We’ve dreamed of it—making enough money to be comfortable in our lifestyle—being able to buy that car or house we want, those new pair of shoes or that purse you’ve been eyeing, the vacations you keep thinking about, investing enough money for your future so you can retire comfortably. The list goes on, but believe us when we say it is very achievable for a barber or stylist to earn a 6-figure income.
First let’s talk about some basics—yes, the basics of things we do every single day. If you aren’t doing them with every single person, it may impact your financial freedom.
Customer Service
Seems like a no brainer, but this is huge! Whether it’s great customer service over the phone or immediate engagement the moment they walk in the door, impressions are everything—even if they are a repeat client. Smile while talking to them over the phone, greet the client immediately upon arrival, offer a refreshment while they wait—anything to make them feel appreciated and valued as a client. Customer service also falls into the category of offering a hot towel while they are getting their hair washed and even opening the door for them as they leave after a service. Customer service is anything that will make your guest feel special and build trust. Which brings us to the next tip.
Making a Connection
This can be vital to your success in achieving a 6-figure salary. Licensed hair professionals are in the customer service business. We need to not only provide exceptional service for our clients, but also make the connection so they come back to us because they can recall a great conversation or that we asked them about their son’s birthday party they mentioned the last time we saw them in our chair. You don’t need to have an elaborate conversation with every client, but you need to talk to them. An important thing to note is that it is not about you—it is about them. They are coming to you for a service and an experience. Be mindful of how you indulge in conversation with them—don’t spend the whole time talking about yourself and how awesome the club was last night or the drama you have going on in your life.
Know Your Skills
This comes with time, but knowing your skills and being good at your craft will speak volumes for yourself and the financial goal you are trying to achieve. Knowing the art of cutting hair will keep your customers satisfied, knowing they can come to you for a consistent job well done. This will also help build your clientele when people ask your client where they got that great hair cut or color. Keeping up on your education—the more knowledge you have in this industry the better, and you can never stop learning. Work smarter, not harder. If you can pick up on a fading or foiling technique that will save you time, then practice it and master it.
Follow Up
This is a skill not practiced as much as it once was, but it can make a world of difference. You give your client a new hair cut and style. They were so nervous, but they wanted to do it for a long time. So you educate them on what products to use and how to style it, and when you are finally finished, they are ecstatic! They absolutely love it! You ring them up, put their products in a bag, rebook their next appointment, and off they go. Now what? Wait to see how they liked everything and how the products worked for them in eight weeks when you see them again? Think again. Wait about three days, then give them a call. Ask them if they are still loving the new ’do and if they’re able to use the products the way you showed them how to do it. If they seem to be struggling, invite them back in to give them a refresher on how to complete that look.
Haven’t seen a guest in a while? Has a client cancelled on you multiple times? Give them a call, send them a text—whatever your standard form of communication is—and see if you can rebook them. A quick “Hey, we haven’t seen you in a while and have been thinking about you” is all you need. It only takes a few minutes of your day to follow up, and you will be leaving a lasting impression when you do.
Now that we have the basics covered, let’s break it down a bit:
Let’s start out with an average schedule. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Two haircuts every hour and you charge $30 for a haircut. That’s 16 haircuts a day. At $30 a cut, you can make $480 in a day.
$480 a day, 5 days a week, your take home is $2,400 a week. That is $9,600 a month. In a year, you will have $115,200. This does not include tips and does not include any other services you may decide to incorporate such as chemical services, waxing, or shaves.
This takes time and practice. All these tips will all start to come naturally to help build those books, make those relationships, and leave a lasting impression for your clients. Remember, practice makes perfect!
