The haircuts industry is a flourishing sector that continues to evolve. The best thing about the sustainability of a salon business is that people will always need this service. While trends may impact business volume from one season to another, people are always going to need your service. If you have ever thought of setting up a salon, you have every reason to succeed with it. The only consideration is taking the right steps.
Here are 7 steps to jump into the haircuts industry and get on the path to success.
1. Vision
Once you come up with the idea of creating your salon, it is important to create a vision. You should have a clear vision of how your business should look like. Answers to the following questions will help you create the vision:
- What services do you want to provide in your salon?
- What kind of clientele do you want to target?
- How should your salon stand out in the crowd?
Consider whether you are going to have a niche service. For example, you may focus on having more of a hairstylist service by offering medium layered haircuts or other latest styles and trends, about which you may find more info here.
2. Consider Your Investment
Once you have the vision, determine how much you are ready to invest. This can range from anything as simple as a couple thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. It can be renting a shop and buying a few pieces of equipment or renting a space in a premium location and setting up an elaborate salon. Depending on your budget, you should consider your financial options, such as taking out a business loan.
3. Create Your Plan on Paper
Your business plan should address the following aspects about your salon:
- The direction your business will take
- The means of achieving your goals
- How you will be using those means
The plan doesn’t just mention the goals; it also breaks it up into steps that can be taken, the timelines, and the results you expect.
Important Parts of Your Plan
The most important components of your business plan are as following:
- Your main goal
- How you want your salon to look at a specific time in the future
- The means and tools for achieving your goals
- Connection between your goals and means
- The steps to attaining the means to achieve your goals
- An honest and genuine perspective of your finances
4. Consider the Location
Next, find an ideal location to set up your salon. Remember, location is going to have a big impact on the results you will be able to achieve. It has an influence on the clientele you receive and the amount of money you make.
Consider the following points before you start searching for the location:
- You will require at least 1,000 square feet of space if you want to start with a small salon.
- Choose a location that is visible and accessible from a road.
- There should be sufficient parking spaces available for your customers.
- The space should be large enough to create different areas like the reception area, service space, shampooing area, and storage space. Half the space should be available for service.
5. Meet Local Compliance Requirements
Get expert opinions on what is required for setting up and growing your salon business. This includes permits and licenses. You can gain most of the information from your local business website. You may also want to get the help of a business consultant.
6. Purchase the Equipment
This includes both the tools and the furniture required to complete your salon. The type of items purchased will depend on the services offered. The quantity will depend on how large the space is. Consider the requirements for all the different areas when purchasing equipment.
7. Hire People
Once you have set up your salon, go about hunting for the right talent. Some of the people you are going to need are as follows:
- Receptionist
- Hairstylists
- Aesthetician
- Cosmetologists
- Massage therapist
- Manager
You may or may not require a manager depending on what kind of role you want to play. Check with your local rules whether certified professionals are required for certain jobs.
Follow all these tips to set up your salon and enter the haircuts industry. Once you have the right people in the right place, start promoting your business.
