How to set up a beauty salon and have a successful business

Are the advantages of opening a beauty salon increasingly promising, especially for those who already work in beauty? whether as an employee or as a self-employed person.

Davi Andrade, CEO of Entrepreneur's Compass, comments that starting a business in an area where it already operates brings as immediate advantages to know the operation of the business, suppliers and even customers. "Of course this alone is not a guarantee of success, but it is a good starting point, because understanding the area of ​​business saves a lot of time research and training to know the activities to be developed," he says.

But that does not mean that those who do not yet work beautifully cannot bet in this field, provided, of course, that there is planning.


Juliana Albanez, personal and professional coach, speaker and journalist, specialist in Behavior, Communication, Sales and Pitch, says that, regardless of the area chosen within a salon, the undeniable source of news is undeniable. "And a very important factor related to Brazil, is that this is a sector that knows no crisis, that adapts to its client easily, from the small entrepreneur to the big networks," he says.

? The beauty sector is the fastest growing in the country, hitchhiking in the cosmetics world and offering quality, new services every day and a certain identification with its audience, since we Brazilians are very linked to aesthetics and beauty ?, adds Juliana.

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However, opening a salon and leaving, for example, working as a clerk or without a fixed place also has its disadvantages.

The risks that involve setting up a salon are the same as those of any other business. It is necessary to change the mental model from employee to employer and take an entrepreneurial stance. Instead of an operational vision, the entrepreneur who decides to exchange fixed employment for his own business should develop a strategic vision ?, highlights Andrade.

"In the vast majority of cases, they need to invest in their self-development to be able to achieve the goals and objectives they want for their business," adds the CEO of Compass Entrepreneur.


For Juliana, the biggest disadvantage of opening a salon is that you are running your business, that is, being an entrepreneur. Being entrepreneurial is not easy, there is no romanticism. It is often giving up stability, fixed salary, weekends at home and a life with greater routine. Opening a new business, regardless of whether it is a salon or not, is to undertake, and to undertake is to be in the window, take risks, be exposed, have the vocation for continuous improvement, and knowledge of the business and its target audience ?, highlights.

Your space: what to consider

Are you thinking of opening a beauty salon? Planning is key! Pay attention to the tips below and learn how to think about the location and interior of the room, among other important points.

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1. Location

Consider setting up your salon at a strategic point according to your goals. Ideally, look for a region where there are no other salons nearby.

It is also important to think about the parking issue. If the salon does not have room for it, at least make sure there are places on the street to park nearby.

2. Legalization and adjustments of the property

Andrade points out that, before signing any lease or purchase of a property to house a salon, the person should be concerned with the legal and tax issues of the property, ie if the property is properly legalized and if the City authorizes its use for that activity.

"It is also good to consult with the Sanitary Inspection agencies to find out if there will be any need to adapt the facilities, as this may generate expenses for works not budgeted in the initial plans," explains the CEO.

Andrade adds that attention must be paid to electrical and hydraulic installations, as they need to meet the operating needs of the salon.

Read also: 10 women entrepreneurs to inspire you

3. Services

The architect Taciana Leme points out that, before choosing the property, it is important to keep in mind what services you want to offer, because the beauty salon has a huge range of possibilities.

Andrade reinforces that it is necessary to plan what will be the? Layout? how many people will work, what will be their activities, whether there will be room reserved for customers to wait, service desk, sales of products including coffee and other beverages, etc.

• All this must be provided for in a good business plan and must be observed when choosing a property to avoid works or inadequate adaptations. A good tip is to get a floor plan of the intended property so that, with due attention, you can view all the furniture, equipment and circulation areas needed. ?, says.

4. Space for operation of each service

Having defined the services that will be offered, Taciana emphasizes that it is important to know the minimum size required for the operation of each one of them. "This will define how many customers you can have per period, which in turn determines the reception and waiting space," he says.

The main salon services and their main physical orientations, according to architect Taciana, are:

Also read: 4 rules of etiquette of a salon

Hair (cut, hairstyle and chemistry): A floor with high abrasion resistance (as hair scratches the floor) is ideal, easy to clean and can be wetted by washbasins. Diffuse and front lighting (over or on the sides of the mirror) to avoid shadow points on the face and the client can see well.

Support stand and trolley for products, materials and equipment for professional use. 220 V outlet points, because the equipment is all at this voltage.

For the washbasin, it is important to leave the sewage, water and electrical points also ready on the floor, as recommended by the manufacturer, to avoid clogging and apparent pipes.

Makeup and Eyebrow Designer: a good mirror with diffused front lighting (over or on the sides of the mirror) to avoid shadow points on the face. Product countertop and a specific chair for these purposes.

Hair removal and aesthetics: It is important that the environment is cozy as some of these services have a longer process. Ideally, one has diffuse and indirect lighting separately.

