Interested in running a salon? Salon managers keep everything running behind the scenes and on the salon floor. When a salon has positive buzz, you can be sure that a savvy manager is behind it all. Some interested in cosmetology careers and a manager role in mind as their ultimate career goal. They know that putting in the hard work today will set them up to be a leader tomorrow. Of course, the path to becoming a salon manager takes dedication and training. Even a person with a natural talent for hair, makeup, skin and “people management” still needs to complete the proper training and certifications to be a leader in this industry. What is the day-to-day working life of a salon manager? Take a look at the responsibilities that go into this elite job role.
Becoming a Salon Manager
A management career begins with an education in cosmetology. Unlike many careers, cosmetology is highly regulated. You cannot perform duties in a professional salon setting without the right certifications and licenses. That’s why the first step to becoming a manager is obtaining a cosmetology license. You can do this by enrolling in a cosmetology school. Cosmetology programs provide rigorous training on hair cutting and styling, using the right techniques and how to follow safety and hygiene protocols. There is plenty of hands-on, practical learning involved that prepares you with a job-ready status when you walk into salons after graduation.
While everyone must follow the same path for obtaining a diploma before they’ll be permitted to work in salons, there is some freedom regarding which specialty a future professional wants to pursue based on a passion for hair, beauty treatments, nails, or skin. Once you’ve obtained a diploma from a cosmetology school, you’ll be able to sit for your cosmetology license exam. Next, future managers work at salons in various job roles to earn hands-on experience.
What Are the Responsibilities of a Salon Manager?
When a person is dedicated, the day will come when they are offered an opportunity to become a salon manager. Cosmetology experts can manage different salon settings. Here’s a look at various types of salons that need managers:
- Privately owned salons
- Haircutting chains
- Salons located inside spas
- Salons located in hotels and resorts
While salon managers often manage standalone locations, some managers are actually part of a larger team of managers in charge of running different departments with a “wellness complex.” While the experience of each salon manager is different, there are some universal job duties and obligations that all salon managers must be equipped to handle.
Opening and Closing the Salon
A salon’s manager is usually the first one in, the last one out and the one who is always on call. It’s simply the reality of being the person that everyone answers to, looks to and relies on. Most salons open at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. during days of operation. Closing times range from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. While many salons do offer Saturday hours, they often close by the end of the morning on Saturdays. This means that salon managers have at least one guaranteed day off built into their schedules each week. They also have at least half of Saturday off. It’s not uncommon for salons to close on Mondays as a way to create a “custom” two-day weekend that lasts from Sunday to Monday. This allows the staff to recharge.
A manager often stays behind several nights per week to manage inventory, do some deep cleaning of equipment or balance the books. Managers devote at least some time each evening to balancing the books for the day. They may also run through all the appointments and staffing for the following day to ensure that everything will run smoothly.
Managing Staff
Salon managers are truly the leader of their crews. They oversee all staffing operations. This begins with assembling the right staff. When a position needs to be filled, the salon manager will post the job opening using various platforms and channels to collect résumés. Once eligible candidates are narrowed down, the salon manager will then conduct interviews before deciding who to hire. The salon manager will also arrange training for the new hire while taking care of all of the “human resources” elements of bringing in a new staff member.
Of course, managing staff goes beyond just deciding who to bring on the team. One of the biggest responsibilities held by managers is scheduling. It’s up to a manager to ensure that enough employees are scheduled for each day that a salon is open. This means scheduling people to handle all the clients that come in without creating frustrating wait times. At the same time, salon managers need to be concerned about losing money through overstaffing.
Salon managers also must ensure that employees are getting enough hours to feel like they are able to make money without feeling overworked. There is also the need to manage coverage for things like vacation and sick time. With this duty comes the need to implement policies about calling out, using vacation time and arranging coverage. It’s inevitable that salon managers will need to deal with disciplinary actions that can range from suspensions to firings.
Managing Vendors
Managers of salons don’t just manage staff members. They also need to manage the wide array of vendors that offer support services and supplies that keep the salon running. Salons rely on dozens of outside vendors for things like hair products, styling equipment, furniture, sanitation equipment, payroll services, and marketing services. In addition to managing relationships with vendors, a salon’s manager needs to handle all invoices while also taking stock of internal inventory to ensure that things are being reordered properly. It’s also necessary to deal with vendors and contractors related to the actual salon building whenever repairs, updates or emergency support might be needed.
