Business Overview:

If you’re looking for an exciting business that lets you meet interesting people and provide a fun service, consider opening a tanning salon. Tanning salons typically have tanning beds that provide customers a summer tan all year long. If you’re unsure of how to start a tanning salon business, it’s a good idea to visit a few salons around town and see how they operate. You may need to travel out of town to get good information from salon owners as they will not be in direct competition with your new business. Make note of what types of equipment they have, how much they charge, what other services they offer, etc. Next it’s important that you draft a business plan to help answer all the questions you have about how to open a tanning salon. This document will help you determine whether or not you want to invest in a franchise or start out on your own. A franchise will likely come with equipment, branding and marketing but it will be more expensive and it will not provide as much freedom in operation as you’ll find if you start a business from the ground up. Research the different tanning options as tanning beds are not the only choice. These days many people are concerned with possible skin damage caused by the bulbs in these beds. Spray-on tans are gaining in popularity because they are quick, easy and much safer than tanning beds. But it’s important you offer as many options as you can afford so you can attract a variety of clientele. When looking for a location, be sure it’s large enough to have a few private rooms, a back office and a reception area up front. You can start with just one bed and as business picks up, you can add more. If you’re not ready to rent storefront space just yet, see if you can put a tanning bed or two in local fitness centers or weight loss centers. In addition to tanning beds and spray-tan equipment, you’ll also need to have towels, goggles, chairs and cleaning spray available in each room. Other accessories like sunscreen, sunglasses and t-shirts can be for sale up front. You’ll find with this business idea that the start-up investment can be high but after you purchase your equipment, your overhead will be relatively low and your profits will be high. You will need to perform regular maintenance on your machines including replacing bulbs, but those costs can be built into your tanning prices. When determining pricing, you should offer one-time prices as well as membership prices. For example, a customer can tan one time for $10 USD or they can tan 4 times a month for $20 USD. You can also offer unlimited tanning options. Pricing should be different for tanning beds and spray-on machines – higher for the spray-on tan because you’ll need to replace the spray periodically. Running a tanning salon business is a fun and easy way to own your own business and provide a service that many people will pay top dollar for.

A Day in the Life of a Tanning Salon Business Owner:

You will arrive before your salon opens and make sure each room is clean and tidy and, if you have a spray machine, it is stocked and ready to go. You will spend your day greeting customers and keeping your salon neat. If you have a staff to handle the administrative duties, you can focus on marketing your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for a clean and friendly place to get a tan.

What You Need to Start:

• Tanning salon business plan
• Storefront
• Insurance
• Tanning bed(s)
• Spray-on tanning machine(s)
• Towels
• Goggles
• Other items for sale (sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.)
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• A tanning salon is a fun atmosphere.
• After your initial investment, the overhead is low.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can start out working with fitness centers.
• You don’t need any experience to start this business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• Competition is high; you will need to set your business apart to attract customers.

Resources:

• Association of Responsible Tanning Salons
• Indoor Tanning Association
• Tanning Salon and Indoor Tanning Bed News Organization
• Wikipedia on Tanning Beds

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Business Overview:

Attention stylists: if you’re looking for a lucrative niche where you can apply your skills and be your own boss, learn how to open a men’s salon shop. There’s a huge market out there who wants and needs salon services but may be embarrassed to go to a women’s salon. Plenty of men get manicures and pedicures; some even get facial treatments and hair removal but they are self-conscious when they walk into a salon filled with women in rollers under dryers. These men have a great deal of expendable income and would gladly pay for specialized services that focus on men only. There are a number of details you’ll need to consider before opening your doors, so it’s a good idea to draft a business plan to help you focus. Explore the franchise options available. Franchises come with a proven business model and will help you with everything you need to get started including marketing. A slick website will help a great deal by giving your clients the opportunity to fully research your salon and your services (including pricing) before they call for a reservation. You will need to decide what types of services you will offer. Consider starting out with just haircuts, manicures and pedicures then, as business picks up, you can add services like facials and massages. Recruit licensed salon professionals to work for you. This will free you up to market your business and ensure your clients are satisfied. The theme of your salon can be a soothing spa-like atmosphere with soft music, candles and flowers or you can go the other direction and offer a salon with televisions featuring sporting events and “man” movies and louder music. Regardless of your atmosphere and what types of services you offer, just having a salon that caters to men will be a huge draw in your area. Often business ideas that only cater to one niche limit your profits but in this case, a men’s salon will see great profits as your clients spread the word about your wonderful business.

