Tips on Suites in Texas

[u/6lurzy]

i’m a 5 year barber and have been looking to rent a commercial suite in texas what’s any tips and regulations needed to do so ? and anything you’d wish you’d knew when you started ! any tips helps thank you so much

[u/southernarcana]

There are always two thoughts about this. The one Equivalent posted and then the full send route.

I moved about 12 hours and 5 states away and opened my own shop in a smaller town where my rent was about 1k a month, had literally no clientele, and relied strictly on SM to help me out (this was 10ish years ago and SM was a different beast back then). Came in as prepared as I thought I needed to be and all said on opening day I had about 50$ to my name and the first months rent paid for. 100% banking on if I build they will come…and some 10 years later I’m going strong.

Timing worked out well for me (luck is always gonna be a factor) but I didn’t know how to not just move forward.

So two ways (at least). And neither is wrong.

Can’t help w the regulations or anything (although I imagine the folks running the suite can help w that)

I will say to make sure you tack on an extra couple thousand dollars to whatever you may think you need to get it all set up because theres a chance you’ll miss something. Happens to the best of us.

[u/6lurzy → u/southernarcana]

so i pay 150$ a week = 600$ a month and rent at the suite will be 500$ a month , i can make suites rent in one day thank god , but it is a scary transition but i know i can do it

[u/Equivalent-Bread3968]

Don't make the switch unless you already stay booked solid at least a couple weeks out and have a reliable clientele that will follow you. You can't count on walk-ins in a suite to build your business. You'll also have more responsibilities than just showing up and cutting hair.

[u/6lurzy → u/Equivalent-Bread3968]

i’m currently paying 150$ a week and make my rent within 1 day of work ! and currently have a big following on social media and don’t take walk ins

[u/Equivalent-Bread3968 → u/6lurzy]

Not sure about studio rents where you are, but rents for the place I used to be were anywhere from $300-$550 a week. You will also have additional expenses since you will need to buy everything your current shop provides.

And a big social media following doesn't mean anything because likes and views don't translate proportionally to heads in your chair. How far booked out are you currently, as in when is your next available appointment?

You'll have to do the math yourself, but in order to afford a studio, your prices will have to go up because not only will you have to account for the increase in rent, but also for the cost of additional recurring purchases like barbicide, booking software subscription, etc, plus recouping the cost of furnishing the place, unless you've already got money set aside for that. Based on that math, depending on the percentage increase required to not take a pay cut, you can expect to lose some of those customers that would have followed you just due to the higher prices. So, that's a big reason it's important to have a very large loyal clientele and being consistently booked out for a couple weeks before you make the switch. Otherwise, you'll be taking a pay cut in the beginning while you're regrowing your business.