To many stylists, owning a salon is the ultimate goal. Who doesn’t like being your own boss and having the freedom to express your own creativity while making a living? For those starting out, renting a salon suite is a great first step to achieving that dream.

However, it takes more than passion and creativity to become a successful solopreneur. To ensure your success, you must be fully prepared mentally, emotionally, and financially. Below are 6 secrets you must know before moving into your own salon suite.

Have the right mindset.

Everything begins with the right mindset. Having that drive to succeed no matter what is what separates successful entrepreneurs and those who aren’t.

Being a solo entrepreneur is no easy task. You need to make crucial business decisions and will encounter many challenges. The clearer and stronger your mindset, the more resilient you will become in times of difficulty.

Know your brand.

Developing and maintaining a brand that strongly resonates with your target market helps build customer recognition. If you intend to cater to potential clients who are maintaining a holistic lifestyle, your website, social media, products, and services should be aligned with their values. This helps create an emotional connection that can last a lifetime and earn you more referrals. As an independent hair stylist, having a loyal clientele is essential to your success.

Establish your mission.

In addition, your salon must establish a mission or purpose that represents your goals and values. This should be powerful enough to make you jump out of bed, excited start your day. Are you aiming to be a fully holistic salon? Do you want to be recognized in your local community as a leader in your field?

Having a clear-cut mission and sense of purpose helps establish a solid foundation for your business and guide your professional decisions.

Have a system in place.

As solo suite stylist, you will be working on your own so you need a reliable system that can help you manage all your tasks. From booking, customer relationship management, marketing, to tax planning, there are several business tools that can help you be more productive and efficient.

TIP: As a small, cash-based business, you will be overseeing every aspect of your business. Thus, making you a target of the IRS. We recommend forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) to give you more flexibility in terms of filing deductions, which include:

• Hair Care Product and Tools
• Salon Furniture, Equipment, and Space Rental
• Training and Continuing Education
• Advertising and Marketing
• Licenses and Insurance
• Meals and Entertainment Deductions
• Capital Expenses (Start-up Costs, Business Improvements, etc.)

Maximize your space.

Your salon suite will be limited in space, so you should maximize every square foot. Keep it clean and organized by displaying select marketing materials and using shelves to display your products.

Furthermore, your space should reflect your brand identity. Using green decors like plants and sustainable, eco-friendly furnishings send a message that you are fully committed to being a holistic hair salon. Diffuse organic essential oils to ensnare the senses and create a relaxing ambience. And lastly, only display products that are made with biodynamic-organic and fair-trade ingredients.

Sell retail.

Selling retail is crucial to your salon’s growth so even if you are limited in space, it is important that you have a dedicated retail display. Take advantage of your vertical space by installing shelves on the walls and using your wash and work station as your retail area.

Another option is signing up for a dropship program. Simply Organic Beauty allows salon owners to place an order in behalf of their clients and then we ship them directly to the client’s door. This method allows you to keep your suite less cluttered without missing out on that extra income.