What are the steps to starting and operating a new salon business, hair and nails?

Question

I am currently finishing up school doing hair and nails and unlike most graduates who rent out booths in salons, im looking forward opening up my own salon. But the problem is that I dont know the first step to take. I need to know what license i need, what inspections i need to find, where do i invest the most money or if there's some type of assistance i could look into as far as funds and what is the firs step in looking for a location to operate my business.

Answer 1

That will depend on what state you live in. From what I understand (all secondhand knowledge) you generally need a managers license, which requires a certain amount of work experience. You should ask your instructor's this question as they will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do in your home state.

Answer 2

Do yourself a BIG favor and get a little experience first. You will be walking a really tough road by starting off as a salon owner. -Noone wants to rent from a newby, unless you step into it with a really humble attitude. We started our salon with 15 years of experience under my belt.

You do need a manager's license as well as a salon license and if you have any barbers, that license too. The inspections will vary from state to state. I would strongly advise you to come up with a concrete business plan, start with AT LEAST $20,000 cash and work from there with your local bank. Try more than one bank to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Good luck!