Are you a Licensed Home Based Beauty Business?
When having a Home Based Beauty Business setting Boundaries/Policies for yourself at the beginning is such an empowering self worth action to do. This saves your mindset & frequent burnouts. I've been a Licensed Home Based Salon for 6 years {13 years in the Industry} & there were moments of frustration towards the lack of Business Boundaries/Policies in my first year of opening up. Learned & evolved.
No matter where you work, you will encounter Guests that will take advantage of you, Guests that consume too much of your energy & Guests that don't value your time. Are you unable to say no with the fear of Guests not liking you? Moments of being too much of a people pleaser? These can sacrifice the growth of your business building & income. But stop to think, where is the root of this Shit-uation? If no Boundaries/Policies are in place for your business, YOU are the main cause in this factor. Hard pill to swallow...been there when I realized this too. We teach others how we want to be treated. Mind blowing realness! Assumptions hinder the soul, even if it's a common sense business ethics & B/P...if it's not voiced, your expectations of your Business may dwindle. I don't want no dwindling for you growing your dream business in the comfort of your home.
I Sheariously got your back! Sharing what works or failed from my trails & errors.
Business is less headache-y when having these B/P in place, so WORTH it! So regardless where your location of your chair is...these moments of struggle, frustration, fails & questioning yourself will occur. That's reality. Win & learn...my fav MOTTO!
How will you evolve the structure your Business & mindset for future growth?
Write them down, display your policies, discuss with your Guests & stick to them.
Sticking to them will be the biggest battle. It will give you that uneasy vibes & the fear of putting your foot down. Will my Guest hate me? Leave me? Talk shit about me? Yes, those may happen & if they do... please realize they don't value you or Business. If you don't stick to your B/P...you don't value yourself & Business. Change will be a challenge...the challenge = growth of self worth & value.
Saddle up & be ready to level up!
1. Taking On New Guests In Your Home
It can be an uneasy feeling bring new people into your home. Are they weirdos? Be cautious on who you bring in on your standards. I found the best ways are accepting referrals. I don't offer 'walk-ins' also, being in a Home Based Business you aren't going to get that foot traffic. Set up a plan to attract potential & retain-able Guests. Yes, I'll admit...I do Social Media background check [Internet stalking alert lol] of New Guests to see how they conduct their self before accepting them. I book a separate session for a Consultation with a fee. It's like an interview to see if they an ideal candidate, you both are on the same page being heard on Boundaries/Policies & map out the hair journey.
With having a Business License, it's alluring to Guests. Shows you are legit & you mean Business. There are Bylaws to follow being Home Based. { Differ from City/Country} I personally restricted to have 1 Guest at a time -no double booking- & max 6 Guests a day. If this doesn't appeal to you, reconsider your Home Business Hair Journey. As for myself, this gives me flexibility to build my Business, offer better Guest Experience & quality skilled sessions.
Kids attending sessions? There are pros & cons & this will be inertly up to you to set.
2. Saying No Is An Option
YES, it's hard to say no at the beginning. For myself, being a recovery too much of a people pleaser, I have suffered my mind set to saying yes to things that aren't in my comfort zone. I'm a believer of karma, I viewed saying no was a negative & will bit me in the ass. Well, karma bit me in the ass saying yes. Dwelling in the over analyzing state. Say no when it matters; breach of Boundaries/Policies. Don't get walked all over. Guests are allowed to ask but both parties are to react civil on the NO response. Keeping it professional.
3. Replying To Guest Messages
Have you ever got annoyed as HELL when a Guest messages you off hours? Do you feel obligated to reply back ASAP off hours? Set your guidelines to when you are able to response back. [24hr response back, during operating hours, etc]
Don't reply to messages that are delivered off hours/days off/on holidays that are related to consultation, product purchases or bookings. [Yes to cancellations that are around the 24hrs span & fingers crossed you can fill that space] It's part of our duty to be the receptionist, as of other duties besides the Artist to run the Business effectively. Replying to messages are time consuming & can interfere with off hour life priorities. I burned out & had a negative mindset when off hour messages rolled in, so I changed & implemented ways to help up my spirits when receiving/reply to messages.
I no longer give my personal cell number to Guests. Reason being is that this gives them permission to message you at any time & expect a quick reply.
Having an automated message through your business Facebook page or business email will assist you having it organized & response professionally.
4. Hours Of Operation
Have days off. You deserve it. Your family deserves your time & focus.
Don't book sessions with Guests beyond your working hours. [In case of emergencies, example - funerals]
BURN OUTS ARE THE WORST! Over working downfalls will set in & you won't be able to put your best efforts forward for Guest, family & self. Don't get caught up being in your home 24/7...you will feel it at times that you NEED to get out. The benefit from working from home is you are the Boss, you make the rules & hours that you can work. Flexibility is desirable.
