Diploma of Salon Management study guide
Diploma of Salon Management · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Diploma of Salon Management is a vocational qualification for people who want to run or manage a salon rather than work solely behind the chair. It suits senior stylists or therapists stepping into a supervisory role, existing managers formalising their experience, and owners who need a structured grounding in running a business. The Diploma of Salon Management study guide has 9 sections and about 2,173 words.
01Salon Operations and Business Planning
A salon plan links a vision to a working schedule. Candidates must know the difference between a business plan (purpose, market, services, pricing, staffing, finance, risk) and an operational plan (daily, weekly and seasonal routines).
276 words, about 1 min02Financial Management and Budgeting
Candidates should understand gross and net profit , fixed versus variable costs , cost of goods sold (COGS) for back-bar and retail, break-even analysis , cash flow , and markup versus margin . Know how a budget differs from a forecast : a budget is a target, a forecast is an expectation.
265 words, about 1 min03Team Leadership and Human Resources
Candidates must understand recruitment and selection , induction , probation , performance review , goal setting , delegation , feedback models , motivation , conflict resolution , and staff retention . Know the difference between coaching (skill development) and counselling (welfare or conduct support), and between informal feedback and a formal disciplinary process .
242 words, about 1 min04Client Experience and Service Quality
Candidates should understand the client journey from enquiry to rebooking, service standards , consultation , expectation management , complaint handling , service recovery , and measuring satisfaction through surveys, reviews, rebooking rates and mystery shopping. Know the difference between service quality (consistency with standards) and client satisfaction (perception against expectation).
251 words, about 1 min05Marketing, Branding and Retail Promotion
Candidates should understand positioning , target audience , brand identity , marketing mix , digital channels , content planning , promotions , loyalty programmes , referrals , retail merchandising , and measuring return on marketing spend . Know the difference between brand awareness , acquisition and retention campaigns.
244 words, about 1 min06Health, Safety and Hygiene Compliance
Candidates must understand infection control , standard precautions , hand hygiene , cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation distinctions, single-use items , waste segregation , chemical safety and safety data sheets , ventilation , electrical safety , slips and trips , manual handling , fire evacuation , and first aid arrangements . Know patch testing requirements for colour products and the importance of following manufacturer instructions.
218 words, about 1 min07Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Candidates should understand the duty of care , employment law basics , work health and safety obligations , consumer protection , privacy and client records , consent , insurance , record retention , anti-discrimination , bullying and harassment , and subcontractor versus employee distinctions. Know that legal requirements vary by jurisdiction and that salon policy must meet the stricter of law and policy.
233 words, about 1 min08Product and Inventory Management
Candidates must understand par levels , reorder points , lead time , safety stock , stock rotation (first in, first out) , back-bar versus retail stock , stocktake , shrinkage , wastage , product dilution and measuring , and supplier management . Know the difference between periodic and perpetual inventory systems, and how COGS links to pricing.
223 words, about 1 min09Professional Development and Industry Trends
Candidates should understand continuing professional development , skills gap analysis , mentoring , peer learning , industry associations , trade events , manufacturer education , sustainability trends , technology adoption such as booking systems and client record software, and service diversification . Know how to evaluate a trend critically: evidence, cost, training needs, client demand and regulatory implications.
221 words, about 1 min