Ordering Supplies
While managing supplies is tightly wrapped up in managing vendors, it can be its own category. While managers may rely on vendors to replenish supplies and products automatically, it’s still important to keep a close eye on inventory. First, this helps the salon manager to know which products are used the most. Keeping track of inventory also helps to protect a salon against theft. In many cases, managers will take on the responsibility of purchasing things like toilet paper, hand soap and pens for the front desk on their own because it’s more economical to simply get these supplies in bulk from a neighborhood store than it is to pay a vendor to deliver them.
Managing Customer Service
A salon with poor customer service won’t survive. With this in mind, salon managers have to put on their “customer care” hats throughout the day. When a dispute arises, it’s up to the salon manager to satisfy the client. This can be a very delicate thing because customers aren’t always necessarily “right” just because they aren’t satisfied. Salon managers must determine what is fair and reasonable when satisfying a dispute.
Managing a Salon’s Financials
The salon manager is the default accountant. In addition to managing the daily “register” of a salon, a manager must look at weekly, monthly and quarterly trends to see where a salon is gaining and losing money. Salon managers also handle payment issues with customers.
Marketing and Promotion
Salon managers never stop being creative. In addition to using their cosmetology talents to run a dynamic salon, a salon manager needs to know how to get clients in the door. This means using marketing tools and promotions to drum up excitement about a salon. In some cases, a salon manager may hire a marketing firm to handle advertisements and outreach. In other cases, the salon manager might handle social media accounts, digital ads or mass mailings themselves.
Cutting Hair
Yes, it’s very common for salon managers to still cut hair even though they’re running things. In some cases, salon managers keep their own client lists. Other managers prefer to simply “step in” on busy days to offer extra support.
Reporting to the Salon’s Owner
While salon managers run the day-to-day operations at salons, they aren’t necessarily the final authority. Salon managers have to report to salon owners. In some cases, this means reporting to a single entrepreneur who owns the salon. If a manager works for a large chain, they may report to a regional manager who then reports to executive-level leaders. Reporting to a salon owner entails providing reports, insights about room for improvement, going over employee reviews and collaborating on marketing plans for growth. The manager is the bridge between the salon staff and the salon owner.
What Are the Skills Needed to Be a Successful Salon Manager?
How does a professional with all of that on their plate succeed? The truth is that salon managers around the country do it every single day by using specialized skill sets. Like all professionals in managerial roles, salon managers are experts at communication and organization. These are the key skills needed to successfully run a salon:
An Understanding of How Salons Work: In addition to having certifications, salon managers have spent years learning every aspect of running a salon. This means they are never asking employees to do something they haven’t already done.
Delegation: Savvy salon managers know when and how to give tasks to employees for maximum efficiency.
Leadership: Salon managers must be comfortable with being the one in charge. They understand how to make their employees want to be part of a salon’s success.
Communication: Communication plays a role in everything that a salon manager does. The fast-paced environment of a salon means that managers need to communicate expectations, convey when improvements need to be made and set a tone for collaboration.
Attention to Detail: A love of details is so important for creating an organized, inviting salon where everything goes smoothly. A salon manager will ideally have an eye for detail that includes knowing when to make changes and improvements that elevate the salon experience for both employees and guests.
Final Thoughts
All of these skills develop over time through a mix of discipline and passion. When it all comes together to create an in-demand, highly reviewed salon, a manager enjoys the satisfaction of knowing that something that started as a small spark evolved into a high-level cosmetology career. Of course, it all begins by taking the first step of turning an affinity for hair and beauty into an actual career by enrolling in cosmetology training.
Ready to start your journey toward salon manager by earning your diploma in Cosmetology? Meridian College offers a Cosmetology training program in Florida that prepares you to deliver high–quality beauty and hair services to both men and women. Their hands–on Cosmetology training program gives you the skills you need to start an exciting career and become a leader in the beauty industry.
Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a cosmetologist.