Looking for advice, working from home

SalonGeek

Help Support SalonGeek:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Joined
Mar 1, 2016
Messages
9
Reaction score
3
Location
Mayo Ireland
Hi guys,
I'm hoping for some advice and guidance.

I have owned a beauty salon for the past 4 years and I've loved every minute of it. It's been successful and I have amazing supportive customers. My salon is beautiful, bright and pretty and honestly it's my happy place. šŸ¤—

However Covid is killing me! I'm going deeper into debt, my rent is in arrears since the last lock down and the current lockdown is driving me to tears daily.

I recently bought a house that has a separate garage and driveway so I'm considering converting it into a salon and effectively working from home.

My biggest worry really is; will I be taken seriously as a business if I work from home? Am I shooting myself in the foot by closing an established business to open a home salon? Its obviously going to be a lot of work but my husband works in the building industry and can easily do the work.

I would appreciate any advice or opinions.
 
Hi guys,
I'm hoping for some advice and guidance.

I have owned a beauty salon for the past 4 years and I've loved every minute of it. It's been successful and I have amazing supportive customers. My salon is beautiful, bright and pretty and honestly it's my happy place. šŸ¤—

However Covid is killing me! I'm going deeper into debt, my rent is in arrears since the last lock down and the current lockdown is driving me to tears daily.

I recently bought a house that has a separate garage and driveway so I'm considering converting it into a salon and effectively working from home.

My biggest worry really is; will I be taken seriously as a business if I work from home? Am I shooting myself in the foot by closing an established business to open a home salon? Its obviously going to be a lot of work but my husband works in the building industry and can easily do the work.

I would appreciate any advice or opinions.

Hi Lynda,

Just in case it helps, I have had a similar experience this year. I decided to close my 11 year old salon during the first lockdown (kind of assuming this would happen again) and decided to work from home. I basically spent every day of lockdown deliberating what I should do. And while it was incredibly hard to let go of my salon, I can honestly say now I am so glad I made the move, especially as we head into another lockdown.

I managed to keep the majority of my loyal clients so I haven't had to look for new clients so it hasn't felt like starting over again. I am working a lot less hours now as things still aren't back to 100% normal but my work/life balance is so much better. Overheads now aren't an issue so I don't stress at the thought of a quiet day/week. And I won't even start on the benefits of not having staff right now!

This is only my experience but given the strange new world we're living in, now's the time to have a good think about how things may or may not change for you. ā¤ļø
 
Your loyal clients will follow you! Itā€™s you they want anyway! Go for it. I really hope you can get out of debt soon, Iā€™ve been there and out now so itā€™s doable if you make the right changes at the right time xxx
 
From a practical point of view, before you make the decision you should explore further with both your council and mortgage provider to see whether they would allow it :)
 
I turned my spare room i to my nail salon. I love it. Most of my clients followed me. Make sure you are commercially zoned.
 
Yes check with your local council and environmental health but once you've ticked those boxes definitely go for it. I've had a salon for 25 years and like as mentioned in the other replies all this just about broke me mentally and emotionally. My salon was half an hour from home so it was a brave decision to say that's it I'm done but I did. My very clever other half has made me the most beautiful wee salon. I actually sold my other business but really at a token price because I had an employee...(we don't need to go into all that.)I have been amazed at how many clients have said they'll stick with me. I handed the salon over on 31st Oct, can you believe that for timing. The young lady who has it now will be more than fine. It was a good little business and she has the grit to get through this. I am so relieved to not have all that hassle and worry again. So I've had just three days in my home salon but I'm not worried. I don't have to worry about overheads and paying wages or applying for furlough etc. You go for it. I've never felt so free. I've attached some pics of just what you can do in a small space. Good luck
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20201101_112138863.jpg
    IMG_20201101_112138863.jpg
    3.3 MB · Views: 445
  • IMG_20201101_112205110.jpg
    IMG_20201101_112205110.jpg
    3.6 MB · Views: 343
  • IMG_20201101_112223342.jpg
    IMG_20201101_112223342.jpg
    3.4 MB · Views: 341
I made the switch in September, it undoubtedly been the best decision. All of my clients have been/Seen and then returned for following appointments. Majority of clients have said they feel safer knowing they are not in a busy salon. There is still over heads as in additional utility use but that's not a drop in the ocean compared to full salon overheads and rent.
I have separate access and client toilet so no one enters my home. I keep it really professional and wear work clothes etc so they feel that they are still getting the same service as I didn't lower my prices from leaving the main highstreet.
I have 2 stations so I can still book back to back mother, daughter and husband /wife appointments that are from the same household to use my time better.
I do miss the Salon as in being with others but in reality you can't all gather in a saff room now anyway.
My mortgage company said put it writing, my home insurance added on a fee and my council said they had no issues but to contact again if I expand my business in any, which I guess the mean adding staff.
Hope that all helps, I'm certainly not looking back.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20201212_203207_476.jpg
    IMG_20201212_203207_476.jpg
    492.3 KB · Views: 96
  • received_534323337524072.jpeg
    received_534323337524072.jpeg
    407.3 KB · Views: 97
  • IMG_20201107_145835_511.jpg
    IMG_20201107_145835_511.jpg
    455.2 KB · Views: 94
Hi guys,
I'm hoping for some advice and guidance.

