For some nail professionals, there is a time when you think, “I want more than just a table in a salon; I want my own room. " Some salon owners did not start in the nail business. So some veterans have told us that they opened their own businesses after getting tired of the service or business problems they went to, and thinking that they could do better.
Whether you want to open a salon because you think you can do better or because you have the business worm of starting your own business, this guide is for you. If you have what it takes, you will finish it and you will be harvesting almost from the start. If you are not ready yet, you will put it in a file in "things to do". Anyway, this guide to start your living room is for you.
The Nails for You Guide to Starting Your Nails Salon is just a checklist of essentially the key things you need to consider when you are opening your own salon. At Nails for you we are aware that one of the things that our clients are most interested in is how to start their own nail salon and that is why we have decided to include this guide on our site.
There are books and books written in each sub-category that we've covered in the guide, and to be honest about starting your own business and leading to success, you have to seriously think about going to a bookstore and starting to read everyone you find there.
This is a good place to start and it will serve as your support. If you are tempted with the idea of becoming independent, you are well accompanied. In the last 10 years, the number of nail salons in Mexico alone has grown 100%. This business has been called "recession-proof" by many, and it has certainly passed many tests and economic downturns. Nail salons are an important category in some economies, for example, in the US economy alone, it contributed $ 6.43 billion in 2005.
This type of service business can be very challenging and emotionally draining at times. But it can be a lot of fun and rewarding in a way that very few careers do. Nail salon owners have in common their love of helping people, making them feel better about themselves. You, too, obviously have a passion for the nail business. With this guide, we want to help turn that passion into a sustainable business. We may not be able to predict every challenge you will face, but we hope this guide will prevent you from having to say, "I wish I had known what I know now." Good luck on this new journey.
Chapter 1
Starting, the business plan
Starting a new business without a business plan is like visiting a new city without a map. You'll get where you want to go - eventually - if you're lucky. Industry consultants fully agree that one of the main mistakes of new salon owners is starting without a business plan. You must have a well thought out and structured business plan, which will serve as a road map - showing you where you are going, where you are trying to go, and the strategies (routes) to get there. Think of this guide as an Atlas for potential nail salon owners.
The business plan also forces you to think about a project, from start to finish. A complete plan is made up of several sections, including several small plans (the financial plan, the marketing plan, and the management plan), as well as your personal mission, your personal / professional history, and an executive summary. Business plans don't have to be long and complicated, they just need to be complete. The better the plan, the easier it is to stay on track, the easier it is to deal with suppliers and vendors, and the easier it is to measure how you are doing while the business is going.
Express your vision
Each section will require supporting documents, which are independent pieces of information that will support your concepts in the plan (for example, you will need to show that there is a wide potential of clients for your room by providing population information). What follows is a list of the basic sections of your plan and the supporting documents you should have ready.
The mission phrase is a simple proclamation that says what your business is about. Even if they are only one or two sentences, these will be words to live by. The phrase should be carefully crafted and designed so that it eventually reminds you - and the team you've built - because you're here in the first place. It is the kind of things that you print and hang at the reception so that your clients know your mission, in the rest area so that you remind them of your employees, including on tickets and on customer receipts.
Keep it simple, but make it easy to remember. From this simple phrase all the main decisions flow. For example, a mission phrase might be: "We are committed to providing professional personal services to our guests in a comfortable and elegant setting." It is a phrase that is inspired by the decoration, the services offered, and marketing material.
Another example; "To be a new generation of salons with a strong commitment to repair any detail". This mission serves as a phrase to append on the menu, on gift certificates, business cards, and is a constant reminder to staff and customers of what the salon is for.
After you've worked on polishing the mission, the other topics in your business plan should be supported.
The next part of the plan is a personal / professional story. If you are new to the business, this section should include your resume and includes details of your work history, education, and history of other businesses you have had before. It includes recognitions that you have obtained, continuing education that you have received as well as formal education. Supporting documents that you can include such as your own credit report or reference letters.
The marketing plan contains the guts of how you will make your living room a viable business, how you will find and keep customers, how competitive the market is, what the health of the industry is, and what the potential for growth is. The documents must include demographic studies (this information can be obtained from your local chamber of commerce or from INEGI), and market data. You should research at least two or three previous years of statistics to realize the health of the industry and its growth in each of the areas. You should also include research or surveys that you have done to show a particular interest or need for your services.
The marketing plan includes where you will recruit your staff, how you will compensate and retain your staff, and where your employees will live. This includes daily information on your movements in the classroom (known as "operations").
