| How to Start a Barbershop Posted: 02 Dec 2017 04:00 PM PST Starting your own barbershop is a big decision. However, if you are passionate about cutting hair, it can be a rewarding line of work. Identify the requirements necessary to obtain a barber's license in your area and get some experience working as a barber. Develop a business proposal and get a loan for your shop, if necessary. Outfit your shop handsomely and promote it via advertising and social media. EditBecoming a Barber - Contact your barbers' regulatory authority to determine the licensing requirements. While these requirements vary in their specifics, you'll typically have to be a legal adult with at least a high school diploma. You'll also often be required to prove that you've cut hair for a substantial time period (typically in the 1,000-hour range).[1]
- The licensing authority that establishes the requirements might be a barber examiners board, a board of cosmetology, or a similar board.
- Attend barber school. A barber school is an institution that teaches you how to be a barber. Locate barber schools in your area and schedule a meeting with a representative of the school. There is no right choice when choosing a barber school. If you have multiple barber schools in your area, compare the cost, quality of instruction, and level of attention you'll get at each when making your decision.[2]
- Barber school will teach you how to use different scissors, clippers, combs, and other hair styling tools. You'll also learn how to clip hair (including facial hair) and gain experience sculpting different hairstyles.
- When researching barber schools, find out how large the class sizes are. Smaller classes are generally better, since you'll likely get more personalized instruction.
- The cost of attending barber school varies significantly from place to place. In the U.S., for instance, costs can range from $6,500 to $10,000.[3]
- Barber school programs necessary for certification typically last about 1 year.
- Gain some work experience in school and through externships. Early in your barber school training, you'll gain experience cutting hair by practicing on mannequins. Later, you'll probably be assigned (or asked to seek out) an externship with a local barbershop. There you'll work as an apprentice and be be tasked with cutting clients' hair.[4]
- If you're asked to find an externship on your own, approach various barbershops and explain that you are a barber school student in search of work opportunities. Provide the barber with all relevant information, including how long you wish to apprentice there, what your experience is to date, and what your career goals are.
- Obtain your barber's license. Once you've identified and fulfilled the requirements for becoming a barber, fill out the license application and submit it with the appropriate fee. The cost of this fee ranges from $20 up to $110 or more depending on your location.[5]
- Proving you're experienced typically requires attaching a letter or signature from the licensed barber under whom you trained or worked, as well as the transcripts or degree from the barber school you attended.
- Perfect your craft by cutting hair at another barbershop. After completing your education and training period, you might not feel confident enough to open your own barbershop just yet. That's okay! Look for opportunities to extend your training under the same barber you've been working with, or find a better-paying opportunity elsewhere.[6]
- As an employee of another barbershop, you'll typically pay rent for a chair. For instance, you might pay $100 per week to cut hair at the shop, and take home everything you keep.
- Alternately, you might be paid an hourly wage when working as an employee.
EditSecuring Startup Capital - Calculate how much you'll need to start your barbershop. The costs of starting a barbershop will vary depending on the services your provide, the number of employees you have, and local conditions like the cost of renting a storefront. Generally, however, starting a barbershop costs somewhere in the range $120,000-$150,000 USD.[7]
- These costs are used to pay for store equipment (cash registers, security systems, ventilation, and so on), insurance, marketing and advertising, inventory (combs, shampoos, clippers, and so on), and miscellaneous costs (like your sound system, waiting area chairs, and TV).
- Provide lenders with a business proposal. The business proposal should include a spreadsheet that includes each item of your projected costs, as well as an indication of whether it's a one-time cost (like a television) or an ongoing cost (like rent and shampoo). Include information about yourself and your experience as a barber, your vision for the barbershop, and your expectations for the future of the business. This proposal show potential lenders know that you're serious about using your loan wisely.[8]
- Lenders will also want to know basic information like the location where you want to locate your business, the cost of your lease, your expected monthly earnings, and the specific products and services you'll provide.[9]
- Lenders might also want you to pledge company assets as a form of security interest. This means that in the even you cannot repay your loan, the lender will be permitted to take some of your barbershop's property or income.
- Compare loans from a variety of lenders. Check for loans from large commercial banks, local community banks, and peer-to-peer lending sites. Each of these lenders will offer different loan packages.[10]
- Shop around for loans from several lenders. Choose the loan with the low interest, the fewest fees, and the longest repayment period.
