Frequently Asked Questions on How to Open a Beauty Supply Store

Do you publish the contact information of stores you've opened?
No. We receive way too many inquiries and train too many students to have the luxury of providing that information. When we open stores, owners are feverishly busy trying to build their business and inquiries from referrals over the years have become a nuisance to them. We suggest that you do as much independent research on us as possible before you decide to work with us. Read everything carefully and take your time in moving forward. As individuals who understand the anxiety that goes into making the decision to open a store, we know the feeling. So we prefer for you to be comfortable in the decision you make.

How do I drum up business?
This depends where you are at in years in business. However, you can do this in several ways. First, you want to ensure that you are prepared to fill the needs of your customer. The typical customer only gives a business two chances before never returning. Direct mail is always a great way to connect with the customer. Also, create a niche for your customer. Try to make sure your beauty supply store business is as close to “one-stop shopping” as possible. A good referral is a great way to build a foundation.

Where do I order products?
You get products from a beauty supply distributor. This is the person who carries many different product lines. You can deal with distributors nationwide. Do a search on the web for the best beauty supply wholesaler in your area.

What products should I order?
If you are not familiar with hair products, get with a stylist in your market. They know what products their clients prefer and purchase. You can perhaps setup a focus group and invite 12-15 stylists to participate and give them a store incentive in exchange.

How much does it cost to start my own beauty supply store?
There is no clearly defined answer to this question. It highly depends on the size of your location, market, niche, etc. This information is outlined in the book “How to Become a Successful Beauty Supply Store Owner.”

How can I raise the money needed to get started opening my own beauty supply store?
Depending on your financial situation, I would first urge you to be truthful with yourself before getting into this business. If you do not manage your personal finances well, then get a handle on that before attempting to manage a large sum of money. The beauty supply store business generates a lot of cash and it takes discipline and responsibility to effectively manage the cash flow. However, developing line of credits is a good start. The Beauty Supply System gives a list of funding providers where you won't even need credit or collateral.

Do I need beauty products experience before I open up?
No. However, do research on what the different products do to be prepared for your customers’ requests.

Does "the customer is always right" concept go for the beauty supply store business too?
In many cases it does. However, there are situations where the one bad apple spoils the bunch. Like in any business, be leery of shady customers looking for a handout.

When is the best season to have the Grand Opening for a beauty supply store?
Typically the fall. This is when parents are doing school shopping for their children and a few months later is the Holiday Season.

How much money can I make in the beauty supply store business?
The smallest boutiques store can generate $200k and up. Modest sized stores can do much more.

Should I become a beauty supply distributor too?
Do so if you have a good handle on your operations. Creating multiple streams for your business is always suggested but don’t do this and allow your primary operations’ quality to suffer.

When can I expect to turn a profit?
This is another question that has no clear formula. It depends on the investment, market, your niche and products. A store can turn a profit in as little as 4-6 months and others may take 1-1.5 years.

Does the Beauty Supply System offer information on where to receive start-up funding for a beauty supply store business?
Yes. If I have no collateral and bad credit, will someone still invest in me? We have found investor/funding sources who are willing to invest in businesses. Many of them do not focus on credit or collateral. They focus on your capacity to turn a profit, however many of them have requirements and work on your part will still be necessary. Work is always required to get investors for this and any business. The best place to start before seeking funding is preparing a business plan.

I have gone through this entire list of Frequently Asked Questions and still need something answered, now what?
If you have gone through all of our Membership Rules and FAQ’s and still cannot find an answer you need, please feel free to go to the CONTACT PAGE and email us. Our Customer Service Center is open daily except for holidays and we will get back to you in a timely fashion.