A Detailed Guide on How to Open a Hair Salon in the UK

The UK is considered a market with a great possibility of opening a hair salon. This post will serve you with the knowledge, tools, as well as strategies to ensure you open and operate a successful hair salon in quite a dynamic and stiff competition market in the UK.

Overview of the hair salon industry in the UK

The trend towards hair salon services in the UK remains strong. In the UK, the hair industry has over 42,000 salons, and the sector is quickly growing. UK industry statistics indicate that a typical small to medium-sized hair salon might make an annual revenue of £50,000 to £100,000 or more.

Hair salon business profitability fluctuates depending on the sector. Some shops will earn 10% to 15% profit margins, while others can bring large margins by proper cost management and pricing. By the end of this post, you will know how to generate profit and also maintain quality products.

5 steps to open a hair salon in the

As said before, the demand for UK hair salons is still on the growth. Here are the key steps to consider when opening your hair salon in the UK:

Obtain required licenses

The UK government has some regulations for business start-ups in the hair salon sector that aim to make the customers and workers of the salon safe and in good health. This means you must first obtain the necessary licenses and permits.

Moreover, you as the owner, and your employees who will operate the business need to have GNVQ Level 2 certification and be qualified according to Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) standards. Furthermore, you must also register your business entity with the authorities. This is usually by incorporating your salon business with Companies House in case you run it as a limited company or liaising with the HMRC where you act as a trader, wholesaler, or a partnership.

Market research and planning

First of all, it is important to conduct extensive market research and write a detailed business plan, as these are the steps required for the opening of a successful hair salon in the UK.

The initial step is to do in-depth market research and write a business plan which are key requirements of establishing a thriving hair salon in the UK.

Market research provides the company’s management with valuable information about the demand for hair services, consumer preferences, competitors, and industry trends. This process will guide you in looking for new growth options, keeping the expectations and demands of your customers at the center.

Find reliable sources to get high-quality hair extensions

Finding manufacturers who have bulk wholesale sources, affordable prices, and superior quality to meet the strict standards of the UK market, is crucial to keeping your salon’s image of excellence and guaranteeing the client’s happiness.

Due to the shortage of UK hair extensions manufacturers, most of the hair salons often buy their hair from overseas sources like China, India, and Vietnam to cut costs while maintaining the quality.

One reliable hair factory that can be considered is Gla Hair – the most famous UK hair extension manufacturer.

• Gla Hair is a Vietnam-based hair factory that manufactures and distributes hair extensions directly. With many years of expertise in the field, they have many skilled personnel, a huge scale allowing them to offer affordable costs, speedy production, and assured quality.
• They specialize in supplying wholesale hair extensions to the UK hair salon industry. In this sector, they have more than 1500 wholesale clients and about 100 tons of hair extensions exported.
• Their hair products are created mostly using high-quality Vietnamese human hair with a diverse selection including clip-in, tape-in, tip-in, and hair bulk.

Overall, by choosing to partner with Gla Hair, hair salons in the UK can access a reliable and cost-effective supply of high-quality hair extensions, differentiating themselves in the competitive market landscape.

Choose a location and design your salon

The best option is to locate prime locations, and densely populated areas to easily attract customers the streets with lots of people, shopping centers, and commercial areas are the ideal places to target consumers. After picking a suitable place, you should think about the style and arrangements you are going to make in the salon.

Build a skilled team and promote salon services

Identify suitable persons according to their expertise, experience, and achievements. Conduct in-depth interviews and practical assessments, to determine their potential for creativity, skill, and professionalism.

In addition, incessant training and development programs helping upgrade the abilities and knowledge of your employees are also a must. You should also allow employees to keep up with the latest beauty trends, tips, product updates, and innovations within the hair extensions market.

Additionally, you need to come up with a well-rounded marketing strategy including both online and offline to achieve your marketing goals effectively.

Following these five steps will put you on track to run a profitable hair salon in the UK. To succeed in this competitive sector, remember to remain devoted, adaptive, and customer-focused.  Best of luck in your entrepreneurial path!

Read more business articles related to Sales, Marketing,  Advertising, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Management, Education, and Industry at SugerMint.