Should I start my own hair salon business?

[toni.d]

Ok, so heres the story ... I am qualified at level 2 hairdressing, which i gained from college, but it was a good college and i did gain a lot of experience, but obviously not enough to work as a senior just a junior stylist.... since finishing college i do home hairdressing as i cant seem to get into salons to work as they want someone with experience, i cant get a job without experience and i cant get experience without a job, so im kind of stuck in a rut.... but then my dad who has just sold a property and has a sum of money he would like to invest in something has offered me my own salon, we have found a property for sale which would be perfect for a salon, and its in a good area with very little compitition, so i need as much help and advice as possible, bearing in mind the fact that i know i couldnt be the main/senior stylist as i dont have the experience yet.

My advantages -

* My dad has owned a few businesses in the past so has that experience.
* The money to get the business started comfortably.
* I worked in a salon for a few years so know the basics of how it works.

My disadvantages -

* I have never worked in a salon as a qualified hairdresser (but am liking the idea of just being the manager?)

My questions are -

Is it a good idea?
Would finding staff to work for me as the senior stylist be easy?
Would they help me gain experience?
Would it more mor successful as a Barbers, or unisex salon?
Would i have to have any manager qualifications to do this?

Any advice will be apreciated!

Thanks

 

[BEAUTY4U]

Hiya i hope i dont sound cheeky when i say this but theres loads of us who would love our dads to buy us a salon but to run a salon is a lot different to doing homers you would need to get someone in to run the business which is going to cost a lot of money and you wont know anything as to how a salon works its a hard business to start out because theres so much competition even salons withe excellent managers and owners still struggle so i would say by the sound of it you like the idea of having a salon but you dont have the knowledge,sorry if that sounds bad im just trying to be helpful i run the salon when my boss isnt there and its hard and when i see the outgoings its no wonder so many places struggle and as you have never worked in a salon i take it you wont have a stron g client base etc these things are really important xxx

 

[missyp]

Hi I totally agree with inr! I know it might sound harsh but I think she's right... I been hairdressing 12 years, and before having my own salon I managed a very busy and professional salon which did prepare me to an extent but going from manager to salon owner there was still sooo much I didn't know! I definitely think you need a good reputation before going ahead and having a salon!
I understand where Ur coming from with regard to not bein able to get a job but u definitely need the salon experience even if it means taking a step back for a year and not being employed as a stylist. Sorry not meaning to sound blunt and I know this only too well as it happened to me personally when I had my first proper hairdressing job.
I personally don't employ anyone as a stylist either straight from college. College jus isn't the real world.
Sorry if this isn't what u want to hear. I hope ive made sense! X

 

[BEAUTY4U]

il give you an example one time my boss had went on holiday and the other stylist had kind of messed someones hair up and wasnt happy and wanted to speak to owner so i had to step and and explain whats happened with her hair,apologise and correct her hair myself and give her a voucher for the inconvenience now if that was you and some irate customer wasnt happy with your stylist and wanted to speak to you and have her hair fixed you would have to step in as the manager and protect your salon i always dreamed of having own salon til the first time my boss went away he went away for a week and i brought in a four figure some an dtrust me there was not much left after wages rent stock supply its all those things and insurance
only thing i would say is maybe buy the property fit it out then rent it out thats what i would suggest i know this is going to sound bad but i think you want to skip the learning part and dive into running about with your own salon because someone has bought it but its just not as simple as that honestly xxxxx

 

[toni.d]

thanks for your advice so far

i know i dont have the experience to make this work alone, do you think buying the property doing it up, then hiring someone experienced to be the salon manager would work?

i just feel this is a great oppertnity, its the perfect location.

I could hire a manager, and stylist then i could work there as a junior?

Or would rent a chair maybe be a better option?

