A Career as a Beauty Salon Owner

Want to work in the beauty industry while using your leadership and entrepreneurial skills at the same time? Consider a career as a hair salon owner. With this lucrative career choice, you can open your salon anywhere in the world. Although a beauty salon owner usually has had previous experience, it isn’t required to start your own business and start earning a salon owner salary.

Job Description

Provided you won’t be working on clients' hair or providing other beauty services, you don't need to have a cosmetology license to work as a beauty salon owner.
 
Before beginning your career as a hair salon owner, you’ll need to check with the city or county to get all the necessary business licenses and permits. If you’re new to owning your own business, you may want to classes at a local community college in accounting and marketing.

Salary Guide

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cosmetology jobs are expected to increase by 20 percent between 2008 and 2018. As a hair salon owner, your yearly profits may be unpredictable. However, your salon owner salary will be determined by your ongoing expenses:
  • Power: Blow dryers, flat irons and curling irons take a lot of electricity. The more hair stations you have, the higher your electricity bill will be.
  • Rent: Your salon owner salary may be determined by your location. Salons in cities with foot traffic may have more clientele. However, rent may be higher for salon owners in these areas.
  • Supplies: The cost of supplies will also affect your salon owner salary. You’ll need to find the balance between using high-quality hair supplies, and those with a reasonable price.
  • Water: Since your clients will need their hair washed, your water bill may be high. This cost will increase as you begin to succeed as a beauty salon owner, and you bring in more business.

Education, Training and Work Experience

While you don't need to attend cosmetology school to become a hair salon owner, knowledge of the industry is definitely a plus. Try preparing for a salon owner's career by working as a salon receptionist or assistant. You’ll learn how a salon runs and get an idea of what you would do differently as a beauty salon owner.
 
If you aren't able to get working knowledge, you can take business classes at a local college or attend seminars at a cosmetology school. The skills you learn could help you become one of many successful salon owners.

Career Advancement

Although many would consider being a hair salon owner the top rung of the ladder, salon owners may find more success in the following:
  • Additional locations: Open a second location in a different area to reach additional clients.
  • Franchising opportunities: Franchise your respected salon name to other business owners around the world.
  • Merchandising: Complement your salon owner salary by starting your own product line.

Related Associations and Groups

If you're interested in becoming a beauty salon owner, you may want to contact the following organizations:
  • National Cosmetology Association
  • Professional Beauty Association.
 
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