Do I need clients before I open a salon???

[loobylou22]

Hi,
I would really appreciate your advice even if you do think I'm completely bonkers!! Lol.
I have done beauty on and off for 10 years. In between kids and things. I am currently doing mobile but it is very slow I have been thinking about either renting a shop or a room to open a salon. But don't have many clients at the moment.
This is what I would like to do eventually. Do you think I would be wise to wait a few years and build up a client base or open up a salon and gain from there.
So many ppl say that it's the best thing they did opening their own salon.
Your advice would really be greatly appreciated. Xxxx

 

[kimi1101]

In my situation it was all about location. I had about ten guaranteed clients when I opened my salon, I had a big clientele where I HD previously worked but of course you don't know if they will come or not. I picked a shop in an area which has a population of families and olde people too. Howeverthere was only salons catering to low end and older clientele. I opened last August, set my prices at above the local competition but below the prices of the nearest bi town. We have been really busy. Most of my clients used to travel into the big town but find it more convenient to come to me as it is in their area, and I'm a bit cheaper than in the big town. I am now busy enough to employ another hairdresser and we also have a chair renter and a beauty therapist. So it isn't all about having a clientele, but in my experience providing something that nobody else does. Good luck xxx

 

[karenrose]

I think you should rent a room first, as less over heads for you untill you build up a client base!
And do lots and lots of advertising! Also if renting a room find out if they will help you get clients, by telling their clients or giving them a price list etc!
As I enquired about 1 a while ago and they wernt prepared to do it, they would take calls for me and put in the book though. But only way I would get calls is if people knew about me and the number to call!
When I started renting the room Im in now, the owner was more than happy to tell her clients. And thats how I got alot of bookings in my first few weeks! I got loads of flyers printed and left them anywhere I could! I started a face book page and some of my good friends will forward texts to their other friends for me letting them know about an offer etc!
I think its all about advertising and getting your name out there and about what you do!
I was also really quiet with minx first wee while and I think its because not meny people knew what it was! So I printed pics of minx Iv done previously and made a fancy display and put it in a nice frame in the window! And from that I get people coming in saying "whats that in the frame? I want it" And its made such a difference! Today tomorrow and saturday Iv got 12 minx alone to do! On an average month I wouldnt even get that meny!

 

[EMMA AT ELITE]

I agree with Karen.
I too think you should rent a room first, see how you go for a few years, build up your client base, go on new courses (if you want), get some experience working for yourself in a salon enviroment, then in time open a salon.
To answer your question, No, you dont need clients to open a salon, however it really would help massively! x

 

[loobylou22]

Hi guys, thanks for all your input. Do you think I should rent a room then or carry on doing mobile? I do have the full support though of my partner if I do decide to rent. I'm just so undecided whether or not to stay as I am or move into a room, as I do feel the business can grow better this way by renting a room. Xx

 

[ADiva1]

Hi guys, thanks for all your input. Do you think I should rent a room then or carry on doing mobile? I do have the full support though of my partner if I do decide to rent. I'm just so undecided whether or not to stay as I am or move into a room, as I do feel the business can grow better this way by renting a room. Xx

Definitely rent a room, you won't regret it!:hug:

 

[Jemima]

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here and say open a salon, if that's what you would eventually like to do anyway, then do it!
I'm about to open my own salon and I'm only a Nail Tech at the moment, but I'll be employing a Beauty Therapist and renting a room to a Holistic Therapist. I do however have the advantage of the fact the premesis I'm taking over has been a salon for 25 years (it has been shut for 7 months) so is well known. Without a client base I would recommend taking somewhere over that is already established, maybe rent a room until something comes up if you can't find somewhere straight away then like the others have said you'll have a client base to take with you.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[smooth]

If you don't have a client base you will need to market it effectively to let people know you are there. People will try you because you are new then it is up to you to keep them if you can. If you rent a room you are restricted to the clientelle of the business again unless you effectively market yourself. Renting a room will be cheaper though.

 

[Lynne Baker]

"Effective" marketing is essential to the success of a business whether you go mobile, rent a room, open a salon, or have a home based salon.
Unless people know that you're there, what you have to offer, and why they should use you over anyone else, your chances of success are limited.