The mirabellamindset’s Podcast

How Much Should a Salon Owner Actually Pay Themselves?

🚀 READY TO GET PAID AS A SALON OWNER AND BUILD REAL FREEDOM?👉 Apply to join The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/applyIf you are done working nonstop and want real profit, structure, and ownership, this is your next step.
🎙️ Mirabella Mindset Podcast
In this episode, Nick breaks down one of the biggest problems in the salon industry: owners who work harder every year but never pay themselves properly.
Most salon owners:
Do not take a consistent paycheck
Reinvest everything and still feel broke
Confuse being busy with being profitable
Stay stuck thinking like a stylist instead of an owner
This episode walks through the real math, mindset shifts, and systems needed to:
Pay yourself as an owner, not just a stylist
Separate owner income from behind-the-chair income
Build a salon that works without you
Create a business worth owning and selling
 What You Will Learn:
The three main salon business models and how they affect owner pay
How to identify your freedom number
Why pricing and parts and labor matter
How Profit First applies to salons
How to stop leaking money and start building profit
Want Help Implementing This?
Nick teaches these systems step by step inside The Level Up Academy.
👉 Apply here: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
Stay Connected:
Instagram: @NickMirabella
Website: https://nickmirabella.com
If this episode helped you, like, subscribe, and share it with another salon owner who needs to hear it.

Why Your Salon Isn’t Profitable (And Exactly How to Fix It)

 🚀 READY TO BUILD A PROFITABLE, SCALABLE SALON BUSINESS?👉 Apply to join The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
If you’re done working nonstop with nothing to show for it, this episode is for you.
In this episode of the Mirabella Mindset Podcast, host Nick Mirabella breaks down one of the most misunderstood and most painful topics in the salon industry:
PROFIT.
Why you don’t have it. Why it disappears even when revenue looks “good.” And how to finally keep money at the end of the year without burning out behind the chair.
Nick pulls back the curtain on:
The Profit First system and how to adapt it specifically for salons
The dangerous mindset shift most owners never make
Why doing over $1M a year can still leave you broke
How to separate real revenue vs. fake revenue
The exact buckets every salon owner should be using for:
Commission
Color and parts
Profit
Owner pay
Taxes
Operating expenses
This isn’t theory. This is real-world salon ownership from someone who’s lived it.
Key Lessons You’ll Learn in This Episode:
 ✔ Why salon owners self-sabotage profits out of guilt ✔ How to stop paying expenses first and why that keeps you broke ✔ The smartest way to handle assistants, front desk, and non-revenue roles ✔ How to tie every salary position to revenue ✔ What key man risk is and how it quietly destroys salons ✔ Why mindset, not hustle, is usually the real bottleneck ✔ The difference between being a stylist who owns a salon vs. a salon owner who might do hair
Nick also dives into:
Pricing psychology where you do not charge for time, you charge for results
Why discounting is killing your authority
How marketing, not location, makes salons profitable
How to rebuild fast when you move to a new area
Why today is the easiest time ever to grow a busy salon if you’re willing to do the work
The Hard Truth:
If you’re working 60 hours a week and still struggling If payroll stress keeps you up at night If you feel trapped behind the chair
You don’t need another workbook. You need a system, strategy, and accountability.
That’s exactly what Nick teaches inside The Level Up Academy.
Apply here: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
Subscribe to the channel for daily lives, real salon strategy, and zero-fluff business truth.📩 Have questions? Drop a comment. We read them live.
Welcome to the next level of salon ownership.