 

[wonderwoman]

i just replied to this on the other thread, i personally think if you have a vision or a dream and you think you can achieve it, then go for it. Always have a back up plan, but i guess you have to find your feet somewhere, and in the meantime if you can do some voluntry work to see the set up of a normal salon you should have a good idea if you know its for you! xoxo

 

[BEAUTY4U]

hiya i would definately lean towards renting it out to be honest DONT WORK THERE AS A JUNIOR lol doesnt look very good is there nobody you know who has more experience that can go in with you the thing is how will you afford to hire a manager if you dont rent it out and have your own salon as it takes years to build up clients i dont know its a hard one you could kit it all out etc and rent chairs but theres a lot you will need to think about xxx

 

[toni.d]

how does rent a chair work? would the rent increase as the salon got busier? how would the stylist feel about that? how much on averege is rent a chair?

i do feel i need to get into a salon for experience but im really struggling, i have been in and handed over my cv to at least 20 salons, and nothing?

i have wrote on my cv that im happy to work as a junior, until im experienced enough to work as a stylist.

what do salon owners want from someone who has just walked out of college?

I sometimes feel that they think colleges are useless? i am fully confident in all aspects of colouring, as its the pretty uch the same technique for every head, the only tricky bit is the colour choice and compatibility ect and in the cutting department we learned the 4 basic cuts, then from there its just learning to personalise the rest to suit the client. maybe college is not what it used to be, but i feel more confident in hairdressing than the salons seem to think?

at interveiws when i tell them im level 2, they ask "so have you done any sort of cutting or colouring?" - YES! we are assessed on 2 occasions of each cut and colour while at college, and we can only be assessed when the tutor has saw us confidetly do this certain cut or colour on a client 7 times, and we only pass this assment if its at a standard where the client can leave the salon, without it needing fixed.

thanks again

 

[Kate1982]

Hi chick
I have owned a beauty salon for 7 years and in a few weeks will be taking over the hair salon which is attatched to it.
I am not a hairdresser i'm a beauty therapist.
Now yes I have a lot of experience at running a salon but no I have no experience at running a hair salon. Do I think I can do it??
Abso-bloody-lutely
I agree that it wouldn't work for you to work as a junior. It would be very difficult for your staff and clients to come to terms with. But why not just manage it at 1st. Managing a salon is a full time job when it is done right.
You need to be very careful about how you hire. You will be looking for experienced stylists (You need someone to trade test them.) But you also want stylists that will work with you to build up your business. If you go down the self employed route it can be much better but again only if you get the right people working in your salon.
Make no mistake what ever you think you know about how hard it is to run a salon times that by about 10 and your some where in the region of the difficultly you will have.
Do your research, have a big think about what you want and then if you decide that being skint and havng no life what so ever for 2-3 years at least is what you want then I say go for it.
The lady that owned the salon I am taking over has been a hairdresser for 15 years and worked in numerous salons. But when it came to being a salon owner/manager she just couldn't do it and the salon is now in a right mess.
I too have had a very supportive farther and wouldn't be where I am if he hadn't originally helped me. He also owned his own businesses so I have the same mind set as him. But it's you not him who will be working. I worked 9am-9pm 7 days a week for 2 years to set my salon up. If you truely want to work your butt off then go for it. But if you like your social life then don't!!

 

[BEAUTY4U]

hiya i do think theres a standard of college then theres a standard of a salon i think you sound like you know what you want and think you sound great but if you have confidence with colouring and cutting why cany=t you work as a stylist??i think its hard because you dont want to end up wasting your dads money and stuff try and maybe pm someone on here who has their own business they could point you in the right direction i really hope it works for you im off to bed now my eyes are half shutting lol

 

[persianista]

how does rent a chair work? would the rent increase as the salon got busier? how would the stylist feel about that? how much on averege is rent a chair?

i do feel i need to get into a salon for experience but im really struggling, i have been in and handed over my cv to at least 20 salons, and nothing?

i have wrote on my cv that im happy to work as a junior, until im experienced enough to work as a stylist.

what do salon owners want from someone who has just walked out of college?