I have owned a beauty salon for the past 4 years and I've loved every minute of it. It's been successful and I have amazing supportive customers. My salon is beautiful, bright and pretty and honestly it's my happy place. šŸ¤—

However Covid is killing me! I'm going deeper into debt, my rent is in arrears since the last lock down and the current lockdown is driving me to tears daily.

I recently bought a house that has a separate garage and driveway so I'm considering converting it into a salon and effectively working from home.

My biggest worry really is; will I be taken seriously as a business if I work from home? Am I shooting myself in the foot by closing an established business to open a home salon? Its obviously going to be a lot of work but my husband works in the building industry and can easily do the work.

I would appreciate any advice or opinions.
As already mentioned - get permission!
Your neighbours will be notified and they have the right to object!
Donā€™t be surprised if they donā€™t agree - I had been quietly enjoying working from my home studio for a few years when a neighbour caused me to eventually move home - she made my life a misery!
 
Make sure your home insurance is covering you correctly for running the business from home. Are they covering your business contents, and the liability for clients coming to your salon at home? They may just be charging a fee to say youā€™re working from home but are not actually insured for treatment risk, contents etc. If you find youā€™re not covered adequately after checking, I work for a brokers who specialise in salon insurance and have a working from home product too which is exactly for your situation. The business is Salon Protect & Insure Me 4 Less. Our number is 01616940616. Always happy to help if you need any guidance or have questions. Jo
 
Cookiedog12 is new here but s/he has raised a very important point. As a former Insurance broker myself I can say that very few policies will cover both your business and home needs properly on one policy and thereā€™s a possibility that your home insurance is invalid if your insurance company donā€™t understand what you doing and agree to it.

I set up from home in September. The day after lockdown 2 lifted, my home was broken into whilst I was out. They had muddy feet so I could see where theyā€™d been It was clearly a professional job, I was searched very thoroughly - even the policy documentation I slip into plastic sleeves were checked. They were looking for cash and a safe - they checked behind curtains and so on. It was clear that it was connected to my commercial use.
 
Cookiedog12 is new here but s/he has raised a very important point. As a former Insurance broker myself I can say that very few policies will cover both your business and home needs properly on one policy and thereā€™s a possibility that your home insurance is invalid if your insurance company donā€™t understand what you doing and agree to it.

I set up from home in September. The day after lockdown 2 lifted, my home was broken into whilst I was out. They had muddy feet so I could see where theyā€™d been It was clearly a professional job, I was searched very thoroughly - even the policy documentation I slip into plastic sleeves were checked. They were looking for cash and a safe - they checked behind curtains and so on. It was clear that it was connected to my commercial use.
Sorry to hear this happened to you. Itā€™s awful what people do for a bit of quick cash isnā€™t it.
 
Welcome Cookiedog (this is a great way to learn about your clients businesses, well done on your initiative.).

Yes it was a shock. People are getting desperate. Thank god I donā€™t take cash!
 
My home insurance company were happy to continue my cover stating that Clients were not to be left alone at any time.
 
My home insurance company were happy to continue my cover stating that Clients were not to be left alone at any time.
The main query you needed to check with them if that theyā€™re not merely covering home insurance if you have a salon at home. Youā€™ll need cover for your business contents, public liability and treatment liability cover for your clients. Most home insurances will not cover this. Itā€™s usually an additional working from home product youā€™d need suitable for a salon and includes treatment cover in case a client sues you for a treatment youā€™ve done
 
I have a home based salon and I have used Home Protect insurance for a few years now.
 
I have separate public liability and my stock /equipment insured with simply business, then when opening my home salon I added onto home insurance too. They asked me to quote stock value etc but I thought best to keep the other separate more specialised cover alongside, do you think so too? I've actually worried about the risk of break in, more than ever before.
 
So do you have business contents, stock and liability insured on a policy and then also all the same added to your home insurance as well?
 
No, on the house I added working / running a salon at home and they asked about stock value only. So that's why I kept my policy I already had from chair renting for public liability and my equipment and stock. Is it better option (financially) to have everything on one?
 
It could work out cheaper to have them on one policy but I personally wouldnā€™t recommend it. Your home insurance policy is meant to be just that, a home insurance policy. Adding working from home to it may not offer everything you need and definitely not full salon cover including liabilities. I think youā€™d be hard pushed to get them to offer that full cover. The other benefit to having it separate would be if you claim on one such as the salon policy it shouldnā€™t impact your no claims on your home insurance.
Iā€™d say always search the market for the best cover and premium though. Our price for working from home starts from Ā£37.50 for the year but Iā€™m not sure how that compares to the rest of the market.
 
Hi Lynda,

Just in case it helps, I have had a similar experience this year. I decided to close my 11 year old salon during the first lockdown (kind of assuming this would happen again) and decided to work from home. I basically spent every day of lockdown deliberating what I should do. And while it was incredibly hard to let go of my salon, I can honestly say now I am so glad I made the move, especially as we head into another lockdown.

I managed to keep the majority of my loyal clients so I haven't had to look for new clients so it hasn't felt like starting over again. I am working a lot less hours now as things still aren't back to 100% normal but my work/life balance is so much better. Overheads now aren't an issue so I don't stress at the thought of a quiet day/week. And I won't even start on the benefits of not having staff right now!

This is only my experience but given the strange new world we're living in, now's the time to have a good think about how things may or may not change for you. ā¤
Did you convert your garage?
 

Latest posts

Back
Top