Your First Salon: A Student Business Project

Take your classroom to the next level with this hands-on Salon Business Project! 💼✂️ Students get a taste of real-world salon ownership while exploring branding, services, retail, tools, and career skills. This free version is teacher-friendly, engaging, and flexible, making it easy to use while still giving students a meaningful experience.

Lesson Procedures

1. Salon Concept & Branding 🖌️

   • Choose a salon name ✨

   • Write a mission statement 💡

   • Select a salon type: Independent Shop, Chain, Franchise, or Large National Chain

   • Compensation Plan 💵 (Pick a payment model: Booth Rental, Salary, or Commission)

2. create a simple logo and a business card or basic flyer for your brand

3. Service Menu ✂️

   • Create a list of at least 10 services with descriptions and prices

4. RETAIL INVENTORY LIST🧴

   • CREATE A LIST OF AT LEAST 10 RETAIL ITEMS TO SALE IN YOUR SALON WITH DESCRIPTIONS, PICTURES, AND PRICES

5. 10 furniture/decor items 🪑

   • CREATE A LIST OF AT LEAST 10 FURNITURE OR DECOR ITEMS TO START UP YOUR SALON WITH DESCRIPTIONS, PICTURES, PRICES, AND total start up price AT THE END.

6. Floor Plan & Salon Design 🏗️ YOU MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE STUDENTS DRAW THE SALON PLAN, DESIGN ONE ON THE COMPUTER, OR create the shoe box hair salon to have a physical model.

   • Create a floor plan including:

     • Entrance/Exit 🚪

     • Reception area 🛋️

     • Retail display area 🛒

     • Restrooms 🚻

     • Shampoo bowls 💦 (if a hair salon)

7. Professional Resume 📄

   • Complete a professional resume including:

     • Name & contact info

     • Objective/Mission 💡

     • Education 🎓

     • Qualifications/Accomplishments 🏆

     • Experience 💼

8. Handwrite salon business chapters vocabulary list, CREATE FLASHCARDS, or A FLIP BOOK, ETC. ✍️

9. Mock Interview (Optional) 🎤

   • Practice answering basic technical, scenario-based, and business questions

   • Focus on professionalism, confidence, and presentation skills

Why I Love This Lesson ❤️

This project is hands-down one of my favorites because it lets students think like business owners while practicing creativity, planning, and professionalism. Even in the free version, students are engaged, motivated, and proud of their work—and you can see the learning happen in real time.

Final Thoughts & Premium Upgrade 🌟

I LOVE this Salon Business Project—it’s hands-on, engaging, and gives students a real-world taste of running their own salon. Students walk away with critical thinking, creativity, and career-ready skills that they can showcase in their portfolio.

If you want to lighten your workload and give students the ultimate experience, check out our premium version! 💎 It includes:

• A complete lesson plan with step-by-step guidance

• Guided lesson slides for teaching while students work

• A complete student example for inspiration

• Student start up budget & budget spreadsheet for hands-on financial practice

• Student checklist to guide them through the project

• Mock interview questions to prepare students for real-world skills

• Rubrics for grading and assessment

The premium lesson is all-in-one, teacher-tested, and student-approved, so you can confidently deliver a full salon ownership experience without extra prep.

✅ Ready to level up your classroom? Check out our premium lesson and give your students the ultimate Salon Business Project experience!