Start and run a successful beauty salon : a comprehensive guide to managing or acquiring your own salon

273 Pages·2009·1.67 MB·English

by  Bijan Yousef-Sadeh

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The right of Bijan Yousef-Zadeh and Sally Medcalf to be identified as authors of this work
has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

© 2009 Sally Medcalf and Bijan Yousef-Zad eh

First published in electronic form 2009

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978 1 84803 374 0

Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions, Tavistock, Devon
Typeset by TW Typesetting, Plymouth, Devon

NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance and
no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular
circumstances on statements made in this book. Laws and regulations may be complex and
liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant authorities
before making personal arrangements.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements xi
Preface xiii
1. Starting out in the beauty industry 1
Should I own my own business? 1
How and where to start 5
Opening a salon 11
Planning your beauty salon business 12
2. The salon 17
Choosing a location 17
Deciding on size 19
Settling on a name and logo 20
Buying, renting or leasing 21
Buying or renting empty premises 22
Buying an existing business 24
Planning the design of your salon 25
Selecting your tradespeople 26

Planning the interior layout of your salon 27
Obtaining a Special Treatment Licence 35
Installing sound proofing 35
Playing music in the salon 36
Using flowers and candles 36
Putting together a window display 36
Installing a security alarm 37
Ensuring salon safety 37
Disposing of toxic and hazardous waste 38
Installing electricity and gas 38
Heating the salon 39
Ventilating the salon 39
Lighting the salon 39
Purchasing the basics 40
v
START AND RUN A SUCCESSFUL BEAUTY SALON
3. Salon management 41
The manager’s role 41
Providing an efficient and friendly service 42
Maintaining hygiene and cleanliness 44
Disposing of waste 46
Organising laundry 47
Getting the first impression right 47
Employing professional, trained and informed staff 47
Managing the reception 48
Controlling stock 58
Making the most of your windows 61
Cancellations and no-shows 61
Preventing accidents 63
Dealing with emergencies 64
Dealing with injuries 66
Ensuring fire safety 68
Keeping your salon secure 71
4. Qualifications, training and skills 76
The professional beautician 76
What can I study? 77
Choosing a qualification 78
How do I choose where to study? 82

Further education 83
Training 84
Running staff meetings 87
Offering incentives 89
Developing key skills 89
Professional conduct 91
Joining professional organisations 93
5. Staff and employment 97
Renting a room 102
Job roles 102
Finding the right person 103
Advertising for staff 108
Selecting for interview 110
vi
CONTENTS
The interview 110
Selecting your candidate 114
Induction day 115
Contract of employment 116
PAYE and National Insurance 117
Sick pay and maternity leave 118
Keeping an employee file 119
The salon file or staff file 119
Salon rules, policies and procedures 120
Staff appraisals 123
Retaining staff 124
Disciplinary and grievance procedure 128
6. Clients and treatments 132
Dealing with customers and clients 132
Booking clients 132
Gaining and retaining clients 133
Conducting a client survey 134
Receiving injury claims 137
How to avoid complaints 139
Client care 141
Client record cards 144
The Data Protection Act 145
Client consultation 146

Treatments 147
Preparing for treatments 148
Facial treatments 150
Skin peels 151
Eyelash extensions 151
Cosmetic procedures 152
Body treatments 152
Nail services 155
Acrylic, fibreglass or gel nails 156
7. Selecting products, equipment and furniture 157
q Products 158
Selecting your product range 158
What to look for in a product range 159
vii
START AND RUN A SUCCESSFUL BEAUTY SALON
How to choose a product range 160
Opening orders 161
Mail order or wholesale brand ranges 163
Wholesalers 163
Producing your own branded products 164
Buying your products 165
7. q Equipment and furniture 167
Treatment room essentials 167
Waxing equipment 168
Electrolysis machines 169
Laser and IPL machines 169
Should I invest in laser? 171
How to choose a laser machine 171
Facial equipment 175
Micro-dermabrasion 177
Micro-current 177
Oxygen treatment machines 178
Micro-pigmentation 178
Equipment for body treatments 179
Sunbeds 181
Spray tanning machines 182
Nail equipment 183
Mobile therapy equipment 184

Second-hand equipment 185
Renting equipment 187
Leasing or hire purchase 187
Buying furniture 187
8. Business management 189
Having objectives and a plan 189
What are your business objectives? 190
Writing your business plan 191
Cash flow 195
How to manage 196
Staying in control 203
Using computers and the internet 205
Recession, credit crunch and difficult times 206
viii
CONTENTS
9. Finance, money and accounts 208
Financing your new business 208
How much capital do I need? 208
For how long do I need to borrow? 209
How should I raise the money? 210
Money 214
Client payments 214
Petty cash and floats 216
Security 216
Accounts 216
Daily records 217
Expenditure 218
Salon takings 218
Pricing 219
Tax, VAT and National Insurance 220
Insurance 223
10. Marketing, advertising and promotion 225
Identifying your market 225
Marketing 226
Creating your market 228
Advertising 231
Promotions 234

11. Formula for success 236
The You Factor 236
Analysing your own You Factor 240
Selling and negotiating 242
What you need to run a successful salon 248
What could cause disaster 248
All the dos for a successful business 249
All the don’ts in your business 250
Making clients love your salon 251
Finally ... 252
Index 253
ix