Doing what you love every day, growing your own brand and revelling in the joys of being your own boss. Ah yes, opening a salon. You’ve got the talent and the determination. But do you have everything else else you need to make your salon dream a reality? Here’s what you need to open a salon, and make it a success.
More customers. Increased client loyalty. Easy, on-the-go salon management. Partner with Treatwell today and grow your business by 44% in a year. Learn more.
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1 A strong business plan
A start-up salon without a business plan is like tonic without gin. Unless you have the cash upfront, you're going to need a solid business plan to back up your request for a loan. It'll also help to clarify your ideas and give you the best possible chance of meeting your long and short-term goals. Think about which services you want to offer, do some competitor research and decide who you'll need to hire.
To start off with, you'll need to think about…
- Which treatments you want to offer. What's going to be on the menu? This will affect everything from your marketing to your profit margins. (Need tips on the beauty treatments customers are on the rise? We've got you.)
- Your target demographic. Who exactly are you aiming your services at? This group doesn't have to be your whole customer-base, but it gives you a place to start building a strategy to reach them.
- Your unique selling point. What can you do that no one else does? This will factor into how you present yourself, and is key to the long-term success of your business.
- Your competitors. Who are they (and how can you destroy them)? Awareness and understanding the other businesses around you keeps you in the loop, especially when it comes to finding your audience.
- Setting realistic goals. What does success look like? Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are successful hair and beauty empires. You need to define a measure of success for your first year, to prove you're on the right track.
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2 A stand-out location
It's so important to get the setting right – and make sure you like it (after all it'll become your second home). Plan to see a load of different locations so you can see what your options are. At each one, ask yourself if it's convenient for customers – is there parking or public transport nearby? And does it suit your brand? A luxury top-floor spa may work in the city, but a relaxing salon with parking might be better in the countryside.
It's a good idea to keep a strong brand identity in mind when you're deciding if a location is the right home for your dream salon. Be picky – this is a big investment, and a major contributing factor in how you position yourself.
Need help with decorating tips? Try these 5 easy ideas for a headstart.
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3 The legal bit
Even life-long dreams have Ts and Cs. Here’s the legal stuff to keep in mind:
- You'll need the right licenses for the treatments on your menu.
- You'll need to decide whether it's better to be a Sole Trader, Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership or Limited Company (don't worry – it's all clearly explained on Google – thank heaven for Google).
- You'll need to insure your salon and check out any other employer liability.
- In terms of qualifications, ideally you'll want a level 4 NVQ.
And… breathe.
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4 Savvy marketing skills
Flyering in the streets is cold. These days, customers are searching for hair and beauty online (which is good news for you).
Building an online presence is essential, and online tools like social media can be incredibly effective in getting your name out there. (Try our full, free beginners guide to social media marketing for salons, if you need some help getting started.)
And it's not just new customers you need to pay attention to. Invites to rebook, appointment reminders and marketing emails are all sure-fire ways to turn your first-timers into regulars super easily.
With Treatwell, you’ve got all the industry-leading tools you need to grow your business in a smarter, brighter way (including everything above, by the way). To find out more about working with us, request your free demo today.