If you’re like other hairstylists and entrepreneurs in general, you started your business or got in this industry for the love of it. Maybe you felt it would be a good career where you can be creative and avoid the typical 9-5.

And as much as you just want to do your thing and focus on building your clientele, doing something fun and making money - there are rules, regulations, guidelines and laws that can be a total buzzkill. They truly take the fun out of everything right?

Who would have thought that you would have to know so much outside of doing hair, but the reality is that when you don’t know the laws and regulations of the hair industry you can end up with a big mess on your hands that can turn into a costly and stressful situation.

Today I’m interviewing LeeAnn Miley, who is a booth rental salon owner and founder of The Sovereign Stylist. LeeAnn is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to cosmetology laws, rules, regulations and guidelines and she has made it her mission to empower, inform and educate hairstylists.

You will soon hear LeeAnn’s great story that was the impetus to forming The Sovereign Stylist which is in the works of becoming a non-profit organization full of valuable resources for hairstylists. 

One hot topic in our industry that can be confusing and cloudy is Classification. And if you’re wondering what classification means, you’ll absolutely want to listen in because you’re going to learn a lot!

And if you’re questioning whether or not you are being classified correctly, whether by your own design, your employer or salon owner, you’re going to find that by the end of today’s episode you’re going to have more clarity and peace of mind. 

Plus LeeAnn shares some action steps you can take to ensure that you’re not creating a costly situation for you as a booth renter or as a salon owner.  

So stay tuned and be ready to take lots of notes!

SS-8 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss8.pdf

1099-Misc. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099msc.pdf

The Sovereign Stylist Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/boothrentstylistforum/?ref=share

The Sovereign Stylist Business FB page
www.facebook.com/thesovereignstylist

The Sovereign Stylist website
www.thesovereignstylist.org

We might be seeing the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, I hope so anyway. 

There are a few states that are allowing salon doors to open up and if you’re like most hairstylists around the world, you have very mixed feelings and emotions about this.

In fact, you’ve had mixed feelings and emotions pretty much from the start and you have been through a roller coaster of ups and downs for the past two months... at least.

For weeks now there has been a divide between stylists on a few different topics.

For instance, those who feel that sending colour kits is a good idea, some who feel it isn’t. Some who feel they should help their clients figure out box colour, some who don’t. 

And now that some states are allowing salon and barber shops to open, some stylists feel it’s too soon and don’t feel it’s safe just yet, and some who are ready, willing and able to get back behind the chair. 

And here’s the thing, wherever you stand, no matter what side of the fence you’re on, your feelings are totally valid, 100%. And you know why? Because they are YOUR feelings. 

What I mean when I say your feelings are valid is that they are justified based on your current thoughts, interpretations and perceptions.

And if you’re like most everyone on the planet, you don’t want to be told that you shouldn’t feel a certain way right?

Especially when you’re in the heat of the moment with your feelings and emotions, the last thing you want to be told is that you shouldn’t feel that way. 

And to make matters worse, they now want to tell you how you should feel! 

Oh boy, stand back when that happens right? And at this point, you are not in a mindset to hear anyone out and you will either react (and most likely not in the best way) or tune them out. 

I’m spot on right?

By now you might be asking yourself why, or how is this relevant to me stepping back behind the chair?

Because it might be the right time to let go of a lot of those feelings and emotions you’ve been experiencing for the last two months because they simply may not be serving you any longer and they could very well be keeping you from stepping back into the salon being the best version of you. 

And in today’s episode, I’ll be giving you some insight on why it’s a good idea to release some of those feelings and emotions that have been with you, and the easy way to make it happen.

Spoiler alert, this topic is not a business skill, it’s a life skill. 

Stay tuned...

Being a booth renter has a lot of advantages and the bottom line is that most of the hairstylists who chose to booth rent are typically after one major thing: Freedom.

Freedom to be your own boss, to control your schedule, take the clients you want to have in your chair, set your prices, choose your product lines and ultimately the freedom to create the income you want.

Most booth renters are in shared spaces and when you are in a shared space of course you all want to get along great because it’s best for everyone from you the stylists, to your assistants and clients.

When there’s no drama, no competitiveness, and no cattiness, the energy and environment is so much better to be in. And when you help to create a supportive, cohesive environment everyone thrives.   

I’ve seen first-hand the difference that it makes when stylists either work together to create a space that everyone loves to be in and when they don’t. 

In fact, the salons that had stylists who were not cohesively honoring or engaging in some sort of booth rental etiquette, had super high turnover rates with their renters and their clients. And although everyone in your shop is rental, it is still in your best interest, in everyone’s best interest to be a team player. 

And what if I told you that when you are a team player and have booth renter etiquette you could make more money?

Here’s a peek into The Hairchair Boss Booth Renter Etiquette Guide:

1-    BE a good neighbor

2-    Help your clients be good neighbors

3-    Contribute to creating a positive salon image

4-    Be a good host

5-    Be a team player

In today’s episode, I’ll be talking about these spoken and unspoken booth rental etiquette tips that will help you step into being a better team player, a sought-out stylist and a darn pleasure to work alongside. 

