There are 2 additional experts you need on your team.

There are 2 additional experts you need on your team!

A Lawyer & a Real Restate Broker

How to choose a lawyer?

The following factors and questions should be considered when choosing a lawyer.

• Do they know and/or get along with your accountant? In my opinion your account is your most important team member. Therefore, the other team members must be compatible with him or her.
• What type of law do they practice? You will want a lawyer that specializes in business, tax and real estate law. (In small towns, it is more likely to find lawyers who are generalists)
• Are their fees afordable? Yes, lawyer fees are negotiable. Do not sign any long term payment arrangements.
• Do they return calls and get back to you quickly? Ask around the business community. Ask what their policy is.
• What is your "gut" reaction?

To start you will need a lawyer to do the following:

Set up corporation and/or partnership papers.

File for a fictious name license

Review your lease.

*Special note--There are a lot of these you can do yourself.

Lawyers can only charge for their time and expertise. You do not have their expertise. However, you can do the simple tasks that require time.

• You can file for your cosmetology/nail/barber license.
• Open your own bank accounts.
• File for local permits.
• Collect data for the things the lawyer will do.
• Do special mailings--certified. etc.

Be certain to request and keep copies of everything that your lawyer does for you.

Trade Journals--Keep in Touch with the Industry

It is important to keep in touch with the industry.

This is so if you have owned a salon for years or are just opening one.

Following the Trade Journals is one way to do it.

Modern Salon and American Salon are two of the biggest and oldest in the industry.

I stopped my discussion of the experts needed to open a salon because there are two very interesting and helpful articles in these magazines:

• American Salon's November 2nd edition article by Rodney Cutler on Social Networking: Not Just for Gen-Y. Sure it started as a way to connect with friends, but now it's one of the most powerful and easily accessible marketing tools out there....................(This is a must read article!)
• Vance Publishing, the parent company of Modern Salon invites you to attend a FREE presentation of "The Art of the Possible"--Digital Marketing Strategies and Tactics to Grow Your Business in the Salon Industry at the 2010 Western Buying Conference on January 14th at Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas. You must register. If you are unable to join the presentation contact modernsalon@vancepublishing.com for an individual appointment.

Try to grab all the free help you can for your business!

Follow up to 10/10/09 Blog "How Computerized Will Your Salon Be"

Follow-up to 10/10/09 Blog "How Computerized Will Your Salon Be".

Answers and Statements by a Small Business Computer Expert:
Kevin Marraccini
marraccini.com, llc
1316 Woodland Drive
Monroeville PA 15146
412-956-3573
kevin@marraccini.com
www.marraccini.com

Point of Sale program for services and retail:
I think Point of Sale is a must. Quick Books and Microsoft both have products geared toward the small business. They include easy to follow screens and link with credit card processing companies. They will also link with tax software.
Is there hardware available?
Computer manufactures are incorporating POS as a complete solution offering. These offerings will include a computer, monitor, cash drawer, barcode scanner and printer.

Are appointment scheduling programs available?
Most POS programs have a Appointment Program available as part of the package. They are print reminder postcards, phone and email lists. A client record card can also be included.

Can the POS program attach to an accounting program?
Most POS systems can do basic bill paying and invoicing. Most will link to more advanced account software packages such as:
P/L Statement
Balance Sheet
Inventory--Retail and /Service Products
Payroll (Outsourcing payroll is also an option. They will also prepare taxes.)

There are a number of Computer packages just for Beauty Salons. Do you recommend them or prefer basic programs such as Quick Books?
I checked out a few of them and they do seem pretty powerful. Might even do what Quick Books does. They need to work with the accounting program the salon is using. Linking to tax software is important.

What hardware do you suggest?
Dell or HP is what I typically recommend for computers. There are many cash draw and scanners vendors.

The following should also be considered:
*The owner or manager may also want a computer in their office.
*They will need a router to connect to the internet and link multiple computers.
*They may want to restrict access to certain programs such as payroll, P/L, etc.
*They may also want to "lock down" the register so employees are not surfing the internet for non work related things.
*I think internet at broadband speed is important--Cable, DSL. FIOS.
*Running antivirus or spyware detection programs is important.
*Having a backup program to protect the data is very important. I recommend Mozy.com.
*Passwords are important.

Email and Website:
Email and Website are great. Scheduling appointments by email would be a quick way for communication. Salon owner may want to have a smartphone or blackberry.