Why So Many Salon Owners Secretly Hate Their Own Salon

🚀 READY TO STOP DREADING YOUR OWN SALON AND START LEADING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL?👉 Apply to join the Level Up Academy now: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/applyIf you’re serious about stepping into true salon ownership, building elite systems, and leading with confidence, this is where it starts.Do you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or resentful walking into the business you worked so hard to build?You’re not alone, and more importantly, you’re not stuck.
In this raw, unfiltered episode, Nick breaks down why so many salon owners secretly hate their day to day reality and exactly how to fix it. From unclear vision and weak standards to avoiding hard conversations and being “too nice,” this episode exposes the real reasons salons fall apart, even when they’re busy and booked out.
Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
Why being “too nice” is often the fastest way to lose control of your salon
The difference between being an employer vs. being a mentor and leader
How lack of standards destroys culture, morale, and client experience
How to set non negotiable expectations without micromanaging
The power of vision, core values, culture contracts, and position agreements
How to stop being held hostage by staff, systems, or your own schedule
Why busy does not equal profitable and how real owners buy back their time
How to stop dreading work and start loving ownership again
Nick also dives deep into:
Rehiring and realigning your team
Fixing gossip, disrespect, and broken culture
Handling pay guilt, staff jealousy, and leadership pressure
Creating systems so your salon runs without you
Shifting your identity from hairstylist who owns a salon to true business owner
 This episode is mandatory listening for:
Salon owners who feel burnt out, overwhelmed, or trapped
Stylists thinking about opening their own salon
Owners who are busy but not profitable
Leaders who want respect, clarity, and alignment from their team
Anyone ready to stop surviving and start building a real business
If this episode hit home and you’re ready to fix your salon for real:👉 Apply to join the Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
This is where salon owners learn:
Elite leadership and ownership skills
Systems that create freedom, profit, and leverage
How to build a team of killers, not passengers
How to scale without losing your sanity
Stay connected with Nick Mirabella
Follow on Instagram for daily leadership and salon growth insights
Subscribe on YouTube for weekly episodes, lives, and trainings
Drop your questions in the comments, Nick reads them

Why Your Clients Aren’t Rebooking (And How to Fix It Fast)

🚀 READY TO BREAK INTO SALON SALES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL?👉 Apply to join The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/applyIf you’re done struggling with rebooking, inconsistent income, and running your salon on hope instead of systems, this is your next move.
Why do clients come in once, maybe twice, and then disappear?
In this raw, unfiltered episode, Nick Mirabella breaks down the real reasons clients don’t rebook and why it’s almost never just about your haircut, color, or technique.
With nearly 30 years in the beauty industry, Nick has built, scaled, taken over, and 10x’d salons from the ground up. He’s made every mistake so you don’t have to, and in this episode, he pulls back the curtain on the entire client journey, from first contact to long-term loyalty.
Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
Why competing on price kills retention and what to do instead
The 50/50 rule of personality vs. skill and how it directly impacts rebooking
How to eliminate price shoppers before they ever sit in your chair
The biggest mistake stylists make during first-time appointments
Why being really good isn’t enough to build a full book
How to use client communication before, during, and after appointments to drive loyalty
The difference between a stylist mindset vs. an owner and entrepreneur mindset
How oversubscribed stylists get clients to pre-book months in advance
Why “be more interested than interesting” changes everything
How top salons use systems, data, and leadership, not hope
Nick also dives deep into:
Coaching stylists using retention data
Why most salon owners are stuck because they’re still behind the chair
How to train your front desk and team to work as one unit
Rebooking language that works without pressure or discounts
Why marketing, communication, and experience matter more than talent alone
This episode is a masterclass for salon owners, stylists, barbers, and beauty entrepreneurs who are serious about building a booked-out business, higher ticket clients, and real freedom.
Who this episode is for:
 ✔️ Salon owners who feel stuck behind the chair ✔️ Stylists tired of inconsistent income ✔️ Barbers relying on walk-ins who want structure ✔️ Beauty professionals ready to charge premium prices ✔️ Anyone who wants clients to stay, not just try them once
NEXT STEPS:
Subscribe for daily salon business strategy and mindset
Comment with your biggest takeaway
Share this episode with a stylist who needs to hear it
Apply to The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
If you’re ready to stop guessing, stop discounting, and start running your salon like a real business, this episode is for you.
Don’t struggle alone. There is a better way.

