CosmeticWeb - Setting up your own salon!

How to set up your own salon Getting Started...
Information supplied by SAAHSP (South African Association for Health & Skin Care Professionals). This article is aimed at first time skincare clinic owners and although there are numerous issues relating to opening a clinic, as with any new business, only a few issues have been chosen to focus on, giving you thought provoking information, not a step-by-step recipe.
	Why do it? It is not always more profitable to be an owner compared to an employee when you consider the hidden costs. However owning your own business can be most rewarding, but you should consider all alternatives first. Options: Sole Ownership: One can either buy an existing business as they already have clients, staff and equipment. Make sure that you understand the circumstances completely and investigate the financials. Make sure that the client cards stay in the clinic and that key staff will remain for at least six months into your ownership. Always let a lawyer scrutinize the documents before signing. Partnership: Explore the possibility of becoming a partner in your existing clinic. They might be short staffed and so have cubicles available. The benefit is that the infrastructure is already in place and you can concentrate on your clients. Make sure the partnership contract is extremely detailed.
Challenges As an owner be prepared to work much longer hours and be constantly aware of aggravations, like financial and staffing issues. Financial, as money is a necessity in any business and staffing issues can relate to difficulties in dealing with people, setting standards which need to be maintained, payment packages and leave. Make sure you understand exactly what is needed from you and ensure you can honour commitments under the worst circumstances.
Benefits A large number of businesses do not succeed in the long term (10 years), however, that being said, if you have what it takes, you can look forward to better financial returns and more flexibility. Most importantly, you are operating according to your vision, which is the ultimate reward. Integrity No matter where you open your clinic you will be competing in some way with other clinics. Competition is healthy as long as it is conducted with integrity. Often we find cases of staff being actively poached or staff leaving employers and stealing clients. Always ask how you would react, if someone did what you intend to do, to you? So, when the time comes to do it alone, provide your employer with the required notice period and DO NOT SOLICIT CLIENTS SECRETLY. The clients that a therapist sees when working at a clinic legally belong to the clinic and are an asset of the clinic, not the therapist. Instead, once your termination period is completed, take out an advertisement in the local paper and have the clients solicit you! By conducting yourself with integrity you should gain the respect of your employer, colleagues and clients. Visualize It is a good idea to have your end goal firmly in mind right from the start, and the best way to formulate this goal is to ask, ‘How you envision your practice a year from now?’ You must be able to visualize it in as much detail as possible, noting the outward appearance, available parking, entrance, reception, retail area, products stocked, service offered, staff, client reception and treatment, payment and finally the exit. Financial Resources With an unlimited budget, anything is possible however ingenuity can make the difference. Shop fitting can be expensive, but by using modern design techniques with a more organic look, costs can be drastically reduced.
Image = Target Market The final look and feel of the clinic will talk to a certain clientele and you will attract the type of client you want. Carefully consider what treatments you want to offer, what type of client you need to walk through the door. If you know your target market well, you will create an image and salon that will pull them in. The location of the shop, the look of the shop, the style of the menu and variety on the menu are all vital for the success of your business. If you offer the wrong selection at the wrong price you will not succeed. Understand your target market - its essential. Equipment vs Service As a hands-on service industry, equipment should be seen as a way to augment and raise standards and enlarge the scope of services offered. The point being that unless you have the budget, simply start and grow the complexity of services offered, which will be justifiably based on the bankable client base and resulting turnover. Product versus Image Products that portray a high profile image sell better from clinics that likewise portray a high profile image. So, select products that match your image. Often clinics stock up market brands to improve their image, but if you do not turn products over one month (sell) and retail is not contributing 50c to turnover for every R1 spent on services you have the wrong product mix. Staff It is essential to employ decent staff that will be able to successfully treat your clients. A good therapist is worth gold. People come for the hands, and the person. Make sure that you have the right types. Owning your own business sounds idyllic but it takes hard work and perseverance. Make sure you understand this and you will have many successful years. Your business is a reflection of yourself - make it a good one