Tipping the owner

[jamesglewisf]

This is a topic I get lots of email on. I'll post some of them here.

Question -

Just wondering: why we still tip hair stylists who rent their booth, and receive the entire amount of the amount charged (i.e., the check is made out to the individual, not the salon). I know it started because hair stylists were employed by the salon, but times and things have changed...

[jamesglewisf]

Answer -

Tips are always at your discretion. It's a service industry that relies on tips. Not all stylists rent a booth. Some are still employed by a salon. Prices are set to compete, but there is still the assumption of the tip.

[jamesglewisf]

ANother question via email -

Regarding tipping the owner of a hair salon - I remember learning as a child (my mother was in the business) that you do not tip the owner because all of the profit is going directly to the owner. Employees get a tip because they earn less than minimum wage and the tip becomes a part of their salary. Your website states that you tip the owner the same as you would an employee. Could you please explain this to me? Thank you!

[jamesglewisf]

I can only offer you one answer: we tip a lot more people today than we did when we were young. Etiquette rules change over time.

The current rule is that if the salon owner provides the service, you tip.

[isis]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a tipper. In fact my husband would say that I over tip, especially when it comes to the people who make me look my best. However, For five years, my hair was cut by the owner and premier stylist of a salon and spa. He drove a better car than me and owns five spas throughout the state.

I always tipped the people who assisted him (washers, color assistants, etc), but I would never DREAM of tipping him.

I think its overly cautious to tip the owner of any salon. Send them new business- its a much better compliment.

[CuriousG]

Not every owner of a salon is wealthy. Many people who own their own business in the service industry (salons, pet groomers etc.) aren't rich and don't make more than the average worker in any profession. Many of them own a business simply for having the opportunity to be their own boss. You tip for convenience and (ideally) quality of service. Denying someone a tip because they make a lot of money or more money than you is not a good reason to not tip them. I would think in the situation where a person is the owner of a large successful business or chain such as this, and works in one of their own facilities, would refuse tips (by a sign or communication of some other sort), or hopefully would redistribute the tips to his or her support staff. Many of these people work just to have something to do and be personally involved with their business. Other owner/workers actually need to work to be able make money since relying on the take-in of fellow employees (if there even are any) is not enough to sustain the business and/or owner. If you didn't tip anyone who made more money than you, there would be a lot of tipping that was eliminated since either the "tipper" had a very low income (yet was still using a service that included tipping) or the receiver of the tip makes good money in his or her profession. Ask a valet at the "Grand Floridian Resort" in Disney World what he or she makes. (It's in the 6 figures).

[rudysf@mac.com]

I rent my station at a medium to high end salon in San Francisco. Our position as renters is not much greater than commissioned stylist (those who are on the salon payroll). Out of my service fees, I pay an assistant $12.00 an hour, I pay "all" my own taxes including Social Security. As renters, we are not elligible for any insurance benefits offered by the salon so we must cover our own medical. We also pay for all our products color, perms, etc. Most of us usually have an accountant to make sure we are paying our fair share of taxes and that they are processed acurately. Need I say more? Sure we make out a little better than most stylists. Most of us enjoy the freedom that being self employed provides. Just as much, I appreciate the generosity shown by all my clients when they "tip me". In return, whenever I am provided "good" service I always tip generously.

[Justawoman]

I get charged 12 dollars for my haircut. I always give Melita a 20 and tell her to keep the difference. I think it is worth to have a haircut like I want it cut.

[jamesglewisf]

Thanks for the info, rudysf. This is the most common question I get. I got one via email earlier this week about tipping the owner of a salon. What's your opinion on the proper etiquette of tipping a salon owner?

[rudysf@mac.com]

Why would one choose to in a sense, penalize the owner of a salon for being more driven to grow and be succesful. I owned and operated a highly succesful salon in Arizona before moving to San Francisco but I will use the owner of the salon I now work in as an example. A single woman (divored) and mother of one child. This young woman took her life savings and made her dream come true. She wanted to provide for herself and employees a nice salon to work in and service clients. Salon owners work very hard (usually harder) to keep abreast with the latest styles and techniques. My salon owner bears the brunt of all that goes on in her salon and still provides her clients with some of the best service and work I have ever seen. I would proudly tip her if she was my hairstylist.

