Being a salon owner sounds like heaps of fun, right? All those hair and beauty products to play with all day, free treatments whenever you want them from your team, swanning in and out whilst your employees are hard at work…
…And once you’ve woken up from this amazing dream and decided to open your own salon, you’ll realise that it was (mostly) just a dream!
Running a salon is hard work. Really hard work. Even at the end of the day when the doors have closed and the salon is empty, there’s work to be done. Sometimes, it feels as though it never stops, especially in those early years. When the salon first opens it might be more cost effective for the owner to play multiple roles and wear multiple hats. That means they might be managing the salon floor, taking clients, and working on marketing or sales tasks throughout the day… all usually without taking a salary for months, most probably years. The first three years are generally by far the hardest.
When the salon becomes more established and roles are filled by other employees, salon owners might find themselves spending more time behind the laptop working on things such as marketing, finances, supplies, and employee paperwork to name just a few. You are responsible for the financial and overall health of the business and your employees, which is a huge weight and responsibility. I can personally say that as my business has grown, my happy go lucky personality is mostly a thing of the past. Friendships take a back seat, family time is affected, and as the saying goes, it can be lonely at the top.
Most owners are stylists themselves and have a passion for hair, an arty and creative side, and are usually chatty and outgoing by nature, only to then find themselves segregated into this newfound role of hours a day behind the computer feeling more like an office job with self-taught skills and a thick skin. I am now the boss that I once would have rolled my eyes at, or thought was petty for spending time calculating product wastage. I am now the person that pops up when there are difficult conversations to be had. The boring one who now takes everything work related seriously.
That’s not to say it can’t also be the most rewarding thing you’ll have ever done. For many, me included, opening a salon was a result of years of hard work. Starting small and growing and expanding over time. It feels like my second home and my third child! Something I created and know inside out.
So, what does it take to become a salon owner?
Here are my three tips…
- Don’t rush. We are in a day and age where many want to jump straight to the top. Although it is great to dream big, experience is also key. Biting off more than you can chew can often lead to failure. Focus on educating yourself and gaining experience and life skills in areas which will benefit your future self.
- Be financially stable. Numbers are key when it comes to running a successful and profitable business so be sure to have your numbers adding up from day one. You may be borrowing money or have an investor involved but be sure to have emergency funds in place and factor in the probability of not generating a profitable income for some time.
- Be realistic. Are you driven by success over money? Are you happy to work different hours most days of the week or are you happy to service your clients and clock off until the next day? Is micromanagement something you will be ok with? Are you a go getter and a leader or are you happy to follow (which is also ok!)? Are you a risk taker? All these factors play a part. Think about it… in general you rarely find a timid business owner who lives in their comfort zone and has little work ethic! So be sure to choose a path to suit your personality, passion, and lifestyle.
Building a successful salon is hard. It takes a lot of time, patience, and work. It will consume your life. You’ll make a lot of mistakes along the way, it’s inevitable. You’ll invest in the wrong things. You’ll make bad decisions. You’ll wonder how you ever filled your time pre-business or what on earth you used to focus on or talk about! But you’ll also feel fortunate, you’ll feel proud, you’ll feel accomplished, and hopefully, you’ll also feel like you wouldn’t have it any other way!
Come chill with us at our beautiful location by Dubai Marina and enjoy your service with our qualified experienced team. Book an appointment with us via www.goodsalonguide.com or call direct on +971 4 564 8519.