Am I good enough to buy an established hair salon?

[allybally]

Hi there! I have been successfully working as a hairdresser for the past nine years. I thoroughly enjoy my work and feel confident in what i do. The only problem being when i was training i trained in a salon and i dont have all my qualifications on paper. I did attend college on a day release basis however it was not for the full time. I am now in the position that i can buy an established salon locally but am worried about the paper qualifications - do i need to have them or is my 9 years experience enough? Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks
Ally

 

[loubylou]

Ask your insurance provider as when you own a salon insurance is one of the most important things you need to have, hth

 

[persianista]

Being a qualified hairdresser is not needed to buy or run a salon. The paper qualifications are usually only needed for job interviews and teaching. With 9 years exp, its probably the perfect time to move into salon ownership. Best of luck x

 

[allybally]

Thank so much for the advice - Im gonna go for it. I have always wanted to have my own salon. x

 

[minky]

Thank so much for the advice - Im gonna go for it. I have always wanted to have my own salon. x

Good luck because with nine years of experience behind you you will be just fine x minky

 

[jotommo]

i did my level 2 ladies hair and wouldn't even touch a gents, my boss sold the salon and left us all out of work
i took a job in a barbers for two weeks just to pay the bills and just had to learn FAST!! and then that boss put the shop for sale :irked:
not had much luck,
anyhoo, i bought the barber shop and ran it for 4 years with no barber qualification, at no point was i queried about having it on paper. not even by the insurers.
i'm sure with 9 years exp. your more than capable xxx

 

[loubylou]

In the beauty industry you need to hold a qualification in any treatment that you carry out to be able to get insurance,
i thought it would be the same for hair ?
you are using sharp objects, chemicals in perm solutions and hair dyes.

 

[persianista]

It is different in hair salons interestingly. Anyone can get insured, plus there are no universally agreed qualificatins for hairdressers.

 

[angelina221]

On my insurance policy, if i add a beautician i have to name them and state what qualifications they have. For hairdressing they just ask how many stylists and juniors. No names or qualifications, just numbers.

 

[L1ndsey]

Good for you! I dream of owning my own salon one day too and left an unfullfilling, but lucrative position in upper management to reach that lifelong goal. I have owned my own business before and highly encourage you to read books about running a small business as well as books about successfully managing a team. When you own it, your neck is on the line and you need to really be a jack of all trades at times. A business plan is a great place to start and it will really help give you the direction you need to launch a dream.

Best of luck to you! If you can dream it and are willing to work for it, you can do it.

 

[minky]

Hi, the training you have received is just like a full 3 year apprenticeship , and 6 years as a trained stylist so you have well served your time ,
if a hairdressers says they have done 9 or even 20 years with no paper quals its not that unusual in the world of hairdressing , because it will always show through ..... and there will always be proof that this is the case ,

but.... if you want to , you could go on a private short advanced colour or cutting course , (Sallys do them or salons direct )
the usual requirement they ask for is the amount of experience you have as a hairdresser and with you having all that experience there would be no problems
as for insurance you must already be insured so just ask them to carry it on for you
also if you you can keep up your advanced hairdressing skills for your
C P D (continuing professional development ) this is more important these days
and its only at the most about four to six hours a year , anything can be classed as part of it , its all about identifying any weak areas and strenghtening them , I am sure if you kept your C P D up it will help you excel in your career as all professionals have to keep up their C P D even the bank managers,
then you will have something on paper even if its just to confirm what you already know hope that made sense x minky

 

[lorraine@cr]

hi. im 25 and moved to my friends salon at 19. we all kind ov pitch in with the running. we have the best time. but its very very very hard work. finding the right staff is hard. paying bills ordering stock. u have to be there constantly for problems etc ... but on the other hand u could make an amazing bussiness. just think about every option carefully. u defo have enough experence. its the bussiness side thats hard. good luck. oh we went to the princess trust for a loan 0% for 3 years. but we had to do a major bussiness plan x

 

[beth1967]

Well in Canada, you do not have to be a hairstylist to own shop. But if doing hair you have to appre or be licenced. You have to have a licenced stylist working for you. The apprentiship board can close you down here. I know this is true here because 2 people have bought shops and try to run them (without workers) and not licenced and anyone can the apprentiship board and check them out. If they have gone to school but not done exams they have a few months to write if fail have to close untilo they pass or hire.

 

[allybally]

Can i just thankyou all so much for your advice - i really appreciate it!! Wil have a good think about this and plan plan plan!! thanks guys xx