A Day in the Life of a Men’s Salon Business Owner:

If you are one of the stylists, you will spend your day greeting customers and performing haircuts, manicures or other salon services. If you have hired a full staff of stylists and massage therapists, you will spend your day making sure your business is running smoothly and your clients are happy. You will also spend some time marketing your business with online ads and in local magazines.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be men looking for some pampering by getting a pedicure, massage, haircut, etc. in an environment that is only for men.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Storefront
• Salon equipment
• Salon products (to use and to sell)
• Staff
• Website
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Men will pay top dollar for an “exclusive” salon that caters just to them.
• It’s rewarding to see your clients enjoy themselves.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You are likely to see plenty of repeat and referral business.
• You can scale up your business by offering additional services as your business picks up.

The Bad:

• Start-up costs are high.
• It can take some time to get your first few clients.

Resources:

• Salon and Spa Association
• Professional Beauty Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Barbers, Cosmetologists and Other Personal Appearance Workers
• Wikipedia on Beauty Salons

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Business Overview:

Learning how to start a wig business is a great way to keep up with fashion trends as well as help those who have lost their hair due to illness. Wigs are not just a costume accessory anymore; wigs are high fashion and are used openly by celebrities and non-celebrities alike. The quality of wigs has also come a long way making them virtually undetectable. Lace wigs are typically made with real human hair and are hand-sewn to a lace backing which makes them look very natural. When you look into how to start a lace wig business, you’ll see that they come in a full wig or a lace front wig which just has the lace work at the front of the wig at the hairline. Lace wigs are the most expensive type of wig because they are the highest quality and the most natural looking. A lace front wig sells for around $100 USD while a full lace wig can sell for upwards of $700 USD. As you can see, with a little wig knowledge, this is one of the most unique business ideas there is. Even better is that you have the choice of operating your store online or in a shop. Both have their advantages. Having an online only business allows you the freedom to make your own hours and not have to lease a physical space for your wigs, other than a small climate-controlled storage space. Operating a physical storefront will allow customers to see and try on wigs before purchasing them. Once you decide what type of store you will open, you need to look at all the different lines of wigs and determine what your niche will be. You could focus on different ethnicities like African-American, Caucasian and Latino or you could market your business to individuals who have lost their hair due to illness. In this case, you would need to carry a few types of each wig and perhaps add a few more types for the elderly. You could go even further and even carry children’s wigs. If you operate online, it’s important that you offer tips on how to determine what length, texture and color your customers should order. Include a detailed FAQ section and be sure to have an easy-to-use customer support system whether it be phone support or email. If you have experience in a hair salon or operate your own home salon, you no doubt have experience fitting and attaching wigs. This would be the perfect online business idea that you could run alongside your salon business. To increase your sales, you should also offer items like wig caps, adhesives and hair accessories (headbands, ponytail holders, etc.). A little expertise, high quality wigs and excellent customer service will be all you need to run a successful wig business.

A Day in the Life of a Lace Wig Business Owner:

If you operate a physical store, your day will begin by making sure your wigs are neatly displayed before opening your store. You will likely have a small staff helping you throughout the day as you assist customers in finding the perfect wig for their needs. If you operate exclusively online, you will begin your day by checking any questions from potential customers and quickly responding to them. You will check any new orders and get wigs boxed and ready to ship out to your customers. You will spend a portion of your day marketing your business – if you only sell locally, you will need to establish a relationship with hospitals and ask them to refer clients to you who are having hair loss issues due to illness. You’ll also want to leave fliers in local boutiques, wedding shops and other fashion stores. If your business is online only, you will place ads on sites frequented by your target market.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals who need high quality wigs for fashion or those who have lost their hair due to illness.

