Opening a beauty salon: How to get started

Opening a beauty salon is a big step for anybody, but having a strong plan is essential to help you to navigate the first few years. From an actual business plan to your premises, your finances and services, here is a helpful guide to get you started. 

Beauty salon business plan

Having a solid plan to guide you along will help you to visualize your goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them. 

The first thing to consider is how your business will operate. Think about things such as your strengths and weaknesses so that you can plan how to showcase yourself in the best light. Conducting market research is a great way to find out which services are already being offered in the area and allows you to identify any areas you can capitalise on. 

Focusing on your finances is important too. You will need to work out how much capital you will need to begin with for things like rent, bills and equipment. Making a budget for each section of your business plan will help to make plans for the future.

Put time into finding a premises

Location is everything so finding the right place for your business is paramount. You will need to think about how accessible your salon is – not just for your customers to enter, but also for those who don’t drive and rely on public transport. By making sure everyone can get there you can serve as many customers as possible.

Once you have found your dream location, you will need to take a step back and think about the financial implications. If the rent or business rates are too high, this may disrupt your business plan and make your future goals harder to achieve. 

Opening your beauty salon

Deciding which services to offer is the cornerstone of your business. Focus on services you are trained in already and that you have a passion for. For example, you may decide to offer acrylic nail sets which are always a popular choice. 

Marketing your business is essential to get your brand out there and getting noticed. You may choose to utilise social media and offer special promotions and discounts for new clients. This is a quick way to reach a high volume of people. 

Beauty courses for salon owners 

Keeping yourself well-versed in the current trends is key, so ensure you set some of your budget aside for investment in training. Once you have a loyal base of customers, you could put out some feelers and ask them if there are any more services they would consider if you offered them. This will allow you to expand and potentially bring in more clients.