Due to the need for discretion during the early planning stages, Vicki requested that we wait on posting her first few weeks of blog posts until now. Vicki wrote this one on April 4. Don't worry; we'll be caught up to the present day soon!--NAILS Eds.

The new ceiling went in Saturday, and it looks great! We had a small glitch with the business occupancy license, but our landlords straightened that out for us. The floor is being ripped up today. Things seem to be coming together.

Kim’s husband has made one large white polish rack that costs $60, and he is making us a chalkboard to match that we can put our salon news and specials on. Each will be on matching walls on either side of the large front windows. We found a couch, two matching chairs, and ottomans for $200 on Craigslist.org that are in perfect shape. I've designed the pedicure cleaning logs, client cards, and salon menus, which I will take to FedEx Kinko’s to photocopy on card stock and cut them myself to save money. I've also been working on the Constant Contact e-mail blasts so they are ready to go on the 15th. Business cards and postcards arrived yesterday. They look great, and we spent less than $300.

So far we have spent less than $5,000 or so to open the salon:
$1,132 Security deposit
$ 537 rent each, so we are paid up to July 1 (We negotiated a free month’s rent too!)
$74 Business cards
$216 Postcards
$100 Glass tabletops
$125 Tabletops and legs
$200 Furniture
$100 Paint
$ 117 Website
$210 Banner
$ 25 FedExKinko’s & office supplies
$50 Cosmo License fee
$ 100 Business License
$ 23 Fictitious name fee
$ 500 Liability insurance

What’s left?
Building the pedicure platform
Building the half-wall
Sinks and plumbing (which we will do later)
Washer & Dryer

--Vicki, Polish Salon, Brea, Calif.