The financial plan will show how you will make everything happen financially and will include a budget. Includes data on financing sources (if you were using your own money or looking to get a loan), equipment list, personnel balance sheets, costs and expenses, and sales and cost projections for the first five years. In this section you will also explain what type of corporate entity you will establish, either as a natural or legal person.
Finally, there is the cover sheet and the executive summary. Put the executive summary on the cover of your plan but write it after you did the rest of the plan so that you can summarize all the aspects.
Review and update your business plan periodically to confirm that you are still on the right track. Doing so forces you to see all the important areas that are developing in your business, and reveals the risks and rewards - for you, for investors, and for your team.
Episode 2
The location: find a local
The location of your store can make you grow or break. From finding the right area, to determining your needs, to making sure of the perfect space, to negotiating a deal for you - the more time you invest in planning and research, the better your business will be in the long run. Maybe there are nail salons in every corner, but that doesn't mean you should put yours there.
The global aspect
It is obvious, but start by selecting an area that suits you and that is also close to where you live. To choose a community you must consider various factors. The most important are:
• Is the population large enough to support the existence of your classroom? Despite the fact that many rural salons do well, you should locate yourself in an area where the majority of your clientele do not have to drive many kilometers to have spectacular nails.
• Does the community have economic stability that can provide a healthy environment for your business? In many communities where their economic stability depends on a single industry (from a refinery, such as Cadereyta, for example, or a hurricane in a tourist destination), a bad year in that industry hits any business. Although it is difficult to predict the effects of such events on your future business, it is good to be forewarned.
• Are the characteristics of the population compatible with the market you want to serve? If your salon is at the forefront, for example, will the community be ready for the type of service you offer?
• Will there be specialized technical personnel to be part of your staff in that community? Observe the variety of sources when studying the potential of some area. In almost all communities there are population statistics that indicate this information. These numbers will show you how many people are living in specific areas and how much the size of that community has changed over the years.
The growth and expansion of communities indicates the business opportunity potential.
You must know the demographic profile of your target market so that you can assess its potential. Consider the amount of population that perfectly matches the type of clientele you hope to attract with your business.
To get a sense of lifestyle and everything that fits the ideal clientele, you'll need to study the community firsthand. Visit potential areas in several hours and days to assess the level of traffic and the amount of business there is. The research should not only be in the city or town where you want to settle, but also in the surroundings of it to give you a better idea of the market you are going to serve.
Also consider the types and number of salons that are already established in that area. You can mark their location on a map. Research your future competitors, find out what services they offer, prices, team size, things like that. Do most salons attack the same market that you want to reach? Consider anything that the market does not find in those salons and any different concept that you have and that the salons in that area do not handle.
The store
Once you have selected a community, the next step is to find the appropriate location. A good location has the following characteristics (you may not find everything you are looking for, but arm yourself with this list so that you know exactly what commitments you are prepared to make):
• Parking for your clients and employees. A good measure of parking spaces is two and a half times your maximum customer capacity. Of course, according to the construction regulations of our city (Monterrey, NL) you never think about it, so you can think is about the number of places near your premises where you can park or the premises are near a public parking lot. where they allow you to negotiate a parking pension, that way you can offer your clients a free period of it.
• Accessible bathrooms in good condition of plumbing and equipment.
• Properly ventilated - can you extract flavorings (monomer) and powders without contaminating the other nearby businesses?
• Adequate and sufficient lighting.
• Storage space, closets and drawers.
• A room for the office.
• With vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
• Easy access for customers and employees.
• Avoid being on one-way streets, high-speed streets, nearby entrances and exits, and difficult turns.
• What is the sound like inside the premises?
• Can you hear the vehicular traffic on the street or the noise from nearby businesses?
• Can you see the place from the street?
• Is the address easy to find?
• How accessible is the location for public transportation?
• How close is the exit to a high-speed avenue?
• Are the surrounding businesses profitable and with customers?
Local size
The key to knowing how big the premises you need should be is knowing how much physical space your business needs, which is determined by what services you are going to offer. In most conventional nail salons, each nail application technique is located in an area of 9.30 m2 (100 sqr ft).
If you are thinking of offering pedicures in specialized chairs or in private spaces, talk to your equipment supplier to tell you what area you require.
Also, depending on the configuration of your workstations (manicure / pedicure stations for example) you may need more or less space than the average salons. You also need to consider a space for the reception and retail.
