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The Ins and Outs of Site Selection for a Kid’s Haircut Franchise

Finding the right location is one of the first and most important steps you’ll take when starting a kid’s haircut franchise.

A strong site helps generate high foot traffic and drive sales while setting the stage for inviting interior design that creates a fun, memorable atmosphere for your young clientele.

Because prime real estate is paramount to run a successful kid’s salon, we offer comprehensive site selection support for our Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees.

Backed by industry-leading expertise and data-driven insights, our corporate support team helps position franchisees for success from the very start.

Inside Our Comprehensive Site Selection Support

At Pigtails & Crewcuts, our site selection support follows a methodical process of identifying markets, analyzing trade area demographics, and finally, vetting specific sites for franchise locations.

We also take a hands-on, collaborative approach to the process, including franchisees’ input and working to understand their preferences and priorities, first and foremost.

Before we begin the search or examine specific sites, we meet one-on-one with franchisees to determine which markets they would like to enter.

Westminster Pigtails Salon

“Many franchisees understandably prefer to open their business relatively close to home, making it easier and more convenient for them to be a hands-on owner,” said Wade Brannon, President and CEO of Pigtails & Crewcuts. “Plus, they’re already familiar with the area and community, which is important when starting a new kid’s hair salon business.”

After narrowing down a local market, our real estate support team moves on to the next stage of the site selection process – analyzing area demographics.

We use market research software that provides us with this data, such as median household income, population density and an array of other valuable demographic insights.

Carrying out market research around the chosen location is crucial to help ensure there will be demand for the concept,” said Wade. “For instance, among other data points, our kid’s franchise brand performs best in areas with 100,000 or more residents and at least several thousand families with young children, so those are the markets we want to pursue and move forward with.”

Hitting the Ground Running with High-Traffic Areas That Drive Sales

Given favorable demographics that signal strong demand, we then begin the search for a specific site.

“We generally target several different types of locations, based on what has proven successful in similar markets,” Wade said. “These sites are often located in regional shopping centers with big-box anchors, or in local shopping centers with various service and retail businesses. These centers typically have high visibility, which is key for businesses like ours.”

Most importantly, however, the site needs to be located in an area where parents would regularly bring their children.

“We’ve seen a lot of success in neighborhood centers with grocery store-type anchors because parents frequently bring their children with them,” Wade said. “And because most families grocery shop on a weekly basis, these are high-traffic areas that regularly draw in our target demographic.”

In addition to high visibility and foot traffic, the location should also be easily accessible.

“Strong ingress and egress is crucial, and parking is a must,” Wade said. “Particularly in larger shopping centers, it’s important that the salon is just as easily accessible as it is visible.”

Laying the Foundation to Build a Profitable Franchise Business

Guided by years of experience and expertise, we’re able to help franchisees secure solid locations with high visibility, accessibility and foot traffic – at a price point that ensures they’re still able to turn a strong profit.

“Site selection isn’t just about finding the perfect physical location that ticks all the boxes we’re looking for, in terms of visibility, access, and demand,” Wade said. “We also need to make sure the site is just as appealing when it comes to initial purchase price, build-out costs and/or any ongoing expenses, like rent and utilities. No location is perfect, and it’s more important to ensure your overhead is low enough to allow for profitability.”

In order to secure the most competitive pricing, our corporate support team works with local commercial real estate partners to performs comparative research into the targeted location. Informed by the average sale for comparable commercial real estate in the area, franchisees are well-positioned to secure the best possible pricing during lease or contract negotiations.

With industry-leading guidance, expertise and insights, we’re able to help franchisees secure the strongest sites, and put them on the path to success in business.

To learn more about the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise opportunity, contact us today!

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How Kid’s Haircut Franchise Owners Benefit From Our Peer-to-Peer Network

There are many reasons franchising is such a popular way to own a business. It gives first-time entrepreneurs a much safer way to enter the world of business ownership. For veteran entrepreneurs, franchising offers a relatively low-risk investment to add to their portfolio.

