How To Effectively Operate and Manage Multiple Salons 

Running a successful salon is a huge achievement. Heading multiple thriving salons? That’s another story. 

It requires careful planning and sharp management skills. It demands an exceptional team and an understanding of the competitive landscape. 

We’re here to help. Let’s walk through some of the key approaches you can take. These include building a strong management blueprint, writing standard operating procedures, and delegating tasks. We’ll look at marketing and brand consistency and practical tips for efficient daily management. 

You don’t have to guess how to manage multiple salons. Learn the essentials and grow your salon empire. 

The Blueprint for Salon Management Excellence 

Success starts with a plan. When it comes to running multiple salons, this plan is your management structure. 

A management structure shows who is in charge at each level. It includes top bosses, floor managers, stylists, receptionists, and so on. 

It clearly outlines who handles what. For example, one person might oversee inventory across all locations. Another might take care of customer service issues. 

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: The Ultimate Guide to Managing a Salon for the First Time 

Here are some of the benefits of using a management structure: 

• When roles are defined, there is no confusion. Tasks are completed, and problems are solved quickly. 
• It helps every location uphold the same level of service quality. This is key to maintaining a great reputation. 
• You can launch promotions across salons more easily. Those in charge of marketing already know how to make it successful. 
• Your employees are happier. They understand their roles, which helps them feel more engaged. Engaged employees make your business more likely to achieve higher performance outcomes. These include customer loyalty, profitability, and quality service. 

A management structure is an excellent start. But you also need the tools to empower teams to fulfill their roles. That’s where technology comes into the picture. 

Technology makes running more than one salon location much easier. Here’s how: 

• Scheduling software manages appointments across all locations. No salon is overbooked. Every stylist’s time is used effectively. 

• Inventory management systems track products at all salons. They alert you when stock is low. Team members can reorder before running out. This means no customer appointments are disrupted. 
• Customer relationship management (CRM) software maintains detailed records of all your clients’ preferences. It saves their visit history and billing information. Staff can personalize their service, which improves customer satisfaction.  
• Financial management tools track the financial health of each salon. They look at revenue, expenses, and profits. You can use this data to make informed business decisions. 

Streamlining Operations Across All Salon Locations 

Want to know how to manage multiple salons? You must standardize how each salon works. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) can help. 

These are step-by-step guides for your daily operations. They cover every part of your business, including but not limited to: 

• Open and close the salon correctly. 
• Engage correctly with customer complaints. 
• Clean up after a client. 
• Onboard a new staff member. 
• Allow time for staff breaks to avoid fatigue. 
• Schedule staff correctly to avoid extra overhead. 

The goal? To elevate your guests’ experience across all locations. Remember, it’s consistency that earns you a five-star reputation. 

Let’s dig a little deeper. What specific outcomes can SOPs help you achieve? 

• Efficiency: Employees know what to do and how to do it. No confusion, misunderstanding, or delay. 
• Quality control: Your salon’s success is the sum of its parts. You want to maintain high standards across every task. Clear instructions ensure quality in every detail—from client care to cleanliness. 
• Accountability: When everyone follows the same procedures, you can track performance. When problems come up, you can address them fast. 

To help you get started, here are some best practices: 

• Be clear and concise. Write instructions that are easy to follow. Use simple language and short sentences. Include pictures or diagrams where necessary. 

• Involve your team. Get feedback from employees at all levels. Listen to their opinions about what works best and what might need clarification. 
• Train and retrain. Train all staff on using SOPs. Review and update your training to include new procedures. 

Ready to create some SOPs for your salons? Start small. 

Pick one common task that all your salons perform. Write down the step-by-step process for that task. Train your staff at each location to follow it exactly. 

Once you see success with this, expand to other tasks. 

RELATED ARTICLE: Learn From The Experts With These 11 Salon Management Tips 

Mastering Delegation and Team Management Across Salon Locations 

You can’t do everything yourself. 

You’ll spread yourself too thin. The quality of your services, your team’s morale, and your customer satisfaction can all suffer. 

You need to delegate. But as a passionate owner, this is often easier said than done. 

If you’ve developed your management blueprint, you’ve defined salon staff roles. You know what each person is responsible for. 

Once you start delegating, those roles might become more focused or have a larger scope. For example, senior managers might oversee multiple locations. Site managers might handle day-to-day operations at a single salon. 

Here are some strategies to follow: 

Understand Team Members’ Strengths. 

You hired your team for a reason. Consider their individual strengths. 

Are they natural communicators who get along with everyone? Do they have an eye for photography and design? Are they detail-oriented? Do they know the ins and outs of social media? 

Use these abilities to your advantage. 

Take action: Create a skills inventory for your staff. Update this list as they gain new skills through training or experience. Use it to match tasks with the right person for the job. 

Know What Can Be Delegated—and What Can’t. 

Not everything can be delegated. Flag tasks that can. These might include: 

• Appointment scheduling 
• Cleaning 
• Customer service 
• Inventory management 

Responsibilities best left to salon owners include: 

• Finances 
• Strategic growth plans 
• Hiring decisions 
• Complex conflict resolution 

Take action: List daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Which ones require your expertise? Which tasks can other team members handle? Delegate tasks in line with individual strengths but avoid overwhelming staff. It’s a delicate balance, but when you get it right, it’s game-changing. 

Offer Leadership Development Opportunities. 

Empowering your team to take on leadership roles not only improves their skills but also strengthens your business. 

Employees who feel trusted and valued are more committed and motivated. Giving them leadership opportunities can boost morale and adaptability. 

