Any grants available for new hair business?

Kimberley82

I am a self employed hairdresser and am struggling to get myself set up due to lack of funds

easyhost

have you tried hiring a chair at a local salon, so you can build up a reputation and client list

Kimberley82

easyhost wrote: »

have you tried hiring a chair at a local salon, so you can build up a reputation and client list

Its the start up costs for that.

pinkclouds

Kimberley82 wrote: »

struggling to get myself set up due to lack of funds

Are you under 25 years old? The Prince's Trust might be able to help. Or under 30 years old? Shell LiveWIRE might be useful.

easyhost

have a chat with Businesslink

jexygirl

What have you actually done already?
Are you mobile?
Did you work salons post qualifying?
Have you done some word of mouth/ flyers / adverts /facebook/ twitter stuff.
Renting a chair is almost the step AFTER you get a following or could be straight from college, provided you are confident that you can get enough clients to pay the rent as a newly qualified and build a rep.
It can of course work the other way, take the chair and risk it, but you say you dont have funds to rent a chair, however are currently self employed.
What have you done since qualifying, what advertising, and self promotion?
Perhaps if struggling, get some time served work in a Salon then look to go it alone, at least then you have a rep / clientele and savings?
No one is going to give you money to go it alone, without proven effort on your part, and even then grants and loans are few and far between, even with a proven track record. You say you are self employed, but if the work isn't coming in, look at what you are doing to bring it in - anyone loaning or granting you money would ask the same.
jex

Kimberley82

I am working in a salon as a self employed person. I pay the salon 40% of my takings but the problem is I dont have the money to buy all the tints and peroxides and everything else. I have to try and work out what a client will need before they come and that can be very embarrassing if I dont have the colours they want.

I have done leaflet drops, facebook groups, I have a website. have done groupon, I am struggling as I need stock but dont have the capital to have what I need for the customers.

Horace

Instead of offering colours - why not just cut hair until such time as you have enough income to buy tints.

Or if you have a client who wants their hair to be tinted - ask them what colour they want to be and buy the tints accordingly? It is better than guessing.

Kimberley82

Horace wrote: »

Instead of offering colours - why not just cut hair until such time as you have enough income to buy tints.

Or if you have a client who wants their hair to be tinted - ask them what colour they want to be and buy the tints accordingly? It is better than guessing.

Most clients who are responding want colours and if I said I didnt do them they would go else where, I do ask but there is such a huge range of colours and so many factors its hard to get it just from asking someone.

Horace

Maybe you are looking at the wrong market? Why not offer bridal hair styling - there is a need for mobile hairdressers who specialise in bridal hair because it can be such a drag getting to the hairdressers on the day of the wedding.

Kimberley82

Horace wrote: »

Maybe you are looking at the wrong market? Why not offer bridal hair styling - there is a need for mobile hairdressers who specialise in bridal hair because it can be such a drag getting to the hairdressers on the day of the wedding.

Hair up is not my strong point so thats not really an option for me