Expert tips on taking over / opening a hairdressing salon

 


Opening a new salon or taking over a hairdressing salon is a big task. A lot has to and needs to be considered, from the first approval to the wall color. We have therefore put together a few aspects and important considerations for you. Before starting, you must have an effective barbershop business plan.

The takeover of an existing hairdressing salon

When taking over a hairdressing salon, it makes sense to first find out about its location and the catchment area to indicate the purchasing power or the assumed target group. If an existing customer base can be taken over, this is essential and represents good start-up capital. Furthermore, knowledge of the target group and the area around the salon is necessary for future marketing measures, which should be adapted to this group. Furthermore, it is advisable to look at the existing hairdressing equipment and the technical installations, whether they are in order and how much should be invested in the repair and renovation.

What requirements does a retail space have to meet for a salon?

The good news is that almost any retail space can be turned into a hairdressing salon with a professional interior designer like Bertz at your side. The basic requirements "electricity" and "sanitary facilities" are always present. The gradient for the wastewater must be taken into account so that the main fundamental challenge is to get the technical installations under control. This also results in spatial planning. You should also attach importance to a sufficient wall surface to ensure efficient use of the space. For example, free-standing cutting places give away a lot more space.

What do I need to open a new hair salon?

In any case, when a new salon is opened, a high level of personal contribution is required on the operator's part; a lot of energy and motivation are essential. The help of a professional fitter is recommended, as good hairdresser fitters work together with specialist staff from various industries that become important in the course of salon planning and implementation. The first thing is an overall concept to develop the corporate identity or to create a corporate design. Then, together with your interior designer, you can work out the target group for which you are offering a salon - where is your niche, what sets your salon apart from others? All further steps in designing the rooms, the interior design, are based on this overall concept. Furnishers often also work with advertising agencies such as pure, taking care of the corporate design.

Furthermore, in most cases, all water and sewage installations must be planned and installed from scratch.

In addition to the design and basic aspects such as interior fittings and water installations, there are, of course, building regulations that must be complied with and permits that must be obtained. The most important are briefly listed here:

 

Register as a craft in the Chamber of Crafts

Apply for static approval for structural changes

Request for a change of use at the regulatory office if the premises were not previously used for business purposes, for example

Application for new outdoor advertising (is usually done by the executing company)

Ensure adequate ventilation, non-smoking protection, a break room, a changing room, and toilets

From a certain company size, a guarantee of a staff room with daylight and evidence of parking spaces

How long would it take for me to be able to start a new salon?

The period from the start of planning to the final opening of a hairdressing salon. This depends, among other things, on how sophisticated or labor-intensive the overall concept is. As a rule, it is a period of a few months to half a year. During this time, the concept must first be completed, after which the details and detailed planning can begin. First, work plans are drawn up for furniture parts and technical installations, as many parts have to be manufactured individually. The technical installations are followed by a dry construction phase in which the walls and floors are prepared, followed by the final interior design.

Are there grants and assistance for start-ups?

Special start-up programs from the IHK and the Chamber of Crafts, which salon founders from the hairdressing trade can also use. Here it is advisable to get in direct contact with the respective chamber. There are also tax advisors and consultants who specialize in hairdressing salons and who are very familiar with job-specific issues and the legal situation for this trade.

The most common mistakes when opening a salon and how to avoid them

Wanting to do everything alone - the right help and advice from specialist staff and artisans are essential for sustainable success and efficient and professional implementation of the work steps.

No concept - as already described several times, a coherent and well-thought-out concept for the salon is necessary to plan the interior design and the entire marketing strategy. This is the only way to ensure that the salon concept addresses the right target group over the long term.

No marketing strategy and no marketing budget - after six months at the latest, when the customers' initial curiosity has subsided, the first dry spell comes. At this point, marketing strategies that match the salon concept must be used to promote the hairdressing salon and keep it in the customers' minds.

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