I sometimes feel that they think colleges are useless? i am fully confident in all aspects of colouring, as its the pretty uch the same technique for every head, the only tricky bit is the colour choice and compatibility ect and in the cutting department we learned the 4 basic cuts, then from there its just learning to personalise the rest to suit the client. maybe college is not what it used to be, but i feel more confident in hairdressing than the salons seem to think?

at interveiws when i tell them im level 2, they ask "so have you done any sort of cutting or colouring?" - YES! we are assessed on 2 occasions of each cut and colour while at college, and we can only be assessed when the tutor has saw us confidetly do this certain cut or colour on a client 7 times, and we only pass this assment if its at a standard where the client can leave the salon, without it needing fixed.

thanks again

My love, you have answered your own question! There are huge variations in colour and cutting techniques, you just haveen't had time to learn about them yet.
Owning a salon is full on, hard work, and very risky. You have to be at the stage in your life when you can live and breathe work 24/7.
Like you, I left college feeling confident and competant........ till I got sacked from my first two jobs for not being up to salon standard.
My opinion is that you need several years as a stylist learning your trade, and how a salon functions before you jump into your own salon. If you do this now, young and as green as grass, you will be totally taken advantage of and make too many mistakes.
One in three salons go bust in their first year. It is one of the riskiest businesses there is.

 

[toni.d]

Thanks again for all your advice! Very helpful

Could someone maybe give me examples of a day in the life of a salon owner (who doesn't work there) ?

Or what wage would a stylist employed as the senior stylist be expecting?

Other than bills, rent, water, insurance (the stuff my dad would be handling) sort of work is there? Like - wages? Buying stock, colours, lotions, ect is there anything I'm forgeting about?

Thanks again guys!!

 

[Beauty Within]

I started my own beauty business renting in a hairsalon so i dont have to think about staff side of things but, There is a lot to think about. Have you thought bout going to see a business advisor? I did it helped a lot.
You need to think about book keeping, advertising, extra training courses you may need to do.
Have you sat outside the building to see how much passing trade there is?
I am also quailfied to level 2 in hairdressing and i wouldn't have a clue how to do half the styles that I see where I rent people are going for really different styles like asymmetric which I never learnt at college.
Good luck x

Sent from my iPhone using SalonGeek

 

[NeelieGel]

I would imagine it hasn't changed that much but when I worked in salons it was an existing client base that could get a salon started. At least one owner or stylist with a full column most days of the week would keep a salon afloat whilst the business built up further. With no existing client base at the outset I feel the chances of surviving the first year are non existent to be honest.

I opened my own salon after 10 years in the business and tried for four years and it never made me any money by the time I'd paid out all the expenses like wages etc etc. I opened very near to where I had worked for many years and took a nearly all of my clients with me and still didn't make much money or survive.

I would agree that most clients would expect the salon owner or manager to be the best and most qualified hairdresser in attendance. I also think that most of us would, for our professional pride if nothing else, want to work for an owner that is at least at our standard or better. I couldn't work for a hairdresser that was less skilled, qualified or confident than me. So you will, I think, have trouble recruiting stylists of a decent standard. The salon reputation will be bad and your dad's money will be on a hiding to nothing to be blunt. This business is based on a good reputation 99% and a good reputation cannot be achieved unless the work is good in the first place.

Let your dad hold on to his money for a while and try to get yourself a job as a junior for a while. It will be worth it in the long run honey. Because, by working in a salon for a few years, you will find out if you have got what it takes. There are many that think they can do this job but find out pretty fast they can't in the commercial world of a salon. Nothing to be ashamed of. If everyone could do it there would be no talent involved.

Sadly so many people think that because they have done the training they automatically become salon standard hairdressers. It is an art form as well as a learnt skill. Just because we are shown how to mix paint doesn't make us an artist does it.

Please wait a bit longer, be more clear that you are willing to go to a good salon and work your way up. Doing college will not prepare you for the miriad of different requests, clients and hair types you are going to be faced with on a daily basis. You need this to build your confidence. Confidence is so important. If you don't have confidence - and spade loads of it - you will make mistakes and you will have the most miserable time believe me.

good luck

 

[NeelieGel]

I just wanted to add to this. If your dad wants to use his money to enhance your career why not send you to somewhere like Sassoon's Academy for a few months or weeks. Expensive maybe but you will soon know if you can cut it (scuse the pun). For a few thousand pounds you can do a very comprehensive course and come out one of the best in my view. Of course there are other such courses with other companies. I just happen to be a Sassoon fan having gone there for week long courses a few times throughout my 30 odd years in hairdressing. Just a week does amazing things to improve my cutting technique and I can imagine a few weeks or a months would do wonders.

