Signing a commercial lease is one of the biggest and irreversible decisions a salon or shop owner will ever make.

In this conversation, Sheila Laderburg Tarasiuk of Pedal Retail Advisors explains what it truly means to be transaction-ready and shares the essential steps, costs, and protections every beauty professional needs before moving into a retail space.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Be transaction-ready before you even look at a space — Sheila stresses that you must have a full business plan, financial clarity, and a real understanding of commercial real estate before a broker will take you seriously.

🔅Know what you’re signing — leases are long, binding, and hard to escape — A commercial lease isn’t casual paperwork; Sheila explains it can be harder to exit than a marriage and comes with years of personal financial commitment.

🔅Have real money ready — opening a salon usually costs around $200,000 — Even “simple” or “turnkey” spaces require deposits, build-out, signage, legal fees, utilities, and upfront operating capital.

🔅Don’t go in alone — the landlord’s broker does NOT represent you — Sheila’s direct warning: every building has a broker, and their job is to protect the landlord’s interests, not yours.

🔅Your business plan must be detailed, researched, and math-driven — A real business plan takes months, not a weekend, and requires deep thinking, budgeting, and market analysis before approaching landlords.

🔅Preparation is what keeps you grounded when emotions hit — When clients panic at the final signing stage, Sheila brings them back to their business plan to make sure every assumption still holds.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Pedal Retail Advisors on Instagram

👉Connect with Sheila on LinkedIn

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

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The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

From earning her cosmetology license at eighteen to opening three thriving salons, Jannay McIver shares how mastering business systems, finances, and leadership transformed her from a behind-the-chair stylist into a visionary salon owner shaping the future of beauty entrepreneurship.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!



KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Start with structure — every successful salon begins with clear systems that define how clients are served and how teams operate.

🔅You can’t scale chaos — written processes create consistency across locations, ensuring the same guest experience every time.

🔅Learn the numbers — understanding cash flow, pricing, and profitability is essential to sustain growth and protect your business.

🔅Delegate with trust — empowering your team and letting go of control is how you move from stylist to true owner.

🔅Keep learning, always — education—from industry training to business programs like Goldman Sachs—keeps your leadership sharp and your vision current.

🔅Lead with purpose — blending beauty, wellness, and financial literacy builds stronger professionals and stronger communities.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Jannay on Instagram

👉Follow Asili Hair Care Center on Instagram

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Most people wait until they feel ready — Jahnaya didn’t have that luxury. In this honest conversation, she shares what it’s like to build a career and a business at the same time, how she’s learned to trust the process, and why entrepreneurship is more about courage than confidence.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Start before you feel ready — Jahnaya graduated the week D.C. shut down but kept moving forward, taking clients from home and turning uncertainty into opportunity.

🔅Adapt quickly and strategically — When her salon job offer vanished overnight, she pivoted to a home setup, stayed compliant with safety limitations, and kept serving clients with professionalism.

🔅Invest in yourself through education — From cosmetology school to ongoing classes, Jahnaya proves that independent stylists must replace salon training with self-driven learning to stay sharp.

🔅Make customer service your superpower — Clear communication, comfort, and care helped her grow from three to sixty clients—proof that great service builds stronger referrals than social media alone.

🔅Be resourceful with what you have — She started with one salon chair, a mat, and minimal tools, showing that success comes from creativity and consistency, not a large budget.

🔅Connect beauty with wellness — Her holistic approach blends hair care with mindset and emotional health, emphasizing that inner well-being directly impacts hair health.

🔅Dream beyond the chair — Jahnaya’s long-term vision of a community-centered wellness space reminds stylists to see their career as a platform for larger impact, not just income.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Jahnaya on Instagram

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Today’s episode is a little different— because instead of just talking about business models, we’re walking through them in real time.

While in Chicago, we spent time with Dana Fountain, visionary beauty entrepreneur, author of The Beauty Blueprint, and founder of Chicago’s largest bridal beauty agency, Pin Me Up Chicago. She’s built 7 unique salon concepts, each designed around the stylists who call them home.

In this episode, Dana takes us on a live tour through her 7 salon concepts and her wedding/event venue, Row 24. Along the way, we discuss collaboration, partnerships, and what it truly means to create spaces where stylists can flourish, grow, and thrive.



KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Collaboration is a growth strategy, not a personality trait. Dana doesn’t “add people into her business” — she builds businesses with people from the start.

🔅Don’t build a space and hope someone fits — build a space because someone fits. Her salons look different because the stylists inside them are different — the model begins with the human, not the floor plan.

🔅The right partnerships multiply your impact. Partnership isn’t about expansion; it’s about co-creation that produces something neither party could have built alone.

🔅The space is the business model. Each location functions differently by design because each was built around the work, lifestyle, niche, and goals of the people inside it.

🔅Culture isn’t “set” by the owner — it’s co-created. The identity of each location emerges from those who work there, not from a template being replicated.

🔅Leadership is shared, not centralized. Dana empowers people to co-steward the space, which creates stickiness, alignment, and true ownership — emotionally and operationally.

RELATED LINKS

📺See all 7 concepts by watching on YouTube!

👉Follow Dana on Instagram

💡Check out all of Dana's platforms from Your Beauty BluePrint and her salon concepts, to her bridal agency and event space HERE

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

What does it look like to build a business with heart over 25 years — not just success on paper, but a legacy rooted in people, purpose, and service?

In this powerful conversation, Winn Claybaugh (author, speaker, and co-founder of Paul Mitchell Schools) shares what it means to lead with generosity, stay grounded in discipline, and build a culture where kindness is non-negotiable. From mentorship to brand stewardship to showing up for your team long before you ask anything of them, Winn breaks down why sustainable entrepreneurship starts with character, not ego.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!



KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Lead by serving first – Make deposits into people before you expect performance. Service builds trust, trust builds influence.

🔅Create culture through behavior, not slogans – Culture is what you consistently model, not what you print on a wall.

🔅Kindness should be operational, not accidental – Build it into how you onboard, give feedback, celebrate wins, and repair mistakes.

🔅Schedule your discipline – The “unseen” habits (training, reflection, preparation) are what create longevity, not the public moments.

🔅Mentor early and often – You don’t have to be “finished” to lift others; lead from exactly where you are.

🔅Build people before you build a brand – When your team grows, your business grows with them — not the other way around.

🔅The spotlight isn’t where success is built - Longevity comes from discipline — the quiet, consistent work you do when nobody is watching.

🔅Mentorship multiplies impact - Legacy isn’t what you build — it’s who you build.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Winn on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X

👀Check out his website - www.winnclaybaugh.com

Listen to Winn's podcast, MASTERS - www.mastersbywinnclaybaugh.com

📺YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/winnclaybaugh

📚Learn more about Paul Mitchell Schools - www.paulmitchell.edu

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Special Edition: Live from the Beauty Business Brunch

What does it really take to build a thriving local industry? In this fireside chat recorded live at the 2025 Beauty Business Brunch, Herson Bautista—CEO of DC Barber Expo and Owner of Heritage Barber & Co.—joins Host, Robert Hughes, to talk entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and the power of community.

From lessons learned launching the DC Barber Expo to the importance of serving your team and showing up for one another, this conversation dives deep into what it means to grow through service, education, and connection.

🎟️ Exclusive Access: Until now, the in-depth takeaway and reflection guide was only available to Beauty Business Brunch attendees — but we’re sharing it with our podcast listeners for a limited time.

👉 DM us “recap” on Instagram to grab your free copy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Lead through service - Entrepreneurship is about more than making money—it’s about showing up for your team, your clients, and your community.

🔅Feed your team first - “If your team isn’t eating, they won’t hunt.” When you invest in your people, they’ll pour that energy back into your clients.

🔅Take action, even when it’s risky - Overthinking can paralyze progress. Growth comes from acting on ideas, even when the outcome is uncertain.

🔅Do your homework - Before jumping in, research what’s already been done, learn from others’ paths, and build from there.

🔅Redefine success - Not everyone needs to own a business to win. You can live well, build wealth, and love what you do without being a salon owner.

🔅Embrace failure as part of the journey - Setbacks don’t define you—they refine you. Learn, adapt, and keep going.

👉Follow DC Barber Expo on Instagram

👉Herson Bautista on Instagram

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

This week’s episode is a little different — and more personal.

Recorded on our anniversary trip in Greece 🇬🇷, we took a moment to pause, reflect, and talk honestly about what it really takes to build a business — and a life — together.

💬 How do you find balance when your work and your purpose are so deeply connected?

