Hair salon owners are the proprietors of professional hair care businesses. They typically end up with their own salon by opening a franchise salon, buying an established salon from another owner retiring from the industry or opening a new, independently owned shop. In all business scenarios, hair salon owners are accountable for salon operations, ensuring adherence to hair-styling standards and delivery of services in a customer-friendly and profitable way.

Salon Owner Responsibilities

Many salon owners continue styling hair even with their salon owner responsibilities. Essentially, salon owners have two jobs--business owner and hair stylist. They tend to both the business and beauty aspects of the salon. Servicing clients, reviewing service standards, pricing products for retail sale, following up on and resolving customer complaints, generating new business, staffing, leading and directing salon workers and managing finances are only a few of the hair salon owner’s many responsibilities.

Work Environment

Hair salon owners do not follow a 40-hour workweek schedule. They are usually the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at night. The hours are long and include evenings and weekends. The atmosphere generally is pleasant, clean and comfortable. The job can be physically taxing; salon owners are on their feet for most of the workday. They are also regularly exposed to hair chemicals, which may cause temporary dizziness, skin irritation or irreversible damage to clothing.

Cosmetology School

All states and the District of Columbia require a license for practitioners of cosmetology services, including hair salon owners, barbers, cosmetologists and other personal appearance workers. To qualify for a license, graduation from a state-licensed barber or cosmetology school is required. Hair salon owners should also at least have a high school diploma or GED. College experience and related coursework is helpful for the business aspects of hair salon ownership. Hair salon owners may also benefit from courses or training in sales, marketing and customer relationship management.

Professional Skills and Talents

Successful hair salon owners blend their business acumen with their advanced knowledge of beauty and hair industry trends and hair styling techniques. They present themselves well, keep a neat personal appearance and maintain a clean, comfortable work area. Interpersonal skills and the ability to establish rapport and connect with people play an important role in a salon owner’s long-term career success.

Earnings

Many factors, such as the size and location of the salon, the salon’s ownership model, the state of the economy and the tipping habits of clients can dramatically affect the total income of hair salon owners. According to the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) and the U.S. Department of Labor, in general, salon professionals can average up to a $50,000 in annual salary.