Owning a franchise also offers the benefit of built-in brand marketing, a loyal customer base, and a proven business model. Not only that, it also gives new franchisees the chance to leverage advice, experience, and expertise from people in their industry, as well as people operating within the exact same business model and brand.

At Pigtails & Crewcuts, our franchisees have the added benefit of our peer-to-peer franchise network to ensure their franchise ownership is as enjoyable and successful as possible.

Strong Community of Kid’s Haircut Franchise Owners

Our peer-to-peer franchise network gives new franchisees the opportunity to ask existing franchisees all the details about running their Pigtails & Crewcuts day-to-day.

Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees come from all walks of life, from stay-at-home moms to former sales executives. This provides a diverse and experienced group of business owners for our new franchisees to interact with whenever they need.

pigtails & crewcuts franchisee with staff in kids' haircut franchise

For instance, multi-unit franchise owner Jennifer Tribble is one of many Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees who values the support of our peer-to-peer network tremendously.

“My favorite thing about the brand is the community of ownership and having the feedback and support of others. I can’t imagine having to do this by myself.” – Jennifer

Franchise owners are all connected with each other through multiple channels. One of the primary ways they communicate and collaborate is through our private Facebook Group. On a daily basis, owners share experiences that others can draw inspiration from, comment on, or learn from.

For example, many will share how they’ve gotten involved in their community with their kid’s hair salon franchise, which other franchisees can implement in their locations. Other times, the Facebook Group can act as a forum to share frustrations and seek solutions, whether it be a human resources or marketing issue.

In addition to that digital connection, Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees are able to meet face-to-face at a franchise conference every 18 months. These are important opportunities to spend time together with the extended Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise family, a group of like-minded individuals who are all going through similar situations operating their own kid’s hair salons.

Our Network Sets Us Apart

Most successful franchisors offer support to their franchisees, but this usually takes the form of franchise support. While corporate support is incredibly important to us at Pigtails & Crewcuts, we also take pride in providing our franchisees the opportunity to share concerns and solutions among themselves, as well.

Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee Team

We know that being able to communicate with other kid’s haircut franchise owners, who have likely experienced the same situations as new franchisees, better understand which specific tips would best help new owners. We have the information, but they have firsthand experience. When it comes to business ownership, we know experience is everything.

Cutting children’s hair comes with challenges, and running a successful children’s hair salon franchise becomes much easier with the right support in place. And, at Pigtails & Crewcuts, we know our franchisees need strong support in order to be successful. Our peer-to-peer franchise network offers a platform for that support, with plenty of advice and guidance from like-minded business owners like you.

Ready to open a business that’s set for success with our peer-to-peer franchise network? Contact us today!

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How Much Does it Cost to Open a Kid’s Salon Franchise?

Leading the U.S. beauty segment in market share, it’s no surprise entrepreneurs have been clamoring to take their cut of the $64 billion hair care industry by opening a kid’s salon franchise. And, with parents spending record-level sums on their children, there’s never been a better time to break into the fast-growing segment.

However, starting a kid’s salon business from scratch and building it from the ground up can be an arduous endeavor.

From creating a business plan to finding the right real estate and generating awareness about an emerging brand, building a startup business requires a significant investment of time and capital. Not only that, unpredictable costs and unforeseen roadblocks can quickly throw even the most thorough plans off course.

That’s why so many aspiring business owners turn to the franchise model when starting their kid’s hair salon franchise.

Kid’s salon franchise brands like Pigtails & Crewcuts provide you with a full framework for success in every facet of your business. Plus, our pre-set, transparent initial investment estimates help ensure you won’t be caught by surprise with additional costs that put you in a precarious financial position later on.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the top three upfront costs to open a hair salon, and why our kid’s salon franchise model is the right investment:

1. Real Estate for a Kid’s Salon Franchise

Entrepreneurs that buy an existing hair salon generally expect to set aside $40,000 to $250,000 for the purchase of the physical location. That investment range doubles if they’re planning to build a salon from the ground up.

