Nhf guide clarifies chair rental legislation

Chair rental legislation is one of the hottest topics in the hairdressing industry, which is why the NHF has released a guide to clear up any confusion. Over half of UK salons use chair renters and while it's a business model that works well for some, many salon owners aren't clear on how chair renting actually works. On the surface it's all about saving money on employment costs and the hassle of managing employees. But there's much more to it than that and mistakes can be damaging to your business - as well as costly. The NHF's new free guide sets out everything business owners need to consider before making decisions about switching from having employees to chair renting. Hilary Hall, chief executive at the NHF said: "The key point is chair renters are not your employees. They run a separate business within your salon so they decide how they run that business, including the hours they work, what they charge, the uniform they wear, the products they use and which services they provide. Their clients are theirs, not yours" Paul Curry, the NHF’s President added: "As chair renters aren't employees, you can't impose restrictive covenants to stop them setting up on your doorstep. Neither can you invest in their training and you can't use the same incentives as you would for employees. So how are you going to maintain salon standards, manage the client experience and build your brand?" "There is so much involved in chair renting," Paul continues. "Having a proper contract in place is a must so it’s clear how shared services such as reception, laundry and refreshments are paid for. Knowing how to calculate what to charge your chair renters is also tricky." The guide is available free to NHF members at www.nhf.info/nhf-guides