What You Need to Start:

• Knowledge of wigs and how to fit them
• Inventory of wigs
• Storefront or website
• Wig displays for physical store (Styrofoam or plastic mannequin heads)
• Website for online only store
• Wig and hair accessories (wig caps, barrettes, etc.)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• The popularity and acceptance of wigs is on the rise.
• The start-up investment is relatively low.
• Customers will pay incredibly high mark-up for top quality wigs.
• Excellent customer service will keep customers returning.
• You can run this business either online or from a physical store.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.

The Bad:

• This industry is highly competitive and without a well-defined niche, your business can flounder.
• You must have experience with wigs and be able to help customers of all “experience” levels find just the right item.

Resources:

• Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority
• American Hair Loss Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Hairdressers, Hairstylists and Cosmetologists
• Wikipedia on Lace Wigs

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Business Overview:

If you love the glitz and glamour of pageants and want a great way to break into this industry, you should learn how to start a beauty pageant business. Contests of beauty have been around for centuries but it was in the 1960’s that pageants became very popular. This was the beginning of the women’s movement when more and more women became better educated and it was more acceptable for them to be viewed in the public eye. Pageant winners were role models looked up to by young women everywhere. These days, there are not just the well known pageants like Miss America but there are hundreds of pageants a year. A quick Google search will turn up a list of pageants in your area, usually at least one per week, sometimes more. As you can see, starting a beauty pageant business is a fresh business idea. Pageant contestants are getting younger and younger which means entry fees starting essentially from birth up through adolescence and potentially young adulthood. There is a fortune to be made with pageants and all you need is a few industry secrets to make your way backstage and onto the pageant circuit. If you have experience with pageants either as a contestant or working for a director, this could be a relatively simple transition to make. There is a minimal investment to consider which will go towards venue rental and marketing. But as soon as you start getting applicants, you will collect application fees and should make your money back promptly. You will need to hire a small staff to help organize your events but with excellent shows and reasonable entry fees, you will have ladies lining up at your next show to participate.

A Day in the Life of a Beauty Pageant Business Owner:

If you have a show, your day will begin early. You will need to arrive at the venue and help your staff set up the stage, chairs, dressing rooms, etc. When contestants start to arrive you will oversee all aspects of the show from collecting entry fees to staying on schedule to handing out awards. You will record your earnings from the day and make sure the venue is properly cleaned after the show.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be pageant contestants and their family members, typically girls or young women whose ages depend on which segment of the pageant industry you are targeting.

What You Need to Start:

• Knowledge of the beauty pageant industry
• Startup capital
• Venue for your pageant
• Staff
• Awards
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• The demand is high for pageants.
• Contestants and their families will pay top dollar to gain entry into a respected pageant.
• You get to work with wonderful young women.
• It is rewarding to see someone’s hard work pay off.
• You do not have to be in an office 9-5.

The Bad:

• The hours can be long and irregular during a pageant.
• Some contestants and their families can be difficult to work with.

Resources:

• Miss America Organization
• Wikipedia on Beauty Pageants

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Business Overview:

If the notion of opening a weight loss center appeals to your interests and to your entrepreneurial sense, now might be the best time to jump in and go for it. Considering that weight loss is a billion dollar industry in the United States alone, this could shape up to be a very lucrative business idea. So how can you get a piece of the action? It’s simple, really, if you’re prepared with a reasonable startup investment fund and a solid business plan. What’s great too is that you can use the highly popular and well-known commercial weight loss centers as inspiration to create your own business, tailored to what you deem most important for a weight loss center. Take Weight Watchers, for example, as a gold standard for weight loss centers. Your business can be modeled in a similar fashion, but perhaps you focus more on organic foods or whole foods, and adapt your program around that. You might even consider partnering with experts—doctors, nutritionists, behavior modification therapists—who can help you provide even more for your clients’ weight loss needs and hopefully keep them coming back (and recommending your business to their friends). Your weight loss center can be a dynamic and growing business if you’re willing to put the time and effort into it. Knowing what to expect before you invest and garnering as much knowledge possible about the business can ensure your weight loss center thrives, and your dream of helping others while finding business success can be easily achieved.

