AshleyN

Hi there everyone - I've been lurking for quite a while and just decided to register today and start posting!

I was hoping for some good advise, as I've seen a LOT on here...

My husband and I have been considering starting a VERY small airbrush tanning business. In other words - just me! We have a bunch of tanning salons here in town - all are beds and sunless booths. There's only one girl here in town who airbrushes. She rents out a tiny place in a salon and it's only her who runs it. She seems to stay pretty busy and doesn't take walk-ins. She goes by appointments only from what I've seen. I've only seen ONE place where she advertises. I think she gets most her clients through word of mouth,which is great. She never has lotions or other retail products in stock, doesn't have her little room decorated at all (plain white walls and a place to hang your clothes), doesn't have customers sign any sort of release form, doesn't supply any disposable hair nets/undergarments, etc...I'm just amazed at how she's making this work.


The one thing that scares me the most is starting a small business in this economy. While we would only be getting a small loan, it scares me to think I could start this up, sign a 3 year lease, and end up paying for everything out of pocket and losing the business!

I guess my questions are as follows...

* Am I wrong thinking that I should do everything OPPOSITE than my competition? (i.e. being open set hours for walk-ins, advertising, decorating, having products available for retail, hanging up some neon signs in the window, charging $5 less per tan, you get the idea...)

* Is it REALLY that terrible of a time to start up a small business? Has the economy had that much of an impact on anyone's business here?

Any tips or advise would be appreciated! I apologize if something similar has been posted and I missed it...

sunchick7

So you would ONLY be doing airbrush tanning? Not sure where you are located or what kind of market you are in but I can't see a business that is set up to run independently and paying a lease, utilities, etc. surviving only offering this one service. JMO

__________________
~My head hurts~

collin

I guess there is never a good or bad time to set up in business if there is a market or opportunity that presents itself.
That said we are in a global recession so at times like these its always wise to check and double check viability of a new business venture.

It is wise in these times to start slow and small keeping set up costs down to a minimum and always calculate in worst case senarios when it comes to cash flow projections.

Not wise to invest in any business if its potential failure is going to wipe you out completely.
Always factor in over expenditure when setting up and reduce that projected cash flow analysis by at least 25% to get a more accurate picture.

If you are determined to set off in this type of business why not consider a scaled down start up situation...maybe go mobile or rent a room in an established salon on a profit related deal....if this works then take bigger steps.
Starting slower and safer is cleaver thinking,less hazardous and more likely to succeed in the long term
Good luck with whatever route you take...lots of hard work and tears ahead but if successful...well worth the trials and tribulations of getting there

ekc123

again, somebody ready to jump in and undercut someone because they think they are making all the money and realistically, does not even know there is a difference between spray and airbrush .

cruiser

What am I missing - she didn't even mention the word "spray" in her post so how do you know that she doesn't know the difference between spray and airbrush ?