If you’re working as a beauty therapist and want to take your next step in the industry, you may be thinking about opening your own beauty salon.
 
And that wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. Demand for beauty therapy treatments and services in the UK is high and the market is a lucrative one. According to research by GlobalData, the UK’s beauty market will be the fastest growing sector over the next few years, reaching £26.7 billion by 2022.
 
This growth should come as no surprise. After all, who doesn’t feel the need for a massage, facial or manicure at the end of a busy day?
 
But to be successful in this business you need to have the right balance of beauty expertise, people skills and business know-how.
 

What you need to know before opening a beauty salon

 
If you’re thinking of starting up your own beauty salon, you’re not the first. And before you take the plunge, it’s good to know your facts.
 
Make no mistake, the competition is going to be high. Around 660,000 new companies are registered in the UK every year – that’s 70 new businesses every hour.  Of course, not every one of those new businesses is going to be a beauty salon, but there will be a few – all competing for customers.
 
Next, you need to bear in mind that not every business is a success. According to the Small Business Association (SBA), 30% of small businesses fail within the first two years of trading, and 50% during the first five years.
 
But there’s more to running a beauty salon than just good or bad luck. If you make the right decisions and put in the hours, you’ll increase your chances of long-term success.
 
Talking of long hours… you need to be prepared for the fact that it’s going to be exhausting – and at times really stressful. Feeling tired and anxious is never easy, not least when you have to welcome customers into your salon with a cheery smile.
 
Remember, your customers are paying not just for a therapy or treatment, but for the opportunity to relax and unwind. No matter how frustrated or short-tempered you’re feeling, you need to exude a sense of peaceful, positive passion.
 
The data shows that owning a beauty salon is profitable, but getting started is not cheap. You need to consider all your costs – from décor and equipment to beauty salon insurance and the cost of your premises.
 
A good way to reduce some of the stress and costs is to open your beauty salon in partnership with someone else. With two of you at the helm, you will have a broader skill set, a sounding board for key decisions, and someone who knows exactly what you’re going through day-to-day.

Tips for starting your own salon

 
Opening your own business is a huge step, with many challenges, but with the right advice your dream is within reach.
 
Here are five tips on how to start a successful beauty salon.
 

1 Find the right location

 
Choosing the right location for your beauty salon is crucial. Ideally, you will position yourself somewhere with a high footfall, easy access, and good parking. It’s also a good idea not to place yourself too close to any competitors.
 
Saying that, there’s no reason why your beauty salon business won’t succeed if it is off the beaten track. But try to remember: if the cost of a business premises seems too good to be true, there’s almost certainly a reason why.
 

2 Get insurance for your beauty salon

 
Having insurance in place is crucial for any new business. But working out which policy you need can be a challenge. There’s employers’ liability cover, public liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, business buildings insurance, business equipment insurance, stock insurance… You get the idea.
 
Your best bet is going to an insurance broker that offers insurance specifically designed for beauty salons. A specialist insurance broker such as Insurance Choice will be able to tailor your insurance policy to meet your individual and/or business requirements.
 
Find out more about beauty salon insurance that will protect your clients, employees, yourself and your business.
 

3 Selecting the right staff for your beauty salon

 
When choosing people for your team, you’re looking for two things. The first is someone who is qualified and well-trained. The second is a like-minded person who you can build a good relationship with. This means finding people who are good at their job and who are the right ‘fit’ for your business. In a customer-facing business, you want staff with good soft skills such as communication, empathy, adaptability and time management.
 

4 Getting your first clients into for your beauty salon

 
One thing you can be sure of when opening a new beauty salon is that people aren’t mind readers. You’ll need to let them know you exist – and for that you’ll need a comprehensive marketing and communications plan. In a nutshell, this means working out how to tell people where you are, what you do, and why they should pay you a visit.
 
Make sure your marketing plan covers the first 12 months of trading and details exactly how you will reach potential clients. Your plan could include everything from advertising in community newsletters to spreading the word on Instagram.
 
And never underestimate the power of word-of mouth marketing. If a client is happy with the service he or she received, they will come back for more – and tell their friends about it. That kind of publicity is priceless.
 

5 Dealing with the competition

 
Finally, you will need to know who you are competing with. Make sure you know what other beauty salons are in the area and what they are offering in terms of services, products, treatments, promotions, and techniques.
 
With one eye on the competition, your other eye needs to be on the latest trends in the beauty industry. Finally, identify what it is that sets you apart from the competition and include that in all your marketing messages.
 
If opening your own beauty salon is your dream, make sure you protect your new business with beauty salon insurance. At Insurance Choice, we have beauty salon insurance that covers buildings, stock, business disruption, employers’ liability, public liability, debts and more.
 
Get a quote from us today and make your dream of opening your own beauty salon into a reality.