Budget & capital requirement
Small salon (200–400 sqft, 2–3 chairs): ₹4–7L. Mid-size (500–900 sqft, 4–6 chairs): ₹10–18L. Premium (1,000+ sqft, 8+ chairs): ₹25L+. Rent, deposits, and first 3 months of operations should be in this budget.
Essential licences (India-wide)
Shop & Establishment Act registration (state-specific, ₹500–5,000), GST registration (if turnover expected >₹20L/year), Trade licence from your municipal corporation (₹2,000–10,000), Fire safety NOC (for >500sqft), and Environmental/Pollution NOC (for chemical-heavy services).
Equipment for a mid-size salon
3–4 hair stations + chairs (~₹40,000/station), 2 wash stations (~₹35,000 each), 1 facial bed (~₹18,000), pedicure-manicure station (~₹25,000), product shelves, mirrors, dryers, steamers, and miscellaneous tools. Total ~₹3–5L in equipment.
Staff hiring
Typical mid-size salon opens with 1 senior stylist (₹25,000–40,000/month), 2 stylists (₹12,000–18,000 + commission), 1 helper/cleaner (₹8,000–10,000), 1 receptionist/billing (₹10,000–15,000). Commission structures vary: 10–15% is common for India.
Pre-launch marketing
Google Business Profile (free, priority). Instagram with 40+ posts before launch (interior, team, services). Pre-opening offers (₹500 first visit credit). Partner with 2–3 complementary local businesses (gym, boutique). Soft launch 7 days before grand opening.
Month 1 operations
Target: 150–300 services in month 1. Revenue: ₹2–5L. Focus on customer data capture (name, phone, birthday). Set up WhatsApp reminders from day one. Run a 30-day feedback loop with first 100 customers.
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