[dropcap]S[/dropcap]tarting a salon business whether it be barbering, spa, nail, weavon, makeup or hair is always a venture most people are not prepared for psychologically.
I don’t know how we got to the point of assuming its a no-brainer, a mistake I also made 13 years ago. You see when you have an 8 (or 7 in the case of bankers or some parastatals) to -6, have a passion or just a stay at home mum who wants to start a business.
The need for a backup plan or extra income makes us look for businesses that appear to be low risk and can be managed with little supervision or no experience. As much as this is the right step, we have erroneously put Salon business as such and this has led to the frustration and closing of many businesses in the industry.
Here are some guidelines to running a successful Salon business.
1. A salon business is first a “business”. So it requires more than getting a space, furnishing and buying equipments. You have to first remove that idea from your head and transfer it to paper detailing how everything is suppose to work. The day to day operations and administration.
2. Salon business is dynamic. Meaning that your average business structure or plans may not be effective pending on how relevant you want to become in the industry. There is a business course dedicated to salon business. (Put link) I suggest every person who is running or intends to run this business take this class FIRST before spending their first or another dime.
3. The type of salon you want to run determines; your staff, the equipment you buy, the level of skill or education required and how you go about employing for your salon business.
4. Staffing should be done based on responsibilities you have clearly earmarked for EACH staff. Meaning that the recruitment process plays and important role to the success of your business.
5. Have a mentor, teacher, coach or support group (like the salon 360 ed) in the industry that you can communicate with. Some of the people have scaled through your current situation and can give you valuable information.
6. If you are already in business. Get clarity with courses like (Put link) and leave the saturated market.
7. If you are having management or staff behavioral problems. It shows a of lack of policies and processes or absence of an execution plan.
8. Building a communication channel; for your staff and clients. This means you pay attention to not just how your staff treat each other or the clients, but also what you put out on media.
9. Finally, if you have had some level of education or have put in a good fortune in setting up your salon, you can’t afford to run or price it like the skilled person down the street. They will beat you at being cheap. You overhead costs are different and your clients too. Remember people pay for the value they think they get from doing business with you, not what you think you are offering them.
Is It possible to run a successful salon business and save the saturated market If we observe and follow the guidelines above.
Uche Umana stands at the forefront of pioneering professional education and standard business practices in the beauty industry. A Trichologist & certified Hair Practitioner with experience in Education, administration, operations, consulting, diagnoses, treatments , management and information on running any type of salon business or pursuing professional career in the industry.
