Salon Management, Client Care & Professional Studies
Salon Management
Building the business
Start with the plan: concept and positioning, target market, SWOT analysis, legal structure (sole trader, partnership, limited company), start-up and running costs, cash-flow forecast and funding. Location, footfall, layout and licensing matter as much as treatment skill. Registration with the local authority and appropriate insurance are not optional.
Money
Know fixed costs (rent, insurance, salaried staff) and variable costs (product, commission, utilities per treatment). Price using cost-plus or market-led methods and understand gross profit versus net profit. Monitor KPIs: average client spend, treatment and retail split, occupancy or utilisation rate, client retention, new client conversion, stock turn. Retail typically carries a higher margin than service, but both need targets.
People and operations
Recruitment, induction, contracts, rotas, appraisals, training and CPD, motivation and delegation. Stock control uses par levels, rotation (FIFO) and regular stocktakes to protect cash. Client records, consent forms and marketing data must comply with data protection law.
Marketing
Apply the marketing mix to the salon, build a brand, use digital and local channels, run promotions with measurable aims, and track where enquiries come from. Reputation, reviews and referrals are the cheapest acquisition channel.
Traps
Questions test the difference between gross and net profit, between fixed and variable cost, and the belief that raising prices always raises profit. Also watch break-even calculations and FIFO versus LIFO.
Rule of thumb
Break-even clients = fixed costs ÷ (price per treatment − variable cost per treatment). Example: fixed costs £4,000/month, treatment £40, variable cost £15 → £4,000 ÷ £25 = 160 treatments per month.
Client Care & Professional Studies
The consultation is the treatment
Professional care begins before the first product is opened. Greet the client, establish rapport, and take a structured history: general health, medication (including blood thinners, retinoids, steroids, HRT and pregnancy), allergies, skin and medical conditions, previous treatments and reactions, lifestyle factors such as sun exposure, smoking, alcohol and stress.
Consent and records
Explain the treatment, its benefits, risks and alternatives, and obtain informed consent. Record everything on the client card - date, products, settings, observations, aftercare advice, consent signature - and update at each visit. Records are confidential under data protection law (GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018) and are commonly retained for around seven years after the last treatment, longer for minors. Never disclose a client's information without consent.
Communication
Use clear language, open questions and active listening; match tone and pace; confirm understanding. Non-verbal signals - posture, eye contact, facial expression - carry as much as words. Explain what you are doing before you do it, and check comfort throughout.
Complaints, boundaries and scope
Handle complaints calmly, listen fully, acknowledge, investigate, resolve and record; never argue. Work within your training and insurance cover, refer medical questions onward, and maintain professional boundaries. Punctuality, personal presentation, hygiene and continuing professional development are part of the service.
Traps
Questions target patch testing (24–48 hours before tinting or colour), the difference between confidentiality and secrecy, and the temptation to give medical advice.
Rule of thumb
If it is not written on the record card, it did not happen. Document the consultation, the consent, the treatment and the aftercare.