You Don't Own a Salon. You Own A Business.
In his latest blog, Leon Alexander Ph.D., challenges industry conventional thinking to help owners add more to their bottom lines.
5 Things to Consider Before Launching a Beauty Business
When a service provider ventures into salon or spa ownership, it's an exciting time, but also a big development step. Coach and Salon Owner Amy Carter walks you through things you should consider before ownership.
by Amy Carter, Empowering You Consulting
May 30, 2024
3 min to read
The following is an except from SALON TODAY's Coaches, Consultants and Business Resources Directory. Visit it for more helpful business guidance and to learn more about Amy Carter of Empowering You Consulting.
Before new salon or spa owners open their doors for the first time, there are five key things they should consider, says Amy Carter of Empowering You Consulting. They are:
Your true role as an owner.
You literally CANNOT do everything yourself. You have to delegate some of the tasks so you can focus on the higher-level tasks that no one else can do. I love the quote, “I only do what only I can do.”
I’ve had clients tell me they simply do not have the time to work on the business. So, I had them list out every single thing they were doing each day. I had to point out that someone else in their company could take out the trash, do the laundry or be the one to greet every client. Delegate your tasks, train your team and only do CEO things!
Your finances.
Numbers can be scary. Either you’ve always felt confused by them, don’t know what to look for or are scared of what they will tell you. Trust me, it’s better to know. Your decisions will be so much smarter and your profits so much greater when you know your finances. Understanding this took my business from unprofitable to massively profitable, and knowing how much cash I needed in reserve saved my business time and time again.
How to grow a team and cultivate a strong culture.
Culture is the backbone of success. When my team’s culture sucked, I hated going into the salon. And, I’m pretty sure no one else enjoyed going there either. But when you’ve pruned the bad seeds and worked on cultivating an amazing environment, we saw it flourish again. That’s why we teach not to hire out of desperation. Instead, hire when you know new employees will add to your team culture.
How to be a good leader.
A great leader is relatable and vulnerable, not just busy. I find that many owners think that being a leader means you’re the busiest one in the salon. That’s simply not true. You need to let your team know that you care, that you understand them and that you’re invested in their growth. You need office time and an open-door policy so your staff can come to you and find a safe place to share their thoughts.
How to coach your team on an ongoing basis.
The truth is, most leaders are made, not born. People don’t pop out of beauty school with leadership savvy. These are skills that need to be developed, and those of us who own a salon or spa aren’t immune from it. Develop your team to be the best that they can be.Technicians need to develop their own leadership skills so you can stand out from the crowd and become a six-figure service provider.
I love taking the time to coach my team to their dreams and their greatness. It’s an honor to support them in living a life they love. When they are happy, owning my salon is a breeze!
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
Are Your Stylists Doing Free Hair on Your Time? Introducing the 'Win-Win' Staff Services Playbook
In her latest blog, Amy Pal helps you develop your own clear guidelines around complimentary free employee services.
Caring for Your Caregivers at the Front Desk
From managing air traffic on busy days to handling frustrated guests' complaints, your front desk team often serves as the salon's emotional shock absorber. From a customer service lesson from the DMV to a list of strategies for caring for your front line, our experts offer ideas for alleviating stress, celebrating wins, and setting goals.
by Stacey Soble
What's Really Happening with Salon Retail and How to Reclaim Your Revenue
According to the KIM Report, top-line salon revenue appears steady or slightly up, but that growth is driven primarily by service price increases. Beneath the surface, retail performance and client visit frequency (appointment drift) are under real pressure. In his latest blog, Alain Audet offers strategies for keeping your salon's retail sales strong.
Trimming Your Tax Bill by Putting Family on the Payroll
Putting your family to work in the salon offers some real tax benefits, but you have you have to play by the rules of the tax code to claim them. Azarvand Tax Law's Leticia Skrabut, Esq., shows you how.
The Art of the WOW Experience
Discover how to create a true “WOW experience” for every client by first building a culture where your team feels engaged, empowered, and inspired. Drawing on Calvin Stovall’s Iconic Framework, this blog explores how salon, spa, and clinic leaders can strengthen culture, elevate customer experience, and build a business that stands out for the long term.
Sponsored by Phorest Salon Software
Why Wellness Belongs on Your Salon's Growth Plan
The wellness industry is growing fast, and salons and barbershops already are an important part of it. In her first blog, Tracy Rado shares where the wellness dollars are heading, and how salons can grow with this movement.
Why Your Revenue Looks Good But Your Business Feels Stressed and What to Do About It
While salon sales are increasing, owners often feel they're working harder for the same or less profit. Leverage Q2 data from The KIM Report, Alain Audet reveals some of the structural changes that are dampening your growth and why your region and your salon size matters.
Why Your Holiday Season is Won in September
Weaknesses in your business are amplified during the Holiday Season. Spark Pro Global's Lucy Randall shows you five things to do now to have the strongest holiday season yet.
Appearance Standards are the New Dress Code
In Kati Whitledge's latest blog, she shares how salons have moved away from dress codes and embraced appearance standards. But by removing strict dress codes, some businesses may have unintentionally lowered their appearance standards. Whitledge helps you explain to your team why an appearance standard is important and how to smoothly implement a new appearance policy.
Working Through the Gray Areas of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for for-profit businesses that provides a financial incentive for eligible employers who offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Leticia Skrabut, Esq., walks you through how to claim that credit.
5 Things Every New Stylist Should Learn Early
Developing strong work habits early in one's career supports long-term success in the salon industry. Jesse Linares offers new stylists his top five tips.
The Four Numbers Every Salon Owner Should Know
Most salon owners have no idea what these numbers are. You can hit record sales and still have a profit problem. The difference comes down to four numbers almost nobody was taught to track.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
Your Salon Can't Survive Without You. That's the Problem.
A five-area audit every owner-dependent salon needs to run. You built something that looks successful. Now find out if it can survive without you.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
Waiting for the Right Time Is a Decision. Here's What It's Costing You.
Every month you put off fixing the problem, it gets bigger, more expensive, and harder to solve.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
A Partner in Business and in Life
At Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair and Beauty, Director of Operations Natasha McMillen helps bring her wife Janet St. Paul's vision to life, elevating every system from education to operations.
by Stacey Soble
Back to Business with the Pinstripe Trend
Expand your color service menu with the Pinstripe technique. Brooks and Brooks' Marlon Hawkins walks you through the technique.
by Stacey Soble