SOS Small Business Success for Salons & Spas Owners

Hosted by Bonnie Bonadeo

Business

Website RSS feed

Episodes

146

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

“The SOS Small Business Success Podcast helps salon and spa owners navigate the waves of leadership, growth, and strategy. Hosted by industry coach Bonnie Bonadeo, each episode delivers practical tools, inspiring stories, and proven systems to keep your business sailing smoothly toward success.”

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 2, 2026Episode 1521 hr 17 min

SOS & BLL Beauty the Burnout Blues

Reset Yourself. Reset Your Leadership. Reset YourBusiness. Burnout in the beauty industry isn’t just about workingtoo many hours—it’s the pressure of leading people, serving clients, managing operations, growing the business, and feeling responsible for everything in between. In this special SOS Small Biz Success episode,originally presented as a live webinar, Bonnie Bonadeo, Nikki Le and Brigette Sobus tackle burnout from three different perspectives: the self, the leader and the business. Discover the leadership pressures affecting owners, sixindustry conditions contributing to burnout, the two leading causes that may be keeping you stuck, and practical ways to start changing them. Because the answer to burnout isn’t simply doing less—it may be learning something new and learning how to carry less. Find out more about Beauty Leadership Lab Here ( www.beautyleadershiplab.com )

August 13, 2026Episode 15124 min

EP 151 SOS -Leader-Ship

No Captain Reaches the Destination Alone... In this episode of the SOS Small Business Success Podcast, we take leadership to the water with a powerful lesson from two ships that didn’t sink because the captain lacked skill, but because the right tools were missing, distractions took over, and preparation wasn’t enough to prevent disaster. Bonnie connects those lessons to her own journey aboard Better Days with Jeff, where even with planning, preparation, and experience, unexpected challenges still showed up. The same is true in salon ownership. You can know how to run the business, but without the right leadership tools, trained support, and a crew that understands the destination, growth becomes harder than it needs to be. Check out these tools and programs to ensure smooth sailing in your leadership journey. Heart and Edge Webinar Ultimate Leaders Certification Course The Beauty Leadership Lab

May 20, 2026Episode 15016 min

SOS Navigate the Numbers

What Small Business Stats Are Really Telling Us About the Course Ahead “On the water, numbers matter. Wind speed. depth. fuel. distance. direction. You don’t sail by hope. You sail by reading the conditions. Business is the same. The stats aren’t there to scare us; they’re there to help us lead smarter.” Today's episode is a stat attack on some numbers I learned at the Data Driven Conference about small businesses and our salon industry. Listen now, you will want to know these numbers.

May 6, 2026Episode 14849 min

SOS ALERT- 92% of Beauty Schools Will Close

The future of our industry is on the line—this is your call to lead, not watch. This is not just another industry conversation—this is a moment that could redefine the future of beauty education as we know it. In this urgent SOS Alert episode, Bonnie Bonadeo sits down with Shelly Gitthens, Academy of Hair Design, Heather Sinclair-Hello Gorgeous Barber College, and Leah Longest-Shawnee Beauty College to break down a proposed bill that could eliminate funding for—putting up to92% of beauty schools at risk of closing. These leaders share firsthand insight into how heavily schools rely on federal financial aid and why flawed Department of Education metrics could devastate not only schools but the entire pipeline of future professionals. But this conversation goes far beyond the classroom. The ripple effect affects salon owners, workforce development, small-business growth, and even public safety standards across the industry. With timelines tightening and a critical May 20th deadline approaching, this episode outlines exactly what’s at stake—and more importantly, what must be done. From submitting public comments to contacting legislators and unifying the industry voice, this is a call to action for every salon, spa, wellness leader, and licensed professional. The question is no longer “What’s happening?”—it’s “What are you going to do about it?” Listen now and take action here. MYAACS/ORG/SUBMIT-YOUR-COMMENT/

April 22, 2026Episode 14826 min

EP 148 -SOS Captain the Strategy Not Just the Ship

Defining Ownership from Leadership for Maximum Growth. Ownership and leadership are not the same skill set—and confusing the two is where most businesses get stuck. In this episode, we break down why strategy must come first, and how your ability to communicate that strategy determines whether your team executes… or drifts. Because it’s not enough to run the ship—you have to captain the direction, align the crew, and lead with clarity. Listen Now... and Download your Free One-Page Plan or Purchase the Salon Success Blueprint for $99 and Receive 2 free Strategy Sessions with me!

April 9, 2026Episode 14716 min

Sea of AI Sameness

Are you Navigating or Drifting? Everything is starting to sound the same—AI, marketing, leadership advice. But what if that’s not the problem? In this episode, I challenge you to look deeper at the message, what it’s promising, and how to use it to become more efficient, more effective, and a stronger leader through better strategy and communication. Join me for my monthly Introduction to Heart and Edge Leadership Master Class or find out what kind of leader you are today. SOS Leader Quiz

March 25, 2026Episode 14210 min

SOS-You're Not Selling Services. You're Selling the Voyage.

“Most salon owners think they’re in the service business… but you’re not. You’re in the experience business. PEOPLE to PEOPLE, and right now, most of you are letting your clients drift instead of leading the journey.” “You’re Not Selling Services… You’re Selling the Voyage” What if your business isn’t a service… but a voyage? In this episode, I break down the Experience Economy and how today’s clients are no longer buying what you do—they’re buying how you make them feel. Whether you’re behind the chair or at the helm of your business, your role is to design an experience worth coming back for. Because without a clear captain, even the most beautiful boat just drifts.

March 11, 2026Episode 14520 min

SOS! Are your Really the Captain of Your Ship?

Why most business owners stay stuck as technicians. Many salon owners think they’re the captain of their business—but are they really? In this episode, Bonnie Bonadeo explores the core lesson from The E-Myth and why great technicians often struggle as business owners. Learn the difference between crew, first mate, and captain—and what true leadership looks like behind the chair and beyond. Join me Every 1 and 3rd Wednesday at 10:00 am EST for the SOS (salon owner solutions) Virtual Roundtable- Live FB Page or email me at bonnie@bonniebonadeo.com for a direct Zoom link. Join me each month for the Introduction of Heart and Edge Leadership... go here to search dates

February 19, 2026Episode 14429 min

EP 144-Can't Call Them Crew if They're are not W2

The Missclassification Confusion in our Industry. In “Can’t Call Them Crew If They’re Not W2,” Bonnie Bonadeo and CPA April McDaniel break down worker misclassification in the salon industry, explaining the legal differences between W-2 employees, 1099 independent contractors, and booth renters. They cover IRS control factors, payroll tax risks, and the impact of improper classification on salon owners and stylists. This episode is essential listening for beauty business owners who want to stay compliant, avoid costly penalties, and build a sustainable employee-based salon model.Watch this session on YouTube.

February 19, 2026Episode 14358 min

Ep 143 SOS Navigating the New Tip Tax Laws

Plus, your 2026 Blueprint for Success. CPA April McDaniel and industry leader Bonnie Bonadeo unpack the new 2025 tip tax deduction, employer FICA tax credits, IRS reporting rules, and what beauty businesses need to know now. This session combines tax clarity with strategic leadership planning for a stronger 2026. Watch this session on YouTube Purchase your 2026 Salon Success Blueprint here