Business Skills

The better prepared you are to be both a great artist and a successful businessperson, the greater your chances of success. There are two ways to become your own boss in this industry. 1) Own your own salon, and 2) renting a booth in an existing salon. Both are serious undertakings that require significant financial investment and a strong line of credit. Salon owners have a very different job than hairdressers. Owners work behind the chair while they manage the business. Opening your own salon is a huge undertaking- financially, physically, creatively, and mentally. You need to decide what products to use and carry, what types of marketing and promotions you will employ, and who to hire.  Creating your brand identity is important in building a unique, successful business. What is going to make a client want to visit your business vs. the one across the street? What are you selling? What is the theme of your salon? Is the environment friendly?  A vision statement is a long term picture of the long-term goals for the business, what it is to become, and what it will look like when it gets there. You need to pick a good name for the business that identifies the characteristics that sets your business apart from the rest. You will want to base your location on your primary clientele and their needs. Select a location that has good visibility, high traffic, easy access, and good parking. Business regulations and laws are any and all local, state, and federal regulations and laws that you must comply with when you decide to open your salon or rent a booth. When you open a salon, you will need to purchase insurance that guarantees protection. A salon can be owned by an individual, a partnership or a franchise. The sole proprietor is the individual owner and, most often the manager of the business. In a partnership business structure, two or more people share ownership. A corporation is an ownership structure controlled by one or more stockholders. You must have a business plan before opening a business. You need to have a vision statement, mission statement, organizational plan, marketing plan, financial documents, and salon policies. Good business operations require a simple and efficient record system. Proper business records are necessary to meet the requirements of local, state, and federal laws regarding taxes and employees. Records need to be correct, concise, and complete. Keep an accurate record of all income and expenses. Always keep service records or client cards that describe treatments given and merchandise sold to each client. The records should include the name and address, the date of each service, the amount charged, the products used, and the results obtained. Booth rental is renting a booth or a station in a salon. Many people like this more than owning their own salon because it is less stressful. Your personnel is your staff or employees. The size of your salon will determine the size of your staff. Make it your top priority to meet your payroll obligations. The front desk is an important part of your salon. The best salons employ professional receptionists to handle the job of answering phones and greeting clients/attending to the client’s needs. Always make a client feel welcome in your salon.