Think about how much the cost of buying a business or fitting out a salon in an empty shell would cost and the cost of your wages during the months when not enough is coming to cover costs. None of that would be recoverable if it went wrong. However, if you successfully completed a job there I would also guarantee you will end up with a job and most certainly a good client base as your skills and talent would be to a very high standard by the end of that. And then if you do open a salon you will have a back up plan if it doesn't work. Once you have learnt to that kind of standard you will always be a high level stylist in my opinion.

Sorry to go on. I so love to hear of people wanting to go into the business but want them to do it well to preserve the reputation of good hairdressers.

 

[persianista]

NeelieGel has given fantastic advice. I too would urge young hairdressers to spend time/money/passion on themselves first before attempting a business.
Also live a bit before tying yourself down to a business. Owning a salon is full on hard work. At least have some fun first while you're young.

 

[toni.d]

thank you all again for all your advice! extremly helpful! Im going to do loads more research and have a good think about it i have re - newed my cv and will get it handed out and hope for the best!!

 

[NeelieGel]

Please do let us know how you get on.

I have been on the website for the Sassoon academy for myself over the last few days. I note that for £16,000 you can do a full on, full time 6 month course. If my experience of what they do is anything to go by that kind of course can't fail to teach and bring you up to a very high standard. I have my hair cut at one of the central London salons and the girl that does my hair did a 6 month course with the Academy. Was offered a job at the end of it and 3 years later is a creative director there. What a career!!!

I see that you live in Scotland so maybe can't even get your head around doing something so far from home, but if your dad is prepared to put up that amount of cash it would take to start a business, you are the business let him invest his money in you and not some unknown entity.

I don't know what the total bill for university is but I'll bet its more than £16,000!!! Many people that go to university have no idea what they want to do when they finish university and they still spend thousands going there. Be proud that you know what you want to do. It is such a rare thing these days.

 

[MissLou]

Hey Peeps!

Wow, so much great advice here! I agree with everyone here so a tricky one to call.
But my personal opinion, although I hate to say it, I believe you need to get to the top of your game first.
I too share your dream of one day opening my own salon but until I am 150% confident with my stylist skills first there's no way I would risk opening a salon and failing.

As much as I hate to say it, because it drains on me when someone has a huge ambition for something and want to go for it it kills me to hear other people say no, don't do it etc, but you have to way out the pros and cons.

I too have in the past worked for myself as a mobile hairdresser and Im sure you agree thats a huge thing to do, of course not as many outgoings or stress as running your own salon but still you have the pressure of getting yourself motivated everyday to build your clientele, get all your book work sorted, budget your stock, i could go on, so if you have/are doing that successfully I don't doubt that one day in the not to distant future you will have a fully successful salon! :green:

But just hold back a bit, maybe if you can look for part time positions too, do your mobile and a salon to up your salon experience, then over time you can up your hours at a salon.

I do understand your woes of finding a job, I am currently unemployed and it seems no one is interested, no matter how good your CV is i think its pot luck with the way things are at them moment.

You've got the ideas there, the ambition and goal, just become confident as a stylist first then go for gold!!!! :green::green::green:

You have to let us know what you decide, either way you have our support.
:hug:

 

[Millennium]

I would like to start by saying an idea is never a bad idea. However, in this particular case I think you should let the business aspect to a qualify business minded individual so you can focus on creating and innovating hair techniques. Think about all the work you will need to do before even purchasing the real estate. For example: knowing the competition, target audience, location, picking the right salon software, work force, brand, etc.

Another great question you formulated was Barber or Unisex Salon? This goes back to understanding your market, target audience, and branding. Best recommendation to you would be to start from the bottom and absorbed as much knowledge as you can; give yourself couple years and see what the industry is all about. Create a vision statement; where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? And follow that dream.

Remember this: "Owning a business is good; owing a successful business is awesome". Good luck to you!