Being a small-business owner is not for the faint of heart. The buck stops with you, which is enough responsibility to make most people decide business ownership just isn’t for them. But you’re different. You want to run your own place, build your own brand, and run your own business! Your heart is not faint; your heart is bold!
But that doesn’t mean you’re not smart. You’re going into this with your eyes open. You know the risks. You know the challenges. You know what to expect (or at least you know to always expect the unexpected). While it’s true that every business owner’s business is different, there are always areas of overlap, especially among those in the same industry.
Salon owners are faced with unique challenges on a day-to-day basis. That’s not news to anyone who works in the salon industry, either as an owner, a manager, or a worker. The good news is, in spite of what you might think, the work doesn’t triple when you become an owner. In fact, a good number of problems and challenges disappear or become easier to cope with once you’re in control of every part of your business.
For first-time salon business owners, it can really feel overwhelming to get the ball rolling and start your own place. A smaller space can be a big benefit to anyone just starting out, but whether you’re opening a giant salon with sixteen chairs or your own mini salon suite in Lawton, forewarned is forearmed. Let’s take a look at a handful of the top challenges faced by salon industry professionals and discuss how to address them effectively and easily.
Letting the Day-to-Day Fees Get You Down
Fees. Any business owner knows just how quickly fees add up. As time goes on, it seems like every bit of money you earn goes right back into the business to pay for something. There’s a reason the phrase “that’s just the cost of doing business” exists. It costs money to do business!
Salon owners who run their salons out of a mini salon suite have a bit of an easier time in that regard. Think about business maintenance, for example. Just the cost of doing regular, important maintenance on your chairs can really add up, no matter how large your salon is. But you won’t have those costs if you lease a mini salon suite from Salons de Beauté. With Salons de Beauté, maintenance is included! It’s the same with having state-of-the-art equipment. Leasing equipment can add up over time, but at Salons de Beauté, we’ve already bought everything you need, including top-of-the-line laundry facilities. With all that included in your monthly costs, you know what to expect when you lease a mini salon suite. There’s no after-the-fact sticker shock to worry about!
Letting the Work Schedule Own You
Flexible scheduling is something every salon worker wants. In larger salons, salon owners are constantly scrambling to create schedules that meet the needs of those who work for them. It’s also good for clients when salon owners are flexible. Flexibility lets workers build a better following by letting them schedule return customers when they need it. It can be a hassle, however, to always keep everyone’s schedules in mind when you’re filling up weeks!
When you own your own business in a mini salon suite at Salons de Beauté, you don’t have to worry about all that. You set your hours, and you schedule who you want, when you want them. Are you a night owl? Schedule clients as late as you’d like! More of a morning person? You can be done in time for a glass of wine at 5 o’clock every day of your life. Do you always need Wednesday mornings or Sunday afternoons off? You’ll never battle for your personal time ever again when you schedule yourself! You’ll also set your own holiday hours!
Struggling with Competition and Client Management Problems
Everyone in the beauty industry knows it’s all about competition. There are a million massage therapists, hair stylists, expert colorists, nail techs, and aromatherapists out there. You have to make yourself distinctive. Even the best stylist can get lost when she’s working in a big salon with dozens of stylists and chairs. The same is true if you’re one of many massage therapists.
But when you own your own mini salon suite, you shine on your own. You’ll have no politics with the front desk, no issues with the management about the direction of the salon, and no competition for the best chair. You manage your bookings for your regulars and all their friends. Happy clients, happy salon suite owner, happy bank account!
Having to Help Build a Business for Someone Else
In real estate, they say it’s better to buy than to rent because you’re paying yourself. The same goes for business. Working for someone else means you’re building their brand, their business. Their interests are at stake. And sure, the buck stops with them, but you’re pouring your heart and soul into something that at the end of the day isn’t yours.
When you take the plunge and go into business for yourself, however, you’ll be in charge. You won’t have to upsell your clients on services you think aren’t great or products you think are sub-par. You’ll build your own brand, do what you love, and sell what you believe in.
Feeling Unsure if You Can Be a Creative Professional and a Businessperson
Sure, if you’ve only ever worked in a salon, taking the leap to being a business owner seems huge. But the jump isn’t so big if you’re looking at a mini salon suite. It’s still your chair, your table, or your studio space. You’re not only a creative person; you’re a creative professional. You’ll make it work. You know how to combine artistry with professionalism. And hey, if there’s some aspect of business ownership that terrifies you such as bookkeeping or a certain kind of service, well, that’s okay! You can find a solution to any problem. And once you do, you’ll be so happy! Most of the biggest problems in the salon and beauty industry will just evaporate!
Salons de Beauté is the answer to many questions salon workers just like you ask themselves on a daily basis. Contact us today and find out how we can solve the problem of getting you into your first mini salon suite!