Walk down any main street and you will likely see it. An empty storefront with a “For Lease” sign in the window. Six months earlier, that space might have been a salon filled with energy, clients, and stylists with big dreams. The reality of the beauty industry is harsh: 80% of salons close within their first 18 months. For every ribbon-cutting celebration, there are far too many quiet closures.
Yet hidden in the numbers is a different story. A small but powerful group of owners manage to beat the odds. They do more than survive. They thrive, expand, and inspire. The question is not whether salons can succeed. The question is what separates the ones that last from the ones that fade away.
For Abbie Brown and Rhysa Anderson, co-founders of Baddhare Alliance, the answer came through trial, error, resilience, and transformation. Their story began like many others, but what they built has grown into something much larger than a single successful salon. It has become a movement designed to help others change their own odds.
Starting with Passion, Confronting Reality
Abbie and Rhysa opened their salon with the same drive that fuels most beauty professionals. They loved the craft. They believed in creating beautiful results and giving clients an experience worth coming back for. Their vision was strong. What they lacked, like so many owners, was a full grasp of the business realities that sit behind the chair.
The early years brought more challenges than they expected. Staffing was inconsistent. Bills came due whether clients showed up or not. Seasons of high demand were followed by stretches where bookings slowed to a crawl. They poured themselves into the work but felt like they were running on fumes. At times, the future of the salon seemed uncertain.
Instead of walking away, they decided to learn what it really took to build a sustainable business. They sought out mentors. They studied the numbers. They built systems where there had been none. Slowly, the culture shifted. Slowly, the numbers began to turn in their favor. Over time, survival turned into growth.
Breaking the million-dollar revenue barrier three years in a row was not a matter of luck. It was the result of strategy, structure, and relentless determination. That success became the foundation for what would later become Baddhare Alliance.
Why So Many Salons Fail
Industry statistics explain why stories like theirs are rare. 60% of new salons never see their first anniversary. By the two-year mark, only 33% are still operating. At five years, the survival rate is back down to 20%.
The contradiction is that demand has never been higher. The global salon industry reached $122 billion in 2024. In the United States, consumers spend an average of $580 per person annually on salon services. There are more than 950,000 hair salon businesses across the country, and the market is still expanding. People want these services.
The challenge is not demand. The challenge is business fundamentals. The average salon brings in about $245,000 in revenue per year. On paper, that looks promising. But after expenses, the average profit is only $19,100. With margins as thin as 8.2%, there is no room for error. A few slow months, a poorly negotiated lease, or an unexpected staff change can push even a busy salon into the red.
Abbie and Rhysa know this reality firsthand, and they know what it takes to change it.
The Turning Points That Made the Difference
When they reflect on what shifted their business from fragile to thriving, five themes always rise to the top.
1. Financial discipline became their backbone
82% of salon closures can be traced back to poor financial management. Abbie and Rhysa learned how to manage cash flow with precision. They built reserves to protect against slow seasons. They started tracking key performance indicators to stay ahead of problems. Instead of reacting, they began leading with intention.
2. Location became a strategic choice
Too many owners fall in love with a beautiful space without asking if the numbers make sense. Abbie and Rhysa learned to view location through the lens of market demand. Who lives nearby? What do they want? What can they afford? They realized that success is not about finding the trendiest zip code. It is about aligning services with the right community.
3. Systems created consistency and freedom
In the beginning, daily operations felt like chaos. Without processes, every problem fell back on them. Once they built systems, the entire culture changed. Consistency improved. Team members knew what was expected. Clients experienced the same high standards every visit. Systems created structure, and structure created freedom.
4. People development turned into their greatest investment
High turnover can devastate a salon. When a stylist leaves, they often take their clients with them. Abbie and Rhysa confronted this by investing deeply in their team. They mentored, supported, and eventually built a management layer that could lead alongside them. This transformed their salon from a revolving door into a stable, thriving workplace.
5. Technology became an accelerator
In today’s market, convenience is non-negotiable. Clients expect online booking, digital payments, and quick communication. Salons that resist these shifts lose business to those who make life easier. By embracing technology, Abbie and Rhysa streamlined operations and gave themselves time back to focus on leadership and growth.
From One Salon to a Movement
Success did not stop with their own business. As their salon stabilized and grew, team members began turning to them for guidance on opening their own locations. What started as mentoring one stylist turned into mentoring many. That experience revealed a deeper calling.
They realized that the same tools and strategies that saved their salon could help others as well. Out of that realization, Baddhare Alliance was born.
What Baddhare Alliance Stands For
Baddhare Alliance is more than a consulting platform. It is a mission to help salon owners rewrite their stories. The goal is not just to keep doors open but to create businesses that thrive long term.
At the heart of the Alliance is a simple philosophy:
- Resilience is essential. Every challenge can either break you or shape you.
- Coaching accelerates growth. The right guidance shortens the path to success.
- Systems bring consistency. Structure creates the stability every team needs.
- Delegation builds leadership. Owners must step beyond the chair to lead effectively.
- Success multiplies when shared. Helping others grow strengthens your own foundation.
These values guide everything Abbie and Rhysa do.
The Bottom Line
The statistics are daunting, but they are not destiny. While 80% of salons may close in the first 18 months, Baddhare Alliance exists to prove that the other 20% can grow, thrive, and lead.
Abbie Brown and Rhysa Anderson turned their own near-failure into a story of resilience, growth, and success. Today, they are sharing that journey with others, equipping salon owners with the tools, systems, and strategies they need to create sustainable businesses.
Their message is clear. Survival is possible. Thriving is possible. With the right mindset, structure, and support, salon owners can defy the statistics and create a legacy of success.
