So you think only women are vain? Think again. I just found out that men can be as prissy with their looks like women are. And the good news is, an enterprising person can take advantage of this turn it into a home business. How? By opening a barber shop!
The following is a Q&A with a barber who opened up a barber shop to response to this sense of aesthetic and call for business venture.
Q: What made you decide to have your own barbershop?
A: Even while I was still in school, I would also find its way to fix my hair differently especially when I had to attend parties or gatherings. The problem then was that in order for me to get the “fix” I wanted, it was either I would do it on my own or go to the beauty salon. In the case of the latter, I sometimes felt awkward being in what is supposed to be a woman’s world. So, I decided to set-up my own barbershop to answer this “need.” And it turned out that aside from being able to get the haircut I want, I am able to earn additional income as well.
Q: So how profitable is this business?
A; Well, it really is profitable. Haven’t you noticed the number of barber shops that have lined up the streets of the city or even in rural areas? Barber shops open up like mushrooms just like beauty parlors do. It only shows that you can earn quite a good sum of money from this business. Besides, it is not really difficult to manage one.
Q: How did you start?
A; The good thing in my case is that I did not have the problem looking for a location. I simply used the space available in front of my house which makes the barber shop a true-blue home business. Then I started to get the shop fixtures I needed, particularly the barber’s chairs while I had the shop furnished and designed. It was important for me that my shop looked unique despite my loyalty to the traditional interior and exterior design of a barber shop. I made sure my barber shop stands out among the rest. Then of course I had to scout for good barbers. It was not hard because as soon as news of a new barber shop opening spread, barbers started applying. I got the best ones.
Q: How much capital did it cost you to start the home business?
A: Well, let’s just say around P150,000 including the carpentry work. The chair alone cost me around P7,000 each. It would be more if you still have to consider a rental fee which isn’t my case since I own the space.
The best way to earn in the country second to a high-paying employment is doing a business. Starting a business in the Philippines can be summarized in the following steps.
First of all, starting a business means getting a birth certificate. Then open the Sunday classified ads of any major daily in the country to look for people or companies offering business. Choose one that suits your preference, list several offers, and call them up one by one. Of the offers in the list choose two to three that seem to promise a more preferable deal. Meet with representatives of these offers. Most of these will probably be franchise offers, the trend in the country.
If the business is a franchise, ask for franchise documents that will prove one’s ownership of the franchise. This document will be asked by city hall officials and stall or concession owners one will later meet. Be sure that franchise documents are complete. This is important in starting a business. For particulars on franchise documents, contact the franchise main office. They will likely be listed online. Or try telephone operator service.
If the business is non-franchise, be sure to have all pertinent documents and records of the business one has bought. Among these are Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) documents for solo or single proprieties or a partnership and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) papers for corporations. Then there’s the business permit which is secured from city hall. Last, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) business papers. Be sure to have all these documents transferred to one’s name. Besides these business documents, starting a business also needs one to secure a barangay character and business clearance from the barangay where one plans to put up a business. Birth certificate is needed here.
The best option is to start one’s own business. Starting a business from scratch (not bought from somebody else) requires routine securing of all aforesaid documents. A warning though: without the barangay clearances no documentation will be accomplished at city hall. Days or week may pass before DTI or SEC or business or BIR papers can be released. So while waiting, one can proceed looking for business locations. Location is crucial in starting a business so give it lots of time.
Starting a business in the Philippines need to go through several phases: getting barangay clearances, securing DTI or SEC papers, business permit from city hall, BIR permit, and choosing a business location.