The Hidden Stresses of Starting a Business - Belle Beauty Salon Otley

When you think about starting a business, it’s easy to imagine the exciting bits—designing your dream space, creating a brand, and bringing your passion to life. What you don’t always see coming are the hidden stresses: cash flow forecasts, budgeting, and working with tradesmen, all while trying to keep things on schedule and within budget!

I’ve learned a lot while setting up Belle Beauty Salon in Otley, and while it’s been an amazing journey, it’s also been full of unexpected challenges.

Cash Flow Forecasts & Budgeting – Expect the Unexpected

One of the first steps was creating a cash flow forecast and organising budgets, getting advice from knowledgeable and experienced was key here. It sounds straightforward, but it was a real eye-opener. My biggest piece of advice? Always budget high. Costs will almost always go over what you’ve planned, so it’s better to be prepared for those surprises.

There’s always something extra you didn’t think of, whether it’s unexpected building costs, additional materials, or upgrades that make the space just right. Staying flexible and calm is crucial when the numbers start adding up.

Tradesmen – Trust Matters

When it comes to transforming a space, getting the right tradesmen is essential. Find people you trust and give them plenty of notice. Delays in one part of the project can easily affect everything else, so having reliable people on board is worth its weight in gold.

A Partnership That Made All the Difference

I’ve been lucky enough to go into this as a partnership with my husband. Not only is he handy with a paint brush, but he’s also a bit of a tech wiz. He’s taken care of the website, branding, and marketing plus organisation of most of the renovation team, which has saved us a lot of stress and even more money! Being able to lean on him for those things has allowed me to focus on what I love most—creating the perfect experience for Belle’s clients.

Why Belle Will Be One of Otley’s Most Popular Salons

Despite the challenges, I truly believe Belle Beauty Salon will thrive. With over 18 years of experience in the beauty industry, I know what clients are looking for: trusted products like Medik8 skincare and Navy Professional tools plus many more, high-quality treatments, and a warm, welcoming space.

Otley is such a supportive community, and I’m so excited to bring something fresh and new to the area. I want Belle Beauty Salon in Otley to be a space where clients can escape, relax, and leave feeling their absolute best. My dream is for Belle to become a go-to beauty salon destination in Otley.

We’re not there yet, but we can now envision the opening day more than ever—March 1st 2025! It’s so exciting to think that soon all the hard work will come together, and Belle will be ready to open its doors.

A Few Lessons for Anyone Starting a Business

• Budget high—costs will always go over what you expect.
• Find tradespeople you trust and give them enough notice to avoid delays.
• Lean on the people around you—don’t be afraid to ask for help. Having someone with skills you don’t have can make all the difference.

At the end of the day, all the hard work, stress, and long hours are worth it when you see your vision come to life. For me, that’s Belle Beauty Salon—my dream salon. Built with passion and a little help from our son Charlie with his chainsaw. .