Become a salon owner

A salon owner oversees the daily operations of a business that provides grooming services to customers. These services typically include haircuts, coloring, and styling. Many salons also offer manicures, pedicures, waxing, and spa treatments. A majority of salon owners choose to continue to provide services to clients while also fulfilling the responsibilities that come with running their business. In order for a salon owner to provide these services she must be licensed in the state that her business is located in.

Salary

The salary of a salon owner will vary depending on whether she also works as a stylist, or chooses to just oversee the running of the salon. The average wage of a stylist working at a salon is between $31,000 and $36,000 per year. An owner would earn this salary from working with her own clients, plus any profits that the salon makes. In most salons the owner also collects a commission from each of the stylists that she employees; this commission could add to the owner’s salary after overhead costs are paid. The overall compensation the owner of a salon earns is also highly influenced by how busy a salon is, the price points of services provided, and the number of repeat clients that the salon receives. In a large high-end salon that consistently has all appointments booked it is possible for a salon owner to make more than $100,000 per year.

Responsibilities

A salon owner is often the first person in the salon in the morning, and the last person to leave at the end of the day. The owner must ensure that the salon is clean and fully stocked with all supplies that are needed for a day of appointments. During the work day the owner is usually responsible for providing services for her own clients, while also making sure that the stylists she employees are doing their jobs. Client satisfaction is a very important aspect of a salon, and the salon owner may want to spend time with clients that come in to foster a relationship and encourage repeat business. If there is a customer complaint the owner is generally responsible for finding the solution to the customer’s problem. When appointments are done for the day the owner must take the time to keep track of the salon’s finances, pay bills, and order any supplies that are needed.

Requirements

A salon owner who is also a stylist must be licensed in order to provide services to clients. To become licensed a stylist is required to attend cosmetology school, and then pass a state exam. Many salon owners chose to pursue continuing education classes in order to stay up to date on new styles, products, and treatments that she may want to offer in her salon. While not required, it is very helpful for a salon owner to have at least basic training in business management.

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