Setting up a home hairdressing studio in Australia can be an exciting and rewarding venture. However, it also requires a significant amount of planning and preparation. In this blog post, we will take a look at the 6 essential steps you need to take to set up your own home hairdressing studio in Australia.
- Obtain the necessary licences and registrations.
The first step in setting up a home hairdressing studio in Australia is to obtain the necessary licences and registrations. Firstly, you will need to register your business with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and obtain an Australian Business Number (ABN). While you don’t need a hairdressing licence in Australia, you should have a minimum Certificate III qualification (or equivalent from overseas). It is also a good idea to join your local trade association like The Australian Hairdressing Council who can help with many aspects of hairdressing business and have a specific membership for solo operators.
- Understand GST compliance.
When you register your business with the ATO, you will also need to register for GST if you will be earning more than $75,000 per annum. This means that you will need to charge GST on all of your services and products, and report it to the ATO on a regular basis. It is essential to understand the GST rules and regulations to ensure compliance and avoid fines. You should engage an accountant to help you through this process and ensure that you fulfil your obligations.
- Fit out your home hairdressing studio.
Once you have obtained all of the necessary licences and registrations, it’s time to fit out your home hairdressing studio. This will include purchasing equipment such as hairdressing chairs, mirrors, and styling tools, as well as decorating your space to create a welcoming and professional atmosphere.
- Develop a marketing strategy.
A key aspect of setting up a successful home hairdressing studio is to develop a marketing strategy. This will include tactics such as building a website, creating social media accounts, and running local advertising campaigns. It is also important to create a brand identity that will help you stand out from the competition.
- Buy stock.
In order to run a successful home hairdressing studio, you can stock a range of products, including shampoos, conditioners, styling products, and hair colour. It is important to buy stock from reputable suppliers, and to research the best deals to ensure that you can offer competitive prices to your customers. You can also use the Unwritten app to purchase Unwritten haircare and other top professional haircare brands.
- Get a software application to help manage bookings and customer information.
A software application will be of great help in managing bookings and customer information. This will allow you to keep track of appointments, as well as store customer contact information and purchase history. This will also help you to keep track of your finances, and to create detailed reports. The Unwritten app is an app specifically designed to help independent hairdressers run their business. You can out more about the Unwritten app here.
- Get the right insurance
Investing in a home hairdressing business is not without risks. Just like any business it is highly advisable to ensure you have the correct insurance for your specific situation. Different types of insurance that may be needed for your home hairdressing business are; public liability insurance, product liability, professional indemnity and property insurance. These are rarely covered in your normal home insurance coverage. You can read more about insurance in this article.
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Setting up a hairdressing studio at home is a great way for independent hairdressers to do what they love, but without the requirement to travel far, especially if you have kids.. If you set up your home studio from the beginning correctly, it can provide you with a foundation for income for many years without a significant amount of investment.