💬 How do you give yourself space to think when you’re always in “go mode”?

From the quiet lessons of slowing down to the big realizations about what we truly need to succeed, this episode captures a moment of reflection — and a reminder that growth doesn’t always mean doing more.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

🎉For those in the DC, MD, VA area, we are having our last Hairpreneur Happy Hour of the Year on Monday, October 13th at STK Steakhouse. 

No Fee, No Pressure - Just show up, grab a bite and refreshment, and vibe with your fellow hairdressers!

Send us a DM to let us know you’ll be there! 

🗣️The other event coming up is our Virtual Hairpreneur Roundtable on October 15th 7:30pm - 8:30pm EDT. This is a bi-monthly call for salon owners, stylists, barbers, and rising talent at any stage to ask big questions, get expert advice, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

Interested? Send us a DM to find out how to join!

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

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From stylist to $13M CEO, Terra Harvell shares how she built her empire through hair extensions, smart systems, and leadership—and why new talent and startup hairpreneurs need to think beyond the chair to create lasting success.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!



KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Build a strong foundation first — new stylists should learn the full spectrum of skills to become well-rounded before choosing a niche.

🔅Specialize to stand out — once you’ve mastered the basics, hone in on a niche (like extensions) to attract high-value clients and grow faster.

🔅Think like a CEO early — treat yourself as an entrepreneur from day one, not just a service provider.

🔅Master emotional intelligence — success comes not only from technical skills, but also from leadership, communication, and resilience

🔅Build scalable systems — create processes so your business thrives even when you’re not behind the chair.

🔅Invest in mentorship — seek out guidance to accelerate growth and avoid costly mistakes.

🔅Redefine success — focus on both profitability and fulfillment, aligning your career with your long-term vision.

👉Follow Terra Harvell on Instagram

👉Follow Harper Ellis Hair Co. on Instagram

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Join us for Part 1 of our docuseries with Gabby and Franky, two first-time salon owners in Washington, D.C., as they open Corte—sharing the real challenges, surprises, and lessons of building a salon from the ground up.

👀Watch this episode on YouTube to see their salon!

Corte is being built to be a space where clients feel at home and stylists feel supported. Gabby and Franky aim for their salon to be recognized for its precision cutting, creativity, and collaboration, while cultivating a culture of leadership, education, and comfort for both guests and their team.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Opening a salon requires patience with permits and inspections—timelines often extend far beyond expectations.

🔅Budget more than you think you’ll need; cushion funds for rent, construction, and delays are critical.

🔅Building strong relationships with landlords, contractors, and architects can save time, money, and stress.

🔅Designing for stylist comfort and workflow—like wide walkways and real break rooms—pays off in staff satisfaction.

🔅Using downtime wisely (like training in leadership) can prepare you for managing a team before the doors open.

🔅Don’t shy away from the process—if you feel called to salon ownership, the rewards outweigh the challenges.

👉Follow Corte on Instagram

📱Follow Gabby on Instagram

📱Follow Franky on Instagram

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

In this episode, learn how purpose-driven leadership, mentorship, and community-building can transform businesses, lives, and the future of the beauty industry with Beauty Gives Back Co-Founders Mireya Villarreal & Julie Hightower

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!



KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Build with purpose: Tie your business to a mission that creates impact beyond profits—it will strengthen your brand and community.

🔅Seek mentors and be a mentor: Success in beauty comes from guidance, and paying it forward accelerates industry growth.

🔅Prioritize wellness: Protect your mental and physical health to avoid burnout and sustain a long career in beauty.

🔅Invest in financial literacy: Understand cash flow, funding, and strategic planning so you can grow without losing stability.

🔅Leverage events for growth: Networking and education events (like Beauty Gives Back) are opportunities to gain tools, connections, and scholarships that directly support your career.

🔅Give back strategically: Find ways to support your community—whether through scholarships, mentorship, or volunteering—to create a ripple effect of empowerment.

🎟️On September 15th, join Beauty Gives Back™ for a one-day experience filled with mentorship, networking, and inspiration from some of the most influential leaders in the beauty industry.

👉 Get tickets here: www.beautygivesbackfoundation.org

👉Follow Mireya on Instagram

👉Check out Pink Pewter

👉Check out Pink Pewter Foundation

👉Follow Julie on Instagram

👉Check out Daisie Foundation

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.