At Pigtails & Crewcuts, we work hard to keep real estate and construction costs as affordable as possible – typically ranging from $15,000 to $90,000.

This investment will inevitably vary by site, based on its size, condition, location, the local market, and other factors. However, our corporate support team performs extensive comparative research into local real estate options in order to help secure the most competitive pricing in the local market.

And, because our typical layout features a small footprint – usually between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet – we’re able to cut down on the initial purchase price for the space. This also helps minimize ongoing expenses, like utilities and maintenance, as well as insurance and any rent or lease payments.

Beyond pricing negotiations, we also guide franchisees through every step of the site selection process, helping them find the most visible, accessible and high-traffic locations.

Leveraging real estate software, we also help ensure strong demand for each location by vetting markets with the most desirable area demographics for our concept. This includes everything from median household income to population density and number of families in the area.

2. Furnishings, Equipment and Decorating

Independent salon owners can expect to spend roughly $47,000 on salon equipment and supplies alone. Styling stations with chairs can easily reach costs upward of $1,000 each, and other equipment and supplies like hair dryers, shampoo, scissors, clippers, and other specialty products account for the remaining expenses.

Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees generally spend $18,000 to $27,000 for their entire interior design, furnishings, and decor, in addition to the heavy equipment and styling stations. Costs for hairdryers, washing stations, and other opening supplies are typically only $3,000 to $5,000.

Not only will our corporate team provide you with several site layout and design plans, we also deliver all the supplies and equipment you need to get up and running – for a complete turnkey solution. With pre-established, system-wide brand guidelines, you don’t have to worry about decorating the space yourself or spending thousands of dollars buying your own furnishings and décor.

3. Opening Inventory for a Children’s Hair Salon

Many salon owners choose to include a retail portion in their business, which creates an additional revenue stream. However, without the right guidance, expertise or wholesale buying power, it’s easy to overpay for these products or invest in the wrong categories or brands.

The actual cost of initial inventory will vary widely, but a fully-stocked retail section is often several thousands of dollars. For Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees, initial inventory typically costs $5,000 to $10,000. Driving additional sales per transaction, our retail sections typically account for 10 percent of unit revenue.

Backed by our guidance and support in every area of business, Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees are able to get up and running quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively – and start reaping the rewards of their investment as soon as possible.

To learn more about the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise opportunity, contact us by filling out the form below!

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As Pigtails & Crewcuts Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Franchise Owner Wade Brannon Shares Tips on How to Succeed in Business

Pigtails & Crewcuts celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. How time flies!

Since opening in 2004, the franchise has grown to more than 35 salons across the country and has been named has been named to the “Franchise 500” list as a top franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine for five consecutive years. In that time, we’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry, while some classic qualities remain as relevant today as ever.

 

In honor of Pigtails & Crewcuts’ 10th anniversary—and my 30 years, total, in the franchise industry since starting with Heavenly Ham in 1984—I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned. To help business owners and franchise owners, I’ve put together the following tips.

1. Keep the focus local. Today, customers want to know that their business is benefitting the local economy. Business owners should be involved in their local community, and their business should reflect that culture. People like doing business with people they know, and franchises offer the flexibility to be locally grown, while having a larger network of business service support.

 2. Offer quality products and great service. Some values are timeless, like quality and service. The role of a franchisor is to give franchisees business management skills, suggestions and techniques to help them succeed. That way, each franchise is offering the same high quality products and consistent service.