- Look over potential loans with an accountant or financial advisor you trust. Your financial expert should enable you to help you identify the best loan for your barbershop.
EditAttending to Business Regulations - Determine what sort of business you want to start. You will have to designate your barbershop as one of three different types of businesses. Each of these has different tax structures and regulatory guidelines. Consult an accountant or financial planner to help you determine which type of business is best.[11]
- If you plan on being the sole owner and operator of your shop, you should found your barbershop as a sole proprietorship.
- If you intend to act as the head barber and hire a staff of other barbers to help out, your best bet is to establish your shop as an LLC (a limited liability corporation).
- If you intend to start a large barbershop business with multiple locations, a large staff, and investors, you should establish your shop as a corporation.
- Obtain a business license once you know what sort of business you want to form. The process by which you obtain and complete your business license varies depending on your local laws and regulations. In some cases, the business license can be obtained from your city government, while in other cases you'll have to apply for a business license through your county government.[12]
- The license application often requires information about the address where you want to open your shop, the estimated cost of the lease, and the type of business you want to open.
- The business license is different than the barber's license. The barber's license enables you to work as a barber, while the business license is necessary for you to own and operate a business.
- Obtain additional licenses, if necessary. For instance, in some places you might need a license for playing background music in your shop.[13] You might also need a health license to prove you understand how to keep your combs and clippers clean.[14]
- Ask the licensing authority if they recommend or know of additional licenses you might require at the local, state, or national level.
- Get insurance for your shop. Even if you aren't legally required to get insurance, you should get it anyway. You'll want to get various types of insurance, including:[15]
- Liability and accident insurance to protect you from client lawsuits
- Fire, flood, and other types of insurance to protect your building
EditEstablishing and Growing Your Business - Locate a good place for your barbershop and sign a lease. The best location will be highly visible and easily accessible by both foot and vehicle. It should also be located near other businesses.[16]
- The conditions which qualify as a good location for a barbershop vary substantially from place to place. A good location might be downtown, in a big city, or in a rural area.
- Talk to a realtor if you need help identifying a good location in your local region.
- Buy the necessary equipment. Use the inventory list you developed for your business proposal as a shopping list. Do some research when purchasing equipment and shop around to get the very best prices.[17]
- The process by which you'll buy the necessary equipment varies depending on which equipment you want. Some of the things you want to buy (scissors, clippers, and televisions for waiting area customers) might be available in stores.
- Some equipment (like special combs or dyes) might only be available online.
- Some items will likely be available both online and in stores.
- Promote your shop online. Get the word out about your business through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. Use these sites regularly to reach out to potential customers. Additionally, develop a website that lists your hours, address, phone number, the name of your business, the services you provide, and a map that shows the location of your shop.[18]
- Building clientele takes time. Be patient in your first few months and promote your business continuously.
- Advertise through your local media. Purchase ads in your local paper and on websites, radio stations, and television stations in your area. The prices for these advertisements vary considerably from place to place. Your ads will also vary depending on the type of ad you're developing.[19]
- An ad for TV or radio might use a catchy song or "jingle."
- All your ads should include the name of your business, your address and phone number, and an enticing list of the service your provide.
- 30-second TV ads range in cost from $200 to $1,500 USD depending on your location. When producing a TV ad, include footage of your clean and inviting barbershop.
- Print ads in local newspapers often run between $50 to $200 USD for a small black-and-white ad of average size.
- If you include images of yourself or your employees in your TV or print ads, appear friendly by smiling and waving.
- If you need help developing your ad, consult a local graphic designer or marketing agency.
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| How to Decorate Wine Bottles Posted: 02 Dec 2017 08:00 AM PST Instead of recycling your empty wine bottles, you can reuse them by turning them into beautiful decorations for your home. You can easily decorate your wine bottles with supplies like paint, glitter, and string lights. However you decide to decorate your bottles, completely empty them of wine and rinse them out before you get started. Make sure you have a spot to display your works of art when you're finished with them! EditPainting Wine Bottles - Get acrylic paints. Acrylic paints will stick to glass, so you won't have to worry about paint coming off your wine bottles. Get paints in multiple colors if you want to paint a more intricate design.[1]
- Clean your wine bottles with soap and water. Soak a section of a rag in soapy water and wipe down the outside of the bottles. Rinse the inside of the bottles out to remove any leftover residue. Let the bottles dry completely after you clean them.[2]
- Put tape on the bottles if you want a striped design. Use painter's tape or masking tape. The spots you cover with tape won't get paint on them, so they'll look like empty stripes when you remove the tape after painting.[3]
- Wrap a piece of tape around the base of the bottle to create a thick stripe going around the whole bottle.
