Things are looking up! I have a space that I looked at down the street from the first space I was interested in. It's currently a tattoo shop so it has all the plumbing I need exactly where it should be. Which would mean I wouldn't have to spend a lot to get it renovated. This area is going through a renaissance period and tons of artists and sculptors are moving in, and I would be the only salon on the street. The plans for the new art district can be found at www.broadavearts.com. The realtor and I are supposed to be meeting next week to talk specifics. In the meantime, there are four more spaces available on the street that would be suitable to my needs.

Oh, I should probably mention that I have not worked with my broker for the last three weeks because the last couple of spaces he sent me were not in the best areas. I have specific areas I want to be in, and he was one of the only people that actually found what I was looking for, but when they didn't work out for whatever reason he just started throwing anything my way. I have suspicions about why some didn't work out, but the only way I'll know for sure is by calling them myself.

One more thing on the to-do list while my space is waiting on me to find it, is figure out the service menu. I'm wondering if I could make more money by adding services to the salon. Maybe a spa, instead of just a nail salon. I'm not sure, but it's a thought since I'm not stuck on any one space right now.

— Lauren, Graffiti Nail Bar, Memphis, Tenn.