However, there is more to opening a salon than choosing a name and buying equipment. You need to think carefully about your qualifications, premises, treatments, finances and marketing.
The UK beauty industry includes thousands of businesses, with official statistics covering the number of beauty businesses, their employment and turnover.
Get the Right Qualifications
Before opening a salon, you need the right training for the treatments you plan to offer. Depending on your services, this could include qualifications in beauty therapy, nails, skincare, waxing, lashes or other specialist treatments.
You should check whether your local council requires a licence or registration for particular treatments. The GOV.UK licence finder specifically includes beauty, hairdressing, nails and spa treatments.
It is also important to have suitable insurance, including public liability and treatment or professional liability cover. If you employ staff, you may also need employers' liability insurance.
Choose Your Premises
Finding the right premises is one of the biggest decisions you will make. Look for somewhere that is easy for customers to find, has good visibility and has enough space for treatment rooms, reception, storage and staff facilities.
Before signing anything, check planning requirements, health and safety, toilets, sinks, accessibility and business rates. Business rates depend on the property's rateable value and the relevant multiplier.
For a new salon, a shorter lease can reduce your risk. A one-year lease or flexible agreement may give you time to test the business before committing for several years.
However, a longer lease can provide more security if you are confident about the location. Get professional advice before signing.
Pay for Your Inventory
You will need money for furniture, treatment beds, mirrors, lighting, machines, towels, beauty products and cleaning supplies. Do not spend your whole budget before opening.
Create a list of essential equipment and buy what you actually need for your first treatments. You can then add products as the business grows.
You could fund your inventory through personal savings, a business loan, start-up finance or a combination of these. Keep records of all spending because some business costs, including premises, utilities and equipment, may be allowable expenses depending on your circumstances.
Decide Which Treatments to Offer
It is usually better to start with a clear range of treatments rather than trying to offer everything. Think about what you are qualified and confident to provide and what customers in your area are looking for.
You might specialise in skincare, facials, lashes, brows, nails, waxing or a combination of related treatments. Having a speciality can make your salon easier to recognise and market.
For Fly Lash Beauty, they have honed their specialty as eyebrows and lashes. Meanwhile another beauty salon could specialise only on nails, skin treatments, anti ageing or fat reduction. Carving out a niche can be sensible and encourage repeat business rather than trying to do too much, unless you can bring in a specialist for each one.
For many dental practices in the UK, including Gabriels Hill, they have expanded their services into aesthetic and cosmetic treatments, offering things like microneedling and dermabrasion for skin and T-shape for body contouring. Hence, a beauty salon may not need to have their own premises, but could act as a bolt-on to an originally successful business.
Market Your Salon
Marketing should start before your doors open. Create a simple, professional website showing your treatments, prices, location, opening hours and booking information.
Social media is also important. Post regularly on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, using photos and videos to show your work, introduce treatments and share customer reviews, with permission.
A first-time customer offer can encourage people to try your salon. You could offer a percentage discount, a reduced-price treatment or a welcome package. Avoid making discounts your whole strategy; the aim is to turn first-time visitors into regular customers.
Finally, encourage happy customers to leave reviews and recommend you to friends. Word-of-mouth can help build trust and bring new clients to a growing salon.
Conclusion
Opening a beauty salon requires careful planning, from gaining the right qualifications and choosing suitable premises to budgeting for stock and building a strong online presence.
Start with the treatments you know best, control your costs and focus on giving customers a reason to return. With good preparation, your salon can develop from a small start-up into a trusted local business.