How to Increase Your Salon’s Average Ticket Without Raising Prices

🚀 READY TO BREAK INTO SALON SALES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL?👉 Apply to Join the Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/applyIf you’re a stylist or salon owner who wants to increase your income, raise your average ticket, and build a scalable salon business, this is your next move.
In this episode, Nick breaks down one of the most misunderstood but most powerful KPIs in the salon industry: Average Ticket Per Client.
If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable charging more… If your clients disappear for months after one big service… Or if you’re working nonstop but your income isn’t reflecting it…
This episode will change how you price, sell, and serve forever.
 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why one huge ticket is killing your long-term income
How to raise your average ticket without raising prices
The micro-service strategy that creates consistent cash flow
How to position add-ons so clients say yes without resistance
Why volume and consistency beats high-ticket ego pricing
How Nick generated $25K to $30K months behind the chair without extensions
The real reason younger stylists struggle to charge and how to fix it
How to structure a la carte menus for maximum flexibility and profit
Why retention matters more than almost any other KPI
How to confidently sell without selling by serving, not pitching
Who This Episode Is For:
 ✔ Salon owners stuck at the same revenue level ✔ Stylists afraid to charge their worth ✔ Suite renters trying to get busier fast ✔ Commission salon owners building teams ✔ Anyone who wants predictable income without burnout
Nick doesn’t teach theory. He teaches what actually works in real salons, right now.
If you’re tired of guessing… If you’re done playing small… And if you’re ready to operate like a top-earning professional…
👉 Apply to the Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
 📌 Subscribe for more real salon business strategy 📌 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments 📌 Share this with a stylist who needs to hear it
See you in the next episode.

Why Salon Retail Fails (And How Top Stylists Sell Without Feeling Salesy)

🚨 READY TO MASTER RETAIL, SCALE YOUR SALON, AND PLAY AT THE TOP?👉 Apply to Join The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
If you are done struggling with retail sales, team performance, or feeling stuck behind the chair, this is your next move.
Most stylists say:
“I’m not a salesperson.”
But here is the truth. Retail is not selling. It is serving. And if you are not doing it correctly, you are leaving thousands of dollars on the table every single month.
In this episode, Nick Mirabella breaks down exactly how top-performing salons and stylists dominate retail without being pushy, awkward, or sleazy, and why your consultation conversation is the real key to higher income, better retention, and long-term client loyalty.
This is not theory. This is behind-the-chair, real-world strategy from someone who consistently outsold entire salons in retail.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
 ✔️ Why retail starts in the consultation, not at checkout ✔️ How to diagnose hair problems and prescribe solutions clients want to buy ✔️ The “Client’s Right to Know” method that skyrockets trust and conversion ✔️ How to use photos, events, and real-life moments to sell effortlessly ✔️ Why clients will buy, just not always from you ✔️ How retail increases retention, referrals, and rebooking ✔️ What to do if you hate the product lines your salon carries ✔️ How barbers can dominate retail just like salons ✔️ The mindset shift that separates struggling stylists from seven-figure salons
The Hard Truth:
If your retail-to-service percentage is under 20%,you are not having the right conversations. Period.
Clients are already in the buying zone. If you do not guide them, Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, and Costco will.
Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Scaling?
If you want:
Stronger retail numbers
A smarter consultation process
Better team performance
More profit with less burnout
Apply to Join The Level Up Academy:https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
This is not another course. It is coaching, community, accountability, and execution built for salon owners, stylists, and barbers who want to operate like real business owners.
Subscribe for weekly episodes on leadership, sales, mindset, and scaling in the beauty industry📲 Follow Nick Mirabella on Instagram for daily business breakdowns💬 Drop a comment below. What is your biggest challenge with retail right now?
Stop leaving money on the table. Start serving better. Level up.

