Expert Advice: From Treatment Room to CEO

Every day, salon and clinic owners across the country are hustling hard behind the chair or bed, juggling treatments, managing staff and trying to keep up with social media and bookings. What if I told you that your biggest growth opportunity starts when you step away from the treatment room?

I know this might sound terrifying; I've been there. For years, I was the main earner in my salon. I was fully booked, my clients only wanted me and stepping away felt impossible. However when I became a single mum to my daughter at just 10 weeks pregnant, I had no choice but to rethink everything.

Fast-forward to now, I've scaled from two salons to five, grown a product range, expanded my training academy and built multiple revenue streams. All because I got off the tools. Here's how you can, too.

The beauty industry is built on passion, personal connection and incredible service, but that passion can sometimes become a trap. You love what you do, but you're burnt out, overwhelmed and have no time to actually grow. If you find yourself saying “my clients only want me”, “I can't afford to hire someone” or “I don't have time for marketing or strategy”, then it's time to start working on your business, not in it.

When is the right time to step away?

There's no perfect time, but there are signs. If you're fully booked, or your team is at least 80% booked, you're in a strong position to begin stepping off the floor. You can start small, for example, take one day a week to focus purely on the business. 

Eventually, you'll start to see what's possible when you create the space to grow. And no, you don't have to stop doing treatments altogether. Some of my salon owner clients drop down to one or two days a week, others remove themselves entirely. It's not about abandoning your role, it's about building something that works with your life, not against it.

What happens if you break your hand? Or burn out? Or want to take a month off? If your business can't run without you, it's not an asset, it's a job; a job you can't quit.

By building a team and stepping back strategically, you create a business that can grow without you. This not only protects your income, it increases your company's value. One day, you may want to sell, franchise or hand the business down. That's only possible if it can operate independently of you.

Freedom isn't just a dream, it's a choice

Whether you want more time with your kids, to travel or to launch a second business, stepping back gives you that freedom. It also gives you clarity. You start making strategic decisions instead of emotional, reactive ones. You finally lead instead of just serve.

I've helped hundreds of beauty professionals step away from their business and into true ownership. The most common thing I hear? “I wish I'd done this sooner.”

You didn't start your business to be a prisoner to it; you started it to create something meaningful, for yourself, your family and your future. It's time to build the business you deserve. If you need support, just shout!