Yes, STEALING. And not only that, they are LYING to you. Lying through omission. I’m not being melodramatic, I mean it.

That 50% commission made sense when you were still learning technique, you didn’t have a full client book and you needed help sourcing new clients for the first time. But now you’re an expert at your services and your clients come for you, not the salon brand. So now, your salon owner is stealing you blind AND Lying through omission by intentionally not teaching you the basic marketing knowledge you need to go out on your own.

They don’t truly care about your success; if they did they would teach you as much as you wanted to learn in order to get more income and more autonomy whether at their salon or on your own. But they don’t. They only teach you what you need to know to stand behind their chairs to service your clients so they can take 50% of your tickets, and they teach you nothing else.

I know you’re smarter than the average bear! You’re taking the time to read this guide and learn new knowledge, so that puts you at the top of the heap. You’re not a fool and you don’t want to be taken advantage of. So let’s understand things better to make sure we stay on top.

Let’s take a closer look at the typical path of a hairstylists’ career in today’s (post cell phone and Internet world).

After graduating cosmetology school:

Years 1-5: They working at a salary or commission salon, working in an established salon that can finish their education, training them further on treatments, techniques and products. The established salon has a method for bringing in new clients and helping the your stylist to build their client book. Since they’re starting from scratch, the commission structure only extracts a fee from them when they earn client income.

Years 3-5: Is a transition period. The hairstylist’s expertise is coming into full bloom and her client book is filling up. While the commission salon is still a strong, nurturing environment, she’s beginning to see less value from it relative to the continued 50% commission split she pays to the salon owner on every client ticket. And the longer the hairstylist remains at a commission salon after the 3 to 5 year mark, the less and less value they gain from the salon, all while their commission stays the same…

After Year 5: They don’t really need to be at a commission salon and are overpaying the salon owner for the value they receive.

At this point, they can (a) just stay at the salon and tread water, not advancing or growing in their career nor gaining any autonomy, but also not needing to put in any effort; (b) negotiate for a better commission split sometimes keeping 60% of tickets instead of 50%. Or perhaps moving to a different commission salon in order to achieve this better split; or (c) go independent by renting a chair/booth or suite and opening up the opportunity to build your own personal brand.

Even with a small improvement in your commission split (from 50% to 60%), what are you really paying your salon owner for? You’re experienced, you know your services and you have your clients now. What value are you receiving in exchange for the commission fee split you’re paying your salon owner? Of course you use the salon’s equipment, backbar, water, electricity, waiting area and facilities. Is product inventory and the occasional new client what you really are paying for?

Let’s break down the math.

We’ll assume you work in a commission salon with a 50% commission. Let’s say your average client ticket is $100. Some clients just get a cut but others also get a color treatments and buy some products so averages to about $100. let’s say you typically see four clients a day, five days a week. Take vacations at spring break, two weeks off in the summer, and you take off for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So you work about 47 weeks (out of 52) or five weeks off in a year. This means you produce about $94,000 of total client ticket income per year or $1,808 per week. Since you pay 50% to your salon, you pay $47,000 per year or $904 per week to your salon owner.

So you’re essentially paying $47,000 per year (or $904 per week) to use the salon, equipment and facilities.

But if you live in an average U.S. city or suburb you could probably rent a salon workspace for ~$300 per week (1/3 the cost of your commission) and keep the rest for yourself. You could increase your income by ~60% immediately. So why don’t all the experienced hairstylists do that?!?


The top six reasons why hairstylists don’t go independent:

#1. They don’t know where to start

#2. They don’t know the reasons or benefits to going independent

#3. Don’t know how to brand themselves

#4. Don’t know if or how to incorporate a company

#5. Don’t know how to keep their existing clients

#6. Don’t know how to get new clients



These big unknowns cause big fears! If you’re thinking, I don’t know those things either, or if you’ve ever been afraid thinking about becoming an independent hairstylist, the first thing I want to mention is it’s not your fault.

Cosmetology school teaches you the skills to be a hairstylist – the technique, treatments and products; but they don’t teach anything to prepare you for business or marketing – the basic tools you need as an independent hairstylist to keep your client book full and grow your income and your personal brand. And commission salon owners just aren't in the business of teaching you how to be a successful independent hairstylist. Some commission salon owners are generous and supportive, but their focus is on their business. Other commission salon owners just care about their own bottom line and want you to think you won’t be able to make it on your own – they need you to stay at their chairs servicing your clients.

The difference with us is we write books and guides to help you be successful by teaching simple, step-by-step action items you can follow to learn what cosmetology school and commission salons don’t teach you. You can overcome the 6 reasons why many stylists don’t go independent and then start building your dream career and life.

So I have some great news for you. We’ve written a how-to guide to help you tackle and overcome each of the top reasons why stylists don’t go independent. And you can get them for free. Below are links to the specific guides for each reason. Don’t wait – go get your free guides now so you can start running towards your better life.
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Reason #1: Unsure where to start?

Take a short quiz to determine which guide are right for you.

Reason #2: Not sure why so many hairstylists make the switch to independence? Or not sure why you should consider it?

Get the free “What It Means To Be An Independent Stylist" guide

Reason #3: Don't know how to brand yourself when you go independent?

Get the free “How to Brand Yourself" guide

Reason #4: Not sure if or how to incorporate a company? Not sure what type to start?

​Get the free "Incorporation Guide"

Reason #5: Scared your clients might not follow if you move salons? Don’t know how to keep your existing clients? Or maybe you need to get their contact information?

Get the free “Guarantee Your Clients Follow You” guide

Reason #6: Don’t know how to get new clients?

​​We wrote a whole book showing you how to setup your own, simple-to-build marketing system that brings you new clients and increases your income.

Get this Level 2 book titled "Hairstylist Lift Off"