As an independent entrepreneur, setting hours aside to work on your business [behind the scenes] such as bookkeeping, replying to messages, restocking supplies, cleaning.
5. Having A Dedicated Space
No my Guests don't wonder & explore my home. Working space & bathroom is all that Guests needs to have a good Session. Ideally having a separate entrance is a nice feature, but make sure your space is tidy & welcoming.
6. Cancellation & Punctuality Policy
When being independent, you are in control of ALL aspect of running your business. Your the receptionist, & having a 24hr cancellation policy in place with a fee will protect you. Your hands are in hair during session & don't have the time to reply back to those who cancelled within the 24hrs, plus time to find a replacement. . If we don't have a session in place, business expenses don't get paid & we don't get paid. Business growth will suffer. That is the reality of this Industry. Guests come & go.
Guest requesting a change of session type, I give 24hrs notice. Time is lost = loss of revenue if can't fill that space in short amount of time.
Arriving on time or a few minutes early is respectful. Arriving 15mins late = reschedule service. Just cause your at home doesn't mean you can tolerate being disrespected. Being notified your Guest is being late may sacrifice what you can do for the session. That means time wasted/cut into next Guest & being able spend it with family.
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7. Letting Go Guests
Being in the Service Industry, I was always taught & told that we have to deliver what that costumer wants. Well, there were times where some Guest that served me no positive purpose, cost my Business more time & money than needed. Frequently last minutes cancellations, consistency arriving late, negativity draining people or even asking for IOU's/bartering prices. Is their money worth the negativity mindset & anxiety?
Free yourself, your worth to be surrounded my Guests that want to see you grow. When you grow, they grow. Let go a Guest that's not valuing your Business. End the hair journey, give some referrals {refusal by referral---> smart business tactic} & do so Professionally & kindly.
8. Payments Are Rendered When Service Is Complete
Giving the Beauty Budget before you start your session is a good business practice. Your not going to get the WTF moments if Guests aren't able to pay. Rain checks aren't acceptable. It'll be an added time waster to hound down those who haven't paid for their invoice. Been there & it's too much of a hassle.
Guests that barter their service aren't valuing your time/skills. Don't discount your service. If you are a people pleaser {most Hairstylists are} think about this...Guest is having a bad day, we give discounts to make them feel important/uplift them BUT the next time your not having a downer day...are they going to tip more? Hmmmmm...a thinker, eh???? At the end of it, discounting services makes your business/self suffer. Discount your retail is a better option.
9. Hair "Redo's"
Those fix's will happen & they are daunting when receiving a message of unsatisfied or needing a tweaking.
Let me in on some Sheariously realness...I strive to have my skills on point with conditioned education but no amount of experience you have...it will happen. We all know every hair canvas is composed differently but what helps lower the 'redos' is being transparent of how the process of the session will go.
The EXCEPTIONS are what gets lost during the session. Be more clear on the how's, what's & why's. Give them more insight of your wizardly skills & they will see how well knowledge you are. Like I mentioned before, I have a New Guest Consultation Session that lays out what kind of Hair Artist I am & ask the important factors of the Guests hair goals. This leveled up my Business in many aspects, target marketing the Guests that I want, weed out those who are looking for a deal & charging for my time for a highly important process of the career. When these type of 'reconstructions' occur I will only honor if contacted within 7 days of the original Session. No refunds.
10. Family Boundaries
This is one factor that I love about working from home, the flexibility. The best of both worlds. Raise & slay!!! When having a family of your own while running a Business under the same roof, you will encounter ups, downs & how to balance. It may be a nuance having your child contently interrupting or having to
leave to assist during the session, this could interfere with retaining Guests as they are looking for some self care, get-away & to be pampered. How will you level up your Guest Experience with setting Family Boundaries? Have a sit down with your family & discuss ways to make it work.
As time comes, Boundaries/Policies will evolve to assist yourself & growing Home Salon Empire.
Don't let a Home Beauty Business discourage you or assume you can't set Boundaries/Policies.
If you value yourself & business, like I mentioned before having a Business License provides you to feel valued as a legitimate business to have standards in place. It's your protection. Without it, how are you to get insurance in case something goes haywire? Working with chemicals & hot tools.
When you take the route of Independent Home Salon Business, consider yourself an Entrepreneur. An Empowering Entrepreneur in the Beauty World. It's not easy, loads of hard work but its definitely worth the Win & Learn adventure.
Sin-Sheariously, Jami -xox-
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