Don’t you just love a good before and after story? They are so inspiring.

Before and after weight loss, the person doesn't even look the same and the smile on their face makes you want to give them a great big hug. Before and after makeovers and how their features just pop and you can see their aura brighten up. Before and after financial wreckage...crumbled marriage...home remodel...from living on the streets to a job and a home and a family (that one ALWAYS makes me cry!). 

Before and after scenarios are uplifting, inspiring and encouraging because they help make you feel like if they can do it, I can do it too.

Right now, we are still in the midst of the coronavirus and if you’re like most hairstylists across the nation and in most countries around the world, you have not been able to work in the salon.

You’re going on a couple of months of forced down time and there is a lot of financial stress you’re facing, and the unknowns and chaos are making it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I get that and I hear you. 

And at the same time, I would be doing you a great disservice if I didn’t interject and help you see yourself from another perspective.

And this outside perspective is that there ARE opportunities to find the silver lining and I believe it is in the form of your own before and after. 

After talking with a heck of a lot of hairstylists, I see a few patterns developing and I’m hearing a lot of comments and conversations around aha moments, realizations and doses of boldness, excitement and courage.

And it made me realize that now is a great time to re-evaluate the way you have been showing up for yourself, your clients, your family, friends, and in life overall.  

In today's episode I’m going to talk about your inspiring, uplifting and courageous before and after that awaits you. 

All you have to do is be open, willing and ready to create your own version.

Because of the Coronavirus, it’s  likely that your salon is closed up and your income has halted for the time being. 

And the reality is that you still have expenses and bills to pay and your thoughts are consumed with what you don’t have or the money you’re not making right now instead of being mindful of what you do have.

And that’s totally understandable. It’s very difficult to think about what you do have when it feels like so much of what you have, or had, is diminishing and disappearing before your very eyes. 

But now is a really good time to put your attention on the abundance you do have so that you continue to attract abundance in your life.

Having an abundance mindset will serve you well because when you put your attention on what you do have, your attitude greatly improves, your optimism level substantially increases and your overall outlook on your business and your life as a whole will catapult you to even more abundance. 

In today’s Hairchair Boss episode, I’ll share two mindsets that are going around, scarcity and abundance, and you’ll have an opportunity to identify which one you’re currently in and explore areas of abundance in your life so that you can put yourself in a mindset that will serve you now and in the months and years to come. 

Don’t take my word for it, listen in, keep an open mind, and consider what you can attract when you’re open to it. 

During this time where we're faced with the current Corona Virus, a lot of hairstylists around the world are asking questions and expressing concerns such as...

my clients are cancelling what do I do? Should I cancel clients... how will I pay my rent... take care of my family... what kind of risk am I putting myself and my family in... what am I going to do if I get infected... and so many more questions that don’t have great answers. 

And I get it, as a chair renter you have so many financial and business responsibilities and this is all overwhelming and stressful.  All of a sudden you’re being required to juggle so many things at once and the loss of income is big and it’s real.  

Today I’d like to share a perspective with you that I know may be difficult to find in times like this. And the reason I want to share this is because shifting your perspective in a few areas might prove to be a very healthy thing to do right now because shifting your perspective may be the thing that gets you through a crisis like the one you’re facing today. 

And once you know how to make these shifts, you will be equipped to handle any unsettling and challenging situation you may face in the future, no matter what it is. 

Listen Now...

#007: How To Attract The Clients You Want To Have In Your Chair

Imagine this: you have a booth rental business, or aspiring to go rental,  and you have a full clientele and they are people you love to have in your chair, you look forward to seeing them every few weeks, you enjoy the conversations you’re having, you truly like spending time with them because it doesn’t feel like a job, it feels like you’re hanging out with friends, and at the end of your busy day you’re tired but you don’t feel drained, in fact you reflect on your day and grateful for the clients you have, because, as Marie Kondo would say, they spark joy!  

The plan is to have these clients in your chair for years to come because when you can create great relationships with your clients they will become raving fans and loyal customers.

If you’re not there yet, don’t worry, you can get there and because you’re here listening today, you’re going to be well equipped to get there faster and easier. 

I first want to bring your attention to  the mistake I see many hairstylists make when it comes to attracting, building and maintaining your clientele. 

The mistake is taking anyone who will sit in your chair. At just about any cost.  

You’re often told that you need to sit around and wait for walk-ins and take anyone who will come in. You’re also told that even if a client is difficult or challenging, that you just gotta deal with them because it’s money in your pocket. So if you want to build, you just have to suck it up buttercup, get thicker skin and do your best. 

I’m here to tell you that’s terrible advice. And if you’re telling yourself this is what you have to do in order to build your clientele, you can stop giving yourself terrible advice too.  

In today's Hairchair Boss episode, I’ll be sharing five key areas you want to be super clear about so that you attract, build and retain clients that you’re going to love having in your chair every time.