3. Find a team member to help you keep on top of changing technology. Gone are the days when a business put all of its marketing eggs in print, TV, radio ads and billboards. Today, there are so many different ways to reach customers, with digital and social marketing, that if a business doesn’t put itself out in front of its customers on the latest platforms, it risks being left behind. Business owners should surround themselves with the best and the brightest, who are out there in front of the changes in technology. Keep an ongoing conversation with tech-savvy team members. They’re the ones that bring new ideas, fresh techniques and innovation to the enterprise.

4. Learn to scale operations. One franchise business can earn a solid living, but the goal for many business owners is to open up multiple units. With technology—from accounting software and point of sale systems to instant messaging—it’s easier now, than ever, to run a business without being the face of it. Whether a business owner plans on opening a single unit or five, the steps are the same: bring in the right staff, train them well and create a culture that makes both employees and customers come back.

 5. Make time for face time. It’s so easy to text, email and phone in all communications around a business. But business owners have to be careful of what they say, because it’s all too easy to misunderstand non-verbal communication. If there’s a touchy subject, pick up the phone or make an appointment to talk about it. And don’t just issue directives, have a conversation to explain and gauge reactions.

6. Take a deep breath. In this world of instant gratification and electronic communication, people want and expect things immediately. Don’t give in to that. Business owners need to remember to slow things down. Ponder a question overnight and then talk about it face to face or over the phone after full consideration.

7. Include family in a franchise decision. Starting a business can and will impact the entire family. In the beginning, it takes a lot of time to get the business running before an owner can step back. View any business as a start-up and expect to be exhausted and, at times, frustrated, before it gets easier to run. The ultimate goal of most business owners is to have a flexible schedule and work from home when they wish. With many businesses, that’s certainly attainable, but it takes hard work to get there.

8. Be flexible. As a franchise owner, it’s important to keep the cost of entry affordable while maintaining quality facilities and equipment. Business owners must anticipate their revenue stream and work backwards from there to figure out what they can afford in the realm of expenses, including construction and build out. Be willing to change and modify the package throughout the process.

9. Culture takes time to develop. It’s natural to expect that staff will show up and do everything the way that the business owner wants them to. It’s also a fantasy. Shaping a business doesn’t happen naturally or accidentally, it happens intentionally, and it takes time, patience, communication, discussion and lots of meetings.

10. Team building starts at the top. As a franchisor, Pigtails & Crewcuts’ direct clients are the franchisees. So while they’re working on building culture with staff, the corporate office is working on building culture with the each and every franchise owner. Every 18 months, the businesses come together for a company-wide conference, and throughout the year, they have access to an intranet, where they can share problems and solutions. An advisory board made up of franchise owners is in constant communication with the corporate office to share their needs and expectations, while the leaders at the company work hard to make the franchise owners feel supported and informed. Transparency is also key. All of parties involved in a business should know the strategic plan and how they fit into it.

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Back to School Means Back to the Salon: Pigtails & Crewcuts Highlights Top 4 Kids Hair Disasters that Occur Every Summer

Kids and summer hair disasters go together like sand and the sun. Now, as back-to-school season sets in, parents are making a mad dash to their local salon to get their children’s locks teacher-ready.

With more than 30 salon franchises across the country, Pigtails & Crewcuts has literally seen it all. Parents should know that their local stylist is there to help.

We surveyed our salon owners at Pigtails & Crewcuts and found that the following kid’s hair disasters are the most common:

  1. Sibling Cutlery. Brothers and sisters have a way with scissors, but their way is rarely considered “shear genius.” The stylists at Pigtails & Crewcuts regularly work with hair of all lengths (and angles) to return it to its photo-ready state. (Note: parents, while more skilled than siblings, have also been known to produce similar less-than-ideal haircuts).
  2. Foreign Invasion. While gum is the most common culprit, stylists across the country have seen their share of foreign objects lodged in hair, such as candy, paint, peanut butter, lotion and more. While moms and dads are often quick to hop on the internet to find a solution, this is a situation that’s often best left to the pros.
  3. Jamaican Me Crazy. Kids (and, often, their parents) love getting their hair braided on vacation. But what looked cute for a few days on the island has a way of getting matted and dirty on the mainland. Stylists are happy to help take the “dread” out of dreadlocks and return your child’s hair to its natural state.
  4. Green with Chlorine. As the summer ends and school bells begin ringing, you might notice a holdover from all that time you spent at the pool: green hair. Chlorine and other pool chemicals have a way of leaving a mark. Ask your stylist about special summer shampoos. Also, trimming off the dry and damaged ends makes a world of difference.

