How to Hire Your First Team Member in Your Salon
Stepping into salon ownership is one thing. Hiring your first team member is a whole other level. It’s exciting, scary and filled with unknowns. In this honest Mini Moments episode of Salon Rising The Podcast, Samara goes behind the scenes with Jen, who’s in the thick of making her first hire.
This isn’t a polished how to guide. It’s a real, vulnerable conversation about what it feels like to move from solo to team. The financial and emotional prep that goes into it, and how to trust your gut when you’re stepping into new territory.
Whether you’re weeks away from hiring or simply dreaming of growing one day, this episode is packed with helpful truths and hard earned insights.
When Do You Know You’re Ready to Hire?
Jen shares her own journey, seven months into running her salon, and already ready to grow. But she didn’t rush. She first asked:
Am I financially ready to hire?
Do I have enough demand to support someone new?
What do I need from this hire - support, growth, more rest?
She didn’t just look at how tired she was. She checked the numbers. She examined her rebooking rates and future projections. She made sure hiring wasn’t just a reaction, it was a strategic move.
“I don’t want to work 26 days straight. I want to be the version of me who gets a day off.”
That’s a powerful mindset shift. One that helps you build a sustainable salon, not a burnout cycle.
The Hiring Checklist for Salon Owners
Here’s what the podcast breaks down as key steps when you’re ready to hire:
1. Know your numbers
Before you even post a job ad, know how much you can afford. Can you cover someone’s wage if they bring in zero dollars at first? That’s the baseline.
2. Understand the build time
It can take 6 to 12 months to build up a stylist or apprentice. Are you okay with that runway?
3. Consider starting with an apprentice or assistant
Lower wage, high support. It’s often the perfect first step into leadership.
4. Have a hiring process
Don’t just go with your gut. Post a proper ad (SEEK works!), ask for a cover letter, do phone interviews, and always host a working trial in your space.
5. Protect confidentiality
If someone applies who works at a friend’s salon, handle with grace and respect.
6. Use working trials wisely
One hour trials don’t cut it. Bring them in for a half or full day (paid), observe their energy, skills and fit. Let your team weigh in if you have one.
7. Trust your instincts
After the trial, check in with your gut. Do they feel right? Could you see yourself growing together?
You Can Hire Even If You’re Nervous
Hiring isn’t just about business growth. It’s about reclaiming your time, creating a better client experience and building something beyond just you.
Jen admits she had weeks where every client cancelled. Panic kicked in. But she remembered her long-term vision, her numbers and her values and kept going.
The right team member doesn’t just take tasks off your plate. They help expand your impact. They create space. They bring new energy. They help you breathe.
And you don’t need to be perfect to get started. You just need a plan, a little courage and support around you.
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
If you're standing at the edge of hiring and feeling a mix of fear and excitement, you're not alone. This episode is your reminder that hiring is both a strategic decision and a brave one. It’s okay to do it scared, as long as you’ve done the prep.
Your dream salon doesn’t grow by chance. It grows by choice.
🎧 Listen to the full episode now for practical tips and honest insights on how to hire your first salon team member.
And if you’re growing your beauty business solo or with a team, explore our two signature programs below, both packed with financial guidance, mindset support and practical tools.
👉 Solo Rise Online – for solo operators ready to grow with confidence
👉 Rising Finances Online – for salon owners leading a team and wanting control over money, structure and time
You’ve got this 🫶