A Day in the Life of a Weight Loss Center Business Owner:

Though you will certainly have a staff working for you, as the owner of a weight loss center you will also have a fair amount of daily tasks to complete. For starters, you will want to make sure your center is clean, attractive, and welcoming, and that the staff you hire is professional and trustworthy. That applies to you as well; as owner of a weight loss center, you will need to stay trim and healthy, and your appearance must be appealing enough that clients will trust you with their weight loss goals. After all, you wouldn’t take health advice from a chain smoker, would you? Next, you will want to see that your marketing techniques are working hard to get more customers for your business, and that your current customers are satisfied with your services. Part of your job in a field like this will be to work on keeping clients coming back for more by offering as many options and services as you can at your center (support groups, celebrations, guest speakers, etc.), remembering that it’s easy to fall off the “diet” wagon. Finally, you will want to keep your prices competitive and your clients’ accounts up-to-date, and tackle any personal communication that is necessary for the success of your weight loss center.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals, couples, or families who are seeking an improvement in their diets, weight, or overall health, and want the advice, support, products, and services that weight loss centers can provide for them to achieve their goals. Your clients will likely run the gamut when it comes to weight and overall health, and it will be up to you and your staff to help each customer achieve his goals in the best way for his individual needs.

What You Need to Start:

• Startup capital upwards of $15,000 USD
• A storefront or office location
• Business license, insurance, and permit
• Any equipment that might be necessary for your services (scales, supplies, etc.)
• A knowledgeable and professional staff
• A philosophy or motto for your business
• A marketing technique
• A pricing menu of your services
• Contact database software
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• You can buy into a franchise and start your business that way or strike out on your own weight loss center path.
• Your business is scalable and can be highly lucrative with a good business plan.
• You will be providing a valuable service to your clients and to the local neighborhood.
• This business gives you the opportunity to help others succeed at something you are likely interested in.
• It’s a great motivation for staying healthy and fit yourself.

The Bad:

• The startup is enough that you’ll want to be sure this business is for you.
• There are some big commercial players in this industry that you would be competing with; finding your own niche and marketing your business as a local and/or personal service can make a difference in your success.

Resources:

• Weight Loss Information Research Center
• Shape Up America!
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Dietitians and Nutritionists
• Wikipedia on Weight Loss

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Business Overview:

Having a manicure and pedicure can bring such pleasure to people, but did you know profit can abound when you learn how to open a nail salon of your own? Starting a nail salon is a great business idea for the right entrepreneur, and one that has stayed strong despite changing economic times. Here’s the basic idea of an effective nail salon business plan: Beyond the obvious business license, insurance and operating permits, you will need to rent a commercial space to house your salon. It need not be too large because the equipment can be fairly minimal in this business. Next, you will want to select your equipment—tables, chairs, nail polishes and supplies. Finally, you will need your nail technicians. It is important that every employee who works on your customers has a beautician’s license that is up to date and that includes manicures and pedicures as part of the accreditation. With an attractive ambience and a competitively priced menu of nail services, your business will have customers almost immediately. This is the simplest way of opening a nail salon, but from there you can easily build your menu of services to include body treatments (massages, waxing, and other spa treats) and improve your equipment to include the latest and greatest gear (like bubbling footbaths and therapeutic chairs). Initially, though, with good nail technicians and an array of polish options, you’ll have all you need to start a nail salon that is successful.

