After 20+ years of coaching salon owners, I can spot the pattern in under 5 minutes. Talented stylist opens dream salon, becomes overwhelmed operator, wonders what went wrong. If you're working harder than ever but not getting ahead, if you're the busiest person in your salon but still stressed about money, you're not alone.

In today’s episode, I'm revealing the #1 mistake that keeps talented salon owners stuck. The problem is that you're trying to solve business problems with technical skills instead of business skills. You cannot solve business problems by doing more hair.

I'm breaking down the 5 Pillars of Salon Success, the framework that separates struggling salons from thriving ones. Most salon owners are working on 1 or 2 of these pillars. The successful ones master all 5.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Why this episode might change how you see your business

[01:19] The pattern I see constantly with salon owners

[03:00] What most salon owners do when struggling

[04:03] The #1 mistake: You can't solve business problems by doing more hair

[06:00] The shift successful salon owners make

[07:02] The 5 Pillars of Salon Success framework

[07:19] Pillar #1: Management & Systems

[08:09] Pillar #2: Money & Financial Clarity

[09:03] Pillar #3: Marketing That Actually Works

[10:14] Pillar #4: Super Stylist (Team Performance)

[11:12] Pillar #5: Team & HR (Hiring, Culture, Retention)

[12:34] Why all 5 pillars must work together

[13:00] Why overwhelm comes from incomplete business education

[13:22] Announcing the free 3-part video training

[15:00] Introducing GROW Business School (12-month program)

[15:25] How to access the free training

Want MORE to help you GROW?

FREE 3-PART VIDEO TRAINING:

"The Five Things Holding Your Salon Back From Growing (And How to Fix Them)"

👉Register and get the free video series sent straight to your inbox

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

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NEXT WEEK:

Episode 331 - Part 2 of the series: Deep dive into the Money Pillar. Why your salon is busy but not profitable, and exactly how to fix it.

A new year always brings with it a sense of possibility. It’s that “that was then, this is now” moment where you get to draw a line in the sand and decide what happens next. But let’s be honest, for many salon owners right now, business feels tougher than ever. Clients are cautious, bookings feel unpredictable, and the world around us feels uncertain.

In this episode, I talk about the reality of running a salon in times like these and why focusing on everything outside your control is a guaranteed way to feel overwhelmed. Global uncertainty, economic pressure, and changing consumer behaviour are real, but they’re not where your power lies.

Instead, I break down exactly what is within your control, both as a salon owner and as a stylist. Because when you focus on the controllables, the systems, the standards, the leadership, and the client experience, you put yourself back in the driver’s seat. And when you do that, growth isn’t just possible. It’s predictable.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:43] The reality that many salon owners are facing right now

[02:23] Not everyone is struggling, why that matters

[03:06] Why being in business has always been hard

[03:32] Global uncertainty and its impact on client spending

[04:17] What you can control vs what you can’t

[04:50] Control the controllable, leadership starts here

[05:09] What stylists are in control of every single day

[07:42] What salon owners are in control of

[09:32] Why focusing on the controllables guarantees growth

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:

Free Online Training: ‘The five things holding your salon back from growing and how to fix them’. Join the waitlist to be sent the first training on 12th January.

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Not every hairdresser wants to be self-employed, and in this episode, I explain why that’s not only okay, but why it creates a real opportunity for salon owners to rethink what an employee-employer-based business can and should look like today.

Too often, self-employment is sold as the only path to freedom, flexibility, and financial success, without anyone stopping to talk honestly about the real costs involved.

In today's episode, I talk about what many stylists don’t calculate before they make the leap: rent, tax, product, tech, training, marketing, lost holiday pay, and the time spent working on the business instead of in it.

For plenty of people, the reality is that they end up earning about the same or less than they did as an employee, but with a lot more responsibility and pressure.

I also talk about what salon owners must do if they want to attract and keep great people in 2026 and beyond. The old rules don’t apply anymore. Being good at hair isn’t enough. If you want to build a business that thrives, you need leadership skills, business skills, and the willingness to adapt.

On a final note. Whether you are a returning listener or perhaps this is your first time, either way, thank you for trusting that we bring you the people and the insights that are needed to grow your salon business.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Welcome to the podcast

[01:00] Not everyone wants to be self-employed, and that’s okay
[01:31] Why hairdressers want teams, security, and belonging
[02:16] When self-employment is the wrong move
[02:44] The myth of “keeping all the money”
[03:32] The real expenses of working for yourself
[05:33] Freedom vs. the reality shown on social media
[05:53] Why many stylists return to employment
[07:00] Technology, the pandemic, and changing work attitudes
[07:33] Why traditional salon models started pushing people away
[08:00] Flexibility, resistance to change, and the perfect storm
[08:43] Why salon owners must adapt to survive
[09:00] Leadership, respect, and treating your team as clients
[10:00] What having a team makes possible
[11:28] Looking ahead to 2026

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:

FREE TRAINING: The Five Things Holding Your Salon Back From Growing and How to Fix Them in 2026 - For Priority Notification - Jump on the waitlist here

👉 FOLLOW US!

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