A Simple Guide to Becoming a Beauty Salon Owner

by Tanya May 13, 2021

Opening a hair salon seems like an excellent idea for a business in the UK.

However, it’s not as simple as you may imagine.

Apart from the obvious hairdressing qualification, you also have to learn the basics of business, management, and HR.

In this article, you’ll find a short guide to opening your own hair salon and succeeding.

In several simple steps, we’ll take you through choosing the right products, finding clientele, and managing a business.

Set a budget

First things first, you need to have enough money to set up your hair salon.

How much does it cost to start a hair salon in the UK? The average price is around 60,000 pounds.

You need to invest in salon equipment, buy inventory, pay for the rent, and hire qualified staff.

If you’re looking for professional equipment, like scissors, shears, and so on, we recommend scissortech.co.uk.

Choose a suitable location

The location you choose will be one of the key factors in the success of your salon.

A good location doesn’t mean an expensive one, it means the one that has the most potential to bring you clients but still won’t break your bank 😏

Think about where your target audience is, the more people there are, the more customers you can attract.

Make sure you choose a place that won’t clash with your competitors’ locations.

Design your salon

Once you’ve bought your equipment, rented your space, and chosen your location, you can start thinking about design.

Keep in mind that your salon will reflect you and your vision of the business.

Either way, the design should be functional first and foremost. Your clients want to feel comfortable and well taken care of.

Write a business plan

Writing a business plan can help you get organized and focus on the most important aspects of your salon.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a written document containing the goals of a business, the methods for attaining those goals, and the time frame for the achievement of the goals.

Write down all the reasons why your salon is going to succeed and include all the details of how you’ll achieve this.

Create marketing materials

Now that you have a business plan and a fully functional salon, you need to find clients.

From creating a refer-a-friend scheme to Google ads and social media, there are many ways to get in front of your target audience.

Hire specialised and friendly staff

Depending on how busy your salon is and what services you want to provide, you may also need additional employees, such as nail technicians, facialists, and masseuses.

Pay attention not only to their skills but also to their character. The staff you hire need to be kind, friendly, patient, and sociable. Otherwise, they won’t be able to provide great customer care.

Develop a database of clients

As soon as your hair salon opens, you need to compile a database for clients.

This way you’ll know who your regular customers are and what they like best about your services. This information will be extremely useful for future marketing campaigns.

Many salons offer their clients loyalty programs. As their number of visits grows, so does their status in the program, which means they get free treatment sometimes or a discount on select services.

This approach is an excellent way to reward loyal customers and encourage new ones!

Get a business insurance

If something goes wrong with your customer’s hair or face while he or she is under your care, even if it’s due to his or her own fault, then by law you will be held liable for this mistake.

So make sure you have accident, business, and contents insurance coverage.

Stay on top of the latest trends in hairstyling

What are the most popular haircuts this year? What new products and treatments should you recommend to your clients?

If you want to stay ahead of the competition, then you need to know what’s going on in the world of hairdressing.

Keep reading magazines, watching YouTube videos, and visiting trendy hair salons yourself.