Can a hairstylist and handbag maker survive and thrive in Houston and is the city small business friendly? (Katy: for sale, salons)

[sport69]

Is Houston small business friendly, does it take long to apply for sales tax I.d govt paperwork etc, is renting both residential and commercial expensive. Do Houstons value small businesses? I'm still deciding on whether to start in Texas or California.

[westres1]

It does not take long to apply for sales tax id. Houston is small business friendly IMO. rental costs can vary by location. Im assuming something on 19th street in the Heights would cost more than a strip mall in Katy

[Texas Built]

California is expensive, high tax, big government nanny State. Its the last place I would start a business, right next to New York and New Jersey. But it also depends on the business. Are you selling handbags, starting an orange grove or opening a casino?


In Texas you could be up and running in as little as 1 day, and 2 weeks at the longest. Paperwork takes 15 minutes for a Corporation, 15 seconds for a sole proprietor. Tax ID takes 5 minutes.

[77030]

Hairstylists need to be licensed by TDLR.

[PeteyC]

If you have a cosmetology license by TDLR, you should be fine either renting a space, or if going into business as sole proprietor/owner be aware that Texas license also needed for this. As far as I know stylist are dependent on a regular customer base (repeat customers) or if they choose do walk-ins to earn a living. There are many franchises in the Houston area that do walk in customers, e.g. Super Clips, Ulta, even Walmart, to name a few. If you want to establish yourself as a stylist that eventualy has your own customer base, try to contact well respected stylists in areas you are considering and ask for advice.
Handbag maker? I don't know. Etsy?
Good luck.

[Timnwendy]

Tip for your handbags: make some of them with built-in pistol holsters. Yes, this is Texas, they will sell with that feature.

[sport69]

I value logic and critical thinking over the use of guns, unless confronted by bear or other wilds.

[Tassy001]

You seem to have been looking for some place to open a business( all over this world) for the last few years. Are you a troll?

[sonic0boom]

Originally Posted by Tassy001

You seem to have been looking for some place to open a business( all over this world) for the last few years. Are you a troll?

You have a really low bar for trolling...


OP: if you want to start your own stylist business, you might be better off working at an existing salon and building up your clientele. I have supported independent stylists and locally owned places here for many years and it seems that most of them eventually band together and open their own business to help split the costs (co-op style, i guess). Hard to say what it would be like to come into the market cold.

[txdemo]

You'd be better off leasing a chair if you don't have an existing client base.

There are loads of salons that are leasing chairs all the time.

You'd need to be at a salon with a lot of walk-ins if you don't have your own clients - Visible Changes etc.