Onyx Salon and Spa

I had been doing hair in salons for 5 years when I had the idea to open my own. I was unhappy in the place I was working, and had the idea to create a modern salon in which all stylists were self employed. I had a fire and excitement in my gut and knew it was what I had to do, even though I had no idea how. I was a single 24 year old girl, with no schooling besides cosmetology school, and had no training in anything having to do with running a business, but I wasn't going to let that stop me.
I figured my first step was finding a location. I found the perfect spot and met with the real estate agent for the property. He asked for my business plan, and I told him I didn't know what that was (embarrassing). I spent the next 72 (pretty much sleepless) hours figuring out what it meant and then writing one.
Then came the financing part. I had no money (besides from my job doing hair and that covered paying my personal bills). I needed a small business loan. I met with and got rejected by at least 10 banks. I applied for grants and loans through "women in business" types of things, and got rejected by all of them. Finally, I met with a bank that was willing to loan me the money for my salon.
The next 6 or so months were spent working my other 2 jobs (at 2 different salons), working on constructing an empty space into a salon, and trying to find stylists who wanted to work there. I had never been part of the construction of anything, and all of the sudden I was the one calling the shots on this project. There were nights I would sit and cry inside the half built salon because I was scared I had made mistakes and wanted to be done with it all. It was too late to back out though. My only choice was to make it work.
It opened in May of 2007. I had 14 stylists who I had convinced to come and work at my salon. It was a risky move on their part and am forever thankful they trusted me. Since I had no experience running a business, I decided to use this guideline for making decisions: Is it the right and fair thing to do? If it is, I do it, even if it doesn't financially benefit me. I feel like that alone has caused it to be successful.
For the first 3 years of owning the salon, I was doing hair there, still doing hair at another salon, working the front desk when I wasn't doing hair, and spending my "day off" at the salon doing odd jobs. There were some days I was there for 20 hours straight.
I did not pay myself from the salon's profit for the first SIX years. I only took home money made from doing hair. I refused to take home profit from the salon until I had paid off all of the debt I took on to start the salon, had made improvements/replaced things in the salon, and had an "emergency fund" saved up for unexpected situations. I would hear comments about how much money I must be making, and little did people know that the 16 year old part time receptionist was bringing home more money from the salon than I was.
Over the years the salon has evolved into one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I am able to work as much or as little as I need in order to spend most of my time at home raising my kids. There have been many high highs of feeling success, and low lows of feeling like a failure (one low was trying to open a second location and having to close it after 2 years). Currently at Onyx, there are 22 stylists, 4 receptionists, and a medspa. Most people who don't work here anymore still stop by to get their hair done or just to visit. The stylists and clients have become great friends and I consider everyone who works there my family. No matter what happens, they are my "tribe" in life.
Even though I didn't have a strong faith when I started the salon, I am now able to see how God was working in my life, even when I didn't give him any credit. I thank God for giving me the right combination of strength, ideas, and people to help create this salon. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth not just because of the hair, but mostly because of the people.
I hope this encourages anyone who has a dream or goal to follow it. Your starting and ending point may be different than mine, but with hard work and determination, you can accomplish amazing things. Don't let anything hold you back. Thank you to everyone who has supported Onyx Salon and Spa!