How to change the original business plan?

[makeupartistzoe]

Hiya Geeks,

Thanks for reading. I have a small salon and worked out my profit and loss and cash flow forecasts and my whole business plan on renting out stations....

...a flat rental of just over £25 per day for a hair station, nail desk or beauty room including use of some pro products like shampoo and skincare so we could retail aftercare.

..i was a bit soft in the beginning and after a while had too many part timers renting for 2-3 days, not building their own businesses but getting shirty when clients booked in with others on different days! argh!

...now at the moment i have two fab hairdressers 4 days a week each (we are open 6 days) but dont know what to do about my beauty room and nail desk!

...having them free means i can do the odd nail treatment or wax but i have lots of lash clients in my makeup room and have to try and run the salon too! I can do it all!

...i've employed an apprentice, but shes been sick 3 times in the last 3 months so i dont want to employ!

Do i just keep waiting for the right people to rent completely, or take a 65 to me 35 to them split?

Any advice? how do you guys make your salon work for you? I feel as if im working for my salon! x

 

[makeupartistzoe]

Please?! anybody?!

 

[Lady]

When you did your original business plan, what was your vision for your salon. I don't mean to offend so hope you don't take it as that, but having all these different mini businesses within your main business is far too much I personally feel, and your clients may start to feel the same too. What contracts have you given so far, can they just choose which days they want to rent? In your plan was it more that the figures were worked out over the same person renting over the 6 days?

If you have people getting antsy over clients already, then it's time for you to control that situation. You can take back the nail bar etc and do a 60/40 split and see how it goes.

With your apprentice, why did you employ her? What is it that you are teaching her? You have to find her engaging point and build from there.

With all the other renters, does the rent include a reception service? If not, then maybe you could all come to an agreement to man the reception together, or pay the wages of someone who can, but then you all need to educate them about your treatment services and the timing etc, how to retail and rebook clients etc.

I hope that all makes sense lol x

 

[makeupartistzoe]

Hello Lady, thanks for your reply, sorry for the delay!

The original vision was that I wanted self employed staff, to be referred to as specialists, to rent each space...and I have kept some amazing staff for a good while. My amazing nail tech left after two year as shes always wanted to open a kids pre loved designer clothing boutique and has just done so in partnership with her sister. She can do the best set of enhancements with her eyes closed and bought in lots of business for me and the main hairdresser. We all worked hand in hand and shared our client bases with no conflict. And clients loved being looked after by the expert. I've never wanted to be Jack of all Trades!

I just assumed there are lots of hardworking, self employed people out there that would love to work in a nice salon, as part of a team and work as hard as me. Have a base and run with it. I did this in other salons until I had my own and was really happy having a team to bounce off. But I've had people who want to earn a full time wage from working minimum days, people who sit about all day and wonder why they have no clients, people not doing any promotional activity I've set up for them and have no motivation or common sense to set up there own (even as simple as giving out loyalty cards that are blank for everyone to use!!!)

I think I've accepted now that I've done well and I've got an apprentice I can build up to set free, or to rent and have her own good business and base. Until then shes providing cheaper treatments until her skill and speed are of a good level...which clients love in tough times.

I've got a friend to help on reception in exchange for treatments. and I've decided to take control and retrain in a few nail services to keep me tiding over until I find the best people!

 

[Carlalouise]

Hello

I see you're in Bournemouth, I'm in Bournemouth too!

Could you not just employ a Beautician that also does nails, I know it comes with a whole set of other potential problems but you could at least call the shots, you could put in the contract that you don't pay sick, which normally puts people off of taking days off here and there. If she does both beauty and nails you could work with her re booking clients in for the beauty room?

I'm just looking at a shop myself, I do all beauty treatments accept nail enhancements so was looking at renting a nail desk or employing but from my own experience and from what other people have been saying I think I'm probably going to employ, I've been told if they're good in the long run you will make more money that way.

xx

 

[makeupartistzoe]

Hello Carla Louise,

I've met you before as you rented the space in Essensuals after me before the landlords forced the whole business out...

Good luck with finding your dream shop. I have mine and sometimes its so hard! Like the day I posted this thread! I never even really dreamed since day 1 of having my own salon, when I moved into Bmouth and had no clients/friends I just fell into it!

I'm just never going to employ, ever! I did a girls makeup once and she mentioned she used to do beauty...and I asked her why she stopped...her reply 'I had a salon and was doing well, but I employed two other girls who left and took all the clients with them...' and I just feel I can't trust people and nobody will care about my salon as much as I do...