SOS Small Business Success for Salons & Spas Owners

What Small Business Stats Are Really Telling Us About the Course Ahead “On the water, numbers matter. Wind speed. depth. fuel. distance. direction. You don’t sail by hope. You sail by reading the conditions. Business is the same. The stats aren’t there to scare us; they’re there to help us lead smarter.” Today's episode is a stat attack on some numbers I learned at the Data Driven Conference a...

The future of our industry is on the line—this is your call to lead, not watch. This is not just another industry conversation—this is a moment that could redefine the future of beauty education as we know it. In this urgent SOS Alert episode, Bonnie Bonadeo sits down with Shelly Gitthens, Academy of Hair Design, Heather Sinclair-Hello Gorgeous Barber College, and Leah Longest-Shawnee Beauty Colle...

Defining Ownership from Leadership for Maximum Growth. Ownership and leadership are not the same skill set—and confusing the two is where most businesses get stuck. In this episode, we break down why strategy must come first, and how your ability to communicate that strategy determines whether your team executes… or drifts. Because it’s not enough to run the ship—you have to captain the direction,...

Are you Navigating or Drifting? Everything is starting to sound the same—AI, marketing, leadership advice. But what if that’s not the problem? In this episode, I challenge you to look deeper at the message, what it’s promising, and how to use it to become more efficient, more effective, and a stronger leader through better strategy and communication. Join me for my monthly Introduction to Heart an...

“Most salon owners think they’re in the service business… but you’re not. You’re in the experience business. PEOPLE to PEOPLE, and right now, most of you are letting your clients drift instead of leading the journey.” “You’re Not Selling Services… You’re Selling the Voyage” What if your business isn’t a service… but a voyage? In this episode, I break down the Experience Economy and how today’s cli...

Why most business owners stay stuck as technicians. Many salon owners think they’re the captain of their business—but are they really? In this episode, Bonnie Bonadeo explores the core lesson from The E-Myth and why great technicians often struggle as business owners. Learn the difference between crew, first mate, and captain—and what true leadership looks like behind the chair and beyond. Join me...

The Missclassification Confusion in our Industry. In “Can’t Call Them Crew If They’re Not W2,” Bonnie Bonadeo and CPA April McDaniel break down worker misclassification in the salon industry, explaining the legal differences between W-2 employees, 1099 independent contractors, and booth renters. They cover IRS control factors, payroll tax risks, and the impact of improper classification on salon o...

Plus, your 2026 Blueprint for Success. CPA April McDaniel and industry leader Bonnie Bonadeo unpack the new 2025 tip tax deduction, employer FICA tax credits, IRS reporting rules, and what beauty businesses need to know now. This session combines tax clarity with strategic leadership planning for a stronger 2026. Watch this session on YouTube Purchase your 2026 Salon Success Blueprint here

Welcome to 2026, Season 5-Episode 142 What does buying a boat have to do with owning a salon or small business? Everything. In this episode of SOS Small Business Success , Bonnie Bonadeo shares a real-life experience that became a powerful metaphor for business ownership and leadership. Just like many entrepreneurs, she jumped into something exciting—only to realize how much there was to learn to...

In this episode, we drop anchor on the real-life struggles salon and spa owners face when trying to grow their business. From missed sales goals to half-implemented strategies, many leaders feel like they’re drifting without direction—overwhelmed, under-supported, and unsure of what to do next. After speaking at multiple industry events, I uncovered a pattern: the biggest challenge isn’t a lack of...

The 5 Challenges Holding Salons Back (And How to Break Through) Salon owners are feeling the pressure, from hiring struggles to stalled sales and team miscommunication. In this episode, I break down the 5 most common challenges holding salons back right now: 1️⃣ Recruitment 2️⃣ Communication 3️⃣ Sales 4️⃣ Working on vs in the business 5️⃣ Structure & systems Plus, actionable steps you can take...

Simple Ways to Lead... How Occam’s Razor Can Sharpen Your Leadership & Client Conversations) As leaders, we often fall into the trap of overexplaining, overtalking, and overcomplicating conversations that could be far more impactful with fewer words and greater clarity. In this episode, I introduce the concept of Occam’s Razor and share how applying this simple yet powerful principle can make...

