Hi all,

I am asking for some advice I have been working in a salon for about 4 yrs now. During that time there have been many ups and downs. And at many times he has been a great boss and at others really bad but I do feel that I am loyal to my boss and I really like him as a person.

During the 4 yrs my boss opened a second salon and while he was opening the salon I managed and ran the existing salon for him it seemed to work well and the salon I managed was doing well. But I am afraid that the new salon did not work out and he ended up selling it (In all honesty I don't think the location was right.)

So ofcourse my boss returned to the salon I was in. He changed allot from his experience which I can understand as it could not have been easy. But the change has not worked in his favour.

I wish it was that easy but selling the other salon did not cover the costs or debts that he had and it has not been an easy time for him, even though we are bringing in money, the salon is having problems he is receiving phone calls from the vat man and he has admitted that he has had to get more loans to pay the vat, then on top of all that we were not paid last week in the same manner that we are normally which has now made me worry. I must say though he has been spending lots and he bought himself a new car at Xmas.

Just before Xmas I was chatting to a friend and she said that she knew a salon that were looking for experienced stylists and that he owned 2 salons. So I gave him a call he seems very nice and he is very interested in me.

You would think that I would move but no the salon that the new salon owner would like me to work in is round the corner from the salon I am in now. Also he has a 2.5 radius clause in his contracts which makes me concerned.
I am also needing to change my mortgage soon so I need payslips and security until then.
Do I leave were I am now and take my clients with me. Would this not make things harder for my present boss.
And if I do move am I doing myself more damage as I would not be able to take my clients elsewhere if it doesn't work.

Also would it be better to rent a chair somewhere as I would like to make my own future and I know I could make more money. But I must admit the salons in this area that do rent a chair are not that nice, and in a salon that does, do you all work as a team or is everyone on their own. What about courses and creative work is there as much opportunity to do it.
As you can probably tell I am addled big time I don't know what to do.

Any thoughts would be great expecilly experiences of going self employed would be great. Many Thanks
Donna

Hi Donna, It sounds like you have some time to make this decision and it's a pretty big one.

I would suggest getting your mortgage all settled before you make any moves especially if your thinking renting a chair. Once your secure in that you will have more freedom to do what you want.

I rent a chair, I love it but you really want to have your ducks in a row before you move your clients. Choose a place that is a move up not a move down.

We work well together but we are very small and pretty laid back. Jazz has a lot of experience with renting too. Keep us upated as you go.

Hi Donna looks like your boss got stung by a bad business move. You've asked a few questions so I'll try to do the best I can.

donna wrote:
the new salon owner would like me to work in is round the corner from the salon I am in now. Also he has a 2.5 radius clause in his contracts which makes me concerned.

2.5m radius clause does not unreasonable in my humble opinion. Donna imagine if you had your own salon, how big a radius clause would you have ?

I am also needing to change my mortgage soon so I need payslips and security until then.


Self employed people can't get mortgages as easy as employed people. Its crazy I know. You will need to provide at least 3 years of certified accounts and even then you will be looked at suspiciously and the interest rate/deal you get won't be brilliant either.


Do I leave were I am now and take my clients with me. Would this not make things harder for my present boss.


Unfortunately Donna this is one of my pet hates. The way I see it is that a salon owner employed you to do HIS clients for which you were paid. Just because you did the work does not make the client yours.


If you want to set up as a self employed hairdresser, then find your own clients. One at a time like your old boss did.


And if I do move am I doing myself more damage as I would not be able to take my clients elsewhere if it doesn't work


Well I think you answered your own question.


would it be better to rent a chair somewhere as I would like to make my own future and I know I could make more money. But I must admit the salons in this area that do rent a chair are not that nice, and in a salon that does, do you all work as a team or is everyone on their own. What about courses and creative work is there as much opportunity to do it.


I would would never stop anyone bettering themselves, in fact I encourage it, but that comes with lots of responsibilities.

As far as I know chair renters just rent a chair, if you want a course then you'll have to fork out for it yourself to Loreal or Wella etc. Unfortunately those courses are not cheap. The other chair renters are your competition although there is sometimes an amicable working relationship.

I'd say donna stay where you are, because if you leave now you won't get your mortgage. In the meantime talk to your boss and tell him your concerns, and how hes changed, and how that affects you. If you've made him aware of it then you have given him the chance to fix it.

You also suspect he's in financial difficulty, so mention this to him as well and ask him about it, and if your job is secure. You might find out his plans and he can make you feel more secure.

on top of all that we were not paid last week in the same manner that we are normally which has now made me worry.

I take it you got paid by cash when cheque was usual, or visa versa. If he's restructuring his finances this is not unusual. If you were saying you haven't been paid for two weeks then I'd start to worry, and I'd find out what the situation was.

You have gotten excellent advice from Orange and SophieA.

The only thing that i might add is

would it be better to rent a chair somewhere as I would like to make my own future and I know I could make more money.
In the beginning, you will feel you are paying out more than you are gaining. It took me 3 years to build a solid foundation of clients. Just because you go out on your own does not mean that every penny the customers pay you is yours to keep. You will now have overhead that in the past, the owner of the salon paid. Over head will include all licenses needed, supplies,taxes and any education. BUT you will also have the tax Write offs the owner had.

But I must admit the salons in this area that do rent a chair are not that nice, and in a salon that does, do you all work as a team or is everyone on their own. What about courses and creative work is there as much opportunity to do it.
In my boothrenting salon, I must admit we do pull together as a team but that is very very rare. I have heard of boothrental salon horror stories. I am very lucky. I have had only two out of 7 leave the salon in the past 6 years. One was because of a preganacy, the other was a force out by me.

We are a team but work independently also.
If someone goes to a class, they bring back the info that they think might benefit the other stylists. We do share what we have and that includes knowledge and supplies.
But as I said. That is very rare.

a salon owner employed you to do HIS clients for which you were paid. Just because you did the work does not make the client yours.
orange is correct. Here where I live, the government looks at it as that any public person that has or hasn't been in the salon and does not have a certain hairstylist request is a Salon Client. Meaning, the client belongs to the salon. When this happens.. the boothrenter has to pay the owner of the salon 1/2 of the service charge on that client. If the client returns and requests that stylist, then that client is the boothrenters clien and the owner does not get paid for the service.

Hi Donna,
I 'm sorry i don't know well the ways a hairdresser can do business in UK or USA as an employer or as his/her own boss. So i can't give any suggestions about this issue.
But Donna it seems to me that you are first thinking of someone else than your self and the way you could move on in the business. You 've been there for your boss but you don't tell us what your aims are for your self as a professional. Maybe it is time to think about yourself.
This doesn't mean that you don't have to act like a human being. I wish all of us could not be so self centered and when we make a business move could stop for a while and think about other co-workers, bosses....
It seems to me that you are a sensitive person and i strongly believe that this is a good thing for someone to have. So if you believe that your boss is doing the wrong moves and this is bad for you as well maybe it is better to have a talk with him. I would do this if i believed that he is good and i respected him as a person. Maybe he will not accept your opinion but at least when you will have to go somewhere else to work you will know that you have done your best.
Now as for the clients i believe some of them, maybe most of them are your clients not because they came in your salon. but my belief is that there is no matter who pays the rent or the taxes the client just see who is there to cut, color and talk with and not who is the boss.
I can also name a big list of people (and old women too) that have followed me or other hairdressers to the other side of the town to find the people who used to do their hair. And examples where NO phone numbers and adress where exchanged.
So no matter what you choose try to do the best for you but with out loosing that human touch you seem to have. Good luck.

Most excellent post MariaQr...beautifully said. <Applause!!!>