Grow My Salon Business Podcast

Hopefully your salon is busy, clients are coming through the door, and money is being taken at the till every day, so if that's the case, then why is salon financial management still such a struggle? This is the reality for a lot of salon owners: the numbers just don't add up, and the stress that comes with that is real. 

In this episode, I walk you through a 10-part framework for following the money trail in your business. This isn't a finance lesson, and it's not about spreadsheets. It's a practical way of thinking about your business that gives you clarity and control, because right now, with costs up and clients spreading out their appointments, you can't afford to keep guessing.
IN THIS EPISODE:
The difference between knowing your numbers and understanding your business in real time
Why budgets aren't about restriction,  they're the single most important tool for weekly profitability
What cashflow forecasting actually looks like and why a 13-week rolling forecast changes everything
How to think about productivity-based pay so your team's performance is tied to the salon's financial health

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Introduction: The reality of a busy salon that still isn't profitable
[00:50] Why the financial picture behind the scenes rarely matches the front
[01:14] This isn't about how hard you work, it's about structure
[01:38] The biggest misconception: thinking someone else is watching the numbers
[02:22] Why understanding your finances is your job, not your accountant's
[03:10] What following the money trail actually means in practice
[03:53] Introducing the 10-part financial framework for salon owners
[06:47] Why budgets matter more than most salon owners want to admit
[08:07] Cashflow forecasting and why 13 weeks ahead changes everything
[09:32] Pricing for profit and why "charge your worth" isn't a strategy
[10:47] Recap: how many of the 10 points are you actually doing?
[13:01] The free webinar: Where Does All the Money Go?

RESOURCES MENTIONED

🎓 Where Does All the Money Go? (Free Webinar) Antony breaks down the 10-part framework in full and shows you how to apply it practically in your salon - Register here

🎓 One-to-One Coaching with Antony, Work through your salon's specific financial challenges with Antony directly - Find out more

Want MORE to help you GROW?

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

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.
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

Salon profitability is under more pressure than it has been in years, and the hard reality is that being busy isn't the same as being profitable. In this episode, I get into the financial fundamentals that too many salon owners avoid, because understanding your numbers is the only way to get in front of the problem before it becomes a crisis.

By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly where to look in your business to find the leaks, whether you have a pricing problem or a productivity problem, and what your real options are for increasing profit margins. This isn't about cutting everything to the bone. It's about making smarter decisions with the facts in front of you.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Why being fully booked doesn't mean your salon is profitable, and what that means for your business right now
How to use your profit and loss report to separate the facts from the feelings and make better financial decisions
The difference between a pricing problem and a productivity problem, and which one your salon actually has
The three ways to increase salon income, and which one delivers results the fastest

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

[00:00] Introduction: Why salon profit margins are under pressure right now 
[00:27] The things you can control when times are tough 
[02:07] Why competitive pricing creates a crunch point for salon owners 
[03:04] How to use your profit and loss report correctly 
[04:29] What the numbers in a typical salon P&L actually look like 
[05:42] Pricing problems vs productivity problems: knowing which one you have 
[06:21] How to approach cutting costs without losing what matters 
[08:05] Why the miscellaneous line in your P&L deserves more attention 
[09:22] The three ways to increase your salon income 
[11:44] Why a price rise is the fastest lever available to you 
[12:38] Which services are actually profitable when you look at the real margins 
[13:25] Using technology and AI to create efficiencies in your business 
[14:16] Recap and your next action step

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.
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

Running a successful salon for nearly 40 years in one of the most competitive cities on the planet takes more than talent. It takes the willingness to keep evolving your model, your mindset, and even the words you use with your team. 

My guest today, Scott Buchanan of the Manhattan-based Scott J Salons, has done exactly that. With around 90 employees across two locations, Scott's story is one of grit, reinvention, and a business built around culture and community.

In this conversation, we get into the real numbers behind a thriving employee-based salon, why he treats his team as partners rather than employees, and what it actually takes to keep an employee-based salon competitive in today's market. If you want to build a business that still works 40 years from now, this is the episode to listen to.

