How to Open a Barber Shop

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By Rob McKelvie
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Open a barber shop

If you like people and would like to have your own business, you might be able to open a barber shop and do pretty well. You’ll need desire, talent, and a license to open a barber shop. See below to understand what’s involved in being successful in this venture.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A Barber’s License
Talent
A Desire to Have Your Own Business

Step 1

Get the Training and License You’ll Need. Schooling and license requirements vary by state. You should count on at least nine to 12 months of barber school full time, or two years if going part time. The cost of barber school ranges from $5,000 to $10,000, plus about $300 for equipment, with the cost being higher in large urban markets. You will absolutely need to get good schooling to pass the license exam and to successfully open a barber shop.
Step 2

Get Experience. You should get experience being a barber working for someone else for at least a year or two before committing to open a barber shop. You will need to know that you are a good barber with good social skills to be successful with your own barber shop. The experience working for someone else could be invaluable before you open your own barber shop. The average salary of a barber is about $27,000, but you will be able to make significantly more with your own business.
Step 3

Evaluate Alternative Locations. Once you’re convinced you want to open a barber shop and have the training and experience to do well, you’ll need to select a location. A good location is important but sites having high traffic will probably be too expensive for you starting out. Affordable rent is a critical factor in your business success. You don’t want to locate near a larger barber shop or hair salon, either. Your location must balance the factors of convenience, competition, and cost (the three C’s of location).
Step 4

Prepare a Budget. When you open a barber shop you will have a number of expenses that need to be considered and budgeted for. Here are the main ones:
• Rent
• Utilities
• TV
• Barber Chair and Child Seat
• Furniture including Tables and Chairs
• Barber Equipment (clippers, shears, brushes, combs, cutting cape, duster, etc.)
• Advertising/Signage

The key consideration when starting your barber shop business is to keep your investment and ongoing expenses low so that you will be profitable from the beginning. Barber supply catalogs can help you with your budgeting. Used chairs and furniture might be better when you are starting out.
Step 5

Prepare a Marketing Plan. You’ll need a marketing plan but it doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Decide who your target market is – for example, men and children. Prepare your prices with one eye on the competition. You’ll want to be a little lower when you open your barber shop. Post your prices prominently. Place a free listing in the yellow page directories.

Tell your friends, relatives and neighbors about your new barber shop and ask for their business. Join a civic organization or two and embark on a networking program designed to build a list of several hundred potential customers with names, addresses and emails. Get decent but inexpensive signage.
Step 6

Get a Small Business Loan if Needed. If you’ll need a loan to get started with furnishings and equipment, try the Small Business Administration. In addition to helping you get a loan at a good rate, they can also provide assistance to you in getting started and in managing your small business. But if you can save up for your barber shop and not need a loan, you’ll be better off.
Step 7

Open Your Barber Shop. Hold a Grand Opening celebration in month one with special discounts to encourage people to try it immediately. Submit a press release to your local newspaper announcing your opening and mentioning the discounts for initial customers. Schedule appointments 15 minutes apart and take walk-ins when you have no appointment customers waiting. Come up with ways to make your Grand Opening fun. Balloons and hard candies are inexpensive and appreciated. Enjoy having your own business.
Step 8

Seek Feedback from the Start. Provide excellent customer service and communication from day one. Really listen to what customers want, ask clarifying questions, and then ask for feedback from all customers. If they don’t have any feedback to give you then assure them how neat and clean they look with their haircuts!

Comments

andreatorres1 said

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on 10/3/2009 yea is nice and good but my question is? if i just want to open business why is it that i need to go to barber school is it a way to just get a license.