#42 How to Pay Yourself Without Starving the Business
I can’t tell you how many owners I’ve worked with who are running busy salons, with money constantly flowing in and out… yet they’re still not paying themselves consistently. Or worse, they’re dipping into salon funds like it’s an ATM. And then wondering why their bank account feels like a rollercoaster.
Here’s the hard truth: If you don’t figure out how to pay yourself in a way that doesn’t choke your business, you’re basically building a house with no foundation. It might look good on Instagram, but one strong wind (aka slow month, stylist quitting, or unexpected expense) and the whole thing wobbles.
You didn’t start this business to work for free. So let’s fix this
1. Stop guessing & assign yourself a real role
If you’re behind the chair and running the business, you’re wearing two hats: stylist and CEO. Both jobs deserve pay. If you only pay yourself for one, you’ll always resent the other.
Stylist = service provider wages (commission/hourly, just like your team).
CEO = leadership/owner distribution (a set % of profit).
Example: If you’re still taking guests 3 days a week, pay yourself like a stylist for those services, then add an owner’s pay based on profit margins.
2. Your business is not your piggy bank
This is where most owners bleed money. They dip into salon funds whenever they “need” something, instead of treating their pay like a non-negotiable bill. If rent, payroll, and utilities get paid on time, why is your paycheck optional? It’s not.
Set a recurring transfer every two weeks, just like you’d pay an employee. No more, “I’ll just take what’s leftover.”
3. Use percentages, not feelings
Feelings don’t balance a budget. A healthy target is to set aside 30–35% of gross profit for payroll (including YOUR stylist pay if you’re still on the floor), 30–40% for expenses, and 10–15% for owner’s pay/profit.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, but a percentage-based system keeps you honest and stops the “oops, nothing left for me this month” cycle.
4. Reinvest strategically (not recklessly)
Yes, the salon needs money to grow—better systems, education, marketing, upgrades. But reinvesting doesn’t mean you starve yourself “for the business.” A starving owner leads to burnout, not brilliance.
Think of it this way: You can’t lead with vision when you’re worried about groceries. Pay yourself first, then decide what the salon can realistically invest.
5. Make it boring (consistency > excitement)
This isn’t about massive, irregular payouts. It’s about building a system that feels boring and predictable. That’s how stability is created—for you, your team, and the salon. Paydays shouldn’t feel like a surprise party. They should feel like clockwork.
Here’s your next step:
Go look at the last three months of your numbers. Write down exactly what you paid yourself, how often, and from where. If the answer makes you cringe, it’s time for a change.
Start small, set a percentage, and commit to consistent owner pay. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your business feels stronger when you stop treating yourself like an afterthought.
You’ve got this, friend.
Salt & Light,
Heather