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The Salon Business

Creating an Annual Business Plan for Your Salon
By Kristen Linares, Product Club Educator

As a hybrid salon owner for 13 years, I know how vital it is to have a clear business plan to set the tone for a successful year. An annual business plan isn’t just about crunching numbers; it’s about setting meaningful goals, creating space for growth, and ensuring balance for you and your team. One of the most effective tools I’ve found for this process is a dry erase calendar and shared google drive. Here’s how to craft a flexible and inspiring plan for your salon this year:

  1. Define Your Sales Goals

    Start by reviewing the previous year’s performance. Look at your total revenue, service categories, retail sales, and key benchmarks like client retention rates. Use this data to set realistic but ambitious sales goals for the year ahead. Break these goals down into quarterly or monthly targets to make them more actionable. For each member of my team, I have created a shared Google drive spreadsheet that is organized by month/ quarters of the year. At the end of each week/ month I enter their service sales, retail sales, tips, and hours worked. There is a section for the goals and the sheet automatically calculates the difference. At the bottom of the spreadsheet it displays last year’s annual service sales, retail sales, tips, hours worked, and goals reached. This visual keeps our team interested in competing against themselves!
  2. Plan Team Meetings and Check-Ins

    Your team is the heart of your salon, so regular communication is key. There are 3 categories of meetings we have in our salon; One on One goal setting, Bi annual Team meetings, and project planning. I have found utilizing a large dry erase calendar has been eye opening not only for me as a salon owner but also for our team members. Seeing the year divided into quarters really puts time into perspective. At the beginning of the year use your dry erase calendar to schedule your one on ones, team meetings, and project planning sessions. These meetings can also be a time to introduce new techniques, products, or policies. Seeing these dates on the calendar ensures they’re a priority and helps you and your team stay consistent.
  3. Schedule Marketing

    Our salon books one - two branding shoots a year to align with our bi annual team meetings with our favorite photographer Jeannie Liataud. This allows us to take away the pressure of daily photo taking and have quality images that represent our brand for our website and advertising efforts. We love using PlannThat.com to schedule our posts. We have found that scheduling posts in advance creates consistency and inspires our team to participate in collaborating posts more frequently. Our professional branding photos are uploaded to our shared Google Photo album which makes it simple for our stylist to utilize.

    A woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a white blouse and jeans sits at a white desk, focused on her smartphone. The workspace features a pink-toned wall, exposed brick, and a mirror reflecting the cozy, well-decorated salon environment. A small potted plant, a book stack, and a cup of brushes sit on the desk.
  4. Prioritize Salon Maintenance

    A well-maintained salon is a reflection of your brand. Create a maintenance schedule and plot it on your calendar. This includes routine tasks like deep cleaning, equipment checks, and HVAC servicing. Consider marking a mid-year refresh, like a coat of paint or updated décor, to keep the space inviting. The calendar acts as a reminder and ensures these tasks don’t fall through the cracks during busy periods and allows your team to see that their salon space is considered and cared for.

    A stylist in a black top and beige pants adjusts a wooden shelf in a beautifully designed salon. The space features exposed beams, wooden flooring, lush green plants, and ornate mirrors, creating a welcoming and stylish atmosphere. Other stylists and clients are visible in the background, adding to the salon’s lively ambiance.
  5. Invest in Education

    Trends and techniques in the beauty industry evolve quickly, and staying ahead is crucial. Allocate part of your budget for ongoing education and mark important dates for industry trade shows, guest educators, or certification programs on your dry erase calendar. Encourage your team to block off time for their professional development as well. If you or your team feel like there is a minimal budget for education this year, check out the online streaming education your distributor or brands offer. Many are very reasonably priced or free and allow you to learn from the comforts of your own salon space. Product Club has a large collection of online classes that will leave you inspired and create more ease with your hair color applications. Having these events visually represented helps everyone stay motivated and prepared.
  6. Schedule Your Vacations

    As a salon owner, it’s easy to put yourself last, but rest is essential for long-term success. Block out time for your vacations on the calendar at the start of the year. This ensures you take the breaks you need and helps with scheduling around those dates. Encourage your team to plan their time off early, and add it to the calendar to manage workloads and maintain coverage.
  7. Create a Flexible Framework

    Life happens, and not everything will go according to plan. A dry erase calendar’s beauty is its flexibility. Review your business plan quarterly, and make adjustments as needed. Stay open to opportunities and feedback, and don’t be afraid to pivot if something isn’t working. Use the calendar to reassign dates, shift priorities, or track new goals as the year progresses.

    Allowing yourself to pepper in all your creative thoughts, concepts, and goals on a large visual calendar will help your big picture come together organically. You will quickly see where you are wasting resources or areas you need to focus more on. This year; set clear goals, foster a strong team, and prioritize balance, and you’ll create a plan that propels your salon forward. Remember, success isn’t just about growth; it’s about building a business that aligns with your values and serves both your clients and your team.
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