Of course, the owner of the salon is subject to meeting the same criteria as any other hair stylist. Quality of work, professionalism, etc.

I say tip accordingly.

[jamesglewisf]

Thanks. That's what I've been telling people.

[JacMac]

hi...I'm new...I found the site when looking for percentages on what to tip a hairstylist. I waitress so I know how important tipping is and I consider myself a darn good tipper when the tip is called for. However, I just can't help but ask....waitresses make $2.64 an hour before tips. We truly need those to survive....Hairstylists are salaried at what? $25,000-$35,000 a year possibly? yet the average tip for both professions is 15-20%? I am not trying to be stingy, and I don't want to come across that way, but truthfully, to get a wash, cut, color, yadda yadda...and have $120 in services added up - and in that same price bracket, I've run around, getting drinks, timing food, adhering to "special requests", carrying large trays of food, and keeping 6-10 tables happy at the same time making $2 an hour. I just don't see, I guess, how these even out to the amount of work done and the amount of money made prior to tips. I'm sorry if this is offensive to anyone....I'm just baffled.

[jaimegerise]

Boy, am I glad I don't have to worry about any of this...I've cut, colored and styled my own hair since I was 12!

[jamesglewisf]

I think you are missing some details. A self-employed stylist that takes home 100% of their fees has the following expenses:

• Rent
• Products (chemicals)
• Salary of shampoo girls
• Equipment purchases (The scissors they use cost a minimum of $150)
• Equipment repair and sharpening ($25 for sharpening)
• They have to pay for their own insurance.
• They have to pay for their own retirement plan.
• If they are sick or on vacation, they don't get paid.
• No-shows - they lose the time slot and don't get paid.
• Since they are self-employed, they pay all of the social security taxes.

After all of that, they take home about 50%.

For the people who don't own their space, they take home about 80% of the fee and have lots of the same expenses above. I think most of them are not salaried.

I think the average income is about $22,000 a year for hairstylists, hairdressers, and cosmetologists.

[Grimey]

I found this:

In Montana, the median wage for hairstylists and cosmetologists is $1,447 per month ($8.35 per hour). Half earn between $1,215 and $1,907 per month ($7.01 and $11.00 per hour). Cosmetologists in Montana state government earn between $2,340 and $2,945 per month ($13.50 and $16.99 per hour). Wages may include tips.

MSA wages are as follows:

Yellowstone County MSA $1,487 per month ($8.58 per hour). Half earn between $1,210 and $2,245 per month ($6.98 and $12.95 per hour).
Cascade County MSA $1,365 per month ($7.87 per hour). Half earn between $1,111 and $1,728 per month ($6.41 and $9.97 per hour).
Missoula County MSA $1,537 per month ($8.87 per hour). Half earn between $1,269 and $2,060 per month ($7.32 and $11.89 per hour).

Wages vary with hours worked, clientele, tips, shop location and size, and ability to attract regular customers. Earnings are often based on commissions and tips, or are a combination of hourly wages, commissions, and tips. Commissions are usually from 50 to 70 percent of the customer's fee for the services.

Nationally, the median wage for hairstylists and cosmetologists is $1,580 per month ($9.12 per hour). Half of all the hairstylists and cosmetologists earn between $1,250 and $2,130 per month ($7.22 and $12.31 per hour).

Pay varies by the hairstylist's experience and the range of services they provide. The number of customers they attract and hold also affects wages. In addition, pay varies by how much customers tip. Some hairstylists and cosmetologists receive a portion of money from the products they sell. In some salons, employees are paid bonuses for bringing in new clients.

Some salons offer benefits for full-time employees. These may include sick leave, paid vacation, and medical insurance. However, many hairstylists and cosmetologists are self-employed or work part time. These workers must provide their own benefits.

http://mcis.dli.state.mt.us/licocc_display.asp?id=1094