Secrets of successful salon owners

We’ve all seen it: a salon or spa that so effortlessly succeeds it almost seems like magic. You look at them and think they probably never have to discipline their staff, they never have to worry about what they’re going to post on socials, and they always have plenty of time for family.

And while it’s probably a mistake to assume that anyone else’s life (and business) is perfect and effortless, there are some secrets. So how to successful salon owners make it all look so easy?

The short version is: they’ve got their stuff together.

The long version?

Well, let’s dive in!

They’re organised

Dealing with things as they come up is a recipe for frustration and inefficiency. You might think you can just “make time” for the non-client things. And sure, that’ll work – but you’ll also be in constant emergency mode.

Switching between different types of tasks is rarely the most productive way to work.

A better way to deal with admin is to be realistic about the amount of time you give to it. Set aside a busy time in your appointment calendar for meetings, forward planning, social media, and all those other bits and bobs that you need to be doing.

Make a plan, block out your time, and be disciplined about sticking to the plan.

They’ve embraced the cloud

There are a million (approximately) tools for business owners nowadays. So many things nowadays can be automated, from bookings and reminders to client notes and colour recipes.

If you’re in the cloud with software like Google, Apple, Xero or Timely, you don’t have to worry about losing your data if you break your device or spill coffee on your diary. Being able to look at your records and compare your current productivity with previous months (or years) will give you a better idea of how your business is doing, and what tactics are working – or aren’t.

They communicate clearly

Successful people say no. They might say it nicely, or firmly, or abruptly, but they say it. Wasting time doing things that don’t get results is a fast-track to losing focus.

If you want time to be creative and try new things in your business, you need to reserve time and energy for yourself.

Communication doesn’t have to be difficult; it’s just about making sure everyone knows exactly what you want from them. “I suggest you try saying less,” says Lisa Conway. “When you do come to speak, ensure you have the attention you need to be heard and understood. Speak calmly, quietly and without emotion.”

By making the most of the attention people give you, you can make sure everyone’s on the same page and save a lot of time.

They invest in their team

According to educator Geoffrey Herberg, salons only budget 2% of their turnover toward training their staff. If you’re not upskilling your staff, how to expect to improve and grow your business? Investing time and energy into your employees gives them something to be passionate and inspired about, which makes it more likely they’ll bring their full selves to work.

Don’t let your staff be one of the 70% (according to Forbes) that aren’t engaged at work. Clients can tell.

Whether it’s training, regular one-on-one chats, or professional development, don’t forget to make the most out of the resources you have on your team.

They know what’s important

Success doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone.

For some business owners, it means growth: more clients, more staff, more locations. For others, it means time: more time to spend with clients, or more time to spend with family.

Whatever it is you want, plan ahead for it! Run your business with the you of tomorrow in sight. If you want to grow your business, start investing your time and profit in things that will get more clients through the doors, like developing client retention programs or hiring new staff.

If you want to spend more time with family and friends and hobbies, make an effort to reduce the admin time by automating your systems and blocking out busy times.

Whatever success looks like for you, start working towards it now, every day. That’s the secret of successful salon owners.