Calling the troop
Once you've established the desired area, type of room, and size, it's time to enlist the help of others to find a location that meets your needs and negotiate a contract that you can live with. A good resource is a real estate agent who has experience in the beauty salon industry, and if they are nail better. Your product distributor is also a good source of information, they have helped many salons go through what you are going to do right now.
For each location you should consider, find out if there are any expenses you are waiting to assume that are not very obvious, such as condominium payments for services such as water, surveillance, maintenance, cleaning, etc.
If you are not buying the premises, you can rent it with an option to buy (leasing), which is essentially the same as paying rent but with the option of keeping it at the end of the contract with the payment of a negotiated amount. A lease like this should have this basic information: the terms of the rent with option to buy, location and description of the property, and the proposed use for the property.
Before signing any contract, it is advisable to understand very well what parking areas you are entitled to, the maintenance charges, who will pay for the charges for common services such as water or others.
Location options: pros and cons
Here are some pros and cons of the different options for locating a venue:
|
Location |
Pro |
Against |
| Existing salon | Existing plumbing, ventilation, electrical, and clientele installation. | The distribution of space may not be exactly what you require. |
| New premises | You can start adapting and designing the space according to your needs | Maybe you need to take into account a budget for the adjustments that you will leave at the end. |
| Commercial premises in condominium | They have high potential due to high pedestrian traffic, complementary businesses and ample parking. | Depending on neighboring businesses, maybe a shopping center doesn't suit your image. |
| Malls | Lots of foot traffic with people who are looking to spend money. Proximity to great shopping, restaurants and entertainment. | High rents. Inflexibility in work schedules. |
| Rolling markets | No worries about disturbing your neighbors with smells, sounds, traffic in the living room, etc. | Generally you are totally responsible for the maintenance of your stand and for the cleaning when you leave. |
| Office building | Quiet, professional atmosphere. | Odor complaints and sound disturbances from other businesses. Ventilation becomes a necessity. |
| Supermarkets | Lots of foot traffic | Prohibitive environment in cost and time. |
| Airports | Captive audience | There is no reference to any business at this location. |
| Hotels | High lineup clientele | Types of service, the hours depend on the wishes of the hotel. Expensive rent. |
| Residential house | Controlled and private environment. Suitable for a technique that works alone. | Limited options for expansion. |
Chapter 3
Design and furnish your living room;
So now you have found the perfect location for your living room, you are renting or buying a store, and you are ready to start the next process - get the best equipment you need and the decoration.
In order for you to differentiate yourself from most classrooms, the common denominator should be to provide “an experience” instead of a simple “treatment”. That experience should start from outside your front door and continue at least a few days later in your mind. The design of today's salons must incorporate the unique atmosphere of Florence, Italy; the comfort of a breakfast in bed; the engineering of a hospital facility; and the functionality of a living room - all in a feng shui atmosphere.
And all of this must meet or exceed the health, construction, and safety standards of a public building. The ability to create a welcoming environment is essential to the success of your classroom. Most of your decorating budget will be spent on great basics like carpentry or flooring, walls, paint, furniture, and lighting. The reminder should be to spend on the finishes.
Nail salon clients come through your door to treat themselves. They want to be comfortable, so the way you furnish your living room should reflect the clientele you want to attract. You can hire a salon space design expert, someone who understands the ins and outs of what a nail salon needs (for example, there should be a place for clients to sit and wait while the glitter dries giving you an opportunity to new customers start their service at the table).
If you are now a salon owner and have never been to this market before, you'd better contact a full-time dealer. Even for those who already have experience in this market, it is helpful to work with a distributor.
In some cases, if you work with a large team company, they can help you with the design and layout, eliminating the need for an Architect, which is an extra expense. They can tell you where you can cut costs in terms of equipment based on available square footage. They have design experience too, even if you don't know anything about interior design. Rather than having to hire an interior designer, a dealer can be a do-it-yourself store. Working with a spa and equipment provider means that you are working with businesses in the same situation every day and they know all the ins and outs of the business. Check all the information received to see what is right for you.
The important point: buy or rent?
When you sit down to make your big purchases, you will refer to your originally created budget. You decided that maybe you wanted a salon with the latest pedicure and required a drainage system for spa chairs, with private rooms for manicure stations, and a reception area that instantly puts customers in the mood. Fortunately, you budgeted appropriately for those expenses.
Beyond the equipment and furnishings, you need to consider the specialized equipment that is required.
Most people don't realize that furniture is probably the last expense they make. Plumbing, electricity, and water heaters can be worth thousands of pesos. New salon owners need to realize if they need to increase the capacity of their water heaters for their spa or additional plumbing pedicure chairs and electrical outlets.
