Introducing build a business - your guide to starting out as a salon owner

This month HJ and HJi are launching the Build a Business initiative, which is aimed at helping aspirational salon owners, entrepreneurs just staring out or old hands wanting to reboot their existing salon business and build strong foundations for a ­successful future. To ensure you receive the best possible advice, we have enlisted the help of two of the industry’s most respected names – multi award-winning salon owner Michael Van Clarke and top salon ­business motivator and educator Antony Whitaker. Between them, these two giants of hairdressing have all the experience and knowledge you need to ensure your business is built on strong ­foundations. Says Antony: “Building a business is like building a house – it needs strong foundations. Setting up the essentials from the word go has little to do with the fun, sexy, creative side of actually running a business, but if you are not prepared to invest time at the beginning you are building on sand, and your enterprise will be poorly equipped. Like that badly built house, your ­business will not survive the first storm.” Maestro mentor Michael Van Clarke adds: “A business survives on its quality standards – the ability to deliver on its promises or client expectations every time.  "The bigger the business grows beyond one person, the more it relies on effective systems and procedures. Well-designed processes take the strain, delivering the right outcome with little effort. Checklists and supervision ensure they are adhered to. Like a living organism, a business’s systems are there to be evolved to meet the changing environment and business goals. "The lack of good systems leads to a management style that involves always fighting fires, but never solving the underlying causes. Eventually the pressures of working this way defeats the manager, and suppresses business growth.”Head to HJi this month for top advice from Antony and Michael on making the move from employee to employer. Here are Antony’s tips for starting out  • Start with a clear vision of what you want to achieve – not just what it will look like, but how it will operate, what the culture of the business will be like. • Develop financial systems with your accountant to set up simple but clear budgets and financial controls. • Develop marketing designed to generate new clients, turn them into regulars and keep them as long as possible. • Develop HR systems – job descriptions and regular appraisals, for example – so your team know what is expected of them. • Develop operating systems to ensure consistent standards across all areas of the business, from stock control to the way refreshments are presented.   For more informative and inspirational business news and features subscribe to HJ