- Run a piece of tape from the bottom of the bottle up to the mouthpiece to make a vertical stripe.
- Paint your wine bottles with a paint brush. If you're doing one solid color, use a large paint brush to work faster. If you're painting multiple colors on a single bottle, use a smaller paint brush so you can be more precise. Don't forget to paint the bottom of the bottle and the rim around the mouthpiece.[4]
- You don't have to paint your wine bottles a solid color. Pick designs or patterns you like and paint those on the bottles instead.
- Let your painted wine bottles dry overnight. After they've dried overnight, touch them with your finger to see if they're fully dry. If they're still wet, let them continue to dry before you cure them.
- Cure your wine bottles in the oven for 30 minutes. Place your wine bottles in the oven and set the temperature to . Set a timer for 30 minutes, then remove the bottles from the oven.[5]
- Add decorations to your painted wine bottles. Glue on rhinestones or decorative gems. Add glitter to your painted bottles using an acrylic sealer as an adhesive. You can also hot glue decorative flowers onto the bottles.
- Make sure you wait to add decorations after you've cured your wine bottles in the oven.
EditMaking Wine Bottle Lights - Drill a hole at the base of your wine bottle. Use a diamond drill bit designed specifically for glass. Make sure the drill bit is larger than the cord on the string lights you'll be using. Lay your wine bottle on a flat surface over a towel so it's steady. Slowly drill down into the base of the wine bottle (on the side, not the bottom of the bottle). As you're drilling, spray water from a spray bottle onto the drill bit to lubricate it.[6]
- Ask someone to help you with this part. One of you can drill the hole while the other sprays the drill bit with water.
- Remove the piece of glass you drilled out and rinse the bottle with water. Rinse directly over the hole you drilled to wash away any small pieces of glass around the hole. Let the bottle dry completely.[7]
- Feed the string lights through the hole in the bottle. Make sure you use string lights that have a plug on only one side or they won't fit through the hole. Slide the end without a plug through the hole and keep feeding the cord through until all the lights are inside the bottle.[8]
- Use a bent coat hanger to pull some of the lights up the neck of the bottle. Bend a metal coat hanger so there's a hook at the end. Slide the hook down through the neck of the bottle and use it to grab part of the string lights. Carefully pull the lights up through the neck of the bottle. Stop once the lights reach the mouthpiece and unhook the coat hanger from the cord.[9]
- Pull up 2 or 3 sections of the lights so they are firmly packed in the neck of the bottle. This will prevent them from sliding back down into the base.
EditDecorating Wine Bottles with Glitter - Scratch up the surface of your wine bottle with fine-grit sandpaper. Look for sandpaper with a grade between 120 and 220. Rub the sandpaper over the wine bottle in a circular motion until it's completely covered with scratches. The scratches will make it easier for the adhesive you're going to use to stick to the bottle.[10]
- Set up your work space in a well-ventilated area. Work outside if possible. If you have to work inside, open any windows in the room you'll be working in and plug in a box fan. Lay down tarp or newspaper on a flat surface so glitter and adhesive don't get everywhere. Lay your wine bottle down on the flat surface.[11]
- Spray a section of the bottle with a spray-on acrylic sealer. The acrylic sealer will work as an adhesive for the glitter to stick to. Hold the sealer away from the bottle and spray from the base of the bottle to the mouthpiece.[12]
- You can find spray-on acrylic sealer at your local crafts store.
- Sprinkle craft glitter over the sealer. Add the glitter directly from the canister. Completely cover the adhesive with glitter so there aren't any empty spots.[13]
- Look for craft glitter at your local crafts store.
