Looking for investers or grants

[tadeanabressler]

Can anyone point me in the right direction to find a grant or invested to help me upgrade my nail salon, help with advertising and help with finding a possible partner to grow this business. Its doing OK but it could be doing so much better because all the salons in my area are basically chop shops, clients complain about them non stop, they charge ridiculous prices and aren't very sanitary. I'm able to keep my prices low since I opened it in my home and over friendship, humanity and a caring heart, on top of the salon services. But I just can't seem to get the right advertising out to let people know they need to be coming here. I'd also love to upgrade the tools, equipment and naol necessities to offer the best of everything, plus I'd like to hire 1 employee to help with the possibility of becoming partners! Does anyone have ideas where I can begin? I have NO DOUBT if I could accomplish those things my client list.would be booked daily and I could help more people who deserve pampering for working their life away with nothing to look forward to!/That's my promise to clients, they absolutely deserve to be able to afford to relax in this insane society we live in and get robbed by!

[TheRealChipA]

Hi @tadeanabressler.  It sounds like the people at SCORE Business Counseling might be able to help you.  It is a national organization that has all sorts of resources, including business mentoring, that might be right for you.  Click on the link to get more information, including the contact information for the branch nearest to you.

I wish you well!

[Taddyb04]

Thanks for the info its greatly appreciated, I'm from a family of small business owners but restaurants not nail salons. So they couldn't point me in a direction

Plus when I said I'm not doing this to get rich I'm doing it because life is the hardest its ever been and people can't even afford 1 small luxury. I want to help my community, and remind them that there important too, they basically called my talent useless if I can't get rich with it. So I ended up not wanting their advice after I realized we have complete opposite agendas owning a business! Thank you for taking the time to help, not only me but my community might actually get a local business back in it if I can heat some help, so the thank you also!

[JK_Fiber_Art]

Hi Taddyb04,

In addition to all the good advice that was provided - there are other ways to get you noticed.  You don't need to have a website however, think about just creating a single type info page that promotes your services.  Other than your time, you can basically do that for free - then there's Google's Maps, Google's Business Sites, Bing Maps and Yelp - setting these up are Free.  Last, take advantage of Social Medial - Facebook, etc.  Bottom line, it's getting your name and talent out there.

jk

[Taddyb04]

I agree, that's actually how I first started. I printed out rip off flyers and hung them all over, I handed out business cards to everyone I saw had their nailed done, advertised my Facebook page in all my local groups and it helped start things moving. Then luckily I got a handful of loyal clients who spread the word. I donated gift cards to a few local auctions. But I think how the economy blew up ppl had to cut back. So right now of working on door hanging flyers with a little nail care bribe gift in it lol and I'll be walking the neighborhood hanging them on doors and talking to the people. I'm just looking for a direction to go if I can get it going better to improve things and getting some retail in because clients have been asking if I plan on doing that soon. Also to get a little better advertising because I'm in the country which my clients love and have told me the few salons I'm town are getting bad reviews all the time so  if the right ones hear about mine I could make a little town happy lol. But thank you for taking the time to give me ideas. If you hear anymore good ones please let me know I'll try anything to help my community ❤

[Doran]

Hi, @tadeanabressler I agree to checkout SCORE.  Also, try Main Street America and HelloAlice.  Both round up grants and give free business webinars that may help.  

As someone who regularly uses grants in my business funding, I will give a bit of advice to get a BUSINESS PLAN and a grant strategy

All three organizations above have resources on both.  

[Taddyb04]

So you've gotten more than a single grant to help out? That's wonderful? I've never even looked into them before that's why I asked if they'd really help a basically start up business even tho I've been slowly doing it for 2 years. Would I be a pain if I asked if you could give me a quick run thru of how to start the process? Maybe if you know a few things the will or won't do, or what kind of paperwork I should pull together to be ready. Anything at all u can think of so I don't walk into it blind seemingly clueless lol I was raised in a family who owned a catering business/restraunt so I have a good head for business, just not for asking for help. Anything u can offer would be a huge help, I appriciate you taking the time to give me ideas. My community deserves a locally owned business who actually cares for them, I'd love to try anything for them