2024 SALON TODAY 200: Compensation and Benefits

It’s a service provider’s job to take care of clients, but it’s an owner’s job to take care of the team. Salons and spas that offer rewarding compensation and benefits packages and design transparent career paths retain talent longer, which helps them grow faster. 

ARZ SALON + SPA RETREAT
North Ridgeville, OH
arzsalon.net
Michael & Lezlie Meihls
SQUARE FEET: 2800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 9
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Olaplex, Brazillian Blowout
COLOR: Aveda, Redken, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Aveda  
NAIL CARE: Apres, OPI, Zoya
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Reach, Textel, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA   
“One new aspect of our compensation program is that each technician chooses a service they excel in and they set higher pricing on those specialized services. The commission also is higher on these specialty services. Our team loves this because they get paid more for what they love to do.”

ATELIER STUDIO
San Jose, CA
ateliersalon.com
Anna Johnson
SQUARE FEET: 1670     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 40
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Mya, Listen360, Vish
“We looked to Silicon Valley for inspiration on our time-off policy and introduced unlimited, unpaid time-off for special things like a honeymoon or a trip abroad. This was a morale boost for our team, but also leaned into personal reponsibility because stylists have to determine how much income they need for their lifestyle.”

BE INSPIRED SALON, INC.
Madison, WI
beinspiredsalon.com
Kati Whitledge
SQUARE FEET: 2500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 21
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Innersense, Amika 
COLOR: Goldwell  
TECH SUPPORT: Rosy, Mya 
ASSOCIATIONS:  ICA, PBA   
“A new benefit we offer is disability insurance. We had one stylist with a knee injury who really needed support during her recovery. We purchased disability insurance that also supports team members who take maternity leave.”

ELEMENT 5 SALON
Charlotte, NC
element5salon.com
Traci and William Hampton
SQUARE FEET: 2300, 1700    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 35
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aved,a Oribe 
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce  
“Once stylists reach a minimum business goal, they have access to help from our assistants. We don’t make the stylists pay for their assistants, and it allows our busy stylists to double and triple book their clients.”

FIVE SENSES SPA, SALON & BARBERSHOP
Peoria, IL
FiveSensesSpaAndSalon.com
Paola Hinton
SQUARE FEET: 5000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
NAIL CARE: OPI  
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, SalonClouds+
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA   
“Our huddles consist of reviewing our monthly goal progress and helping us determine opportunities for the day. If we meet the service and retail goals for the month, we celebrate with a $50 gas card to every single team member.”

KENNA KUNIJO
Charlotte, NC
kennakunijo.com
Lauren Kunijo, Kenna Ehman
SQUARE FEET: 2000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines  
COLOR: Davines, Redken 
TECH SUPPORT: Boulevard  
“In addition to incentives for reaching their KPI goals, we include goals such as offering a certain number of giveaways on their social media, growing their following or posting guest results. When they hit their goals, they can grab a gift from one of three prize boxes.”

KENNETH'S HAIR SALONS AND DAY SPAS
Columbus, OH
kenneths.com
100% employee-owned
SQUARE FEET: 8300, 9700, 17700, 5500, 5000, 3200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 345
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: private label  
COLOR: Redken Pulp Riot 
SKINCARE: Derma Md, Hydropeptide, Circadia
NAIL CARE: Foot Logix, Morgan Taylo,r Gelish
TECH SUPPORT: Proprietary  
“Our most recognizable benefit is that we are 100% employee-owned. Ownership is in the form of stock that is calculated based upon the employee’s contribution to the company. For most technicians, it equates to about a 20% return that remains secure in a retirement fund.” 

MAGGIE THE SALON
Pembroke Pines, FL
Maggiesalon.com
Maggie DiFalco
SQUARE FEET: 2350, 2310    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 32
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora  
COLOR: ColorSpace  
NAIL CARE: CND  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish  
ASSOCIATIONS:  ICA, PBA, Eufora Salon Owners Network
“We currently have four levels—Designer Stylist 1, 2, 3 and Master Stylist. Because our levels have tier pricing, our Level 1 stylists get a lot of online bookings, which not only helps keep them busy but helps them build their clientele.” 

MENSROOM SALON AND LOUNGE
Portland, ME
mensroomsalon.com
June Juliano, David Stanley
SQUARE FEET: 1500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 5
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, The Art Of Shaving 
COLOR: Aveda, Redken 
SKINCARE: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: Salon Ultimate, Mobile Text  
ASSOCIATIONS:   ISBN, PBA 
“We are excited to put forth our latest program—the 200K Club. The benefits include unlimited time off. In 2023, we were thrilled to announce that one of our full-time barbers was the first to reach 200K status.” 

POSH SALON AND BOUTIQUE
Grand Junction, CO
poshsalonandboutique.com
Erika Brown
SQUARE FEET: 3800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 14
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L'Oréal, L'Anza, Pulp Riot
COLOR: Matrix, Redken, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Farmhouse Fresh  
NAIL CARE: Youngnails, OPI, Artistic
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Tippy, Vish, Emma 
“Thanks to Summit, earning a promotion in our company is now a structured and consistent proces. Service providers who achieve their daily service goal, retail goal and pre-booking goal for three consecutive months earn the opportuny to progress to the next level.”

RITUALS SALON-SPA
Midlothian, VA
ritualssalon.net
Peter and Sharon Polignone
SQUARE FEET: 5500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 35
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Eufora 
COLOR: Davines  
SKINCARE: Eminence, PCA, Epicutis
NAIL CARE: Emma  
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Vish, SalonClouds+, Livechat
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA   
“Our benefits include paid health, dental and vision insurance, life and long-term disability, no interest loans, 401k Safe Harbor Retirement Plans paired with profit sharing, gap insurance, employee assistance programs that provides online counseling and therapy and up to four weeks of paid time off.”

SPA NIJOLI AND SALON
Methuen, MA
nijoli.com
Nicole DeRosa
SQUARE FEET: 6000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Bumble and Bumble, Oribe, Kerastase
COLOR: Wella  
SKINCARE: Dermalogica  
NAIL CARE: OPI, Dazzle Dry, TGB
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, SalonClouds+  
“Every year, we celebrate as a team during the Spring and have one big company outing. We have taken them on a harbor cruise, rented rooms at the W Hotel, hosted pizza and bowling nights and last year, we rented an estate for our 20-year anniversary with a DJ, open bar and gifts.”

THOMPSON & COMPANY SALON PARLOR
Iowa City, IA
thompsoncosalon.com
Bobby & Kayla Thompson
SQUARE FEET: 1800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 16
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oligo Pro, Thompson & Company Arrojo
COLOR: Oligo Pro
TECH SUPPORT: Boulevard  
ASSOCIATIONS:  ICA
“To make sure our team is achieving their greatest potential in commission advancement, we hold one-on-one meetings twice a month where we review their numbers. At the first meeting goals for the next month are set, at the second we make sure they are on track and if not develop a plan.

ZANDI K SALON
Golden, CO
zandiksalon.com
Nicole Wenz
SQUARE FEET: 1000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: Aura, SalonScale  
“We’ve eliminated back bar fees, providing clarity on earnings and allowing stylists to strategically increase their commission tier. In addition to service commission, our stylists receive retail commission based on clear benchmarks—either 5% or 10% of retail sales.”