Business Overview:

Whether you’re a hair stylist wanting to open a shop or an entrepreneur looking for a fresh business idea, you should consider starting a hair salon business. The hair styling industry is booming and with the popularity of celebrities’ hair trends, finding out how to start a hair salon business is a smart move. Before going too far, you should do a quick Internet search for “business plan for hair salon” and find one that meets your needs and then modify it to your specific goals. Once you have looked through hair salon business plans you may have a better idea of what’s involved in owning your own salon. Being a stylist in someone else’s salon is much different from operating your own salon and it’s important to have a good plan in place. If you are not a trained stylist, you will need to hire a team of stylists to work for you. Finding talented stylists is vital to the success of your business so you will want to implement an extensive interview process. You should discuss the stylists’ training, previous jobs and familiarity with industry trends. Before hiring a new stylist, you may want him or her to do a sample cut on a willing client. A stylist who already has a solid customer base is much more valuable than one without any clients. The beauty business will always be popular and having a great salon will be a lucrative business venture.

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

A typical day for a hair salon business owner will depend on whether you are a stylist or manage a team of stylists. If you are the owner/stylist, you’ll want check your schedule for the day’s appointments and ensure you have all the products on hand that you will need for those clients (hair color, perm solution, etc.). Between appointments or at the end of the day, you might spend some time working with your finances to make sure all payments have been recorded. Many clients will pay in cash so it’s important to track all payments accurately. During the day you will take calls for new appointments; be sure to write those down accurately. If you are not the stylist, you should check the appointment book for the day and make sure your stylists know which appointments they have. You’ll want to check in with them (or have your manager do this) to see what supplies your stylists need and then you’ll do a quick inventory to see if you’re running low on anything. You may need to make a quick trip to the beauty supply store to replenish products. During the day, you’ll check in with your employees and the customers to make sure everything is running smoothly. You may take calls for new appointments. Finally, you’ll want to be sure to record all payments and pay any bills that are due.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be men and women needing haircuts and other hair care services.

What You Need to Start:

• Salon
• Business plan
• Salon equipment (chairs, shampoo stations, hair driers, etc.)
• Styling products (curling irons, flat irons, shampoos, hair spray, etc.)
• Licenses and permits
• Insurance
• Computer with bookkeeping software

The Good:

• Hair salons will always be in high demand.
• Beauty supplies are relatively inexpensive.
• Talented stylists can charge high prices for their services.
• A hair salon is a fun work environment.
• You get to talk to people and do what you love every day.

The Bad:

• Finding quality stylists takes persistence.
• It may also take some time to spread the word about your new salon.

Resources:

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

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Business Overview:

These days everyone wants a white smile and if you want to tap into this $15 billion a year industry, you should consider a mobile teeth-whitening business. A recent poll showed that over half of adults would choose to have cosmetic procedures done if price were not an issue and of this group, more than half would choose teeth whitening. The main thing holding people back from getting a whiter smile is cost. With a mobile teeth-whitening business, you can pass your low overhead costs on to your customers and give them the confidence that only comes with a beautiful smile. Even if you have not gone to dental school, you can be a success with this clever business idea. With a mobile business, you take your services to your customers adding convenience to the long list of reasons clients will want to take advantage of your services. In time, you may even have a fleet of mobile units and a staff of teeth-whitening experts working for you.

A Day in the Life of a Mobile Teeth-Whitening Business Owner:

Your day as a mobile teeth-whitening business owner will begin with a check of your schedule. If you have arranged to set up at a particular location, such as an office building parking lot, make sure your equipment and supplies are in order and head over to your location. If you do not have any jobs on the schedule that day, spend your time calling local businesses to arrange to have your services available at their locations in the near future. Check into health fairs, medical expos or anywhere else you might be able to park your mobile unit and advertise your services and gain new clients. If you have a staff working for you, make sure they have their location assignments and all their equipment is in order. If you are running low on whitening supplies, place an order for more. Finally, take a look at your finances to ensure all payments have been recorded and all expenditures have been paid.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be people who want a whiter smile. They may be office workers on their lunch break or passersby.

What You Need to Start:

• Mobile unit (van, RV, etc.)
• License
• Whitening equipment and supplies
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Once you have the proper training, teeth whitening is a simple process.
• Buying wholesale products means higher return on investment.
• Affordable services make teeth whitening a popular “luxury” in any economy.

The Bad:

• It may take some time to build a large enough client base to turn a profit.
• Finding the best places to set up your unit may take persistence.

Resources:

• American Dental Association on Teeth Whitening
• American College of Prosthodontists
• Wikipedia on Teeth Whitening

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