A Day in the Life of a Nail Salon Business Owner:

Once your business is up and running, your typical day will consist of high-level management; you might spend a part of your day at the salon ensuring things are running smoothly while the rest of your time can be spent behind-the-scenes making supply purchases, reviewing financial records, and considering how to increase your revenue. If you choose to be more hands-on and you are also a licensed beauty technician, you might also work on customers and make yourself part of the day-to-day work in the salon. Whichever way you decide to run your business, you will likely find yourself in a lucrative and enjoyable business venture with a perk: You’ll always have great-looking nails.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will span both genders and every age group, especially as the idea of having a manicure and pedicure is now so mainstream. If you create your menu of services effectively, you might find yourself with customers like pre-wedding bridal parties, groups of young girls out for a birthday party, and women and men of all ages seeking the pleasure and attractive outcome of getting a manicure and pedicure. Offer them a relaxing environment and a little slice of heaven for a great price, and you’ll find yourself with more customers than nail stations.

What You Need to Start:

• A storefront location set up in a nail salon fashion
• Business license, insurance, and permit
• Licensed nail technicians
• A wide variety of nail colors and manicure supplies
• A menu of salon services
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• This business can be lucrative and enjoyable for someone interested in the field of nail salon services.
• Once started, the business owner can take a backseat to the daily workings of the salon.
• You can jump into a franchise opportunity or even open more than one of your own salons as your business experience—and salon reputation—grows.
• The business holds steady through changing economic times.

The Bad:

• The business requires a substantial startup investment.
• It can be very time-consuming in the beginning as you setup and initially run the business.

Resources:

• Professional Beauty Association
• Salon and Spa Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Barbers, Cosmetologists and Other Personal Appearance Workers
• Wikipedia on Nail Salon

Technorati Tags: how to open a nail salon, how to start a nail salon, nail salon business plan, opening a nail salon, starting a nail salon

Business Overview:

If you’re ready for a business idea that suits your unique personality and doesn’t risk becoming mundane, why not look into starting a tattoo business? There are several things you’ll want to do before you consider opening a tattoo shop. First, you should certainly be interested in body art and you should also be tattooed yourself (it would be hard to throw yourself into an enterprise like this if you weren’t passionate about it). Then you should learn as much as you can about the art of body tattoos, including the techniques, safety, equipment, aftercare, and laws of the business. If you’ve got these things in the bag, you’ll be ready to learn how to open a tattoo shop of your own. On the business side of this art, you will need a business license and permit, startup capital for a storefront location, insurance, and tattoo artists who you can trust to uphold your business expectations. Your tattooists might come with their own following, but you might have to offer some customer incentives to build your shop’s reputation. Once established, the way to maintain a thriving tattoo business is to keep an impeccably clean shop, provide stellar artwork and customer service, and uphold a fiercely professional atmosphere, even in an alternative business like this one.

A Day in the Life of a Tattoo Shop Business Owner:

A business like this often keeps later hours than most, opening in the afternoon and closing near or even after midnight, so you’ll want to ensure you’ve got a trustworthy staff if you’re not in the shop each day and night. After opening or checking in on the store, you’ll want to look over your previous day’s client agreements to make sure all your legal responsibilities are in place, and you’ll want to review your payroll and finance spreadsheet to check that your business is financially secure. If you’re also a tattoo artist, you will want to get to work inking customers and interacting with your staff and clients. This is a fairly relaxed business, and many days will have you chatting with and admiring the tattoos of the people you interact with.

About Your Customers:

Customers of a tattoo shop will be interested in getting tattooed or will be accompanying someone who is, either for the first time or as a veteran tattoo lover. They will likely scan your shop for cleanliness and professionalism, and might also want to browse your handiwork—providing a portfolio of each tattooists work is key to attracting customers. Your customers might have questions or concerns before they get inked, and will expect that anyone on your staff will be able to answer them.

What You Need to Start:

• Business license, permit, and insurance
• A storefront
• Tattoo equipment and sterilization methods
• Tattoo artists
• Legal contracts for your customers

The Good:

• If you love tattoos, this is a business you can feel passionate about.
• If you prefer odd work hours, this alternative business provides that.
• You get to meet interesting people who share your passion.
• The business can be quite lucrative once you establish a solid reputation.
• It’s a business that’s easy to advertise—your customers’ tattoos will often bring in more business than even great marketing will.

