A simplified process to establish your successful waxing salon
As more people look for fast, affordable, and simple body hair removal services, waxing salons have had to keep pace. That’s why now is the perfect time to get into the business. While a waxing salon can be extremely profitable, it must be established in the right way to ensure its success. Here’s a step-by-step guide to starting your professional salon waxing business.
Checklist and Budget
Once you’ve decided to open a waxing salon, create a checklist to help you stay on task. Think of everything you’ll need, like professional waxing supplies, staff, operating fees, rent, furniture and decor, marketing, insurance, a point-of-sale system, and more.
Not only will the list keep you organized, but it will also help you come up with your budget. Typically, starting a waxing salon business can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000 up to $100,000, or more, based on the latest estimates.
Obtain Training and License
Proper training and licensing are essential for opening a waxing salon. If you’re going to wax clients, you need the right credentials. Even if you don’t plan on providing the services, ensure you hire staff with proper training and licensing. Since each state varies, check with your state’s board of cosmetology at AACS to determine the requirements.
Find Your Location
Location, location, location. It’s of the utmost importance that you’re in the right area to attract the right clientele. You want to look for places that are easily accessible and convenient. It’s also a good idea to find an area that isn’t already flooded with waxers or other body hair removal services.
Target Your Audience
The most common thinking is that younger women in their teens through 30s are the most interested in waxing. However, consider the fact that older women can also be a viable market for your waxing services. And don’t forget about men because they are increasingly turning to wax to remove excess facial and body hair.
Therefore, when finding your target audience, do the proper market research. Consider factors such as your location, income levels, and ages of potential customers in the area to narrow your clientele.
Create Your Business Plan
Once you’ve gathered all the pertinent information, you’ll want to create your business plan. It should go over every aspect of your business, including its name, info about the staff, start-up costs, comprehensive budget, and more. Once you have a solid business plan, utilize it to secure bank funding to purchase everything you need, from supplies to staff members to decor.
At this point, consider getting additional help to provide you with management skills. If you’re not sure where to start, consider looking up online certifications so you can work on them at your own pace while you get the rest of your business going.
Register with the State
Registering your start-up business with your state can vary depending on whether you’re an LLC, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Additionally, your city or town might require your salon waxing business to have a business license. It’s also a good idea to check with the IRS to see if you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). It is often used to open a business banking account.
Protect Your Business and Clients
Although waxing is typically harmless for most patients, there are rare occurrences where incidents can happen. In these cases, it’s best to have protection in place for your waxing salon and the customer. Business insurance is a must to protect your assets against legal recourse.
It’s also prudent to have clients read and sign a liability waiver before any session. The waiver educates clients about potential risks like allergic reactions, sensitivity, and more. When clients sign, it releases you from responsibility in case of unintended consequences due to a waxing session.
Marketing Your Business
A good waxing salon is nothing without a good marketing plan in place. Whether you hire outside help or do it yourself, you need to show why you’re different and why clients should come to you. Social media is always a good tool, as well as throwing a grand opening party or doing fun giveaways.
Perhaps you offer niche services that other waxers don’t, or maybe you only use certain waxing products. These can all be selling points to help you get customers and retain them for a successful waxing business.