Starting a salon on a shoestring

[Sean in Utah]

Hi All,
I need advice. I am starting a grooming salon for 6000.00 I have all the tools and stuff needed
The building is already built out. But needs minor improvements. My question is, what should the money go for? I also need to write a business plan. does anyone have a sample one that i can use or are there some on line that i could look at?
Sean

[odette]

Without knowing what minor improvements, I would suggest an electrician and plumber to check and make recomendations, get the best cage banks you can afford, leave 3 months operating capital if possible. ther is a business plan on here, Someone will steer you to it. Much luck and congradulations!

[Gracy Rose]

I hate to be a downer but I AM A REALIST and $6000 is not enough. You need to have a few months worth of bills put away "just in case". Will that leave you money for anything else?

[gonegrooming]

My initial spending was right around $6,000. I had nothing put back for expenses but my line of credit was $12,000 so I knew I had something to fall back on if I needed it but I never did. My shop has always paid for itself with some left over since I opened. However, I had a hubby at home paying the bills so I didn't have to make any money right off the bat. If your home financial situation is in order then I'd say go for it. You really should have a business plan though. I would suggest your first expense out of that 6,ooo should be the business in a box and the From Problems To Profits book. You can order them both here on PG.com.

[SwissNChow]

When you say you have the tools and stuff you need and the building is built out I'm hoping you already have a table, tub, dryer and tools needed to groom a dog. You indicate it needs "minor improvements." With only $6000, I recommend doing nothing until you have real money coming in. You need every bit of that capital just to keep the doors open while you are building a business, and I'm not sure it is enough.

Invest in the Grooming business in a box business plans and a copy of Problems to Profits and only after writing out a business plan can you decide if you can even open the door on $6000. If you don't have 6 months of expenses, things are going to be very tough.

[shammu]

new shop

make sure before you sign the lease
the ac and the heat work and are covered in the lease
make sure you get it in writing from landlord your grooming shop is exclusive
if its a septic system make sure the landlord covers replacement / service
check with the town as to zoning and allowing a groomer in that location
sign a 1 yr lease with options to renew 1 yr at a time
and if you live in a area that snows make sure the landlord will not charge for removel

[Tzu-crazee]

also don't forget to make sure your area can support another groomer. Being new and with that little of capital, you'll need clients pretty quick.

[petpalswi]

My initial spending was right around $6,000. I had nothing put back for expenses but my line of credit was $12,000 so I knew I had something to fall back on if I needed it but I never did. My shop has always paid for itself with some left over since I opened. However, I had a hubby at home paying the bills so I didn't have to make any money right off the bat. If your home financial situation is in order then I'd say go for it. You really should have a business plan though. I would suggest your first expense out of that 6,ooo should be the business in a box and the From Problems To Profits book. You can order them both here on PG.com.

you can have my copy. send my your address, i'll mail it to you. I opened on less than 6000. between cash and credit cards. i'm still paying back the cc debt. but my husband was able to keep us going. do as much free advertising as you can, and introduce yourself to other groomers in your area. I know this can be tricky, some wont welcome the competition, but I believe most will be receptive, they may be willing to send you some overflow, or even clients they dont want. hard as it is to accept, sometimes we are the problem. we cant possibly see eye to eye with every person, and some dogs behave better for others. I finally gave up a dog I had struggled with for a couple years, hes now with another groomer, still naughty, but the other groomer is making progress where I couldnt. good luck

[neanea]

I started on a very SHORT shoestring and started with basically nothing but a few combs and brushes, shears and a few blades. I had about 3K to get it going and PRAYED I'd have enough business to keep my head above water. Fortunately, the business came in steadily and I'm still here (just celebrating my 2nd anniversary next month).

My shop didn't need much in the way of "build-out" but it did need some plumbing run, tub area built, and repainting (all pretty easy fixes). I did need all my equipment, cages, and more tools. I opened with the minimum necessities and built up as I went along, BUT if I had it to do over again and had the time to save up, that's what I would do. It was stressful as I'm the sole support for my family and we had to really tighten our belts at first, but it's been so worth it

If you won't need most of that money to get opened and running, I'd put it in the bank to have some cushion!

Good luck to you in your new adventure.

[k2p1e]

i spent $2000 on renos AND equipment (can you say 2nd hand, and shoestring?) and the the res tof my $5000 went to rent.

Do not, do not, do not start up a business with no money for rent and bills cause what IF you do not break even for 6 months? Can you still get by? Are you willing to possibly work a 2nd job to make the dream happen?

Think hard and good luck!

[TawnyKitty]

I started my business with about $6000 and credit cards 3 years ago. My town has 3 grooming shops on the same street (I was the last one to start on the street). My shop does well over 6 figures in sales now. My shop is only 500 sq ft. I also am relocating my shop up the street (and across from another shop) to the busier section of downtown. Its double the size. I work with one of the groomers on the street. She has sent me alot of her overflow and we always tell each other about bad dogs and clients. So 3 years, 3 groomers and a new shop in the works. It can be done! Good Luck!
I also had no working capital to support my business, but that soon changed with in a few months.

[scrubapup]

$6000 must be the magic number... that's what I started with.