The Pros & Cons of Adding Multiple Partners to Your Beauty Biz
Everything to Consider Before Adding Partners to Your Salon, Shop, or Spa

The beauty of our industry–you know, the beauty industry–is that there’s no one right way to be successful.

Some beauty pros have started literal empires on their own. Others have had major success in the beauty world by tag-teaming with other pros. The good news? There’s no right way, and there’s no wrong way. As long as you’re loving your niche, serving the customers of your dreams, and making bank, well, that’s pretty much the dream–no matter how you achieve it.

Still, solo beautypreneurs often wonder, “what would it actually be like to add some partners to the mix of my beauty biz?” And you know what, that’s a fair question–it’s one that this blog is setting out to answer for you.

Why, exactly? Because we get it–it can be scary to jump into a business venture without fully knowing if it’s right for you. And if you’re an ambitious beauty pro who’s always done everything on their own, the idea of tapping into a world of business partners can be stressful.

Obviously, there are benefits to adding partners to your team–but inherent hesitations exist as well. We’re not saying that there’s a one-size-fits-all approach, either. This blog is going to dive into some of the pros and the cons to give you a clearer picture of what working with beauty biz partners could look like–the good, the bad, and the beautiful (because there’s no ugly in this industry).

The Pros of Adding Partners to Your Beauty Biz

So, you think adding partners is the right choice for your beauty biz? That’s great to hear, because there are lots of pros to taking this business route. Here are just a few (seriously, this is the tip of the iceberg!) of pros that we think every beauty professional should consider about adding in beauty partners.

Tap Into Diverse Skill Sets

When you work with additional partners, you get to work with someone other than you–inherently, that means you’re tapping into a totally new world of wildly different skill sets. Think about it. You might be totally bomb at brows and lashes, but struggle with customer service and marketing. Your business partner could be an absolute rockstar in these areas and you could join forces to become the dream team. That’s honestly one of the most exciting–and most beneficial–pros to adding business partners to your team–you can hire people who dominate in the spaces you don’t care for, don’t know how to do, or are just plain less-than-stellar at.

Enhanced Credibility

Let’s face it, adding partners–especially experts in their own industries, whether that’s beauty, social media marketing, etc.–adds to a business’ credibility. That doesn’t mean that the more partners involved automatically equals better, but it does mean that if you’ve got a team of experts, your customers are going to recognize there’s a panel of pros getting things done.

And sometimes, that looks better than just one person trying to juggle it all. Does that mean you’re not capable of doing it all yourself or that clients will think you’re not as good at what you do if it's just you? No way! It just means that sometimes, a panel of pros looks good to potential clients, other business partners, investors, and more.

Additional Resources & Capital to Service More Clients

If you’re doing things on your own and running stuff solo, it’s likely you (and maybe the bank) funding the biz. With partners comes mores resources, more capital, and more skill–making the burden of all these things a little lighter on your own shoulders.

Some partners can contribute in the way of time, being present in the salon, and working with clients. Some might contribute in the way of money and resources. Some might do both or something else entirely. Either way, when you get more qualified people involved in some way, they’re pitching in with something­­–and that’s always appreciated.

Doing it Alone Can Get Lonely –Partners Help

This might seem like a silly pro, but it matters. Doing things all by yourself can get lonely. There are no fellow partners to commiserate with when things are rough and no one who can fully understand just how much a celebration matters when something good happens.

Teaming up with partners can offer that bond–that “we’re in this together” vibe that you might be looking for. And more than that, this kind of bond can help some beauty biz owners thrive. It all depends on what you’re looking for and what makes you tick.  

Minimizes Risk in Most Cases

We can’t speak to every specific circumstance, but if you add more partners into the mix and equally share liability, it’s likely that the risk will be a little less heavy on your own shoulders. That being said, if you–and your partners–really want to minimize risk in this industry, the best thing you can do is invest in top-notch cosmetology liability insurance (and we just so happen to know where you can find the best of the best).

The Cons of Adding Partners to Your Beauty Biz

There are always two sides to a coin, right? Just because there are some good things about adding in biz partners doesn’t mean there aren’t some negatives, too. We don’t want to sugarcoat stuff–things can get messy with partners (especially if they’re not the right ones). Do we wish that for you? No way. But we do think it’s important to consider all the possibilities before you decide on what you want to do.

Things Can Get Complicated & Messy

Even if you fully picture a total bond with every partner and great relationships among the panel of partners you add, the reality is that sometimes, things get messy–in friendships, financially, legally, and more.

Everyone has a different vision. And even if your partner isn’t necessarily malicious or “out to get you,” the collision of those differing visions can sometimes make things challenging and complex.

Egos Can Collide

When two–or more–people work together and are experts in their fields, egos can sometimes get in the way.

While you might be a total pro in one regard and think your way is best, your partner, also a pro, might be stuck on their way as the right way. Obviously, it’s the adult thing to work this sort of stuff out through communication–but that’s not always a given.

Workplace Partnerships + Friendships Can Be Tough

Complications can certainly arise if you’re adding a partner to your business that’s already a friend. That layer can make stuff, well, tricky.

If you’re strictly adding a business partner that can help with resources, finances, time, and services, that’s great–they’re sort of pigeonholed into a role from the start and can eventually become your friend through that lens. But if you start out as friends, you risk that friendship–possibly damaging it if your visions clash.

Finances and Legal Stuff Can Get Tricky  

This is especially true if you’re trying to handle stuff on your own. Often, people team up with partners they trust and want to work with, which is great–but they don’t anticipate that things can get funky when finances and legal complications arise.

The best advice to avoid this? Work with a professional to get everything figured out in writing ahead of time so you can all be on the same page for the partnership. And, of course, don’t forget to cover yourselves with cosmetology liability insurance–it’ll save you time, stress, capital, headaches, and maybe even the health of your partnership.