You need to consider performance, shape and quality. Tables should have all the necessary storage space and compartments, and should look good and match the decor. In addition to the manicure tables and pedicure equipment, you will also need to equip the reception. You can choose panels, cabinets, lighting, in addition to all the tables, chairs and display cabinets.
Once you have decided on certain products, find out if you need any type of ventilation system. This will determine some decisions of the equipment and furniture and where they will be located in the room. You will also need an electrical and plumbing installation. Many new nail salon owners hire many techniques on application without enough space or vice versa.
Working on a budget means keeping the first in mind. Before creating chaos with nail tables that are very close to each other and with no room for a reception, you need to determine a new layout for your living room.
Determining how many nail tables you will need per square meter of salon is the key - not to mention how much space you will need for product sales, reception, and a warehouse or employee room. Specialty nail salons always have less square footage combined with high traffic volume. Salon owners and nail application techniques across the country work in all kinds of spaces, from home, one-table salon to the most up-to-date spa. The first design challenge is to have as many nail application techniques as possible comfortably located in your living room space without feeling too tight so as not to let you work at ease.
When determining the layout of your living room, there are several options to consider and key elements to keep in mind. The nail bar is permanently fixed and without wheels, allowing you to use for more exact space in small places. Moving nail stations can take up more space around them than you might think. If you choose to use individual nail stations, use small ones with more efficient furniture. A table of 1.00 meters. it is usually ideal. The small ones of 0.80 cms. They do not have enough space for the technique in applying nails, so the 1.20 to 1.50 meters. They waste space in small classrooms.
Practical advice: warehouse
Consider vertical space for the warehouse, product display, and marketing areas so that you keep more open space in the room, and to allow more work space.
Vertical displays eliminate large tables, enlarging your work area, and leaving the central areas clear and clean. You can also use vertical warehouses to separate workstations by placing them between tables, as well as adding some privacy. Also keep in mind to use mirrors effectively, light colors, lighting, and decorated walls to create the illusion of more space.
Before you spend a yarn on the reception desk, keep in mind that you will need money for a space for employees, for the store of cleaning products and products, and another for customers to place their belongings personal. Maintaining a practical level is very important. You may even think that a carpet can go very well with your tables, that is not very practical in a living room (and in some countries, it is currently prohibited).
Choose a topic
Creating a theme for your living room is the next step to complete the design process. Maybe you want to make your living room Victorian, industrial, or contemporary. It is up to you to select one and stick to that theme. You can look at the area and the businesses surrounding your premises. Is it your urban or rural area? What are your clients most identified with? And more importantly, you are going to want to design with the theme that best reflects your taste and personality.
The type of services that you are going to offer are also considered for the decoration of the living room. If you are going to offer SPA-type services, you will have to develop a SPA-type atmosphere. The design, decoration, lighting, and other decorative design elements will give your salon a feeling of being a SPA.
Let it be lit
An important design element is lighting. Unfortunately, lighting is usually one of the last pieces of a project they are fixed on. People spend thousands of pesos on a local appearance and then buy cheap fluorescent lights all over the space. There are fluorescent lights that are colored to look like sunlight, motion lighting has come a long way from five years to date, and focused lighting (spots) can give your salon a very nice spa feel.
You can hang lamps from the ceiling. This way you can have pendant lighting that can look good as long as it is applied to the theme you selected. It is important to remember that the lighting must be in place, unless it is movable, the work tables must not move, or they will come out of the direct light source. This may seem very drastic, but you are forced to keep the tables fixed so that the lighting is adequate for the technique in use. Keep the room in order and organized.
Finally, remember that customer and employee comfort is key. When designing a space, make sure there is the same space between tables, pedicure chairs, and the reception area. You don't want employees and customers to be on top of each other. You can always invest in several pieces at the same time. After all, you are starting.
Chapter 4
Define services and create a menu;
If decorating a room is fun, then making your menu of services is a day at the circus. The services offered must reflect your original mission as well as your target clientele. Here we will guide you to select the services and product lines, set the prices, and prepare your menu.
From the first day you have to imagine your new business as successful. But when you imagine your ideal salon, do you realize what services your clients enjoy the most? Beyond having a luxurious location, a well-written business plan, and a solid customer base, you need to determine the right mix of services that will ensure your clientele returns.
