Muku Beauty International proprietor Terry Muku on Saturday, April 15, revealed four key pointers for running a successful salon business in a foreign country.
Speaking to Chams Media's Daring Abroad, Muku confirmed that the hair business was lucrative but disclosed that it required more than the skill to thrive.
She noted that one required academic certification to run the business, intimating that she herself went to school in Kenya and the United Kingdom.
"You need your diplomas. You need to be professional because the demand is high but clients have a certain standard in which they expect you to handle them," the entrepreneur stated.
Muku, who has spent 26 years abroad, pointed out that one needed to be alive to the business laws and regulations in host countries.
For instance, in the Netherlands, those seeking to set up salons are required to demonstrate beyond paying rent and deposit that they are financially capable of running the business.
She added that the greatest drawback to the salon business was hefty fines slapped on entrepreneurs who do not comply with operation laws.
"In the Netherlands, you have to register with the chambers of commerce to be registered and get a tax identified. We have bookkeepers who fill in the tax forms to avoid the hefty fines," Muku stated.
The salon owner explained that to reduce labor costs, hiring freelancers was the better option.
"When I have an appointment, I contact them. However, if I hired someone permanently, I would have to pay them a salary and their insurance as well," she expounded.
Muku reiterated that it was important to learn the language as well as the cultural practices of the host nation. She argued that communication was integral to building a rapport with clients.
Moreover, she called on anyone planning to start the business to conduct comprehensive research before setting up shop.
