want to learn how to start a hair salon business in Nigeria? We’ve created a comprehensive article about starting, running, and making a profit from making hair for others.
Did you know that making hair for people is one of the most profitable business ideas in Nigeria? Come to think of it; no matter how hard things are, people are always ready to spend on their hair, as they want to look good.
Many of us always want to look smart and sharp. We spend a lot of money and time not only on the type of dress to wear but our entire grooming.
This is especially true of women, in fact, some of them if not all have a mini make-up kit in their handbag whenever they are going out.
Anywhere they get to they always want to look at their best. You see them checking the mirror to see how good-looking they still are after few hours they have stepped out and of course, they would want the image in the mirror to be attractive.
That is why a Beauty salon or hair salon will hardly run out of customers as it is frequently patronized by ladies who delight in looking good at all times.
For the ladies, looking good cannot be overemphasized for that reason the beauty salon is without a doubt one of the most visited centers in almost every society.
There is a popular saying that says “looking good is good business,” the saying has been true whether for those who look good or those making others look good.
Everyone loves looking good and as you have already know making one’s hair is one of the major pillars of looking good.
As mentioned in the article I wrote on how to start and run a successful barbershop, the way we are dressed will determine the way we will be addressed.
The business has been listed as one of those businesses that yield instant revenue on a regular and consistent basis.
So, if you’re thinking of starting one but don’t know how to go about it, just relax and read on to find out what it takes to start the business.
A hair salon business could be a very lucrative business because fashion is an ongoing process. It is one business that brings in money on a daily basis.
One major advantage of this business is that it can be started anywhere, be it in your living room, at the corner of your compound, or in a small rented space.
Steps On How to Start A Successful Hair Salon In Nigeria
While this business is believed to be dominated by womenfolk recent research shows that guys are starting, managing, and successfully running a hair salon.
And what is more, some ladies prefer to have a guy make their hair! Many hairdressing salons now have men as a stylist who gives better service even than women.
Using this article as a guide, find below the necessary steps to take in order to establish a hair salon business.
Planning Stage
The hair salon business is one of the daily income businesses in Nigeria. But don’t just set out without planning. Before you dive into the business, you need to do some extensive and thorough research into the business.
Ask yourself: Are you planning to run the business personally or are you planning to seek professional help by employing skilled staff?
If you are planning to run the business by yourself, are you well equipped with the necessary skills? If you will be recruiting skilled workers, do you have adequate knowledge to decipher if they are providing customers with top-class services and satisfying their needs adequately?
What is your target customer base? Which locations and areas will be favorable for the business? What is your goal, vision, and capital?
Acquire Adequate Training
Like the counterpart business barbing salon, hair styling is an art. You need to learn the necessary skills to bring out the beauty in your customers.
You must also be able to think and create new styles. So take time out to learn as your personal involvement in the business will determine to a large extent the amount of profit you will make.
Remember that your customer will likely have an event she wants to attend before stepping into your shop. Therefore, your work will be in the face of the public practically all day long, the artistry of your skills speak for you in volumes you might not be able to match with your voice or presence.
People are ready to pay large amounts as long as they know you have the skills to meet up with the charges you are asking for.
Whether you intend to work on the hair yourself or will seek to employ workers while you oversee the running of the salon, it is important that you have in-depth knowledge of making different styles of hair such as fixing of weaves, braiding of hair,
Ghana weaving, retouching, and washing. Even if you are talented naturally, it is advisable to find a reputable hairdresser to learn the trade from.
You will be learning not only how to make hair but also other rudiments necessary to running and managing a successful business.
You cannot rush into the business all in the name of becoming self-reliant. You only get yourself into a bigger problem because if you did not give satisfactory service, you are bound to be shouted at, yelled at and you will be losing customers. Take some time off and learn what the business demands.
Business Plan
Write out a detailed business plan that will give you a clearer view of what you are about to venture into.
This will include making projections, taking surveys, setting up a management plan, coming up with vision and mission statements, determining how far you want to go with the business, how to raise capital, and so on.
