Are you looking for a private studio/suite? Considering a booth rent situation in an open concept salon or do you want to open an independent salon on your own?
Location, location, location! It's true. It's one of the most important things to look for.
First off, you need to consider staying as close as possible to the salon where you are currently working. Anytime you make a move in this business you are going to lose some clientele. So staying as close as you can to where you are will help retain as many clients as possible.
Make sure the new location is relatively easy to get in and out of and has plenty of parking, and of course feels safe. Make sure it is cleaned and maintained properly.
Studios and suites come in all sizes and shapes. Generally, the larger they are the more the rent will be. Most suites are priced according to the square footage of the space. So your first studio or suite should be conservative in size. Once you get on your feet, you can always upgrade to a little larger space if you would like. In fact, that would be a good question for your potential landlord: Is moving to a larger or smaller suite allowed and what would that process be?
Also, ask about paint. Sometimes the suite will be painted and ready for you to move into and sometimes they wait for the new tenant to chose the color of paint that they would like. Or sometimes the landlord will agree to an accent wall in your choice of color.
For pricing studio/suites, as I said earlier, rents are usually based on the square footage of the space but other factors can affect the price. Some suites charge more for an outside window, a longer lease term may cause the rent to be a little less than a shorter lease term. Also, some suite companies charge more if you prefer to pay weekly rather than monthly.
Rent prices can vary quite a bit between big cities and small towns. I'm going to speak to the prices in my area, Albuquerque, New Mexico. I would say we are in a medium price range. Not nearly what we would pay in Beverly Hills, California. But you will pay more here than in the middle of nowhere.
At Village Salon Studios our prices run right about $9 to $9.50 per square foot, which is a pretty average price. Even in our area, you could pay more or less depending on the location and amenities. Open salons with booth renting are typically a little less expensive than a private studio or suite.