How to Become a Loctician and Start a Natural Hair Salon Business
The Natural Hair Business is Doing Great.
We're back for Part Three
The Management (People and Procedures)
REVIEW:
Last week, in Loc Business Part Two, we talked about starting up the natural hair salon. We looked at finding a space, amount of space needed, and other supplies and equipment for the business. Now let’s take a look at Part Three – The Salon Management (People and Procedures)
People
Let’s start with you. How will you learn to do what you need to do (hair and/or business)? You can learn by going to school, taking independent classes, or self-study through on and offline resources.
Are you going to:
The Management (People and Procedures)
REVIEW:
Last week, in Loc Business Part Two, we talked about starting up the natural hair salon. We looked at finding a space, amount of space needed, and other supplies and equipment for the business. Now let’s take a look at Part Three – The Salon Management (People and Procedures)
People
Let’s start with you. How will you learn to do what you need to do (hair and/or business)? You can learn by going to school, taking independent classes, or self-study through on and offline resources.
Are you going to:
Will you do all natural hair, including braids?
Are you going to:
- Just own and run the salon?
- Be the only stylist in your salon?
- Have other stylists working in your salon?
If you’ve decided to have other stylists working in your salon you’ll need to decide if they will be your employees (where you pay them a salary), or if you will simply rent them chair space.
In addition to stylists, you need to determine what other staffing requirements you may need. You may want to hire a receptionist, a manager, a shampoo person, and/or a cleaning company. Try to hire people who will share in your vision.
The salon job is a people job and customer service is very important. You may want to think about how you greet your customers and how you deal with customer “no-shows”. Remember in Part One we talked about the type of salon you wanted. Well, your “flavor” shows up not only in salon appearance, but also in how you treat your customers. Your flavor may be a family oriented type of place, with lots of laughter and chatter. Or, your flavor may be a more serious, hair salon where you focus on educational/consulting types of discussion. It’s all up to you. Remember, it’s YOUR spot. Let your style be known!
Procedures
The best way to run a hair salon, or any business, is to develop systems. Get a coordinated network of procedures in order to have your business run as smoothly as possible. You may even want to put together a Procedures Manual.
Decide what, if any, products you will sell. While you’re establishing prices for your services, you will also set your prices for the products you sell. You will also need to display your products in a visually appealing way.
You will also need to determine how you will accept payments. If you plan to accept credit cards, which are always a good idea, you can start by talking to your bank about merchant services. There are other places to establish merchant accounts, but your bank can be a good place to start.
How will you pay your staff? Will you pay them an hourly wage, and/or commission splits?
Will you do your own bookkeeping, or will you hire someone? You’ll need to keep “books” on monetary transactions and on inventory and purchasing.
Place some thought into establishing your salon’s hours of operations and any closed days. You may even want to have special occasion, early morning/late night appointments.
I will keep on saying this – do not get intimidated by starting your own business. It is very doable. Next week we’ll look at marketing because you do need customers!
How will you pay your staff? Will you pay them an hourly wage, and/or commission splits?
Will you do your own bookkeeping, or will you hire someone? You’ll need to keep “books” on monetary transactions and on inventory and purchasing.
Place some thought into establishing your salon’s hours of operations and any closed days. You may even want to have special occasion, early morning/late night appointments.
I will keep on saying this – do not get intimidated by starting your own business. It is very doable. Next week we’ll look at marketing because you do need customers!
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