Why Clients Ghost Stylists and What Top Salons Do Differently

🚀 READY TO BREAK INTO SALON SALES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL?👉 Apply to Join the Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
If you’re tired of clients ghosting you, no-showing appointments, or coming in once and never returning, this episode will completely change how you think about the client journey, communication, and retention in your salon.
🎙️ Mirabella Mindset Podcast
Hosted by Nick Mirabella
In this episode, Nick breaks down why clients really ghost stylists and salons. It has nothing to do with your technical skill and everything to do with trust, emotional intelligence, and the experience you create before, during, and after the appointment.
Too many salons are unknowingly pushing clients away with friction-filled booking processes, generic automation, and missed emotional cues. Nick shares real stories from behind the chair, hard-earned lessons from building multiple successful salons, and practical strategies that turn first-time clients into raving, lifetime fans.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why long, complicated booking forms kill conversions
The real psychology behind client anxiety and no-shows
How simple, personal communication wins the client before they walk in
Why emotional intelligence matters more than skill alone
The biggest retention mistakes stylists do not realize they are making
How to create touchpoints that eliminate ghosting
The seven-star review concept that reveals hidden deal-breakers
How to rebook clients naturally without sounding salesy
Why great hair is not always enough to keep clients coming back
Nick also answers live questions about:
Handling unfair or inaccurate online reviews
Client feedback and criticism
Booth rental versus salon ownership retention
Emotional intelligence, personality, and client connection
Why Listen to Nick Mirabella?
Nick has been behind the chair since 1997, built his clientele from $0 to $30,000 per month in just over a year, and owns and operates multiple salons. Everything shared in this episode is based on real-world experience, not theory.
If You Want:
Higher retention
Fewer no-shows
Better rebooking
Stronger trust with clients
A client experience that sells for you
👉 Apply to Join the Level Up Academy:https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
This is where salon owners and stylists learn sales, client journey mastery, leadership, and real business systems without fluff.
Connect with Nick:Instagram: @NickMirabella
👍 Like, subscribe, and share this episode with a stylist or salon owner who needs to hear it.
Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments 👇

How to Fill Your Salon Without Burning Money on Ads

READY TO BUILD A FULL SALON, ATTRACT TOP TALENT, AND MAKE MARKETING ACTUALLY WORK?Apply to join the Level Up Academy here:https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
If you are serious about breaking into salon ownership and salon sales at the highest level, this is where it starts.
Mirabella Mindset Podcast
Hosted by Nick Mirabella
In this episode, Nick breaks down one of the biggest lies salon owners have ever been told:
“If you build it, they will come.”
They won’t.
And that belief is why so many talented salon owners are broke, burned out, working alone, staring at empty chairs, and wondering why nothing is working.
This episode delivers a direct, tactical breakdown of what actually grows a salon, including:
Why attention is the real currency of business
Why focusing on the end goal can sabotage momentum
How focusing on daily inputs creates consistent growth
Daily outreach strategies for clients and stylists
How paid ads compound results when used correctly
The real math behind customer acquisition cost and lifetime value
Which services to advertise for maximum profitability
Why agencies fail most salon owners
How to learn Facebook and Google ads the right way
How to repurpose one piece of content into dozens of assets
Why most social media content fails to convert
How leadership and personality impact team growth
Why being great at hair alone will never scale a business
Nick also answers live questions on:
Marketing in small towns versus big cities
High follower counts with low bookings
Running ads on a limited budget
Building a team while still behind the chair
Personal branding for stylists and salon owners
Creating content that builds trust and authority
Key takeaway
If no one knows you exist, nothing else matters.
Marketing is not optional. Leadership is not optional. And being good at hair is not a business strategy.
Next steps
If this episode resonated and you are ready to stop struggling alone:
Apply to the Level Up Academy https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
Learn how to market like a professional, lead with confidence, and build a salon that actually scales.
Connect with Nick Instagram: @nickmirabella Website: https://nickmirabella.com
Like the episode, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway.