Does your family have a hair disaster relief plan? If not, it’s time to get acquainted with your local Pigtails & Crewcuts, where stylists are adept at taking care of business, whether it’s gum, make-up, color, food, scissors or any other common kid-tastrophe—no questions asked. You never know when such services will come in handy.

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Wade Brannon’s 10 Tips for Finding the Perfect Retail Space in a Tenant’s Market

It’s a tenant’s market when it comes to commercial real estate, but it won’t always be that way. According to the Urban Land Institute, recovery in the commercial real estate industry has begun, and will continue into 2013. Leasing, rents and pricing will rise, and the excess of available retail space will begin to decrease. That means that this is one of the best times in history to sign a commercial lease. As the owner of Pigtails & Crewcuts, which has more than 30 locations nationwide, and as the former senior vice president of Heavenly Ham, which had more than 200 locations in the United States before it was sold in 2002, I have advised hundreds of business owners on how to find the best retail space. And I’m telling you, now is the time to do it.

We are seeing rock-bottom prices, incentive packages and a willingness to negotiate like we’ve never seen in the leasing market. Despite those deals, it’s important for business owners to not be impulsive. The key to a successful lease in commercial real estate is research and negotiation. The lease you sign will have the power to make or break your business, so give it the time and attention it deserves.

Here are 10 tips on how to find the ideal retail space in the commercial real estate market.

  1. Location, location, location. To find the perfect location, business owners need to understand who their clients are and where they shop. Try and get into their head and approach each space through their point of view. Are you an impulse business? If so, you could benefit from being in a high-traffic area, where your store can continually market itself to passersby.
  2. Parking, parking, parking. Do not underestimate the value of available parking.
  3. Find a realtor that represents you—not him or herself. You want someone who is going to listen to what you’re looking for and show you all the listings that fit. Not just his or her own listings.
  4. Be honest with yourself about your business. Are you offering such a unique and sought after service that your customers will be willing to drive out of their way for it? If not, find a place centrally located where inconvenience can’t be a viable excuse.
  5. Know your demographics. You can learn a lot by using the resources on the Internet to find out the average income in an area, average cost of homes, nearby school districts, crime rate and more. You’ll want to open your business in a community that is filled with both customers and potential employees. Check with the local chamber of commerce to get a feel for the area’s business climate.
  6. Determine the best fit. Do you think your business will succeed better in a neighborhood center or a shopping mall? What about a small, local center? Would it be better off as a free-standing building? Is the community a good fit with your brand’s image? Find out where successful competitors are located to validate your decision.
  7. Understand your design needs going into it. Will you want a lot of window space, or limited? What are your ceiling requirements? What’s a realistic range when it comes to square footage? What are your door requirements? How about bathroom? Arm yourself with all of this information in the beginning so you don’t need costly renovations down the line.
  8. When looking at spaces, scrutinize what’s there and what’s missing. All spaces are going to have warts. The key is to find the spot with the fewest. For every space you look at, make a pros and cons list. Note things like proximity to complementary businesses, condition of the space—is it first generation or second?—and estimated construction costs.
  9. Know your zoning. Be certain that you will be able to legally operate your business in this location.
  10. Level with your landlord. Before you even start thinking about officially negotiating a lease, find out if the landlord is willing to play ball. Would he or she be open to lowering the rent (or giving you a month or more of free rent), including a tenant allowance, paying for parts of the build-out and offering other incentives? If not, maybe you’ll find another landlord who will.