So, look for employees who naturally take the initiative. Uplift those who solve problems effectively and encourage others. 

This process can begin with initial interviews. Make sure you’re asking prospective employees the right questions and lean into strengths that you know you’ll need on your team. Vetting these traits early on helps you develop the right team leaders needed down the line. 

Take action: Offer leadership training. Gradually increase their responsibilities. This could involve managing a team, leading a project, or organizing a salon event. Provide ongoing support. 

Focus on Communication and Feedback. 

Clear communication and regular feedback are essential for successful delegation. 

Employees need to know what to do and whether their approach was effective or not. You can lean on your SOPs to achieve this, but be sure to keep staff in the loop about their performance. 

Feedback is a two-way street. You should also periodically gather feedback from employees. Be receptive to their input. They interact with clients and the salon’s environment daily. They may see things that you don’t.   

Communication should be all about continuous improvement. Soon enough, your salons will run like well-oiled machines. 

Take action: Schedule regular check-ins with your managers and staff. Chat about their progress, tackle problems, and provide constructive feedback. 

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: How To Manage Salon Staff Well 

Marketing and Brand Consistency for Multiple Salons 

A strong brand identity across all your salon locations is a must. Why? Because every customer should get the same feel and quality of service—no matter which salon they visit. 

Here are the benefits of brand consistency: 

• It builds trust. A distinct and consistent brand identity is professional. Customers know what to expect. They feel confident visiting one of your salons. 
• It nurtures customer loyalty. A strong, consistent brand keeps customers coming back. If they have a good experience at one location, they’ll expect the same at others. 
• It builds a positive reputation. Consistency in branding and services contributes to a stronger, more reliable reputation. This reputation makes it easier to attract new customers and retain existing ones. 

You can achieve brand consistency across salons by adopting the same visual identity. Use the same logo, colors, interior design approach, and so on. 

This extends to your digital presence, too. That’s why marketing plays an important role in consistent branding. 

However, here’s where things get a little more complicated. You need to decide whether to use a centralized, localized, or hybrid marketing approach. 

Centralized marketing uses uniform branding, messaging, and promotional strategies across locations. For example, locations share one website. This saves time and effort by giving you one location to monitor and update. 

Localized marketing adjusts strategies to meet the needs of individual locations. Salons are able to connect more deeply with the local community. For example, every location has its own social media profile. 

A hybrid approach is the best of both worlds. Some elements are centralized. Others are localized. This is usually the best way to structure your salon marketing. For example, locations run the same marketing campaign. But they promote it across their individual social media profiles. 

Here are some centralized and localized marketing strategies you can try: 

Social Media Marketing for Multiple Salons 

With a centralized approach, you would operate a single brand account. You’d post general content that reflects your brand’s personality and values. 

Examples include styling tips, brand stories, and special offers. 

Bonus tip: Use a consistent voice and style in your posts to reinforce brand identity. 

With a localized approach, each salon would have its own account. You’d highlight local events or location-specific promotions. You could also introduce team members. 

Bonus tip: Create geo-targeted ads or posts. This will help you reach potential customers in your area. Also, this increases engagement and improves your conversion rate. 

Email Marketing for Multiple Salons 

Using a centralized strategy, you’d send a general newsletter. It might cover brand updates and new services available at all locations. 

Bonus tip: Use an email marketing platform like Mailchimp. Use templates and design features to build professional-looking emails. Choose colors, fonts, and other visual elements that align with your brand identity. 

Using a localized strategy, newsletters would be location-specific. They might highlight local promotions or showcase exclusive services. 

Bonus tip: Don’t use a different email marketing account for each platform. Instead, segment your audience by preferred salon. That way, you can send both centralized and localized emails, depending on your goal. 

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for Multiple Salons 

With a centralized approach, you’d optimize your website with general keywords. These would reflect your brand and services offered at all locations. 

Bonus tip: Build quality backlinks. Publish high-quality content. These features will boost your site’s authority and search engine rankings. 

With a localized approach, you’d use local SEO strategies for each location. These would include: 

• Using city-specific keywords, like “best salon in [your city]” or “balayage [your region].” 
• Listing your business in local directories 
• Creating localized content that addresses the community’s specific needs and hair concerns. 

Bonus tip: Claim and update each location’s Google Business Profile. Encourage happy clients to leave reviews. 

RELATED ARTICLE: Learn How To Manage A Hair Salon Business With SalonBiz 

Tips on How To Manage Multiple Salons With Style 

Here are five tips to help you operate and manage your salons: 

1. Get started writing your SOPs. Start by documenting the most common tasks. Ideas include opening and closing procedures, customer service protocols, and safety measures. 

2. Create a style guide for brand consistency. Develop a style guide that outlines your brand’s visual and communication standards. Include logo, color schemes, fonts, and voice. Distribute the style guide to all locations. 

3. Identify key roles and responsibilities. Make a list of essential roles needed in each salon. Consider Salon Managers, Customer Service Officers, and Inventory Coordinators. Assign these roles based on staff skills and experience. 

4. Define your marketing strategy. Decide if you need a unified marketing approach for all locations (centralized). Or would you benefit from custom marketing for each location (localized)? Consider a hybrid strategy. Use a centralized strategy for brand-wide promotions and localized strategies for community engagement. 

5. Use technology to streamline operations. Research and choose a salon management system. Look for one that meets all of your salons’ current and future needs. All-in-one software like SalonBiz enables you to manage all aspects with one solution, making it an excellent fit for multiple locations.