The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
by Stacey Soble
6 Things to Consider When Hiring a Business Coach or Mentor
In SALON TODAY's Burning Questions series, Salon Cadence’s Ronit Enos offers advice to owners regarding what actions to take when vetting a potential business coach.
by Ronit Enos
November 24, 2020
3 min to read
For salon owners, having a coach is necessary for bringing business goals to fruition. But where do you start when finding the right mentor match? As part of our Burning Questions series, we gathered our readers' essential business questions and posed them to authorities in the industry. Here, founder of Salon Cadence Ronit Enos provides six tips to follow when hiring.
SALON TODAY: How do I choose the right business coach?
Enos: From the many clients and coaches I’ve worked with, I can tell you that the most success comes from those salon owners who are open to coaching and eager for change, willing to commit at least 5 hours a week, understand that they don’t know everything, and are willing to invest. Once you invest the money, time and work, you’ll see results.
There are some programs that are automated, fully online courses. Others have 1-on-1 calls, group calls, or a combo of all. Some coaches focus on teaching you why and how you need to do things. Others work with you to not only teach you, but also put the systems in place with you. A good coach will recognize and work to make sure your company goals are aligned with your financial and personal goals. To find the right coach, you need to identify the level you’re willing to commit to improve your business and life.
The most successful coach/owner duos are the ones who include the whole umbrella: consulting, training, solution-based programs, implementation, and the most important part, realizing that every salon requires a custom program. The best coaches are almost partners in your business.
Don’t be intimidated by high-priced coaching programs. I’ve heard many clients say before signing: “I can’t afford it.” My answer to them is always “You can’t NOT afford it.” It’s no wonder they’re struggling and can’t identify why!
Once you surround yourself with and start learning from someone who has the training and has been in your exact shoes before and succeeded, is when the light bulbs start going off left and right. To put in perspective, a non-specific business degree costs minimum 25k-50K a year.
Tips when hiring a coach:
Ask to talk to graduates of the program.
If a coach is doing a webinar in, take it; then decide if they’re someone you can work with.
Make sure they offer a complimentary strategy/discovery call. If they don’t, rule them out.
Find out if they offer support or additional programs after the intensive coaching period is over.
Ask if you can keep the materials after your sessions/program ends.
Don’t overlook logistics. Pin downtime commitments, how they work and if their hours and time zones are compatible with yours.
Accountability vs. empowering: make sure that the program teaches you to be empowered and doesn’t use a “hand-holding” mentality so you can evolve as a leader and innovator and not be dependent on anyone else. Always make sure your coach is your guide, and you are the hero.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
The Most Wonderful Time in Salons and Spas
Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.
by Stacey Soble
Leading with Empathy, Humility and a Mastery of Systems
When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
Pagoda Brings AI-Powered Operations to Skinovatio Medical Spa Locations
Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
by Staff
How Women are Rewriting the Rules of Grey Hair
At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.
by Stacey Soble
Warm Leadership and Analytical Precision
At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.
by Stacey Soble
Trotting the Globe, Forging Connections, Fostering Artistic Creativity
In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.
by Stacey Soble
Client Retention Guidebook
Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.
Success Grown from Within
Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
How Salon Leaders Can Process the Pain and Lead Forward When a Team Members Leaves Unethically
In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.
How AI Is Closing Revenue Gaps for Salons and Spas
The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Premium Talent Magnet: The Modern Salon Playbook for Attracting Six-Figure Stylists
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Five Revenue Leaks Hiding in Your Salon
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Heartbeat of Zandi K's Success
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
by Stacey Soble
Rethinking Retail in the Era of E-Commerce
In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.
by Stacey Soble
The Harper Ellis Hair Co. Certification Program Teaches Stylists a Smarter, Safer Way to Install Extensions
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
by Staff
The Micro-Salon Blueprint: How Kat Scott Quadrupled Income by Maximizing Her Suite
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
by Staff