✅ Why calling your team "partners" changes the way they show up every day
✅ The KPIs Scott tracks obsessively and why guest count matters more than top-line revenue
✅ How Scott uses "wellness check-ins" instead of performance reviews to drive better results
✅ How Scott thinks about AI, retail, and the future of the salon experience in the next five to ten years
✅ The one piece of advice from a 40-year career that every salon owner needs to hear

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Introduction: 40 years in Manhattan and what longevity really takes
[00:50] Scott's current business: two locations, 93 staff, and a long road to get here
[03:29] Is the age of the big salon over? Scott's honest take on boutique vs. large
[05:37] Why Scott considers his team partners, not employees
[07:18] Wellness check-ins: reframing performance reviews to drive real change
[10:25] How to keep an employee-based team in the age of salon suites
[13:55] The blowout story: why you have to be there when the client wants to be there
[20:11] How Scott is using AI now and where he sees the salon industry heading
[27:33] The key numbers Scott watches most closely, and what they reveal
[37:07] Intercoiffure America/Canada: building a community for employee-based salon owners
[43:57] Scott's one piece of advice for lasting 40 years in this industry

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.
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:

🎓 Intercoiffure America/Canada – A community for employee-based, salary-based salon owners in North America – Find out more

👉 FOLLOW US!
Instagram | Facebook | Website

👉 FOLLOW SCOTT BUCHANAN!
Instagram 

👉 FOLLOW SCOTT J SALONS

Instagram | website

Training a salon manager is one of the things salon owners often get wrong, and most don't realise it until they've already hired the wrong person, put them on payroll, but still end up doing everything themselves. 

In this episode, I share a five-step framework for getting it right, from figuring out whether your business can actually support a manager right now, to the mindset shift that changes everything about how you lead.

By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to define before you hand anything over, why hiring another version of yourself backfires, and how to release control in a way that builds real capability over time. Done right, a great manager doesn't take things away from you. They give you your life back.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The two pillars that underpin good management, and why most people are usually only good at one
Why you need to consider the size of your business before you hire anyone into a management role
The case against hiring a mini you and what to look for instead
How to train for outcomes, not just tasks, so your manager can think, not just tick boxes
The "let the leash out slowly" approach to handing over control without chaos
Why getting it out of your head and onto paper is the non-negotiable first step

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Introduction: The challenge of training a salon manager
[00:30] Why hiring a manager isn’t as simple as it sounds
[01:19] The real question: how do you let go without losing control?
[01:45] The two pillars of management: people skills vs systems
[03:18] Why most salon owners lean heavily to one side
[04:11] The moment you realise you need help
[05:04] The fear of hiring and trusting a manager
[06:00] The two biggest obstacles: no systems and financial pressure
[06:40] Why most salons can’t afford a non-producing manager
[07:18] Delegating vs dumping chaos
[14:49] Recap of the 5-step framework
[15:41] Why a great manager gives you back your life
[16:04] How to get help
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🎓 Salon Management Course - A complete blueprint for building a salon that runs with or without you -  Find out more

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.
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

The economics of running a salon have changed, and if your approach to training assistants hasn't changed with it, your margins are going to keep shrinking. 
In this episode, I answer the questions salon owners are actually grappling with right now: Is it still worth taking on apprentices, how quickly should they be contributing, and what does it look like when a salon actually gets training right?
If you've been winging it or leaving it to chance, this episode gives you a clear framework and five practical takeaways you can act on straight away.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Why condensing the apprenticeship timeline isn't lowering standards, it's a financial necessity
The difference between income-producing and non-income-producing staff and why it matters
How quickly a new assistant should be contributing to your salon revenue (and what to do if they're not)
Why most salons' training problems are self-inflicted, and what good training ownership actually looks like
Five clear takeaways for building a structured, productive assistant pathway in your salon
EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Introduction
[00:28] Can you condense a two-year apprenticeship without lowering standards?
[01:21] How assistants contribute to revenue
[02:41] Income-producing vs. non-income-producing staff
[04:37] The shift required to make apprenticeships viable
[05:40] A brief history of apprenticeships
[09:00] Are employment-based salons restructuring the assistant pathway?
[11:27] What the best salons are doing differently
[12:33] Five takeaways for salon owners

Want MORE to help you GROW?

📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books 
🆘 Management overwhelm? Download our free checklist 

👉 FOLLOW US!

Instagram | Facebook | Website

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.
I love to hear what's been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏
Until next time!
Antony