Many new cosmetology grads or stylists building from the ground up face tons of barriers. From lack of confidence and no digital presence to being unknown, it feels like there’s a lot of things standing in the way.
Your goal is clear—to get more guests and more demand—but how do you overcome these barriers?
It can feel like you’re standing at the base of Mount Everest, wondering how you’ll ever get to the top.
Today, let’s narrow down what you need to work on when starting from scratch.
Plan to work 40 hours a week for the first two years
Yes, it seems like a lot. Yes, many of us joined the industry to escape the 40-hour workweek, but trust us…it’s worth it to go all in on the industry.
We recommend that you take clients 32 hours a week and spend 8 hours on business strategy. In other words, spend 32 hours a week working in your business and 8 hours on it. Great cuts and formulation skills are important, but if you want a freedom-filled lifestyle, make the time to work ON your business.
In that 32 hours you dedicate to work on clients, focus on taking a wide variety of clients your first year. Do the men’s cuts, the kids’ cuts, the vivids, the balayage, the natural texture cuts, the women’s short cuts. Branch out from what you think you want your target market to be to determine where your heart lies in this industry.
Find the right salon space for you
Finding the first place to step behind the chair can be overwhelming. Seek a supportive salon that prioritizes marketing, has a growth path and support, and is progressive.
The next question we often get is, “That’s great, but what kind of salon?” We can’t answer that for you because it’s different for every stylist.
Hourly salons are a great place to start building confidence and experience. Commission salons can be incredible for long-term employment as long as you find one run by a true leader. Generally speaking, booth rental and studio suites are more expensive, especially for stylists starting out. That doesn’t mean you can’t start as a booth renter or in a studio suite, but
If you can’t find a supportive salon space that focuses on marketing and growth, that’s okay! But you will have to invest in education yourself.
Speaking of education…
Create an education plan
Educate yourself early and often. Just because you graduated doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep learning. Here are our top recommendations for creating your education plan:
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Take at least three advanced education classes your first year licensed to sharpen your skills in cutting, styling, and formulation.
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Join a group coaching program like Thriving Stylist Signature to ask business-related questions in a safe place while learning a proven business methodology.
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Lean into actionable free education. Check out this podcast episode for killer free education resources!
Education is key to building a successful business in the industry, so invest both time and money into it. It’s worth it.
Build your digital presence ASAP
Yes, even while you’re still in school. It helps you practice your photography, caption-writing, and branding, and document your journey.
So how do you get started?
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As you scroll on social, pay attention to what you like. Write down what catches your eye about that post, that video, that live.
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Take at least 10 photos of every guest you see to practice photography, posing, and lighting.
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Set up a proper website with clear navigation, services, and new guest page. Need help with these? Check out the Website Academy Templates.
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Choose active marketing awareness. Get in front of your target market and show them why you’re the best choice instead of waiting for them to come to you. (Want to dig deeper? Listen to this episode.)
Create a first year financial goal to stay motivated
It’s exhausting to work endlessly when you don’t feel like you know where you’re going. A financial target narrows your focus to what to work towards and motivates you to push through when things feel tough.
This number will be different for everybody, so the only tip we’ll give here is this: Set a goal that feels like it’s just on the other side of achievable. It’s not reaching for the next galaxy, but it’s also not low-hanging fruit.
Here’s the secret to success they don’t tell you in cosmetology school: it’s the work behind the scenes that will be the foundation for your business. It’s the time you dedicate to work ON your business, not just IN it, that changes the game.
