Would love a little advice please. I've been a beauty therapist for many years and currently employed in a salon, however I would love my own salon. I have found a location with a very reasonable rent in a residential area with ample free parking and not a lot of competition around. My only concern is that I would not have a large client base to start with and would need time to build one, obviously promotions and marketing would be a massive must. Has anyone else started in a similar way? What was your experience?
Starting a new business
- Thread starter Vicki1281
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BannerPenguin
Well-Known Member
Just remember it's not as glamorous as it seems and you generally won't turn a profit for your first couple of years. A lot comes down to your personal life and financial commitments as taking on premises and starting up, to be honest, you'll be broke for a long time. You need a USP on why someone would come to your salon. Promotions only get bargain shoppers so not really worth doing regularly.
Not trying to put you off, just being realistic. Salons go bust every week and even long-established salons have closed their doors as the markets changed.
In my opinion, you'll want several thousand pounds to keep you going from the start and for your marketing. You want enough money in the kitty so you can survive all your overheads for 12 months with no client income.
Not trying to put you off, just being realistic. Salons go bust every week and even long-established salons have closed their doors as the markets changed.
In my opinion, you'll want several thousand pounds to keep you going from the start and for your marketing. You want enough money in the kitty so you can survive all your overheads for 12 months with no client income.
I am qualified beauty therapist 20years ago. Worked few years with big companies, few small salons. After 10years I started from Homebase salon. Children was in GCSE and A level they need privacy so rented one room in hairdressing high street salon. Very busy, good clieantale, very confident that I can handle my own now. Found reasonable rented premises, opened my own salon,kept 5years and sold it. After opening my own salon you realise how much pressure and staff issues, staff stills your client and I couldn't take holiday. I was finding too much on my own shoulder. It was very hard work with being single mother was double duty.
So there is plus and minus both. Still miss my clients. This was my experience. Good luck
So there is plus and minus both. Still miss my clients. This was my experience. Good luck
Thank you, I feel it's the right time for me now just hope i can pull it off ! I did do mobile therapy for a few years too but the travelling was a pain, feeling hopefull I can get a salon to work just need to pull in the clients.
Lynne Baker
Lynne The Skin!
There is a pinned post in the business section called more ways to promote your business. I started at home 10 years ago and just worked by cellulitic backside off to make it work. 10 years on and I'm really busy all the time. Plus, I retailed the **** out of it so that I make at least 30% of my revenue without any physical labour involved.
BannerPenguin
Well-Known Member
Have you done your SWOT analysis and worked out your USP?
Thank you I'll have a look for the post.
Yes, feel happy and confident with everything, thank you.
