If the financials of leasing salon premises just don’t work out for you, have you considered running a hairdressing business from the comfort of your own home? If you don’t want to travel as a mobile hairdresser and want to be flexible with your working hours, this option might just mean you can go it alone to become the salon entrepreneur you’ve always wanted to be. 

Related: How to attract and retain clients as a mobile hairdresser

Pay close attention to legalities…

To run a business from home, you may need permission from your landlord or mortgage provider to turn the property you reside in into a commercial place of business. It is likely that you will also have to contact your local planning officer/council for a trading permit. Other factors to consider include insurance for your business, particularly if you have expensive assets, i.e stock or tools, as home insurance won’t cover your business. You will also have to consider tax allowances and other legalities that come with being self-employed.

You will also need to give health and safety some forethought as clients will be entering your home. Before you do anything, we highly recommend checking the gov.uk site for more information on starting and running a business from home. Alternatively, HJI has written an informative article outlining some legal advice for hairdressers working from home.

Consider how your home can transform into a business?

It is important to consider the logistical factors that stand between you and your home salon business. For example,  do you have space and the necessary tools to facilitate a client having a cut or colour within your home.

Start by assessing the space you would like to run your hairdressing business from – Ask yourself the following questions honestly:

  • Does your space have the manoeuvring room for you to work around your client’s head?
  • Do you have some comfortable and practical furniture for your clients to sit on?
  • Do you have an accessible property where your clients can park?
  •  Are you happy for clients to have their hair rinsed/washed in your bathroom? If not, colour jobs may not be a feasible service. Instead, think about the services you can offer i.e dry cuts or cuts performed after simply dampening the hair with a spray bottle. Alternatively, if you have the room, you could think about installing a backwash unit to both broaden your service offering and give your clients that extra bit of comfort when having their hair cut or coloured at your home salon.

Once you have assessed the space you have, think about the services and treatments you can offer.

Market yourself well…

We all know that hairdressers find a lot of new business through word of mouth recommendations. Ensure that you position yourself as a local hairdresser who can provide hairdressing services at his/her home. Ask existing clients to recommend you, or think about introductory offers to entice people to give your new home salon a try.

Leverage the power of social media and set up a Facebook and Instagram page that you can encourage friends, family and clients to ‘like’. Include all of your contact details as well as your address so that people are aware where you are based. We also recommend showcasing your talents/skillset with lots of imagery of your work. Don’t forget to regularly update your page – consistency is key!

Related: Social Media Basics: Creating a Successful Facebook Page For Your Salon

Be mindful of difficult clients…

If you are setting up your hairdressing business in your home, you are inviting people you may not have met before into your personal space. We recommend, where possible, if you haven’t met the client before, to have someone with you, whether that’s a family member or a styling assistant.

Difficult clients can, however, appear in any situation and you may find yourself in a challenging situation with a client you’ve styled for years. Disputes of any kind can occur over almost anything so make sure to set expectations from the start. In these situations keep emotions calm and offer a fair and reasonable resolution.

There is a large portion of clients out there who just want a skilful, friendly service without travelling to an established salon – you can provide this! If you are thinking about setting up a home salon business we wish you all the luck!

Time for more salon management tips? Free e-book for salon owners, budding hairdressers and stylists | The benefits of creating an efficient client database | 5 time management tips for salon owners