[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So, you want to open your own nail salon? Although it’s an extremely exciting opportunity, you need to put in the time and effort if you want to be a successful boss!
There’s lots to consider when opening a nail salon – it takes careful planning and number crunching if you want to translate your passion into a lucrative business. But, don’t let that scare you! We’re here to guide you through the crucial stages of opening a nail salon, from initial planning to your opening night.
We’ll cover:
- Idea Generation
- Business Plan
- Choosing a Premises
- Decor
- Launch Night
- Daily Salon Life
Idea Generation
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”6923″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The best way to get started when opening any business is to have a good old creative mind map. Whether you’re working alone, with a partner or whole team, it’s useful to gather all of your ideas and align them with your goals.
What services will you offer? Where do you want to be based? What clientele are you trying to attract? How will you market your services? These are all questions you should ask yourself before delving into the finer details, as they’ll have a direct impact on important areas such as profits.
Once you’ve set out your main goals and objectives, you can begin to consolidate these into a more formal business plan.
Business Plan
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”6920″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Like any startup business, your nail salon business plan needs to predict how your company will grow so you can plan for the future. The first decision you need to make is whether you’re going to work alone or hire a team of other nail technicians to offer services in your salon.
You may not even want to give treatments yourself, in which case you’ll definitely need to scout out the best talent in your area to come and work for you.
Your business plan will need to take into account:
- Budget – how much money do you need to get started? We’re talking deposits, initial rent, decor, uniforms – there are many variables to consider and they begin to add up! You may also be eligible for government loans and funding to help you get started.
- Monthly ingoings/outgoings – this is the balance between the price of your services and the costs of running your salon e.g. employee wages, rent, bills, products and more.
- Finances – how will you manage them? Do you need to fine tune your accountancy skills or will you outsource this to a third party?
- Marketing – it’s all well and good opening a salon, but you need to spread the word in order to attract clients. This takes time and money if you want to run an effective campaign, so factor it within your budget.
- A plan B – you may not want to think about this, but you need to protect yourself in case your business isn’t as successful as you hoped!
Choosing a Premises
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”7195″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Once you have a secure business plan in place, it’s time to think about the salon premises itself. When choosing a salon, you need to consider the type of clientele you want to attract. If you’re aiming for luxury, then you don’t want to choose a back alley dive as your location.
Busy high streets in bustling towns and cities are your best bet if you want the clients to roll in. Factors you need to consider when viewing different properties are:
- Accessibility – is the building close to main transport links and is there plenty of parking availability? If not, potential clients may not bother trying to reach your salon.
- Space – make sure you have enough room for all of your equipment and workspaces, so your clients and employees don’t feel cramped. Plus, don’t forget to consider areas such as waiting rooms/sofas and toilets.
- Demographics – who lives in the area? If you’re trying to attract a younger market, there’s little point in situating in a small village that’s popular with pensioners. Do some market research of the locations you’re considering to find the best area.
- Competition – it’s no secret that the beauty industry is popular, and nail salons are popping up all over the country. Find out which salons are in your area by having a quick google or even book an appointment to see how the competition matches up.
Decor
In the nail industry, it’s all about presentation! And the way your salon looks is a reflection of how professional your services are. Think about it, you wouldn’t get a pretty manicure in a derelict building with wallpaper hanging off the walls, would you?
Amazing decor is a sure fire way of gaining free marketing from your customers. Make your salon as instagrammable as possible so people want to spread the word! We’re talking gorgeous mirrors, modern light fixtures, pretty ornaments and plenty of bright spaces.
But don’t go too crazy. Keep it tasteful – remember, it’s best to choose a colour scheme and stick to it. That way, your salon will be instantly recognisable.
Launch Night
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”7206″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Those endless hours of blood, sweat and tears have been building up to this – launch night! It’s time to show off all of your hard work and attract those important clients.
Before the night, you need to create a buzz around the event. No one wants an opening night with one or two people – so make sure that the place is full to the brim. Spread the word on social media – get all of your friends and family to share. It’s also a good idea to advertise the event in local group pages so people in your area know about it.
Incentivise. If people know there are discounts and free treatments on offer, they’ll be more likely to come. Give exclusive offers to those who attend to get people through your doors in the first few weeks of business.
On the night, invite the local press to cover the event and hire a professional photographer to take some snaps. This way you can recap the event on social media and show everyone how amazing your new salon looks!
Daily Salon Life
Once you get into the swing of things as a salon manager, you’ll be thankful that you put in all the time and effort to get your business started. There’s nothing better than seeing your plans come to life and be a success.
But the hard work doesn’t stop there. You should constantly be thinking of ways to up your game – whether it’s offering the latest trendy services, expanding your team or moving to a bigger premises. There’s always different things you can do to improve your current offerings.
So, now you know what it takes to open a nail salon, it’s time to put those plans into action. If you’re just getting started in your career, you’re going to need some qualifications under your belt. Check out Posh Look’s Level 3 Nail Technology courses and get started today. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]