The amount of capital to be raised is directly proportional to the projections written in your business plan.
If you were planning to start on a small scale then you will be requiring a lower capital than someone who was planning to start on a mega phase.
The business plan will act in two major ways, firstly helping you as a guide to running the business all through the business’ lifecycle. Secondly, the business plan affords you the business owner the opportunity to get investors or raise loans from banks should there be a need for extra capital beyond your capacity.
It is important to keep this super concise, yet compelling. It’s the very first thing an investor or lender sees. You can request the service of a professional in this regard.
Many people who may decide to start small can use any of the best loan apps in Nigeria to borrow some funds (the likes of FairMoney, Carbon, Branch, etc.).
Secure An Ideal Location
Finding a good location is very important when it comes to starting a beauty salon business. So, you’ll have to think deeply about this.
How easy can my clients locate me? Is the area commercialized enough? Ask yourself questions like this before you finally settle for one.
If you have done a good job at the planning stage you will already have different ideal locations at your disposal. Wherever you set up shop should have good traffic, high visibility, and be near your target demographic.
The surrounding area should be well-lit, safe, and attractive. It’s best if it’s amidst other popular businesses.
It will cost more for a prime location, but it’s better to pay more upfront because you’ll attract more customers and grow your business much faster.
If however, you do not have enough money to rent a shop now, you can actually start from home and offer home services.
Alternatively, you can look for any available shed in your area where you can negotiate with a little amount. It can be started at any available space given the place is neat and well kept. A dirty environment is not ideal for this kind of business.
The location has to be easily accessible. If you go and get a space in a corner or in a hidden location, you may not succeed.
Try as much as possible to stay away from the competition. Don’t situate yourself directly next to a bigger professional salon. Instead, try to stake out a place where you’ll be the only salon for a few blocks.
Make sure that you get a shop space in an area with a constant power supply and ensure that there is a good source of water supply to ensure a smoother running of your business.
Beautify the Shop
Making your business place comely and inviting to your customers goes beyond just putting in chairs and tables.
If you want people to come to your shop and keep coming back, you should ensure a high level of cleanliness, both personal and environmental, your equipment should be neatly arranged, and modern equipment should be used in preference to ‘old school’ equipment.
In setting up your shop, you can make use of an interior designer. Ladies love to look beautiful, come to think of it when they slay in the latest Ankara styles in vogue, and you give a matching hairstyle.
Get a variety of Hair Styling Chairs that come in different colors and forms. Set up a hairstyling station that will have a mirror, storage drawers, tool compartments or tool holders, and an electrical outlet.
There are various designs and amenities provided with the hairstyling station that you can choose from. Arrange neatly the Carts And Trollies.
Purchase Your Equipment
Your initial survey should help you have an idea of the best set of equipment on the market, as well as the prices of the equipment.
It is imperative that you spend wisely at this stage by purchasing top-quality equipment so that you do not keep spending money on purchases and repairs.
To keep up with the different hairstyling demands of your customers, you will need the latest hair styling tools.
Always check some hair styling magazines to get an idea about the latest styling tools that are used in this business. There is a whole lot of equipment needed or a hair salon. It includes:
Standing dryer(s), blow dryers, Towels, Towel warmers, Shampoo, relaxer, Sterilizing machines, rollers, Clippers, Straighteners, trimming scissors, curling iron, curling comb, Brushes, Combs, Wash hair basin, power Generating set, Television sets and Cable TV for entertaining your waiting customers, Air conditioners (optional, standing fan in combination with ceiling fan is an alternative), Manicure kits, Pedicure kits, Refrigerator, etc.
Employ Staff
As your business grows and you expand, you will need to bring in qualified stylists to assist you to manage your growing business.
When seeking staff to work in your shop, you should ensure that the prospective staffs have quite a bit of experience.
It can be disastrous for your business if you have the wrong set of hands and a reputation for poor services by your inexperienced staff.