Inside The Beauty Leadership Lab! Featuring Special Guests: Brigette Sobus of Power & Joy Coaching Academy and Nikki Le of Nikki Le Consultancy Being a salon or spa owner isn’t easy. Every day brings new challenges—some you’re prepared for and others that leave you wondering, what now? In this robust podcast conversation, we’ll explore the real struggles owners and managers face and share  wis...

The ripple effect is a concept that describes how an initial event can cause a series of other events to happen, with the effects spreading outward.   What will you do differently this year to create a positive ripple effect? Also, what will you stop doing that impact the ripple effect?  Listening Now and Join me on Monday, January 13t,h for the ACTion Planning Workshop. Register at sosactionplann...

It’s that time of year to reflect on what we have accomplished and what frustrations keep us up at night.  As business owners, could you do this exercise? What areas of your business have you been a fish out of water this past year or in previous years?  What will you do differently in 2025?  Listen now as I share some examples of areas where if we don’t grow, we don’t go…forward!

Most of us enjoy the artistic and even the business side of beauty, but are you aware of the politics of beauty?  The issues we face as an industry range from changing policies to trying to eliminate the license.  Listen now as our advocate, Tamara shares what we can do and how to advocate for beauty for the issues now and for future generations. Get involved! www.politicsbeautybarber.org

It’s never easy when a relationship is on the brink; no matter how hard we try, the connection seems lost at sea.  Turbulent winds and waves of emotions crashing create a sense of doom.  Whether it’s a personal or business relationship, being emotionally intelligent helps immensely, but even with the best intentions, we can lose ourselves in what to do.  Listen now to some tips for separating emot...

Today, we discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in business, particularly for salon owners. Happy Hormones or Unhappy Hormones Sometimes, as leaders, we make decisions when we are not at our best. We must understand hormonal balance for our overall health and well-being and the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in leadership.  Do you listen to your gut, and what do...

What is the most crucial thing the salon captain should consider to achieve financial success? Finding the right experts to guide you to your destination.  My guest, Michael Cole, is a Northwestern Mutual-Certified Financial Planning Professional and Co-Owner of Daniel Island Barber Shop in North Carolina. Listen now as we discuss practical strategies for managing your money, setting and achieving...

We are navigating leadership with clarity and effective communication. Steering your conversations for success can be challenging, especially if you are the captain, the first mate, or a member of the crew.  Today, I share real-life stories of boating, sailing, and prepping for a hurricane, as well as how our communication roles changed throughout the process of completing our tasks through turbul...

Have you ever heard of a 'red herring' as a distraction technique?  As leaders, sometimes we must avoid all the Red Herring approaches thrown at us, believing that our business is not profitable or slow or excuses why clients are not returning as frequently or buying retail from us.    Listen now as I discuss Head-up and head-down leadership styles. Stay focused on the five anchors of succ...

SOS Lift Leadership When we look at how a sailboat sails or a plane flies, we see a push-pull effect.  Under all the right circumstances, it provides lift.  Lift in the air and lift through the water.  Now, take that same overview and look at your leadership style. Are you only pulling or maybe pushing but still not getting any lift? Listen now as I break down this leadership effect to help you se...

Emotional intelligence is crucial to effective leadership, especially in a people-oriented salon business. EI blends empathy and decisiveness to create a potent leadership style. Leading with heart involves understanding and connecting with people on a deeper level, fostering trust and loyalty. Conversely, leading with an edge demands assertiveness, resilience, and the ability to make tough decisi...

I can see why most people don’t like leading. They fear nothing more than not having a foundation of well-intended guidelines and policies in place. However, genuine and authentic leadership ensures that your team is aware of the guidelines and policies and manages those daily, leading them to greater success and opportunities for personal and professional growth.  Leading your crew means setting...

How would you rate yourself as a leader? Do you fear stepping into difficult conversations? Listen now to the most innovative leaders program ever introduced for the beauty industry and get certified as a unique, emotionally intelligent leader. Leadership is the one skill that will help you to level up!  Listen now... Find out more here !