Countertop to support equipment and products and cabinets to store towels, products and disposables.

Manicure and Pedicure: An autoclave drainage site that sterilizes all material is important. Diffuse lighting should be combined with direct illumination on the work table. For armchairs, direct light sconces may be used.

Cup: Having an employee cup is very important, including keeping the salon organized.

Reception and waiting: The reception should have space for a computer and other equipment used to schedule and collect bills.

Waiting must have comfortable seating, plus TV, magazines and a space with water and coffee, so that the customer is distracted while waiting to be served. In these environments lighting can be diffuse and indirect.

The identity of the salon: the main orientations

The identity of any business is critical for it to be recognized and differentiated among its competitors. In this regard, check out the top tips from the experts:

1. Get professional help with branding

Whenever possible, it is recommended to seek help when defining your visual identity, according to Andrade. ? Seek technical expertise to help you choose a color standard for your brand and environment, choose a different name and logo that grabs the public's attention and translates your activity into just one image ?, say.

Taciana comments that, in relation to style, will depend a lot on the intention of the owner, after all, today the halls have the most varied styles and this is very good. ? The important thing is that everything is, besides beautiful, according to the function of each environment. I always advise my clients in this area, before we start the project, to look for a professional to create the visual identity and brand according to what he wants, so that, on top of that, the architecture and decoration project be developed. Thus, we have a unique and harmonious language between brand and space ?, highlights the architect.

Davi Andrade emphasizes that the entire interior of the hall needs to be aligned with the brand's visual identity. "Colors and furniture should follow the same pattern as brand identity, for example, if your brand brings only shades of blue, it makes little sense that furniture such as chairs, sofas and counters are red," he exemplifies.

2. Think about your audience

"Some people think it all starts with the name, but actually it all starts with the definition of the audience and products you will offer, after all the name will have to be linked to them and how the business is to be recognized.", explain.

Juliana points out that the colors, the name, the front of the space, the uniform, the stationery, are details that make up this visual identity. ? The first step is for you to understand the place that your salon is situated, what are the habits, a? Photo of the environment? it's very important. Because then yes, you will have a good analysis of who your number one customer is, who is closest to you ?, he says.

With this data, Juliana adds, the next step is to make good planning. ? Understand this customer and thus create something special and that suits him ?, guides.

3. Plan and stay focused

Juliana points out that identity is always built in the long run, so the steps should be well thought out, and it is not worth betting on a color today and, in the following semester, promoting total change.

What do you want to promote to your customer? Sophistication, power, joy, practicality or affordable price? For all these sensations there are colors, letters, designs that fully achieve what the entrepreneur intends to bring to the customer after a good planning ?, clarifies Juliana.

4. Think about giving your customer a pleasant experience.

Still within the concept of identity, it is interesting to think about the experience you will (or at least intend) to provide your customers.

Juliana comments that, first of all, going to a salon is "giving yourself a gift", a moment of relaxation and well-being, it's a journey and a journey must be unique. ? And what is this journey when we talk about beauty salon? It is to offer your customer an experience by activating their senses. In aesthetics, we are concerned with activating these senses when we talk about beauty, and so, should a warm environment be offered, with colors that identify your business? (vision), says.

The professional coach adds that the music must be in tune with the target audience, offering relaxation or relaxation (listening). ? The smell must be remarkable (the power of the smell is impressive at the time of a customer evaluation in beauty), an essential oil, a pleasant sensation when arriving in the environment favors the smell very well, as well as a muffin, a tea , a coffee, a hot chocolate is fundamental for those who want to bring the best to their customer ?, explains.

But one of the most important items in a salon, according to Juliana, is touch. ? A gentle touch when washing hair, brushing, painting, help? is very ? to promote a unique experience. In the salon business, we talk whenever you win a customer in detail: when it comes to washing a hair, give it a nice touch, a relaxation. In manicure, how about a foot and hand cream and a soft touch? Your client should leave your salon with all five senses activated, and this will be an unforgettable experience?

Your tools

Juliana explains that the equipment needed to open a salon will depend greatly on the type of salon. "It may not seem like it, but there are a multitude of options: children's, men's, men's, mixed and today's salons, plus a good island for manicures, wash hair, bridal space and other segments?" And you must be tuned to the moment, think about what people are looking for ?, he says.

“As simple as the salon is, the equipment list is extensive and needs to be detailed in the business plan as well as budgeted before getting the idea out of paper. Chairs, dryers, hair-washing stands are obvious items, however, there are several items that are not easily remembered. To avoid the risk of forgetting something, it is best to consult one or more professionals (eg, hairdressers, manicurists, eyebrow designer) who will have you in the salon and list all the equipment and utensils they need to perform their work. activities ?, guides Andrade.

