You’re signed up and ready to go as a solo artist. Now your thought process probably goes something like this. “I’m opening my own suite and I’m going to be my own boss! Yay!” And then you think, “I’m opening my own suite and I’m going to be my own boss! Now what do I do??!!”  

Kelly McCarthy, Director of Training and Member Development for MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza, says, “Welcome to The Suite Life! Once you decide to take your passion and your entrepreneurial spirit to the next level and become a business owner, we recommend focusing on three critical things within the first 30 days to ensure you are the success you are meant to be!”

Real suite stories. Hear how Truman Guzman made his mark on the art of barbering by launching his own business.

Step One: Design Your Business Blueprint 

Consider this phase the “nuts and bolts” of building your business. You must first settle on a name for your business, of course. “Most stylists have something in mind,” says Kelly, “but if not, here are a few things to ask yourself: Is your name original? Does it reflect you and the brand you want to build? Is it loveable? Will it sound modern in years to come? And most important, is it available?” Then you’ll need to review your state requirements for licensing a business and decide if you’re going to register as a DBA or LLC. (These are two different types of corporation structures available to business owners and your accountant can help you decide which is right for you.) Finally, you’ll need to register your business in your state. Every state is different so you can do an internet search to determine your state’s requirements. Need help? “MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza locations provides guidance for new Members in every state,” says Kelly.

Once your name is set, it’s time to obtain your domain name for your website and set up your social media accounts. Kelly likes two sites— www.namechk.com and www.namecheckr.com –both of which allow you to enter your desired domain name and see whether or not it’s available. They will also show you similar names so you can decide if yours is distinctive enough.

Real suite stories. One of the main reasons Denise East went into business for herself  was to be a strong role model for her kids.

Step Two: Build The Path To Your Door

Next you must decide how your clients are going to connect with you. That means establishing your business phone number; creating a logo design for your business; setting up your social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. and deciding whether or not you will create a website for your business.  “These are crucial items you’ll want to have in place so your clients can identify and find you,” explains Kelly. “As part of the MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza Suite Elite member benefits program, we provide the tools, guidance and inspiration for each of our valued suite owners. It starts with the 30-Day Smart Start Guide, comprised of six quick tutorials designed to support each Member on their path to success. One of the tutorials goes into detail on how to create social media accounts, websites and everything else you need for robust client communication.”

Jennifer Thiele always wanted to run her own business but didn’t know how to start…until she found MY SALON Suite.

Step Three: Learn To Love Your Numbers

If you’re a color pro, you know exactly how many ounces of developer to add to your lightener for your signature balayage. If you’re a cutting whiz, you know the precise angle of elevation needed to create swingy, effortless layers. But if you’re new to owning a business, there may be some important numbers you aren’t yet familiar with. “We call them key performance indicators,” explains Kelly, “and they’re the numbers you need to grow your business.” Key performance indicators help you understand how you are doing, and help you set goals to do even better. They include the number of guests you are currently servicing; how often each guest comes to see you (also known as frequency of visit), how many services each guest receives, how many clients purchase retail products and how many first-time guests do and do not return. Understanding these numbers can help you project how much money you will make, target areas that need improvement and devise specific plans and promotions to improve your business where needed. For example, if you see a drop in frequency of visits, you may want to focus on re-booking clients before they leave to prevent service frequency from dropping off.  In many cases, your salon operating software will include applications that track these important numbers and keep them at your fingertips at all times. MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza have teamed with Square to support Members in running their suite businesses with ease.

These important first steps will set you on the road to independence and, advises MY SALON Suite Member Jennifer Thiele, don’t hesitate. “Just do it!” she says. “Jump in and go for it. You can make it happen. I did and it’s the best decision I ever made.”

For more information on thriving as a boss, visit http://www.mysalonsuite.com and http://salonplaza.com