- Turn the bottle and apply sealer and glitter to a new section. Continue to turn the bottle and add more sealer and glitter until the entire bottle is covered. If you notice bare spots, spray sealer over them and cover them with glitter.[14]
- Spray the whole bottle with sealer to seal the glitter in place. The extra coat of acrylic sealer will help the glitter stay on the bottle. Keep in mind that some glitter will come off the bottle when you touch it. Be careful when you're handling the bottle so glitter doesn't get on your clothes.[15]
EditWrapping Wine Bottles with Twine - Glue the end of a roll of coarse twine to the bottom rim of your wine bottle. Use a hot glue gun so the twine is secure on the bottle. Apply a drop of hot glue to the bottom rim of the bottle (on the side of the bottle) and press the end of the twine into the glue. Let the glue dry for at least 1 minute.[16]
- Wrap the twine around the bottom rim of the bottle. Add a drop of hot glue every . Stop wrapping the twine once you get back to where you started. Let the hot glue dry for 1 minute.[17]
- Tightly wrap the twine around and up the bottle until you reach the neck. Don't leave any gaps between the rings of twine as you wrap it around. You shouldn't be able to see the glass wine bottle through the twine. Don't apply any hot glue to the rings of twine going up the base of the bottle.[18]
- Wrap the twine around the base of the neck of the bottle and apply hot glue. Add hot glue every like you did to the ring of twine at the bottom rim of the bottle. Stop once you reach the point where you first started wrapping the twine around the neck of the bottle. Wait 1 minute for the hot glue to dry before continuing.[19]
- Tightly wrap the twine around and up the neck of the bottle. Layer the rings right on top of each other so there aren't any gaps, like you did with the twine on the base of the bottle. Stop wrapping when you reach the lip at the top of the neck.[20]
- Cut the twine from the roll with scissors and glue the end to the bottle. Apply a dot of hot glue right below the lip at the top of the bottle. Press the end of the twine into the hot glue. Once the hot glue dries, your bottle is ready to be displayed![21]
EditThings You'll Need EditPainting Wine Bottles - Latex-based paint
- Rag
- Tape
- Paint brush
- Oven
EditMaking Wine Bottle Lights - Drill
- Diamond drill bit
- String lights
- Metal coat hanger
EditDecorating Wine Bottles - Fine-grit sandpaper
- Spray-on acrylic sealer
- Craft glitter
EditWrapping Wine Bottles with Twine - Coarse twine
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Become a Police Officer Posted: 02 Dec 2017 12:00 AM PST Police officers protect the community by enforcing laws and maintaining peace. The job requires excellent judgment, hard work, extraordinary courage and the ability to think quickly under pressure. Knowing what to expect in job preparation, the police academy, and at the interview stage will help you get ready for your new career in law enforcement. EditPreparing to Apply - Meet the basic requirements. You must be at least 18 years of age, have a driving license, and be a legal resident of the country you live in in order to become a police officer. Some police departments, however, require recruits to be at least 21, so double-check the age requirement with your local department.[1]
- Make sure your record is clean. Police officers are expected to act as role models in their communities, and any crimes committed prior to becoming an officer can disqualify you. Avoid using illegal drugs, drinking alcohol to excess, and associating with criminals. All of these behaviors can make it tougher to get a job as a police officer when it comes time to apply.[2]
- Having a felony conviction, a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction, or a conviction for a crime related in any way to race (a hate crime) disqualifies you from being able to pursue a career as a police officer in most jurisdictions.
- Start building good credit. When you apply to become a police officer, the department will run a credit check as part of your background check, and you will be penalized if your score is low. To build good credit, avoid accumulating debt, and pay your bills on time. Get a credit check now so you know exactly what financial state you are in.[3]
- If you don't have good credit, take steps toward building it back up. Even if your credit score is low, the efforts you make to attain better credit will show that you're a responsible person.
- Develop a strong work background. Having work experience helps prepare you for the long hours and strict requirements of a police officer job, and it also gives you an edge over applicants with no experience. Your job experience doesn't have to be related to law enforcement, although that can help; any work experience that shows you're responsible and capable of doing a job well will help.[4]
- Consider taking a job that requires you to interact with the public. Police officers need excellent communication skills.
- Other government jobs, such as a job at your local state park, can give you a sense of what it's like to work as part of a law enforcement team.
- Some choose to join the military service for a year or two before joining the police force, as this prepares them physically and mentally for the duties of a cop. However, military service doesn't exempt you from police academy in most jurisdictions.
