I know that the bulk of our listeners are not in the UK, but the changes happening to the UK hairdressing industry have been getting a lot of attention on social media, and as a result, I’ve had a lot of questions from hairdressers elsewhere.

So, in this week's episode, I talk with Toby Dicker, co-founder of the Salon Employers Association, to discuss the critical tax challenges facing the UK salon industry.

Following the recent march on Parliament by hairdressers protesting the unfair tax system, Toby provides a clear explanation of how VAT disproportionately impacts labour-intensive businesses like hair salons.

We explore the uneven playing field between employee-based salon businesses and self-employed models, and how this disparity threatens the future of training, apprenticeships, and business growth in our industry.

Toby shares insights from his work lobbying the government for change and the recent historic parliamentary debate on hairdressing. This conversation isn't just about numbers, it's about gaining respect for our profession and ensuring the continued creativity and excellence of British hairdressing.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[0:47] Introducing Toby Dicker and the Salon Employers Association

[4:03] Simple overview of the VAT tax system in the UK

[8:07] Explaining how the VAT system creates an uneven playing field

[11:36] Impact on recruitment and apprenticeships

[15:05] The disincentive to grow businesses due to the VAT threshold

[18:15] Possible solutions to level the playing field

[24:03] The concept of "disguised employment" explained

[31:50] How businesses avoid crossing the VAT threshold

[41:07] The historic parliamentary debate on hairdressing

[47:24] How salon owners can get involved in the campaign

Want MORE to help you GROW?

📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/

🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/

RATINGS + REVIEWS

🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!

They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast.

👉 Here's what you do:

- On your phone, Click here (Read steps below first)

- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'

- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars

- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏

Until next time!
Antony

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

👉 FOLLOW US

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👉 FOLLOW TOBY DICKER - THE CHAPEL

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👉 FOLLOW SALON EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION

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👉 FOLLOW BRITISH HAIR CONSORTIUM

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You don't grow a business just by getting more clients.

You grow by keeping the ones you’ve already got. But so many salons are focused on acquiring new clients that they completely miss that the real problem is poor client retention.

In this episode, I talk about why client retention is the foundation of sustainable growth and how you’re probably bleeding opportunity by focusing too heavily on new client acquisition.

I share the reality of what the client retention figures are, why you should be tracking what they are in your salon and what simple shifts you can make this week to start plugging the holes in your business.

If you're serious about growing your salon, this is where to start.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[0:00] Amanda adds $20K/month without spending more on marketing

[1:38] How to make more money with what you already have

[1:58] The client life cycle: a powerful mindset shift

[3:27] The trend: salons focus on new clients instead of retention

[7:29] The three-part system for making every client count

[8:56] A simple action with dramatic results

[9:20] Case studies: Lucas and Clive boost revenue with rebooking

[11:02] This masterclass is for owners ready to build a high-performing team. FREE Masterclass Creating the Super Stylist: The Key to Boosting Productivity and Profits in Your Salon.’ Save your seat here

Want MORE to help you GROW?

📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/

🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/

RATINGS + REVIEWS

🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!

They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast.

👉 Here's what you do:

- On your phone, Click here (Read steps below first)

- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'

- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars

- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏

Until next time!
Antony

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

If you're serious about growing your salon, this is where to start.👇

FREE Masterclass Creating the Super Stylist: The Key to Boosting Productivity and Profits in Your Salon.’ Save your seat here

👉 FOLLOW US!

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Some people love data! But let's be honest and say that for most hairdressers, studying the numbers in their business is not their favourite pastime.

My Guest today is a returning Guest, Tom Bentley-Taylor, who, amongst other things, originally got the Salon Software brand Short Cuts established in the UK and is currently Managing Director at Vish in the UK.

Tom is unashamedly a numbers guy. He loves data, but more importantly, he loves what data tells you about what's working and what isn’t working in the business.

In today’s podcast, we will discuss:

• The importance of using data in business
• What is the most important data to track in the salon business?
• How data creates clarity for business owners and fairness for their team.

And lots more!

IN THIS EPISODE:

[1:30] Welcoming Tom Bentley-Taylor and his background in salon software

[3:05] The evolution from Shortcuts to Vish and why colour management matters

[6:55] Are salons undercharging for colour? The problem with guesswork

[8:40] How technology reveals the true cost of delivering services

[11:10] Why data creates clarity for owners and fairness for teams

[13:15] Empowering vs restricting: how stylists respond to numbers

[18:06] Mistakes owners make when introducing change

[22:45] Pricing, margin, and why protecting profit isn’t optional

[25:20] “Creative freedom” vs business responsibility

[28:10] The difference data makes to accountability

[32:40] How Vish works with existing systems

[34:02] The data that helps drive decision-making

[36:40] The mindset of high-performing salon owners

[38:55] Final advice from Tom: stop guessing and start tracking

Want MORE to help you GROW?

📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/

🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/

RATINGS + REVIEWS

🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!
They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast.

👉 Here's what you do:

- On your phone, Click here (Read steps below first)

- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'

- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars

- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏

Until next time!
Antony

👉 FOLLOW US!

Instagram | Facebook | Website

👉 FOLLOW TOM BENTLEY TAYLOR!

Instagram | Website