The 5 Leadership Languages Every Salon Owner Must Understand

READY TO BREAK INTO SALON SALES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL?Apply to Join The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
If you are serious about leadership, income growth, and building a salon that runs without you, this is where it starts.
Mirabella Mindset Podcast
Episode: The 5 Leadership Languages Every Salon Owner Must Master
Why does your team not listen to you no matter how much you pay them, motivate them, or try to do the right thing?
In this episode, Nick Mirabella breaks down one of the most overlooked reasons salon owners struggle with team culture, retention, and motivation.
You are not speaking your team’s leadership language.
Inspired by the concept of The Five Love Languages, Nick introduces The Five Leadership Languages, a framework every salon owner must understand to communicate clearly, lead confidently, and build a team that actually wants to stay.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
The five leadership languages and how they show up behind the chair
Why money alone does not motivate most stylists
How attention, recognition, support, investment, and presence impact performance
Why needy stylists are often your most loyal team members
How to scale leadership as your team grows without burning out
Why owners lose great stylists even when they pay more than anyone else
How to identify each stylist’s language during one on ones
Why your stylists are also your clients and how that mindset changes everything
Nick also shares real mistakes from his own salons, including losing team members not because of money but because of presence, and how understanding leadership language could have changed the outcome.
Who This Episode Is For:
Salon owners struggling with communication and culture
Leaders dealing with turnover, frustration, or burnout
Stylists stepping into leadership roles
Managers and suite owners building teams
Anyone who wants a salon that runs with structure instead of chaos
A Leadership Truth Every Owner Needs to Hear:
Great leaders do not lead people the way they want to be led. They lead people the way those people need to be led.
If your salon feels exhausting or constantly reactive, this episode will completely change how you think about leadership.
Ready to build systems, confidence, and leadership that scale? Apply to Join The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
Subscribe for weekly episodes on salon leadership, business growth, money, and mindset.
Drop a comment below and share which leadership language you believe your team speaks.

How to Become #1 on Google Without Wasting Money on SEO Agencies

READY TO STOP PLAYING AVERAGE AND START WINNING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL?Apply to join The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/applyIf you are serious about dominating your local market, mastering marketing, and becoming a true salon entrepreneur, this is your next move.
Mirabella Mindset Podcast | Hosted by Nick Mirabella
Episode Topic: How to Become #1 on Google Without Getting Ripped Off by SEO Agencies
If no one knows you exist, your salon does not stand a chance.
In this episode of the Mirabella Mindset Podcast, Nick Mirabella breaks down exactly how he went from zero to multiple seven figures using Google, local SEO, content, and smart marketing strategy without fluff, gimmicks, or shady agencies.
This is not theory. This is how it actually works.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
Why great hair plus bad marketing leads to a failing salon
How Nick grew from 1 to 5 locations using Google and Meta ads
The real foundation of local SEO before you ever run ads
How to structure your website so Google and AI trust it
Why page speed, mobile optimization, and site structure matter
How to optimize your Google Business Profile and get into the Map Pack
How to drive reviews the right way and protect your reputation
EEAT explained: Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness
AEO explained: Answer Engine Optimization for the AI era
Why most SEO agencies fail salon owners and how to avoid scams
How to use local pages and local language to win surrounding towns
Why blogs are not dead and how they help you win clients
How to turn your website into a money-making asset, not a brochure
Who This Episode Is For
Salon owners who are busy but not profitable
Stylists opening their first salon
Owners stuck behind the chair with no freedom
Anyone who wants to stop guessing and start running their business like a professional
If you have ever thought, “I am great at hair, so why is my salon not winning?” This episode is for you.
Take the Next Step
If you are done playing small and ready to become an entrepreneur who owns a salon, not a stylist trapped in one:
Apply for The Level Up Academy: https://nickmirabella.com/pages/apply
Nick and his team help salon owners master marketing, leadership, operations, and strategy so you can build a business that works for you.
Subscribe and Stay Connected
Subscribe to the channel, like this episode, and share it with a salon owner who needs to hear it. Drop your questions in the comments. Nick reads them.