and interior decoration. Pinterest is a nice source of ideas to start. Choose some images and words that characterise your brand and use them for inspiration.
Set up your website and social media pages, choose a logo design and reach out to the community. Your friends and family can be vital when it comes to forming these connections with new customers.
Make certain that you also set up your Google My Business account info with pictures so that customers can find you on opening day and leave feedback afterwards. Salon software will make following up with them and handling review content easier, too.
That will help you optimise your salon calendar, enable simple online booking, take payments, manage your personnel schedule, track and order inventory, and more, saving you hours of hassle and money every week.
Various providers provide various equipment and rates, including easy app-based systems or more complicated machines with receipt printing. Don't hesitate to shop around.
Advertise any openings and select your dream team, then plan your training.
That depends considerably on your branding and customers, so select a range that compliments your services and vision.
We've prepared an opening a salon checklist pdf to help you get started.
That includes everything from furniture to the tools and tech that your employees will need. Start by making a list of the small and big things that your space should have, separating "needs" from "wants" to stay on budget.
Keep in mind, the equipment can usually be leased or bought; however, tools and furniture will most likely have to be purchased.
Your salon shopping list needs to include:
We've prepared an opening a salon equipment list pdf to assist you in getting started.
Are salons profitable? They definitely can be, however running a prosperous salon takes a lot of hard work and devotion, too.
While there is a lot of advantages to owning your own salon business, there are also some disadvantages that you'll need to be ready for.
The best parts of salon ownership are:
Some obstacles to be prepared for are:
Starting your own salon is a big step; however, it can also be extremely fulfilling. The most crucial thing that you can do is invest your effort and time in staying organised right from the start.
Tools like salon software can assist with this, and it's important that you prepare yourself by doing your own research and getting your checklists prepared before you begin making any purchases or investing any money.
The correct planning, a clear budget, and a solid marketing strategy can make all the difference when opening a salon.