The Bad:

• With the alternative hours and customer base, you might encounter some troublemakers (think: underage kids with fake IDs or intoxicated customers looking for a late-night tattoo adventure).
• Again, before you actually earn a reputation as a premiere tattoo shop, you will need to offer incentives and below-cost tattoos in order to build your business.

Resources:

• National Tattoo Association
• Alliance of Professional Tattooists
• Wikipedia on Tattoo Studios

Technorati Tags: how to open a tattoo shop, opening a tattoo shop, starting a tattoo business

Business Overview:

If you frequent the department store makeup counter and pride yourself on your makeup application skills, you may be ready for your own cosmetic store business. Imagine working with people all day, making them feel better about themselves by highlighting their natural beauty. Getting to experiment with all the latest products and colors is just one of the perks to this business idea. But first things first. You need to find a location for your store. You should look in areas where women tend to shop. A cluster of boutiques or an outdoor shopping mall would be perfect. Once you find your location, you will need to secure funding. Starting a store from scratch can be a lot of legwork so it might be worthwhile to purchase a franchise business. A franchise will be more expensive up front but it should come with furnishings, a staff and likely some cosmetics stock. A business plan will help you sort out these types of details as well as what types of customers you will cater to, how many product lines you will carry, what your price points will be, etc. You will also need to market your business locally in magazines and on the Internet. Having a slick website will not only increase business by getting customers into your store, but you can also sell your products online. The best part of this business is the freedom it will give you to work only when you want to. Assuming you have a capable staff in place, the business will run itself and you can spend your time marketing and researching the latest cosmetics trends.

A Day in the Life of a Cosmetic Store Business Owner:

Your day will begin by making sure the store is clean and organized. You will check that your staff is on time and be sure they are familiar with any new products. Throughout the day you will visit with customers and help them find the products best suited for their needs. You will spend some time marketing your business by distributing coupons or fliers to other shops in the area who cater to your clientele. At the end of the day you will record your income and straighten up the store for the next day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for high quality cosmetic products for themselves or as a gift for someone else.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Storefront
• Funding
• Marketing plan
• License and insurance
• Makeup counters, shelves, drawers, cabinets, etc.
• Staff
• Cosmetic products

The Good:

• Helping people look and feel their best is very rewarding.
• The demand for cosmetics will always be high.
• You can be your own boss and take time off when you want to.
• You get to spend your day doing something you love.
• After you make back your initial investment, your profit margin can be quite high.

The Bad:

• The startup costs are steep.
• If you don’t price your products correctly, your bottom line will suffer.

Resources:

• Personal Care Products Council
• Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Barbers, Cosmetologists and Other Personal Appearance Workers
• Wikipedia on Cosmetics

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Business Overview:

If you are an experienced hair stylist looking to break away from the beauty shop scene, you should consider a home salon business. As a hair stylist working in a salon, you might not have the ability to set your own hours and make your own appointments. But if you work at home running your own salon, you can work as much or as little as you want and you can make appointments to work around your schedule. You don’t need to worry if an appointment will conflict with a doctor’s appointment or picking up your kids from school. Some salons insist on taking walk-in customers; as the owner of your own business, you don’t have to abide by this practice. Working out of your home will require a little preparation so it’s a good idea to have a beauty shop business plan in place before you get too far. This plan will outline what equipment you’ll need to buy and what, if any adjustments you’ll need to make to your home. You will need your salon to have a sink so proper plumbing is needed. Your customers will also need access to a restroom so you will have to make a bathroom visitor-friendly which might mean some cleaning and the addition of some decorative items, new towels, etc. The larger items like a professional hair dryer and a stylist chair can be found at auction or secondhand for much lower prices than purchasing them new. You’ll also need to have a marketing plan in place so the word of your new business spreads throughout your neighborhood and the surrounding areas. Your first few clients will likely be friends and family who can then get the word out and help bring in new customers. With this business idea you’ll find that before too long, your appointment book will be so full you might have to hire an assistant to handle scheduling. You might even have to add a second stylist chair to your home salon and hire a second stylist. A talented hair stylist will always be in demand. And doing what you love in the comfort of your own home will be a dream come true.

