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One of the earliest home-based businesses run by women was home beauty salons. Today, home salon services offer varied beauty treatments such as facials, cosmetic consulting, pedicures, and nail treatments, in addition to offering haircuts to the entire family. Sue Marx has run her home salon for twenty years. After discovering she would no longer receive a commission for part-time work at the beauty shop where she was employed, she promptly quit and began to offer full hair service salon in her apartment. She and her husband saved to build their house, which includes a salon they designed.
Marx went from just cutting women's hair to the hair of entire families. "It makes it more convenient for families to all come together for their haircuts these days," says Marx, "because families' lifestyles are so hectic with work, school, sports and other activities." Marx has to renew her cosmologist license each year and her full service salon is inspected every year by a state inspector. She has never had to advertise—all her customers come from word-of-mouth referrals. She has steady work and prefers to work only from Wednesday afternoons to Saturdays at noon, leaving time for her two sons and husband. Her salon has its own business telephone line and electrical line, separate from her house. Marx was able to start with good used equipment and has had her chairs reupholstered when she wanted to remodel her shop. Her husband has built cabinets, installed shelves, and finished the decor to Marx's specifications. "It's been a good business for my family. The customers have been great in scheduling appointments whenever I have wanted to take a scheduled or impromptu day or week off." Start-Up Costs And Financing Sources * $3,000-$30,000 or more for equipment and furnishings * Costs vary for the services you offer, the new or good used equipment you buy, the costs of your products, etc. This does not include the cost of your training and licenses or permits to operate from your home. * Personal savings, small business loan. Pricing Guidelines Check with the going rate of hair, skin, and nail care services and make your prices competitive for saloon services supplies. If you have a home salon, you can offer lower prices because you will not have to pay rent, but you still have to figure in your overhead and expenses to run your business.
If you do not have the training to offer additional salon education services, you can have specialists offer their full salon education services on certain days of the week at your salon. They pay you a percentage of their take, or pay rent for the space used, or pay a commission for each customer you schedule for them.
Marketing And Advertising Methods And Tips * Encourage word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers. * Offer special deals for the entire family. * Offer coupons in advertising mail services for a free facial or nail treatment. Essential Equipment Home office for salon services supplies, standard equipment and supplies, business line and answering machine, service, or voice mail. Also, commercial supplies such as hair dryers, chemicals, linen, and fixtures. Recommended Training, Experience, Or Needed Skills * Attend cosmetology or beautician schools. * Work in a commercial salon for the experience and to develop salon education services. * Enjoy working with people. Income Potential From $20,000 to $50,000 and up, depending on your clients, the kinds of personal care services you offer, commissions from other beauty specialists, sale of related beauty products, etc. Type Of Business In-home Best Customers You can cater to entire families or certain age groups. Helpful Tips * Listen to what your customers want and try to make Marshall Salon service available. * Keep up-to-date on the latest trends and products through trade shows and publications, presented by Marshall Salon services. * Know what licensing and training requirements you need for full service salon for guys. * Check the local and state government regulations regarding east coast salon services.
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