Q: I am going to start up a salon and I need your help. Can you tell me how to get started?
A: I would suggest that you go
to Barnes and Noble and purchase a book on business start up. I think there may even be one on the beauty
industry. Sit down and read… no study
that book.
We can help you with the numbers
portion but there is a fee. If I were
you I would want to know several things before I go any further:
·
Who is my competition
·
Where am I going to get workers
·
What is the current pricing in my
area
·
What will I have to pay the workers
·
How am I going to get clients to
come to me
·
What is my marketing plan
·
Calendar of tasks to do before
startup
·
City codes/zoning requirements
·
Construction costs
·
Financing
·
Lease versus purchase of equipment
·
Knowledge of employee laws
·
Preparation of employee manual
·
Signage
·
Payroll tax requirements
·
Job duties
·
Who is doing payroll
·
Monthly cash flow for working
capital needs
·
Breakeven point.. how many clients
do I need to see just to keep the doors open
·
Computer software choices
·
Grand opening planning
·
Choice of products
·
Initial orders
This is not a full list but things
off the top of my head. You have to know
these things or you are headed for failure.
You have to have the knowledge or you have to buy the knowledge.
Ownership is not easy and to be
quite honest not profitable at first.
Trust me. I get to deal with
salons that are 12 to 18 months old that did not have a clear understanding of
what they were getting into and many times by then it is ”too late to save the
patient.”
Read the book… no study the book and after you have
studied, if you would like, contact me and we can talk.
