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Find a Hairdresser or Hairdressers in hampshire based in aldershot, andover, basingstoke, brockenhurst, eastleigh, fareham, farnborough, lyndhurst, portsmouth,romsey, southampton and winchester.

Starting a Hairdressers Part 2

How much does it cost to start?

A number of hairdressing businesses currently for sale over the internet indicate that purchasing a business can cost anywhere between £5,000 and £59,000. As an example, The Cottage Barbers on the outskirts of Birmingham cost the owner Anita Barlow £13,000.

In most hairdressers’ that are up for sale, fixtures and fittings are almost always bought up with the shop itself. If yours is the exception, or you are going to refurbish the place and start again then there are rough guidelines to what you could expect to pay.

Anthony Holland and Romano Zullo of Zullo and Pack in Nottingham have recently had their salon refurbished. Their costs are similar to those that a startup might incur:

For fitting out units, mirror units, partitions and a reception area, it cost them £8,000. Legal costs were £2,000. New flooring cost them £1,500. Signage for their salon was a further £500. It is worth bearing in mind that the design was carried out by a designer from a TV home makeover show and that this is a large city centre business. Smaller local businesses may well be slightly more modest in their spending.

When McMillan opened his first salon in Glasgow he bought mirrors from Ikea and basic wash basins from a local company but now he averages around £50,000 to fit out each of his new salons.

“Cost will always depend on the premises,” he says. “But it’s got to the stage now where customers expect a certain level of décor from a salon and you need to keep up with that to attract the right kind of clientele.”

Some basic equipment you’ll need for any salon includes:

Styling chair: £150-£1,000 each
Mirror units: £200 each
Wash units: £200-£3,000 each
Hood dryer: £100-£500
Trolley: £50-£300 each

It goes without saying that you’ll also need at least £2-3,000 for other basics such as scissors, pins, clips, rollers etc. These items will need to of good quality so it’s best not to go for the cheaper options early on as you may end up spending even more on regualer replacements.

How much can I earn?

Geographical location will also affect your pricing. Customers visiting a salon in central London will obviously be willing to pay more than a small town in the North of the country. However, your own experience will also play a part in determining your prices.

Many salons charge differently according to the level of stylist. They’ll often be a serperate price list for the chief styist and it gives customers the option of chossing a more experiences hairdresser if they’re willing to pay a bit more for it.

McMillan says you can’t be afraid to increase your prices as you become more establised. “If anything, your long-term customers will want to see that you’ve moved on and a higer price is a way of instilling confidence that you’re good at what you do,” he explains.

Another factor in determining how many other stylists you employ. Aside from high street rents, one of your biggest expenses will be staff. But how much should you pay them? Although technically anyone can work in a hairdressing salon, any business worth its salt will only employ those who are qualified. The other thing to remember is that you will have to comply with the minimum wage, which means keeping up to date with the relevant legislation.

So hairdressing is not a business that will make you a millionaire, unless you operate on the scale of Toni & Guy or Nicky Clarke. If you’re in business purely for the money, then hairdressing is probably not the way to go.

However, running a good salon isn’t just about the money for a lot of hairdressers. A good salon should inspire real loyalty from its clients. A trip to have a haircut or a new style is often the way that many people go to relax or to de-stress and pamper themselves. Particularly among the older generation, it is considered a luxury. So on a personal level it can be a highly rewarding business to go into.

Tips for Success

  • Always be passionate about learning and training as new practices and styles become popular
  • Jargon words they may be, but being customer focused and investing in your team will reap you benefits
  • It’s always worth considering alternative agencies for appropriate financial backing – it won’t do any harm
  • It may be worth investing in attending an accountancy course. If you could complete your tax returns yourself, it could save you a good deal of money on accountants’ bills.
  • Vet your staff – qualifications are important
  • Many salons are in rented premises. It sounds obvious, but to avoid headaches make sure you have a written agreement with your landlords that you understand.