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Opening a salon can be one of the most exciting and overwhelming decisions in your career. It’s easy to get caught up in the aesthetic side of things: paint colors, décor, logos, and brand vibes. But the truth is, those are the least important decisions you’ll make. What determines whether your salon thrives or becomes a financial and emotional burden comes down to the foundations you build before you ever pick up a paintbrush.

In this episode, we walk through a real planning process behind opening a salon you’ll still be proud of years from now. We talk about business structure, pricing strategy, hiring and training, building your systems and standards, and how to set yourself up with the right support network, "your bench," so you aren’t trying to figure everything out alone.

Whether you’re:

• A stylist dreaming of your own space,
• A current booth renter thinking of transitioning to ownership,
• Or a salon owner looking to stabilize or reset your business,

This conversation will help you avoid the most common (and painful) mistakes salon owners make. This isn’t just about opening a salon — it’s about opening one you won’t regret.

Your business should serve you so that you can serve others.

When we build from a position of strength instead of survival mode, we create salons that uplift our clients, our teams, and our lives.

Let’s build something that lasts!

Key Takeaways

• Start with foundations (mission/vision/values) before leases or logos.
• Build your infrastructure and cost model upfront; surprises kill cash flow.
• Create a living Playbook so standards aren’t “assumed.”
• Price like a business: know breakeven, include profit, review yearly.
• Hiring ≠ onboarding: map growth paths for each role to reduce churn.
• Maintain a bench (lawyer, accountant, trades, mentor) to buy speed.
• Think lifetime value, not single tickets.
• Hybrid/renter/commission lines blur easily—avoid misclassification traps.

Episode Timestamps

• [00:00] Opening + why early months aren’t always “fun” for new stylists
• [03:00] Lifetime value thinking vs. “$200 today” mindset
• [06:00] What new owners obsess over (logos/paint) vs what actually matters
• [07:00] Foundations first: mission, vision, core values → business plan
• [10:00] Infrastructure checklist: banking, payroll, taxes, software, utilities, insurance
• [12:00] Distributors, licensing, and aligning products with values
• [15:00] Write your Playbook: roles, tasks, client issues, emergencies
• [23:00] Posts & Perspectives: hybrid pitfalls, renter/commission confusion
• [24:00] Pricing reality: breakeven, profit first, yearly reviews (not $5 bumps)
• [28:00] People plan: hiring, onboarding, growth paths, retention
• [31:00] Training cadence: six-month outlines, monthly/annual reviews
• [33:00] Build your bench: lawyer, accountant, trades, mentor—why speed wins
• [36:00] Define success & your North Star; plan before you sign

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