If you are wanting to take the plunge and start up a business in the form of a beauty salon, you have come to the right guide. Starting any business comes with its challenges, and this is no exception. But if you have a passion for all things beauty, relaxing and making people feel their best, then setting up a beauty salon or spa could really be the best business adventure for you.
You will have to consider things from writing up a detailed business plan to sourcing the right equipment to hiring suitable beauticians and so much more.
Luckily for beauty lovers, the demand for beauty treatments in the UK remains high and does not show any signs of being a dying breed of business. There will always be people who want and need to get treatments done, from their heads to their toes.
Find out how you can successfully open up a beauty salon or spa with our useful step-by-step guide here on TechRound, in the least stressful way possible.
What Skills Do You Need?
One key thing about running a salon is not only to provide top beauty services but also create a relaxing space which acts as a sort of escape for your clients.
Therefore, you will need to be personable and have the ability to make customers feel welcomed – hopefully bagging them as a regular one.
You will also need a good deal of stamina as you will, as the owner, be working long hours, making sure everything is running smoothly and if you are a trained beautician yourself, performing a variety of beauty treatments per day.
You will likely have good leadership skills to as you will have to lead your employees by giving them direction, paying them and approving holiday etc.
All that being said if you are passionate and committed you will find it easier to be successful in this field. Bear in mind that you will likely have to inject a hefty amount of cash into your salon to get it up and running; paying for the rent, getting the correct equipment and paying your staff.
What Will You Offer Your Clients?
A key question when starting a beauty salon is – what services will you providing to your clients? This will depend on the level of training your staff have, for example if they are trained in providing ‘Gel Nails’ or not.
Salons and spas can offer a whole list of different treatments, but here are some examples for inspiration:
- Manicures
- Pedicures
- Eyebrows; waxing, shaping, threading, micro-blading, tinting
- Hair Removal; bleaching, waxing, threading, laser treatments
- Massages
- Tanning; spray, rub on or tanning beds
- Professional Make-Up
- Eyelash Extensions or Tinting
- Hair Treatments & Styling
In this industry, the trick is to stay ahead of the game in terms of trends. If you do not keep up, you will find you will lose clients who will look elsewhere for the new hottest treatment on the market.
Your Business Plan
Writing up a business plan will help you to work out each and every aspect of running your salon well, from the marketing strategy to the day to day schedule to the finances.
You will want to look into how you are going to fund your salon. It is understandable that paying the cost for starting the business out of your own pocket is not always an option. There is a range of ways to do so and avoid having to do this. These include:
- Business Loans
- Small Business Grants
- Invoice Financing
- Crowdfunding
- Investors
Be Compliant With the Beauty Industry Regulations
You must adhere to the law surrounding beauty treatments if you want to set up a salon that will be run safely and legally.
Most importantly, you must learn about the qualifications and training that is required to become a beauty salon owner. It is necessary as well to be aware of the health and safety laws of the UK.
Set Up a Limited Company
To set up a limited company up you will need to:
- Decide on a suitable name for your company – some believe it is better to go with a name which is not directly related to what it is you do, in case you want a career change or expand upon your field of work.
- Choose a company address and decide where it will be based – this could be your home address, or a rented business premise – both work for a beauty salon.
- Decide on who is involved in your company – will you have a team or will you do it solo? You allocate company shares, with 25% giving a person a strong position in the company and control over voting rights.
- You must appointment at least one Director
- Create the rules of the company
- Register the Company with HMRC
- Set up a bank account for the limited company
Hiring Beauticians and Other Staff Members
If you are going to have other staff involved in your company, you will need to look for suitable beauticians, admin and cleaning staff. It is not just the beauticians that make running a salon possible.
But, when it does come to hiring the beauticians, make sure that they are adequately qualified for the treatments that you offer at your salon. You will also want to focus on their personality as communication is an important part of the role and for keeping regular cliental.