Team: How to define your

How to decide whether or not to have a salon staff? Which professionals to hire to begin with providing good customer service? These may be some of the questions of who is opening your business. Check out the top tips from experts in this regard:

1. Avoid unpleasantness regarding labor law

Andrade warns that the person who is going to start his business must always observe the limitations of labor legislation to avoid inconvenience with fines and compensation:? Be very careful when hiring people without employment relationship! Consult an accountant to have no surprises? He says.

2. Start with basics if necessary

The big dilemma of having a fixed team is to add a fixed cost without the guarantee of having enough clientele to maintain it.? Usually, most salon professionals have a client portfolio that accompanies them, in these cases, it may be that the cost to maintain this professional is slightly higher than others who do not have a client base, but as a rule this difference makes up, especially for the halls that are starting their activities ?, comments Andrade.

Ideally, according to the CEO, depending on the amount to be invested, start with the basics, hiring only professionals for those essential services such as hairdresser and manicure. The next step is to identify with customers what they need beyond this "basics" such as makeup, cleansing or moisturizing their skin, waxing. Everything should already be foreseen in your business plan, only the operation is postponed, if the initial capital does not allow the start of activities in full swing?

3. Invest in training

"It is good to remember that, just as the entrepreneur invested in his self-development, it is necessary to invest in the training of the team, either in the technical improvement or in the improvement of customer service", says Andrade.

4. Don't think you can do it all by yourself

Juliana comments that entrepreneurship is thinking about where you want to be in 1 year, 2, 5 or 10 years from now. To undertake is to take risks wisely. And when we talk about going into a ballroom, we talk about this strategic vision related to the team as well. It is very difficult to grow up being just one person. It is very difficult to be where you are fundamental (in this case, running the services) if you still have to do the cashier, wash, brush, make coffee, choose the songs and serve the customer well ?, he says.

Therefore, having a good team is crucial. It doesn't have to be big, but it should leave you open to being where you really are, creating business focus. If you want to manage, start a business, but do not know the beauty processes in depth, you should hire from a dyeer, hairdresser, manicure, valet often (when we talk about large centers). If you already know the processes, have taken courses, are already a professional, choose someone carefully to assist you, but with a close eye on your supervision who knows how should be the service of a good salon? Professional coach

Extra attractions

Will the success of your salon not only be determined by its location or, for example, by the good team you have formed? While these are all-important points, business success will be determined by a set of factors, including basic things like making magazines available to customers waiting to be served and having a good relationship with your business. the public through social networks.

Here are some extra tips that can help your new salon appeal to the public and be very successful:

Capriche in attendance: "To have a successful salon, you must understand that you offer service, not product, and this service must be of good quality, must be a unique experience," says Juliana.

Have some distraction for the waiting room: As simple as this attitude sounds, it makes all the difference. Taciana reminds that putting comfortable seats, TV, magazines and a space with water and coffee, so that the customer is distracted while waiting to be served, is very important.

Promote: Andrade explains that every disclosure strategy has a basic rule: never explore just one communication channel. You cannot base all of your disclosure on just one social network, nor can you just be in the digital medium. As this is not the end activity of the salon, it is best to hire a marketing professional or company to help define the best outreach strategy, as well as track the results of the campaigns, but generally have a website. , a professional page on some social networks (minimum of two) and some investment in? SEO? and content marketing is considered the basics for the salon to have an online presence that can help bring in more customers ?, he says.

Invest in customer loyalty: Andrade recommends investing in differentiated promotions and services that make customers return and bring in more. Once again the profile of the public is crucial. A promotion that can be well accepted by one audience can be viewed as an appeal or devaluation by another. Pay close attention to the language with which you will communicate with your audience. Knowing your target audience well is critical to being assertive when talking to them?

Keep an eye on the news: Juliana emphasizes the importance of always being attentive to news, even because it is a sector of great creativity and technology, and therefore is constantly changing.

Approach the customer: Juliana points out that open channels approach the customer's salon. It's good to remember that you don't have to be on all channels (Facebook, Instagram, Snap, Whatsapp), but wherever you are, be good, answer the customer and show yourself alive!

Work with transparency: Juliana points out that a good, prospective approach with consistent service information, with transparency and clarity, offers customer security.

The personal and professional coach concludes: don't forget to take care of the after sales. ? When we offer beauty and well-being, with in-depth knowledge of the processes, beauty techniques, and yet in a beautiful, warm and pleasant environment, satisfaction is guaranteed and the customer comes back with pleasure ?, highlights.

Now you have the main guidelines for setting up a beauty salon. Believe in your dream, but do it with planning and down to earth, surrounding yourself with competent professionals who can help you through the different stages of building your business and day to day work.

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