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Why these Kids Salon Franchise Owners Say Women Still Can Have It All

By Kate Silver

Can women have it all? It’s a topic that’s generated quite a bit of buzz over the summer, following The Atlantic’s July cover story, “Why Women Still Can’t Have it All.” In the piece, author Anne-Marie Slaughter says that notion of life/family balance is more fantasy than fact in this day and age.

“I still strongly believe that women can ‘have it all’ …’” wrote Slaughter. “But not today, not with the way America’s economy and society are currently structured.”

While Slaughter makes strong points, the piece neglects to explore the world of entrepreneurial women who have left behind jobs that don’t allow for the life balance they crave, and set out on their own.

According to the 2012 “State of Women-Owned Business Report” by American Express Open, more than 8.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States generate more than $1.3 trillion in revenue and employ more than 7.5 million people. Between 1997 and 2012, women-owned firms increased by 54 percent in the United States. That’s one and a half times the national average.

Do the women at the helm of their own businesses have it all? According to a sampling of women business owners at Pigtails & Crewcuts, a kid-centric salon franchise, the resounding answer is, “Absolutely.”

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Hailey Arthur never expected to be a stay-at-home mom. When her first child was born, she had every intention of returning to her job as a recruiter at Bank of America. She enjoyed her career, and she and her husband relied on both incomes. But then her son suffered a brain injury during birth, and doctors told her that he had cerebral palsy. Faced with a lifetime of therapy and doctors appointments, Arthur decided she needed to quit her job and stay home with her son.

A few years later, in 2007, her twins were born. For Arthur, being home with three children was challenging, to say the least.

“By the time the twins got to be 18 months old, I was certifiably insane,” says Arthur. “I said, ‘I cannot do this! I am not cut out to be a stay-at-home mom!’”

She and her husband, Mike, discussed their options, and decided that they wanted to open Pigtails & Crewcuts, a children’s hair salon franchise in the Blakeney area of their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Today, three years after the salon opened, Arthur spends mornings at Pigtails & Crewcuts and afternoons with her children. She says the business has given her the challenge and outlet that she craved.

small boy gets haircut at Pigtails & Crewcuts kid's haircut franchise

“It gives me, Hailey-the-person, more of a purpose than Hailey-the-mom,” she says. “I feel like I have something that is mine—my project and my passion outside of my children. And I think it helps me keep my identity that way.”

For Arthur, having it all is about having a strong support network.

“I think women can have it all if you are doing the right thing. With Pigtails & Crewcuts I have a very supportive network,” she says. “While I feel like I have a great balance, I wouldn’t be able to do it alone.”

For Kendra Keating, opening two Pigtails & Crewcuts in San Diego (eventually she will open a total of five) was a way of keeping close to home. A single mom, Keating was the former CFO of a consulting firm, and in the first year of her daughter’s life, mom and daughter (and nanny) traveled 122 days. As her child approached kindergarten, Keating began searching for a flexible career that would allow her to pick her up from school every day and be involved in homework, parent-teacher meetings, activities and more. As a Pigtails & Crewcuts salon owner, she’s found just that.

“I probably work as much as I would if I were working for somebody else, but I decide when I work, and a lot of it can be done from home,” she says. “I think if you power through, you can do anything you want to do.”

Julie Luna was searching for an opportunity in Omaha, Nebraska that would mean little to no travel. For years, she’d managed an automobile business unit with a Fortune 150 company and was on the road, away from her five daughters, up to 75 percent of the time. After leaving her job, she signed a five-salon deal with Pigtails & Crewcuts, and today, is much more involved in her daughters’ lives and schools. Luna says she’s thrilled to provide an entrepreneurial example for her daughters, who range in age from 6 to 13 (recently married, she also has two stepsons).

