In America, about 540,000 people become their own bosses every month.
If you clicked on this article, you probably want to do just that by opening a hair salon. But something is stopping you.
Perhaps you don’t know where to start or you feel intimidated because of your inexperience. Don’t worry. By the end of this article, you’ll see that anyone can follow their dream and learn how to become a business owner.
Let’s open that hair salon!
Opening a Hair Salon: 6 Steps You Must Follow
The salon industry in America has been growing at a rapid rate since 2014. This is a great sign for anyone who wants to invest in it. But it also means serious competition.
For this reason, it becomes even more important to do things right from the get-go. But don’t let this overwhelm you. All you need to do is take on this challenge step by step, without rushing anything.
1. Make a Business Plan
Without a business plan, you can forget longevity or real profits. It’ll be the basis of your new salon and we know you want to start off on the right foot by building a steady foundation.
There are several resources online that’ll help you make a good business plan. But just so you have an idea, it should include information like:
- Products and services you’ll provide
- Funding data
- Your competitive edge
- Sales forecast
- Marketing plan
- Goals
2. Figure Out the Costs
This is a scary step. But it’s absolutely necessary for you to have an exact idea of how much money you’ll need to open your salon.
Otherwise, you won’t know how much funding you need or which prices you should practice.
3. Find the Right Location and the Right Team
The area where you open your salon can make or break your business. You should look for:
- High visibility
- An area where a lot of people within your target audience lives
- A lot of foot traffic or good car parking
The people you hire to work with you are just as important. They have to know what they’re doing and be nice to the customers. Otherwise, you might start seeing some not-so-nice reviews pop up online.
5. Market Your Salon
Nowadays, it’s all about the online world. So a good website and a regular social media presence are two marketing strategies that you definitely shouldn’t overlook.
Make sure to let people know what sets you apart from other salons. Maybe you’re particularly good with a certain type of hair, like curly hair, or at a certain technique, like applying demi-permanent hair colors.
Whatever it is, use it to your advantage when you market your new salon.
6. Reassess Your Initial Business Plan
There will always be things to change and improve in your business plan. You’ll only be aware of them as time goes by and you become a more experienced business owner.
Reevaluate your business plan regularly and make sure you’re always on the right track.
Success Takes Time
New businesses typically don’t become a hit overnight. You need to work hard and be prepared for all the setbacks you’ll encounter during this new journey.
So be patient and positive, and you’ll see that opening a hair salon will become one of the best adventures of your life.
In our website, you can find several templates that will make this whole process a lot easier. Feel free to download them!
