All the Costs to Expect When Opening a Hair Salon

Opening a hair salon is an exciting step toward your dream career. To find out all the areas in which you’ll be asked to invest time and money, read more here.
Hair care is important in our society, so it’s no surprise why the salon industry is huge. After all, beauty salons comb in an average annual revenue of $20 billion.
You might ask yourself, “how can you get a cut of those billions?”
Well, the answer is simple. You open your own hair salon!
But it’s not that easy. Opening a hair salon is a lot of work, and can cost a fair bit of money up front. Don’t let financial worries stop you from your dream career.
We’re here to help! Brush away your fears, and read on to find out the costs of starting up your own salon.
1. Space
The salon space sets the stage for the kind of business you’re running. For example, a cozy and old-timey barbershop works well in smaller spaces. But if you’re going for a modern-style salon, you’ll want a space that features an open and airy floorplan.
Think about the clientele you’re servicing, then build your shop space around them. For a more intimate salon setting, you won’t need vast amounts of space that will hike up your rent.
Also keep in mind the golden rule: location is key. Setting up shop in the hustle and bustle of the city is costly. But you’ll also have the potential for more foot traffic in a centralized location.
Once you’ve weighed the pros and cons of your salon space, you can move on to supplies.
2. Supplies
Salons aren’t all scissors and shampoo. Here’s a list of supplies you’ll need before opening a hair salon.
- Wash basins
- Clippers
- Shampoos and conditioners to suit various hair types
- Styling chairs
- Brushes and combs
- Hairspray
- Dye
- Front desk and reception furniture
- Payment processing
- Carts and trolleys to store equipment
- Retail products
- Caps and gowns
- Cleaning supplies
If your salon offers coloring services, you’ll need a high-quality dryer. For more detail on color dryers, read more here.
3. Paperwork
If you want a reputable salon, you’ll need the right kind of credentials. That’s why it’s important to spend time paperwork.
First up is licensing. Before you open up shop, you need to have a business license so your operation is legal. Also, anyone servicing customers must have a state-approved cosmetology license.
After you have the appropriate licenses, consider insuring your salon. You’ll want to cover your back in case of injury, theft, or any other kind of liability.
To prevent knots you’ll have to comb through later, do the appropriate research now. You’ll save yourself time, money, and frustration when your salon is up and running.
What to Do Next After Opening a Hair Salon
You have all the tools you need to get your salon up and running. But do you have an awesome logo for people to remember you by? Check out these tips to get a logo that’ll stick with everyone like the strongest hair gel!
Opening a hair salon is a serious business venture. But it’s also a rewarding one. Thanks to this handy guide, you’ll have what it takes to cut it in the salon industry!
So what are you waiting for? Get started on opening your salon today!