“I’ve always taught them it’s great to be a mom, and if that’s your career choice that’s awesome, but you can do anything you want to do,” says Luna. “I think this shows them that yeah, I had a big job with a big company, but now I took a chance and I own something, and it really illustrates how many options are ahead of them.”

For Dalia Alford, owning a Pigtails & Crewcuts in Cedar Park, Texas, has proven to her that she’s a better multi-tasker than she ever knew. A former teacher, Alford quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom to her two children. Soon after, her husband was laid off, and the family decided to invest their savings in a kids’ salon franchise (her husband found another job soon after). Now with a third child and a fourth on the way, Alford can’t picture herself doing anything else.

“I can’t imagine what else would have allowed me to continue doing everything I’m doing without completely losing my mind,” she says. “I definitely have flexibility. I have great hours. And while I’m always available to my staff, I don’t physically have to be here every single second,” she says.

Alford adds that, as far as she’s concerned, woman can do whatever they set their minds to.

“I take issue with the theory that women can’t do everything. I don’t think it’s easy, but women are certainly capable of having it all.”

Learn more about owning a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise by filling out the form below:

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Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Opening a New Franchise Business

When it comes to opening a business, Wade Brannon knows what it takes, and, more importantly, he knows what mistakes to avoid. Since 1984, Brannon has overseen the opening of more than 300 businesses. Brannon is the owner of Pigtails & Crewcuts, a children’s salon franchise with more than 30 locations across the country. In addition, he once served as senior vice president and principal of Heavenly Ham, which he grew from a single retail store in Hilton Head, South Carolina in 1984 to more than 230 locations across the United States. Here, he shares the top 10 mistakes that people make when opening a business.

1. Unrealistic expectations. Research, research, research. You owe it to yourself and your employees to do your due diligence long before those doors open, so that you’ll have an idea of what to expect. Look at what your competitors are doing. Determine if a trend is growing or shrinking. Research whether this concept will be a good fit for your market. If you’re opening a franchise, find out what kind of support you can expect, and determine what other kind of support you’ll need to supplement along the way.

2. Over-planning. Nothing ever works 100 percent according to plan, so don’t get too caught up in the details. Be flexible, so that possible delays in construction or inspections don’t throw you off. I also like to tell people to plan for the worst-case scenario, and be thrilled when the results exceed their expectations.

3. Under-planning. There are a lot of steps that are involved with opening a business, and it’s important to start with some basic guidelines and keep yourself on task. Write up a to-do list, so you can reference it when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

4. Short attention span. You have to work for success. Over the years, I’ve seen many business owners quit after three, six or nine months, frustrated that their bank accounts aren’t already overflowing. It takes energy, devotion and, most of all, time to develop a loyal following.If you’ve made the decision to open this business, you need to fully dedicate yourself to the time needed to make it work.

5. Going it alone. Word-of-mouth does wonders for business. Get out there and get involved in your community. While you’re spreading the word about your business, you’ll also pick up pointers from friends, family and neighbors. Welcome their advice (within limits). Also, consider taking on a partner, if you think you’d benefit in the long term from the support and camaraderie.

6. Too little cash. First and foremost, before opening a business you must be sure you secure enough capital. It’s not only important to have the funds to get the business up and running, but owners should also stow away a rainy-day fund, just in case.

7. Befriending you employees. Keep a healthy distance from your employees. You are their boss, not their friend.

8. Breaking your marketing budget. While researching your business, determine your audience and learn about how that demographic responds to marketing. Are they social-media savvy? If so, do you understand what it takes to reach them? Do they still read newspapers or flip through the Yellow Pages? Determine who they are and hone in on how to best reach them. Don’t select multiple methods and spread your budget too thin right out of the gate.

9. Banking on a grand opening. Never hold your grand opening on your first day of doing business. The grand opening shouldn’t happen until you’ve been open long enough to work out the kinks. Soft openings give you and your staff a chance to adjust to day-to-day issues and schedules before inviting the whole world in to see. New customers aren’t always as forgiving as you’d like them to be.