Many salons, including those that are considered nail specialists, offer a variety of hand and foot care services, and even some skin care services. You have to determine if your salon will be a high-end spa, a regularly priced neighborhood salon, or a discount store for passing customers. That decision will be reflected in the selection of your premises, the decoration of the same, the staff, and now it will be reflected in the menu of services as well.
Find your trend
Start with the basics. Considering the lowest common denominator is necessary to build a well-rounded menu. The classic manicures, pedicures, and nail arrangements fall into this category. Decide what type of arrangement mixes you want to offer.
Consider the skill level and strengths of your techniques when deciding this part of the menu. You need to provide or consider additional training for your staff - that depends on the services you have chosen - and you must take into account the time it will take for such training to the level that the service you offer will need. Most nail professionals are trained in the “fundamentals” but you need an application technique that is “complete” (or one that is willing to be trained) if you want to offer a wide range of decoration services and arrangements for the ones.
You may be surprised to find out how specialized most nail application techniques consider themselves. I mean the following, "La Reyna" of sculptural nails you may not know that you should not put the gel near the UV lamp because if it is not hard. That is why it is important that the skills of your staff are in accordance with your service program.
You will need to know that a manicure can be completed, say, in 45 minutes, and that the application of acrylic nails can be scheduled in an hour.
In addition to basic services, you will want to offer additional services that are appropriate to the type of population that is part of your target clientele. High-end spa and mid-level salon departments should especially consider multiple versions of manicures and pedicures, natural nail care regimens, and personalized or focused services. Which translates to using fresh ingredients, unique products, and holistic themes. Keep in mind which services require additional planning if they involve unusual things, stylized service techniques, or special massages. Do not forget the theme of the room. If you decided on a Hawaiian theme, for example, the services inspired by the tropics will be perfect.
If you are stuck when it comes time to create services for your firm, visit salons and spas, or gather and analyze menus from your competition. Find things you like and dislike, and see if you can modify services to meet your needs. Play to your strengths, abilities, and interests.
Another very useful trick is to get multiple test kits from various manufacturers and look for inspiration that way. Some lines focus on softness, others on the scrub, and others on the senses and aromas. Play around with various options and build specialized manicures or pedicures around a line of products that are to your liking.
Nail salons that promise speed and availability may consider adding shortened versions of popular services, or quick a la carte services to support your basic menu.
Creating a menu of services
A menu of services needs to be comprehensive enough to offer an attractive option for your clients, enough so that your application techniques can provide that service with professionalism and experience in a uniform and constant way. The price can be "à la carte" or "all inclusive". Below I give you some examples of a menu of services of a nail salon.
Manicure
It consists of the basic: Hand washing, cleaning, cutting and filing of nails, pushing cuticle, exfoliation and massage, and polishing.
Spa manicure
You can start from the basic manicure and you are adding services such as a longer massage, aroma therapy, the use of fragrances or super-softening creams with massage, exfoliating creams, paraffin, or special ingredients (you can charge $ 100 to $ 200 pesos more for a luxury service or "spa").
Pedicure
It consists of the basic: foot washing, cleaning, cutting and filing of nails, pushing the cuticle, filing calluses, exfoliation and polishing feet.
Spa pedicure
The same as the basic pedicure, but you can add a longer massage, aroma therapy, use of fragrances or super softening creams in the massage, paraffin, and special ingredients (charge $ 200 to $ 300 pesos more for the luxury).
Manicure / special or house pedicure
It is the manicure and pedicure that can only be found in your salon. Add some extra service that makes you stand out from the other salons and charges an additional cost to the cost of the Manicure SPA.
White or pink tips
Add 5 to 10% more to add the white or pink tips.
Maintenance
Sometimes they call it "refill" or "Retouch". A touch-up is normally charged based on the time it takes you to do it, starting from a base of $ 80 pesos.
Nail removal
There are many ways to remove a complete set of acrylic nails, and the price charged for this service also varies. Make a charge if you withdraw product and add a new set of nails or if the client simply wants to let her natural nails grow. You should consider a service that allows your clients to transition from a design (whatever it is) to natural nails.
Designs:
Normally we recommend our students to charge according to the time and sophistication of the design, since the cost of the material really equals approximately 10% of the price of the decoration service. They can make a tab where the price is increasing according to the decoration that the client selects for their design. Currently, the clientele is getting used to paying up to $ 1,000 pesos for an exclusive design that no one else will bring. To achieve that, it is important to maintain a display with your best designs so that they see your creative capacity and they can have a reference.
Additional services
• Nail repair
• French manicure • Finishing
gel • Manicure
massage
• Nail art.