A Day in the Life of a Home Salon Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your appointments. You will call clients to confirm appointments and try to schedule future appointments. You will spend some time distributing marketing materials around your neighborhood and trying to get referrals from friends, family and other clients. If you have an assistant or a stylist working for you, you will likely need to send her out for supplies if you start to run low. At the end of the day, you will record the day’s income and prepare for the next day’s appointments.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for high quality hair care services.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan and materials
• License and insurance
• Salon equipment (dryer, sink, chair, etc.)
• Salon supplies (curling irons, curlers, flat iron, etc.)
• Hair care products (shampoos, hair sprays, gels, etc.)

The Good:

• You get to do what you love all day.
• You don’t have to travel to the salon.
• Working for yourself allows the freedom to make your own schedule and set your own rates.
• You can charge top dollar for excellent salon services.
• The business is scalable to add other stylists and other services.

The Bad:

• It can be difficult to separate the living area of your home from the business area.
• Getting enough clients to make a good profit will take some patience.

Resources:

• Professional Beauty Association
• Salon and Spa Association
• National Cosmetology Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Barbers, Cosmetologists and Other Personal Appearance Workers
• Wikipedia on Beauty Salons

Technorati Tags: beauty shop business plan, home salon business

Business Overview:

If you love the look of body piercings and the idea of running an alternative business, think about the possibilities of opening your own body piercing shop. It’s important to realize that this type of business comes with a slightly different set of rules than a retail store. For example, in order to succeed in a business like this, you will need to know the ins and outs of body piercing in all its many forms. You will need to understand how to clean and sterilize your equipment properly to keep your customers—and your business—safe. You will also need to have the proper legal forms available to ensure your business is protected. Beyond that, you will want to have an assortment of body jewelry available for your clients to choose from, and you will likely want to have talented and professional piercers working for you. A business idea like this has a sort of personality, and you will want to ensure the people involved in it are like-minded individuals who make your customers happy with their art. If you enjoy piercings and body art in general, and you follow the rules of good business, you will likely find yourself in a profitable career of which you can feel proud.

A Day in the Life of a Body Piercing Business Owner:

When you run a body piercing shop, your typical day would begin later than a usual retail store; you may not choose to open your doors before noon or even later. The first task will be to look over your shop and ensure the inventory of body jewelry, medical supplies, and equipment is full and well-cared for. Next you will want to make sure your shop is immaculately clean; this can be your ticket to a thriving business. Finally, you will want to review your expenses and profits, as well as your payroll, to make the best financial decisions for your business. After that, you or your employees will fulfill the piercing needs of the day’s customers.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be those individuals who are interested in having part or parts of their body pierced. There will be the usual requests like ears, noses, and belly buttons, and likely some exotic requests like cheeks, knuckles, and necks. It will be up to you and your employees to provide the services with utmost care, safety, and professionalism.

What You Need to Start:

• A business license
• Business insurance
• A retail storefront
• Knowledge of and skill with body piercing
• Medical-grade equipment
• A computer with printer for contracts
• Body jewelry

The Good:

• This business will likely be your passion; you can take great pride in your art.
• The shop atmosphere is usually casual and laid-back.
• You can meet interesting and like-minded people.
• The business can be quite lucrative.
• You can be the sole piercer or hire employees to work for you.

The Bad:

• Shops like these usually stay open until midnight—sometimes later.
• If you don’t pay strict attention to customer identification, you might find you’ve pierced an underage person. Adherence to local laws is of utmost importance.

Resources:

• Association of Professional Piercers
• British Body Piercing Association
• Wikipedia on Body Piercing

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