Are you planning on opening a salon? It’s a very exciting move that also comes with many obstacles, but we hope to provide you with guidance and tips on how to successfully open your salon so that you don’t miss any details.
There are some important factors to consider as you start to make plans for your new business and space. Let’s take a look at some of the decisions and actions you should be prioritizing before you open your salon.
Things You Should Do Before Opening a Salon
Every successful salon business needs a strong foundation, which is why we urge you to think about these factors, decisions, and necessities right now! This could serve as your very own opening a salon checklist to keep you on the right path.
Conduct a Market Analysis to Learn How Your Salon Can Differentiate Itself
When you are opening a new salon business, you will need to survey the current market to see where and how your salon will fit in, as well as if you’re in a place where you can set your business up for success. Take a look at the community you plan to open in. Are there other salons? If so, how does your salon plan to be different? If the area is congested with salons, it may not be the best place to open your business as you will face steep competition, which will make it hard to build your clientele list. Conducting a market analysis will allow you to start forming an idea of how your salon will look and operate.
Create a Business Plan and a Budget
Now that you have an idea of what kind of salon you’d like to open and how it needs to be different, this is a great time to start creating your business plan. Business plans lay out your first year of financials and goals and they should include the following things:
- Executive summary of your business
- Business overview
- The findings of your market analysis
- Operations plan
- Financial plan
- Startup costs (purchasing salon equipment, hiring personnel, renovations, etc.)
- Estimated annual projection
Find Your New Space
Once you start to get the logistics of your new business taken care of, it’s time to look for a physical storefront and space to open your salon in. During your market analysis, you should have found a good area to open shop in and have an idea of what your space needs to have in order to be a suitable size for your business growth plans. As you look for your space, keep in mind any remodeling costs that you may incur, as well as whether or not you need a permit to operate in that specific location.
Line Up Inspections and Take Care of Any Legal Forms
Now that you have secured a space for your new salon, it’s time to look into the legal aspects of establishing your business. Make sure you look into local compliance laws and permits that you may need even before you embark on remodeling your salon.
Remodel, If Necessary
If your space needs some adjusting or accommodations in order to fulfill your vision, you may need to remodel it. As you make plans for a remodel, keep your budget and timeline in mind so that you can stay on track to meet your business plan goals.
Invest in High-Quality Salon Equipment
After you have completed any remodeling and renovations, it’s time to fill your salon with salon equipment that will last you years so that you can focus on growing your business and providing standout service.
Create Your Talented Team
Now that your salon is almost ready to open, it’s time to sit down and vet your stylists, receptionists and other staff members so that you can create a talented team who can handle the demand you’re about to receive. Craft a diverse team that meshes well together to ensure your business runs smoothly. You will want to make sure that you hire enough staff to handle your first couple of months in business without hiring more employees than you realistically need. You can always hire as you scale your business and start to get busier. If it’s in the budget, you should hire a marketing person to help you build your salon’s digital presence as you begin to open.
Establish a Digital Presence
Your digital brand is just as important as your physical storefront today — especially if you are a new, up-and-coming salon. Before you open your doors, it’s important to establish a presence on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, along with having an intuitive and user-friendly website. Before you officially open your salon, make sure you are posting to social media every day — whether it be staff introductions or photos of your new salon — with relevant hashtags. These hashtags should include hair and beauty related trending topics and location specific hashtags, which will draw in prospective clients who are ready to book appointments before you even open. Make sure your website is easy to navigate, tells your brand story, and has relevant booking and contact information for prospective clients.
Plan a Grand Opening Event and Create Buzz
You want to ensure that business gets off to a great start, which is why you should start to create a lot of buzz in your local neighborhood and across your digital platforms. Post about a grand opening promotion on social media to get prospective clients interested. You can learn how to create a salon press release and send it to local publications to tell them about your grand opening. Partner up with local businesses in the area to offer specials or get them involved in your grand opening party somehow. Having the support of your community could be a huge game-changer when it comes to getting your first few clients.
Opening a salon may be a long process, but we have the utmost confidence that you’re ready to start this journey!
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