- Get physically fit. Police officers have to have quick reflexes, the ability to run short or long distances, and the strength to detain suspects. You'll have to pass a physical agility test to qualify for becoming a police officer, so start working out now to make sure you're in your best physical shape. Join a gym, work with a personal trainer, or just start running every day to get yourself in shape.[5]
- Go on ride-alongs whenever possible. Police officers are a familiar sight around communities and in the media, but in order to really understand what its like to be a police officer, you have to spend time on the job with one. Most police departments allow citizens to ride along with cops, so take advantage of the opportunity as often as you can![6]
- To schedule a ride-along, contact your local police department.
EditFulfilling the Requirements - Graduate from high school. Alternatively, you can pass the General Education Development (GED) exam. Virtually all police departments require their officers to at least have a GED.[7]
- Consider higher education. Having a college degree is not a requirement for getting hired by most police departments, but it can help to have even a few years of education in a related field, especially if you plan to later become a detective or hold an administrative position. Law enforcement, criminal justice, or even pre-law are all good majors for prospective police.[8]
- Some departments provide tuition assistance to offers pursuing a degree.
- Choose a police academy to attend. If you have a particular department in mind, choose that department's police academy. If you are open to moving around in the future, whichever police academy is closest or offers the most flexible hours will be fine.[9]
- Not all departments have their own police academies. Be sure to check with yours first.
- Police academies are usually part-time.
- Tuition depends on location, but be prepared to spend several thousand USD.
- Take the police academy screening test. Most police academies require applicants to pass a screening test before they can be admitted. The actual contents of the test depends on the jurisdiction, but expect to be asked questions that focus on your judgement, ethics, racial and gender biases, and other critical issues that police officers have to contend with. Some police academies require psychological screening tests.[10]
- Attend police academy. All potential police officers attend police academy for training. Large police departments usually have their own police academies, while smaller departments send potential police officers to academies in larger cities. Training usually lasts for about 6 months, and includes courses in a variety of areas, including:[11]
- First aid/CPR
- State, federal, and local laws
- Firearm use
- Patrol procedures
- Ethics
- Investigation and report writing
- Criminal law
- Leadership
- Pass examinations. Each department has different examinations you must pass in order to become a police officer. Examinations are usually administered to test your competence in the subjects and skills you studied in police academy. In addition to written tests, you will have to pass a practical exam that tests you in a hands-on scenario.[12]
EditFinding a Job as a Police Officer - Look for open police jobs. Find out whether there are openings at your local police department. If there aren't, you may need to apply for jobs in other towns or cities. Consider factors such as location, cost of living, and crime rate when applying for police jobs.[13]
- Most police jobs are not publicly advertised. Call your local department for openings.
- Applications vary by department, but most of them are long and complex. Be prepared to wait for months after applying to jobs.
- Pass the department screening tests. Many departments have their own screening tests that are required before an interview. These tests are likely to focus on your ethical and psychological attitudes towards topics such as domestic violence, police brutality, racial bias, and mental illness.[14]
- Pass background and drug tests. It's common for departments to administer drug and background tests before the interview even takes place, so be prepared to provide the necessary information with little warning. You may need to provide a hair or urine sample, a copy of your credit report, and full biographical information.[15]
- Be sure to tell the department beforehand if there is any reason you may not pass a test. For example, if you have recently purchased a house, your credit score might not be accurate.
- Excel during your interview. If you are asked for an interview, do your best! Competition can often be steep for jobs in good departments. Bring your resume along, dress professionally, and make it clear that you have the right values and skills to become a police officer.[16]
- A police officer's resume should contain their education, police academy training, work or military history, and any volunteer experience that might be relevant.
- Be assertive. This is an important quality for a police officer to have. If you're feeling nervous in the days leading up to the interview, do a practice interview with a friend or family member to help build up your confidence.
- Be honest. Don't lie about past crimes you have committed or mistakes you have made. Honesty and integrity are of utmost importance in police work.
- Be prepared to discuss sensitive issues, such as police brutality.
- Begin training. Accepting a job offer is only the first part of becoming a real cop! Most departments require extensive training before you'll be allowed to operate independently. Attend the necessary training and courses required to help you learn how to do your job well.[17]
- Hiring for police officers is a very long process. Expect at least six months to lapse between beginning your job search and accepting a position.
- Knowing a foreign language will serve as an asset in certain federal agencies and urban departments.[18]
- Practice writing and learn how to type at least 60 words per minute--you will be writing lots of reports![19]
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