MENU
SEARCHDon’t wait until the next crisis to get prepared. Despite the sea of unknowns, start building financial success now with these three tips from Qnity’s Tom Kuhn.
As part of our Burning Questions series, we gathered our readers' pressing business questions and raised them to industry experts. Here, Tom Kuhn,QnityFounder/CEO and CEO of the2to10 Project, addresses the tough topic of finding financial security in times of crisis.
SALON TODAY: With the industry changing and uncertainty, how do I ensure I am actively preparing financially for what's next?
Kuhn: I’d like to break this down in three general buckets:
1. Find the silver linings.
Find opportunities to become stronger, to implement new practices that put you in a better place than you were before. In my work as a turnaround specialist and during times of financial turmoil, I teach several practices that help find and create silver linings. ‘Push the Pulse’ has you take the things that you previously did once a month and transition to doing them weekly, and things that you used to do weekly, you now do daily. For example, projecting cash flow. ‘Daily Cash Flow Tracking’ is a vital practice to implement. Tracking your cash flow monthly is too long. Weekly is too long. You need to do this daily, and we have a great tracker template in our Plan for Profits program.
Another practice is to have a ‘Name to Every Number.’ For every line item on the P&L, make sure it’s clear who is accountable for each number. Is it the owner, manager, education leaders? This process is also a great practice to spread out accountability for profitability.
2. Recognize revenue vs. profitability.
Don't assume that a drop in revenue equates to a drop in profitability. Salons that are down 20+ percent in revenue are actually up in profitability. Many businesses have used the pandemic as an opportunity to adjust their cost structure, better utilize technology and address flaws in the business model that otherwise may not have been addressed – and it’s showing in their profits.
3. Stay connected.
In times of crisis and hardship, it’s critical to stay connected with others in the industry, your community and with experts in business, finance, innovation, etc. We have seen the power of community through our weekly ‘Financial Roundtables.’ We’ve hosted a weekly ‘roundtable’ for the past 21 weeks. We bring together experts, owners and leaders and discuss timely actionable ways to survive and thrive in business and life. We’ve had many participants tell us this community and information is what got them through the pandemic.
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.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
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.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