If you haven't already done so...
 
 1. Follow me on Instagram @hairchairboss to get doses of inspirational mind food so you can become a more powerful you. 

Instagram.com/hairchairboss/

2. Join the hairstylists only Facebook group for hair biz support, inspiration and community of ambitious hairstylists like you!

•  https://www.facebook.com/groups/hairchairboss/ 

3. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher so that you get first notice of each new episode because you don't want to miss any future Hairchair Boss episodes!

• https://hairchairboss.com/stitcher 
• https://hairchairboss.com/applepodcasts 

Listen Now!

The foundation of Hairchair Boss is to help you, the booth rental hairstylist, create a successful and thriving business and an abundant life by taking an inside out approach. 

An inside out approach means not living from circumstance. It means not relying on your outer world to get what you want, like relying on your social media, your networking or your clients. 

An inside out approach means starting from who you are from the inside, because who you are BEING at your core is going to determine what you do or don’t do, and eventually what you have, or don’t have. 

Think about it this way, what are you trying to have right now? Is it to have more clients, to have more popularity and social media following, to have more money, to have more organization, to have more confidence or more efficiency in your services? 

If you don’t have the things you hoped or thought you’d have by now, or if you’ve hit your goals and have new ones to reach and not sure how to get there, you are most likely going about it backwards. It’s not your fault, because there aren’t many people talking about this model and way of thinking. 

And this way of thinking that I invite you to consider is the Be Do Have model.

The premise of this way of thinking is that you first have to BE it before you can Have it.

It’s not a fake it til you make it model, the "BE. DO. HAVE." approach is a lot more effective than that. 

And when you take this approach and live this BE. DO. HAVE. way of thinking you will begin to change the way you show up in your business and in your life overall, because you’ll start showing up in a way that empowers you, that helps set you up to have everything you want.

In today’s episode, I’ll be uncovering the backwards thinking that so many hairstylists (and most people in general)have...and today you’re going to be ahead of the curve.

If you haven't already done so...
 
 Follow us on IG @hairchairboss for inspiration

And join the hairstylists only Facebook group for hair biz support, inspiration and community

•  https://www.facebook.com/groups/hairchairboss/ 

And subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher because you don't want to miss any future Hairchair Boss episodes!

• https://hairchairboss.com/stitcher 
• https://hairchairboss.com/applepodcasts 

In this episode, I answer a question that someone in the Hairchair Boss Facebook group asked, which is: “How do I enforce my cancellation policy?”

This is a great question because it’s never easy to have that discussion with your guest who is habitually late, cancels at the last minute, or no shows on you.

Even though it's totally on them, if you're like most hair stylists you hate having that conversation, so more often than not, you let them slide again (and again) because you like them or because you feel like you need the business. 

And there is an underlying fear that they will get mad at you, so you don’t enforce it and you tell them it’s ok when you know it’s not. And I know you just wish you would never be put in that situation. But unfortunately, it is your reality and if you don’t know how to create and enforce your cancellation policy, you’re going to end up with way more last minute empty spaces in your book than you can afford.  

You may not be aware of it but the reason why you'll avoid this conversation is because it feels confrontational and most people don't like confrontation.

It doesn't look confrontational on the outside but it feels like it on the inside, and this feeling is insidious in the way it robs you of your power and in today's episode we're going to take an inside-out approach to your cancellation policy so that you confidently take your power back. 

Listen in now…

If you haven't already done so...
 
 Follow us on IG @hairchairboss for inspiration

And join the hairstylists only Facebook group for hair biz support, inspiration and community

•  https://www.facebook.com/groups/hairchairboss/ 

And subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher because you don't want to miss any future Hairchair Boss episodes!

• https://hairchairboss.com/stitcher 
• https://hairchairboss.com/applepodcasts 

If you’re like most hairstylists who go rental, you’re stepping into your desire to be your own boss, you want to have the freedom to control your schedule because you want to be in charge of your life, and you love the fact that you have the potential to make really good money. 

But the truth is, a lot of chair and booth renter hairstylists don’t end up having the freedom and making the money they thought they would and so many stylists end up getting a side hustle just to make ends meet.

But being a hairstylist doesn’t have to be a struggle. It’s a matter of knowing what to do that will help you create the profitable and fun business you set out to have. 

I created a list of the top 10 powerful tips for chair renter success because I was a chair renter for over 25 years and I wish someone had given me this advice years ago.

Get ready for Part Two of the 10 Powerful Tips For Chair Renter Success and get a perspective on being a Hairchair Boss that you most likely haven't had yet.

If you haven't already done so...

Follow us on IG @hairchairboss for inspiration

And join the hairstylists only Facebook group for hair biz support, inspiration and community

•  https://www.facebook.com/groups/hairchairboss/ 

And subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher because you don't want to miss any future Hairchair Boss episodes!

• https://hairchairboss.com/stitcher 
• https://hairchairboss.com/applepodcasts