Can I Run a Barber Shop with No Experience of Cutting Hair?
Mr Aindreas Phelan asks
I have just graduated from college in Ireland with my honours degree in business. I am a very ambitious person and I believe a barber shop is a potential goldmine if in the right location.

I intend to lease a premise/retail unit which will be suitable for a barber shop and would like to hire 3 full time staff for busy days and 2 staff for non busy days.

I have never cut hair before and would like to simply set up a barber shop and hire the staff suitable to run it.

Is this viable since I have no experience of cutting hair/running my own business?

It is entirely possible for someone with no experience of cutting hair – and no interest in learning how – to open and run a successful barber shop. In fact, the owner of the barbers does not need to spend much time there at all once the business is up and running.

The key is employing the right staff. It’s difficult to overstate just how important it is to find the right people when taking on new members of staff. A start-up business can stand or fall on the strength of its staff and it is widely acknowledged that people are the greatest asset in any successful organisation.

Take time to recruit employees with all the skills and attributes required and do not settle for second best. Consider the options too – part-time, full-time, freelance and temporary cutters can all do a job. Don’t be afraid to mix and match all types of employees in order to get the staffing levels spot on.

It is vital to carry out market research and get a good idea of when the shop will be busy and how many members of staff will be needed at different times. Too many employees lead to an unnecessarily high wage bill, while too few can have customers looking elsewhere.

Once the right employees have been recruited, find ways to keep them happy. Use performance-related bonuses to reward performance and productivity, but do not make the mistake of using incentives or perks as a substitute for good pay. A decent wage is the most important staff motivator of all.

It’s true that a barber shop can be a very lucrative investment and, yes, the location is vital. Many businesses can prosper regardless of their location, but a barbers relies heavily on passing trade so the location is of critical importance. The main priority is finding a business location that will guarantee a steady stream of customers through the door.

City centre or town high street premises are ideal but the cost of these prime spots can be prohibitive. A busy location with good road and public transport links and a wide range of local facilities will make it easier to attract and keep customers.

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