OWNERS COURSE

Barbershop & Salon Owners Course

Duration: 2 Days
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (each day)
Format: In-person classroom, discussion, real-world exercises
Designed for: Current shop owners | Future shop owners | Senior barbers preparing to open their first location

Course Overview

This course is designed for people who want to own a profitable, professional, long-term barbershop or salon—not just rent chairs or survive month to month.

Owning a shop is not about cutting hair. It’s about systems, leadership, finances, culture, and decision-making. This is a no-fluff, real-world business course built from lived experience—not theory.

Who is this course for

✔ Barbers or stylists planning to open a shop
✔ Owners struggling with profit, staff, or structure
✔ Owners stuck behind the chair with no exit plan
✔ Entrepreneurs who want clarity before investing money

What You'll Learn
By the end of the two days, attendees will understand how to:

• Build a shop that makes money without burning out
• Hire, lead, and retain the right team
• Structure pricing, compensation, and operations properly
• Avoid the most common (and expensive) ownership mistakes
• Think like a business owner, not a technician

Day 1 - Foundation & Structure

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
10:00 – 10:30 | Owner Mindset

Topic: Technician vs Owner vs Operator

• Why great barbers often fail as owners
• The mental shift required to own a business
• Ego vs leadership
• Short-term hustle vs long-term vision
• What ownership actually demands of you

Outcome: Clarity on whether ownership is the right path—and what it requires.

10:30 – 11:45 | Vision, Brand & Positioning

Topic: What kind of shop are you actually building?

• Defining your brand (before spending money)
• Who your shop is for—and who it is not
• Pricing for your market, not your ego
• Avoiding “middle-of-the-road” positioning
• Why most shops look good but fail financially

Exercise: Create a Clear Brand & Market Position Statement

11:45 – 12:00 | Break

12:00 – 1:15 | Business Models Explained

Topic: Choosing the right structure

• Commission vs chair rental vs hybrid
• Pros & cons of each model
• Staffing vs independent contractors
• Legal and operational considerations
• Why copying another shop is dangerous

Outcome: Understanding which model actually fits your goals and lifestyle.

1:15 – 2:00 | Lunch Break

2:00 – 3:15 | Financial Foundations

Topic: Understanding the numbers (without being an accountant)

• Revenue vs profit (and why they’re not the same)
• Cost of labour, rent, retail, and overhead
• Break-even points
• Pricing services properly
• Why most owners underpay themselves

Exercise: Build a Simple Monthly Financial Snapshot

3:15 – 4:15 | Location, Build-Out & Mistakes

Topic: Real-world risks owners underestimate

• Choosing the right location
• Lease basics & red flags
• Build-out budgeting
• Overbuilding vs smart spending
• Avoiding debt traps early

Outcome: Better decision-making before signing leases or spending capital.

4:15 – 5:00 | Day 1 Wrap-Up

• Key takeaways
• Open Q&A
• Homework reflection for Day 2

DAY 2 — PEOPLE, SYSTEMS & SCALE

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

10:00 – 11:15 | Hiring & Team Building

Topic: People make or break your business

• Hiring the right people from day one
• Red flags during interviews
• Culture fit vs skill
• Why “friends” often fail in business
• Building a team that respects leadership

Exercise: Create a Hiring Filter & Ideal Team Profile

11:15 – 12:15 | Leadership & Management

Topic: Running a shop without chaos

• Owners vs managers
• When to step back from the chair
• Setting standards and non-negotiables
• Handling conflict and discipline
• Protecting the brand over emotions

Outcome: Confidence in leadership and authority.

12:15 – 1:00 | Lunch Break

1:00 – 2:15 | Operations & Systems

Topic: Systems create freedom

• Opening & closing procedures
• Cleanliness & presentation standards
• Scheduling and capacity management
• Why systems reduce stress and turnover
• Creating consistency across staff

Exercise: Build a Daily & Weekly Operations Checklist

2:15 – 3:30 | Marketing, Retention & Growth

Topic: Getting and keeping clients

• Local marketing vs social media hype
• Retention over constant acquisition
• Pricing increases done properly
• Retail systems that actually work
• Building long-term demand

Outcome: Understanding how to grow without chasing trends.

3:30 – 4:30 | Scaling, Sustainability & Exit Planning

Topic: Thinking beyond survival

• One shop vs multiple shops
• Avoiding burnout as an owner
• Building value beyond your hands
• Succession planning
• When to grow—and when not to

4:30 – 5:00 | Final Wrap-Up

• Owner principles & code of conduct
• Final Q&A
• Certificate of completion
• Next steps

What attendees leave with 

✔ Clear ownership mindset
✔ Practical financial understanding
✔ Hiring & leadership frameworks
✔ Systems they can implement immediately
✔ Confidence to build (or not build) a shop intentionally