Nice — here’s a practical, step-by-step guide you can use to start a beauty salon from zero. I made it action-focused (what to do now), included a startup checklist, an equipment & staffing list, sample monthly cost categories, and a 30/60/90-day launch plan. I also flagged the most important legal/health items you must check locally.

Step-by-Step: Start a Beauty Salon

1) Decide your salon concept & niche (Day 0–3)

• Pick the type: hair only, full service (hair + nails + facials), express blow-dry, luxury spa, bridal makeup, or budget neighbourhood salon.
• Define target customers (age, income, busy professionals, students, bridal market).
• Pick a name and 1–2 clear differentiators (price, speed, organic products, home service, evening hours).

Why it matters: a clear niche shapes location, pricing, equipment and marketing. liveplan.com+1

2) Market research & simple business plan (Week 1)

• Visit competitors (3–6 nearby salons): note prices, busiest times, services, strengths/weaknesses.
• Estimate demand: how many haircuts/appointments per day could a salon in that area get?
• Write a 1-page business plan: mission, services, pricing, 12-month sales forecast, startup budget, break-even estimate.

Use templates (SBA / LivePlan style) to keep it short and bank/investor ready. Small Business Administration+1

3) Choose location & negotiate lease (Week 2–4)

• For walk-in salons: street/market frontage, visibility, parking, foot traffic.
• For appointment-based/luxury: quieter, easy access, good interior potential.
• Ask about permitted uses, rent + deposit, length (prefer 1–2 year with renewal option).
• Check zoning and whether you need special permits for signage or renovations. goodcall.com

4) Legal registrations & permits (Week 2–6)

• Register business entity (sole-proprietor, partnership, private company depending on country).
• Get local business license / trade license; get salon/cosmetology license if required in your jurisdiction.
• Health & safety compliance: sanitation standards, sterilization, waste disposal — many local health departments inspect salons. Carry liability insurance. If renovating, check building permits. biz.booksy.com+1

(Important: exact permits vary by country/city — confirm with your municipal office or relevant cosmetology board.)

5) Services, menu & pricing (Week 3)

• Create a menu with 6–10 core services (e.g., haircut, blow-dry, colour, manicure, facial, threading/wax).
• Price competitively based on local competitors and your target profit margin.
• Build add-ons (deep conditioning, scalp massage, express polish) to increase average ticket.

6) Fit-out, equipment & supplies (Week 4–8)

• Essentials: styling chairs, shampoo bowls, mirrors, work stations, reception desk, waiting chairs, trolleys, hairdryers, scissors, clippers, sterilizer (autoclave or UV), towels, capes, bowls/brushes. ZOLMI+1
• Buy quality for high use items (chairs, shampoo sinks), source consumables from wholesale suppliers to reduce cost.
• Plan storage and laundry for towels, ventilation for chemical services, and good lighting for color work.

7) Hire & train staff (Week 6–10)

• Roles: stylists/technicians, receptionist, cleaner (part-time), manager (optional).
• Hire experienced stylists or junior stylists with strong customer skills. Offer commissions or fixed pay + commission.
• Create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sanitation, service steps, customer greeting, payment handling.

8) Systems: POS, appointments & accounting (Week 6–10)

• Use salon POS / booking software (appointments, reminders, inventory, staff scheduling).
• Set up a business bank account, simple accounting (spreadsheet or accounting app) and track daily sales/expenses.
• Implement digital payments and contactless options if possible.

9) Marketing & launch (Week 8–12)

• Create Google Business Profile and social accounts (Instagram, Facebook). Post before/after photos and staff bios.
• Pre-launch offers: discount for first 100 bookings, referral program, partner with local wedding shops/gym.
• Run targeted ads for opening week, use promos for slow hours.
• Build an opening day event with small freebies and bookings.

10) Grand opening & first 90 days

• Soft open for family/friends to test operations.
• Collect reviews and refine processes.
• Monitor KPIs: average ticket, retention rate, daily sales per chair, occupancy (% booked slots).

Startup cost ranges (ballpark)

Costs vary a lot by country, location and salon type. Typical ranges found in industry breakdowns:

• Small/home/express salon (minimal fit-out): from a few thousand USD / local equivalent (very low end, home-based or tiny kiosk).
• Basic street salon (new): ~$60,000+ (many industry summaries use $60k–$100k as a typical starting figure for a rented location with fixtures). The Salon Business+1
• Mid to high-end salon: $90k–$500k depending on build-out, brand, equipment and location. The Salon Business+1

(Use these as broad guides — local costs for rent, labor and supplies may be very different.)

Sample monthly running costs (put numbers for your local currency)

• Rent / mortgage
• Salaries / commissions
• Utilities (water, electricity, internet)
• Consumables (hair color, dyes, towels, chemicals)
• Marketing / ads
• Insurance, licenses, software subscriptions
• Loan repayments (if any)

Use a simple 12-month cash flow to estimate break-even.

Essential equipment checklist (short)

• Styling chairs (x3–6)
• Shampoo sinks & chairs (x1–3)
• Reception desk + POS terminal
• Mirrors + stations
• Hairdryers (handheld & hooded)
• Professional shears, clippers, brushes, combs
• Sterilizer / autoclave or chemical disinfectant station
• Towels, capes, aprons, gloves
• Waiting area seating, retail display for products. ZOLMI+1

Sanitation & health musts

• Sterilize/ disinfect tools between clients.
• Follow local health department rules (ventilation, waste disposal for chemical and sharps where applicable).
• Keep written SOPs and training records. goodcall.com+1

30/60/90-Day launch checklist (concise)

Before opening (30 days):

• Finalize lease, licenses, business registration.
• Order equipment and consumables.
• Hire & train staff.
• Set up POS, booking system, accounting.
• Social profiles + Google Business live.

Opening month (first 30 days):

• Soft open, fix operational snags.
• Push promotions & collect reviews.
• Track daily sales and busiest times.

60–90 days:

• Review pricing vs costs, adjust if needed.
• Introduce loyalty/referral program.
• Start partnerships (bridal, local business cross-promo).
• Review staffing needs & optimize schedules.

Quick templates you can copy

Service menu skeleton

1. Haircut — women / men
2. Blowdry / styling
3. Colour / highlights (short/medium/long pricing tiers)
4. Facial / skin treatment (if offered)
5. Manicure / pedicure
6. Bridal packages (prebook)
7. Add-ons (scalp massage, express treatment)

Simple break-even calc (copy into spreadsheet)

• Monthly fixed costs = rent + salaries + utilities + insurance
• Average ticket = (estimate)
• Required monthly clients = monthly fixed costs / average ticket

Final practical tips & mistakes to avoid

• Don’t underprice to chase customers — you’ll lose profit.
• Train for consistency — clients return for consistent results and service.
• Control inventory — track usage and reorder to avoid stockouts.
• Collect reviews early — online reputation is crucial.
• Plan cash buffer for the first 3–6 months. FTx POS+1

If you want, I can:

• make a one-page business plan template for your salon (I’ll fill in numbers if you tell me your city and how many chairs you plan), or
• build a purchase checklist with approximate prices in your local currency, or
• create an opening-week social media content calendar you can post.