Hi there! (sorry...you didn’t give your name or location...) And that would be my first piece of advice. Where ever you are, call around and ask what other salons are charging for booth rentals. In my area, the salon suites are based more on the square footage in your suite, rather than “being talked down” but do certainly inquire about move in breaks. Some will give you a few weeks to get started before full rent commences. It helps with the negotiations if you can say “So & So Salon only charges $$$ per week.”
As for start up costs, if you already have your supplies, all you need is the equipment. And if you’ve got part of that already, I’m not seeing a huge cash outlay. However, be prepared to do a great many services as marketing and promotion to introduce yourself to those who work around you. I am in a salon suite, and now that the stylists know me...know my style and can speak with confidence to their clients...they’re referring me. I actually got a referral the other day from someone who’s never said more than “Good morning!” to me since I introduced myself when I moved in. Another factor is my personal experience is that in large metro areas, it seems harder to build loyalty. I’ll have someone come in, rant and rave, promise they’ll be back...even book another appointment...only to cancel and I never see them again. It’s weird. Before the DFW area, I was in a small town environment, and it seemed the news got around and a higher percentage of people would become regulars than seem to be here. Building has been much slower than I anticipated. But the salon suite environment is MUCH better than in the three (OMG yes! THREE!) traditional salons I booth rented here in the area. I agree...a drama free environment is a much better way to spend the day! (Some of you may know that my only drama here is that trading services is fraught with danger...but other than that, I’m in a good place!) Anyway...good luck and keep us posted! I love following a story! Best wishes, Karen Grapevine From: NailPixi Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 8:46 PM To: nailtech@googlegroups.com Subject: NailTech:: Employee to Rental Hey everyone. I am looking to go from an Employee status to Renting a "Suite" in one of those new individual Salon room type places. I am looking for help from anyone who can help. I would like to know about how much an average start up might cost. The place I am looking at already is set up for hair in each room. They would take out the hair washing sink and replace with a regular sink and there are a lot of cupboards. Otherwise I need to provide everything else. I have a standard nail table (think Sally's cheaply) that I could use for a while so I can get other things first, and I am thinking about the Red Dragon Steam Pedicure set up. They cover Utilities and they will pay for plumbing (if I were to get a regular Pedi chair) and also insurance for a year. They also cover the first $400 for a retail purchase (and expect nothing in commission or payback). The rent per week is high ($250 a week), and I am going to try and talk them down. If I can get it talked down, I really want to do this. Also, I will be about 25 minutes from my current location, so I don't expect a lot of clientele to follow. A few maybe, but I really would be re building. I guess I am trying to figure out if this is a good move. I make a good amount of money. I will take a hit for a while, but it isn't why I want to get out of a employee situation. I just want to get out of a drama filled location and I am sick of trying to do everything the right/sanitary way when no one else does. I clean a Pedi tub, but when I do my next Pedi I have to clean it again because someone else used it in between. I just want to be responsible for myself and not have to worry if I am walking into work to do nails, or to clean up after everyone else. (Sorry, I am venting and that isn't what I set out to do) Back on track, I know a lot of people say they would never go back to employee situations. Once people start Renting they "can't believe they didn't do is sooner." And I want to get to that point, but I want to know what I need to get started. Would you get a Small Business loan for start-up? And opinions on what should be a weekly rent would be helpful, but I know that can very from city/state/area. Any help anyone can give is appreciated! Thanks! -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nailtech+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to nailtech@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nailtech+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to nailtech@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.