10. Communication with your family. Whether you know it in the beginning or not, your business will impact your entire family. Before opening, consider your family’s situation. If you have a young family, do you want a business that requires you to be away from home for extended periods of time? Can you realistically divide your time among your family duties and the requirements of running a business? Talk about all of these issues extensively to make sure there are no surprises—or hurt feelings—down the line.

 

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The Story of a Kids Salon Franchise Owner

This blog is part of an ongoing series taking a behind-the-scenes look at opening a Pigtails & Crewcuts salon.

As Rudy and Sharon Hogan neared retirement, they started thinking about opening a franchise in their hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rudy, a financial advisor, thought opening a business would be a great project and a way to maintain a monthly income. Sharon, who once owned her own business making and selling children’s clothing, already had experience in working with the public, and was up for the challenge. They had just begun researching different industries—fast food, sub shops, in-home senior health care—when their 32-year-old daughter, Kelly Hailey, approached them with a different suggestions: Why not open a Pigtails & Crewcuts salon?

Hailey was already familiar with the children’s franchise, because a family member in Charlotte, North Carolina had great success with opening a salon. For years, the cousin had been encouraging the family to sign on with the top franchise and open a Pigtails & Crewcuts in Chattanooga. This seemed like the perfect time to do it. As a former business owner (she opened a doggy day care after graduating from college) and current stay-at-home mom, Hailey was looking for an opportunity that would allow her a flexible schedule and steady income. “I told my parents, ‘If you’re really serious, we think this franchise is a good idea. Our family could do it together.’”

Without hesitating, her dad made the call to our franchise team. We shared with the family an overview of the salon’s franchise business model, and encouraged them to contact other Pigtails & Crewcuts salons to decide if the business would be a good fit. Hailey took her son to a neighboring town’s Pigtails & Crewcuts, and was impressed by the look, feel and service of the salon. She talked to Pigtails & Crewcuts salon owners across the country, sharing with them her reservation: she didn’t know how to cut hair. They assuaged her fears. They, too, had no experience in the hair care industry prior to opening Pigails & Crewcuts. But, they told her, the executive team at Pigtails & Crewcuts equips you with all of the training you’ll need to succeed in the business. She spoke with other kid-focused businesses in Chattanooga to gauge whether Pigtails & Crewcuts was a good fit for the city. She walked away with a resounding “Yes!”

Around the same time, her parents flew to Atlanta and met with our team. We explained to them the step-by-step process of opening a salon, and emphasized that the Pigtails & Crewcuts’ goal is to help each franchise succeed. Bolstered by the support, the family decided that this was the perfect fit. “One of the reasons we decided to go with Pigtails & Crewcuts is they will help you with every step,” said Hailey.

After getting their finances in order and signing the necessary paperwork, the family began scouting potential locations for the salon. We asked them to study different parts of town, taking note of median income, schools and population. We suggested that they look for locations anchored by other large stores, and places that are convenient to main roads with excellent visibility. Then we planned a trip to Chattanooga to help them select the best location and negotiate a lease.

Rudy, Sharon and their daughter took us around to evaluate four locations. We handled the discussions with leasing agents and Realtors, bargaining for free rent, decreased fees and other incentives to sign a lease. We were also able to point out characteristics of the properties that the family hadn’t noticed—one location didn’t allow enough room for a large sign, another seemed too out-of-the way. By 2 p.m., we had two top choices, and both locations were competing to make the best offer.

Soon after, we showed the family four different architectural blueprints and asked their preference. The family agreed on one, and we connected them with a Tennessee-based architect, who will oversee the build-out. Construction will begin within weeks of the lease signing. From there, the family expects to open the children’s salon within three months—just in time for back-to-school cuts. Hailey and her mom plan to divide the day-to-day operations, while Rudy handles the financial matters. Together, it’s a true family endeavor with unlimited possibilities.

Click here to read Part 2!