Take your time in employing staff and provide as much on-the-job training for them so they can provide the best services possible.
Set up rules and regulations for your staff so that there can be decorum at your place of business. If the business is quite large you might need to employ a business manager and an accountant for specialization purposes.
In addition, you must also put together your stylist training program. They need to understand the goal and mission statement of your business and be ready to work accordingly so that there will be uniformity in their approach.
All of your stylists should know the amount of time they have per service, and how much product to use on each customer based on styles of hairdo.
Employees don’t ever notice wastage until you show them how to care about it. It’s not their money they’re wasting, it’s yours. Protect your investment and make sure you have a policy/standard operating procedure for everything.
Providing Security
It is very important to be security-conscious and invest in security for your business as there are several loopholes in this business as you have several people visiting your shop daily that you do not even know or have any details about.
You have a lot of things that could get lost, cash, customers’ properties, work equipment, etc. Customers also want to have a feeling of safety when they come to your business place, the more reason why you should invest in security and be security conscious.
Publicity and Marketing Plan
Publicity is seen as the backbone of any business, any business that refuses to carry out publicity strategies is like operating in the darkness where no one notices you.
That will do no good for the business. It is important to put your business in the face of the public, let them know what you do in as many ways as you can.
You can make use of popular advertising means like flyers, billboards, posters, handbills, word of mouth, television, and radio, and social media.
You can also create a system that involves your customers in helping you publicize your business while they get benefits from each successful referral they make.
You can run special promotions and competitions as well to attract customers on a large scale especially during festive seasons. Another means of creating awareness is by the work of your hands.
If your work is really good, it would advertise for you as people seeing such a nice hairdo would want to inquire about where it was made and also get theirs made there.
Hair Salon Business Tips
Pricing: An important part of your beauty salon development plan is the appropriate pricing of your services. The price you set should correspond with the economic state of the business location.
If you’re in an urban area with larger homes and other commercial buildings, you can price your services accordingly, and even offer outstanding beauty and spa services.
Regular maintenance: Another operational task that’s required to uphold the image of your salon is regular maintenance.
You have to keep the salon looking and smelling fresh and clean so it’s inviting at all times, no matter how much traffic comes through the door or how bad the weather is.
Ensure you hold to high esteem cleanliness and hygiene in and around your business location.
Customer Satisfaction: Customers expect excellent service when they enter a salon. With tight competition in this industry today, no one can afford to risk losing a client through inappropriate behavior or poor performance.
It is often easy to turn clients off. This client will then circulate complaints with their peers and the bad publicity spreads. This is not good for the business.
That is the very reason why you have to let every individual in your management know how their performance affects the business as a whole.
A hairstylist should be of very good behavior when attending to his or her customers as bad behavior will only chase away your customers and give your business a bad name.
It is also important that you provide quality hair and beauty operations so that your clients will keep coming back for maintenance.
Ensure that you go out of your way to make your clients feel valued and appreciated. And focus on giving them the best possible experience each time.
With their consent, you can get their contact information like WhatsApp number or email address so that you can easily send them updates on new products/services, and any special offers you have.
Offer other services: It is important to note that you do not necessary need to limit your shop space to only be used as a hair salon; other forms of businesses can be run concurrently thereby maximizing profits. Some of these services are listed below:
- Pedicure and manicure
- Sales of hair accessories
- Sales of refreshment
- Sales of Nail accessories and cosmetics
- Make up studio
- Collaborate with a barbing salon
Conclusion On Starting a Hair Salon Business In Nigeria
This business is highly regarded as one which produces a great amount of profit, especially on a daily basis.
Proper investment and management measures will result in gaining a great deal in profits. Despite the fluctuations of the economy, the beauty industry continues to blossom.
Well, this is because many of the services offered by salons simply can be difficult to carry out at home.
You may be faced with some challenges, it is important not to give up until you’ve tried everything possible to make it work.
Most successful businesses today didn’t get to the level they are without facing one obstacle or the other. The challenges when you overcame will make you more stronger and experienced.
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