Salon Growth Strategy
Most salon owners I talk to are working harder than they've ever worked and have almost nothing to show for it. They're busy. The chairs are full. But at the end of the month, the profit just isn't there.
That's not a hustle problem. That's a strategy problem.
I've owned salons for 27 years. I've grown locations from scratch and turned around ones that were bleeding money. I've figured out what actually moves the needle and what's just noise. And I've coached over 200 salon owners through the same process.
Here's how I approach growth strategy with the owners I work with.
First, We Figure Out What's Actually Going On
Before we talk about growing anything, I need to understand where you are right now. That means looking at your services, your pricing, your client mix, who's actually profitable and who's taking up chair time without contributing much.
Most owners have never done this analysis. They treat all clients the same and price services based on what the salon down the street charges. That's how you stay stuck.
We dig into the numbers. Not to overwhelm you with spreadsheets, but to find the opportunities you're missing and the leaks you didn't know existed.
Then We Set Goals That Actually Mean Something
I'm not interested in vague goals like "grow the business" or "get more clients." Those don't help you make decisions.
We get specific. How much do you want to take home personally in 12 months? What would your ideal week look like? Do you want to open another location or build something you can eventually sell?
Once we know where you're trying to go, we can figure out what has to change to get there. Some of those changes will be quick wins. Others will take time. But you'll have a clear path instead of just hoping things get better.
We Fix What's Broken and Build What's Missing
Every salon has different problems. Some have marketing issues. Some have pricing issues. Some have team issues. Most have a combination.
I've seen owners spend thousands on ads when their real problem was that 40% of new clients never came back for a second visit. I've seen owners work 60 hours a week because they never built systems that let their team operate without them.
We focus on the stuff that will actually move your business forward. Not trendy tactics. Not complicated funnels. The fundamentals that separate profitable salons from ones that just spin their wheels.
And We Keep Adjusting
A strategy isn't something you create once and forget about. Your market changes. Your team changes. New opportunities show up. Old tactics stop working.
I stay involved to help you navigate that. When something's working, we push harder on it. When something's not, we pivot. The owners who grow consistently are the ones who pay attention and adjust.
Getting Your Salon in Front of More People
Growth requires visibility. If people don't know you exist, they can't book with you. Here's how I help owners get found.
Your online presence has to actually work. Your website needs to show up when people search for salons in your area. Your Google Business Profile needs to be optimized. Most salon websites are basically digital brochures that do nothing. We fix that.
Social media should drive bookings, not just likes. I see salon owners posting constantly with nothing to show for it. The content looks nice but doesn't convert. We focus on content that actually brings people through your door. That means showcasing your work in ways that make people want to book, not just scroll past.
Events and promotions can work if you do them right. Most salon promotions just discount your services and train clients to wait for deals. We create events that generate buzz and bring in new clients without destroying your margins.
Partnerships expand your reach without ad spend. Other local businesses have clients who need what you offer. We identify those partnerships and set up referral relationships that benefit everyone.
Making Your Operations Actually Support Growth
You can't grow a mess. If your operations are chaotic, more clients just means more chaos. Here's what we tighten up.
Scheduling that doesn't waste everyone's time. Most salons lose money because of gaps in the schedule, no-shows they could have prevented, and inefficient booking patterns. We fix the system so your chairs stay productive.
A team that can deliver without you hovering. Your stylists need to know how to handle clients, upsell services, and represent your brand without you standing over them. That requires training and clear expectations. Most owners skip this and wonder why quality is inconsistent.
Inventory that doesn't eat your profits. I've seen back rooms full of products that will never sell and shelves missing the items clients actually want. We get your inventory under control so money isn't sitting there collecting dust.
Financial clarity so you can make smart decisions. You need to know your numbers. Not just revenue, but actual profit. Where the money goes. What services make you money and which ones don't. We build that visibility so you can make decisions based on reality instead of guessing.
Common Questions
What do you actually mean by growth strategy?
It's a plan for increasing your profit, your client base, or both, depending on what you're trying to build. Not generic advice you could Google. A specific roadmap for your salon based on where you are and where you want to go.
Will marketing actually help or am I just throwing money away?
Depends on what kind of marketing and whether it's targeting the right people. Most salon marketing is wasted because it's not strategic. When you're reaching the right clients with the right message, marketing pays for itself many times over. When you're not, it's just an expense.
How often should I be looking at my strategy?
Formally, at least once a year. But really, you should be checking in on your numbers monthly and making small adjustments constantly. The salons that grow are the ones paying attention, not the ones who set a plan and forget about it.
Ready to Build a Salon That Actually Grows?
If you're tired of working harder without seeing the results, let's fix that. Join the Level Up Academy and get the strategy, systems, and support you need to build a profitable salon.