Career Descriptions  >>  Career Type: Salon/Spa Owner or Manager

Salon/Spa Owner

This is a unique field where there are many opportunities to own your own business. Salon or spa ownership allows you to achieve a healthy income, flexibility in your personal life and work schedule, and creativity. Many Cosmetology school graduates choose to go on and own their own salon because they want to be their own boss, controlling their income, and enjoy making people look and feel fabulous. Salon/Spa Owners have the options to:

• Open A Franchised Location
• Start A New Salon Or Spa
• Partner With Another Owner
• Purchase An Established Salon
• And More!

Whether you choose to open a neighborhood beauty salon or an upscale day spa, your salon can become the social hub of your clientele. You can develop long-term friendships with employees and clients alike, while earning the respect of your community. For people with the drive and ambition this can be a wonderfully fulfilling career choice.

Industry Data::

Ownership of salons and spas would follow the same statistical employment trends of the industry as a whole.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of personal appearance jobs is projected to jump 31 percent between 2008 and 2018. This rate of growth is nearly three times that of total U.S. employment (11 percent) during the same period.

In addition, all of the major personal appearance occupations are projected to post job growth stronger than the overall economy between 2008 and 2018. The number of skin care specialist jobs is projected to jump 51 percent, while hairdresser, hairstylist and cosmetologist positions are expected to increase by 31 percent.

Careers in the salon and spa industry present unique opportunities for business ownership for women. In fact, 61 percent of salons are owned by women, compared to just 30 percent of all businesses in the overall private sector.

Salon/Spa Manager

With more than 400,000 salons in the U.S., opportunities for salon and spa mangers abound. From chain and franchise salons to boutiques and day spas, there has never been a better time to enter the field. If you’re interested in a management position as a cosmetologist, look for a school that offers:

• Business
• Marketing
• Retail Sales
• And Other Relevant Management Programs In Their Curriculum

There are cosmetology schools that offer business and marketing programs to train students for a well rounded background, preparing them for a career as a manager. Many hairdressers work in the field or operate their own salon to gain more confidence and learn the industry inside and out before they move into a managerial role.

The role of salon manager carries many diverse responsibilities. Often, it is the salon manager’s job to help define the short and long term goals of the salon and then work to achieve those goals. This includes, hiring, training, managing and even firing of employees. Additional duties include ensuring health and safety compliance, managing cash flow, selling products, and marketing the salon to drive growth and profitability. Ultimately it is the salon manager’s role to ensure that every client leaves happy. As you can see, managing a salon or spa requires much more than just cutting hair. If you enjoy motivating and managing others while helping to grow a business, then salon manager may be a great career choice for you.

Industry Data:

Employment trends in this career path will follow those of the industry. Every time a new salon opens, a new salon manager position becomes available. However, most salons tend to have only one manager, thus making competition for this field particularly fierce.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a beauty salon manager can expect to make between $30,000 and $50,000 a year on average.

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