Want to know how to open a spa/boutique/salon?

I am in the process of trying to write a business plan for my spa/salon/boutique, but I am having some trouble writing it. And also I need some help putting it all together as for as getting my supplies. I am going to have a full service salon with a boutique. Possibly a hair supply store so I need some help putting it together as well as where to purchase the items for my business (clothes, hair products, etc.) Is there grants available for minority/women business owners and how can I apply for them. Are there some place I can go that will help me with writing my business plan and get my credit on board. I live in GA.

You can read the article "How to Start a Hair and Salon Business" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol130/hairsalon.htm The article provides a solid introduction to the business, discussing points such as services you can offer, startup requirements, and success tips

For in-depth information, I suggest reading the following books (either borrow from your library or buy from your favorite bookstore)

- Start Your Own Hair Salon and Day Spa by Eileen Figure Sandlin
- 101 Media and Marketing Tips for Salon Owners... by Nanette Miner
- Creating an Excellent Salon: A Guide to Business Practice for NVQ Level 3 and Higher Qualifications
- Milady's Standard System of Salon Skills: Hairdressing
Beyond Beauty: Cosmetology Business Information and Resources
- Salonovations' Day Spa Operations
- Successful Salon Management

You can go to SCORE http://www.score.org for help in writing a business plan. They are typically retired businesspeople who are volunteering their time, so their service is free.

As for grants, it is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html...

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

http://www.cfda.gov

http://www.grants.gov

http://gtionline.fdncenter.org

http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol66/grants.htm

http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

Women Business Owner

Women Business Owner

Woman business owner get more tax breaks?

My boyfriend and I have started a small business here in PA. I set it up as a general partnership, 50/50 ownership. My name is first on all documents. Ive heard that if it was set up as a sole proprietorship as a female-owned business, I'd get better tax breaks. Ive also heard that if my name is listed first, I'd get the same tax breaks for the business as female owned. Can anyone clarify?
Thanks, imisidro!

No, women owners do not get more tax breaks

However, women owned businesses can get certified as such with the SBA. The certification, which confirms that your business is 51% owned by a woman, will give your business a boost when you engage in government contracting process, including bidding on state government contracts, and even some local corporate contracts.

Contact the following organizations regarding the procedures and benefits of being certified as a woman-owned business (however, some agencies such as WBENC which is one organization that provides national certification charges $300 for application).

Women's Business Enterprise National Council

http://www.wbenc.org

National Association of Women Business Owners Corp.

http://www.nawbo.org

But not more tax breaks

Women Business Owner
Inside the Transition: Women small business owners

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