Meet the client: Maddi Cook, Founder of Boss Your Salon

In our popular ‘Meet the Client’ interview series, we share the stories behind the businesses we support. In this latest edition, we spoke with Maddi Cook, Founder of Boss Your Salon, a coaching platform created to help salon owners build and grow successful businesses.

What does your business do?

‘We support salon owners with all aspects of running a business, from pricing to sales and marketing. More recently, I’ve been helping people to launch their own online education services if they want to take a step away from behind the chair and scale their income beyond one-to-one client work.’

What inspired you to start the business?

‘Boss Your Salon came about almost by accident,’ Maddi explains. ‘I received a leaflet one day about some local business coaching events nearby. Naturally, I signed up, went along, and my mind was blown! I thought, ‘How am I running a successful business yet know so little about the business side of things?’ That moment sparked my curiosity, and I started listening to business podcasts, reading books, and taking courses. I quickly realised a lot of content out there was dull, overly complicated, and full of jargon.’

‘Salon owners needed things explained in a way that is clear, practical and easy to apply. I realised I had a knack for translating complex business practices down into something more accessible for people who think like me.’

By sharing the business expertise she had learned, Maddi became a well-known figure within the hair and beauty industry.

‘People would tag me in social media posts whenever someone needed business advice. I kept answering the same questions, so I started a Facebook group that turned into a thriving community with thousands of members. Off the back of this success, I set up Boss Your Salon.’

How has the business grown?

‘At the start, the business was quite scrappy in that I didn’t really have a niche or a ‘thing’. But when the pandemic hit, I started noticing a common concern in my industry and other communities: pricing. People kept asking, ‘How much do I charge?’ ‘How much are others charging for their services?’  It struck me as an odd approach. Why base your pricing on what competitors are doing rather than on a real business strategy? It was then I realised that’s what the entire industry does, and it’s even taught in colleges. It felt like a case of the blind leading the blind.’

‘To help, I decided to create a pricing calculator. As we emerged from lockdown, many found it incredibly useful. A lot had changed; salon owners had to account for PPE costs and could no longer see multiple clients at once due to health and safety legislation.’

Since starting Boss Your Salon, Maddi has supported over 25,000 business owners in the hair and beauty industry.

‘We’ve helped our clients generate more than £100m in extra profit for our industry, which has been a pleasure. There’s a lot of really hard-working people in our industry who have creative flair but otherwise might have struggled in business,’ Maddi shares. ‘After the success of the pricing calculator, the next big question from clients was, ‘I’m making money now, but how do I attract more clients?’ That led us to develop and package courses to help business owners overcome these challenges.’

What challenges has Boss Your Salon faced along the way?

‘A great educator or coach teaches students about their mistakes and their successes, and I have plenty of stories about what I got wrong in my salon business,’ says Maddi. ‘I started with no business knowledge – my pricing was terrible, and I hired staff without any leadership skills. Each day brings a new challenge, but that doesn’t stop me – one day, it will all make a great chapter in a memoir.’

What advice would you give to other founders?

‘The most successful people I know are those with the right resources. Don’t fall into the trap of only hiring extra staff once you’re ‘just starting to make money.’ Many of my peers hit an income ceiling in a business that shouldn’t have one, simply because they’re doing everything themselves, either to save money or because they don’t think they can afford to invest. My first hire was my online business manager (OBM), and she’s been my right hand ever since.’

‘I have a network of professionals who support me across all areas of the business – Harper James for legal matters, as well as coaches, mentors, and business consultants. Reading contracts isn’t my strength – that’s Harper James’ job. Backend automation? That’s where my OBM comes in. Social media management? That’s my virtual assistant’s role. My job is to focus on where I can have the biggest impact.’

‘The reason the business has been so successful is that it’s well-resourced, with experts handling each area. I understand the fear of spending money and how hiring can feel more like an expense than an investment. But bringing the right people on board frees up time and capacity – both of which are invaluable. As founders, we have to use our time wisely. If you’re wearing every hat, it’s exhausting – so much so that you risk burning out and not showing up at all.’

What made you choose to work with us?

‘After being recommended a lawyer who wasn’t quite the right fit for us, I did a Google search and came across Harper James. What really stood out to me was the strong presence of women in senior positions within the firm,’ Maddi shares. ‘The transparent pricing and ability to advise on many different areas of law are something I truly appreciate. From past experience with other law firms, I know that hidden costs can sometimes creep in, but with Harper James, everything is clear from the outset’.

Since becoming a client on our Enable subscription plan, our Head of Intellectual Property, Jill Bainbridge and the trade mark team have helped Maddi and Boss Your Salon develop their brand protection strategy.

‘We’re currently undergoing a full rebrand,’ says Maddi. ‘As part of this, we’re bringing our Boss Your Salon and Course Creator Club programmes under one umbrella brand. Jill and the trade mark team have done a great job advising us on how we can protect our brand both here in the UK and the US.’

‘I appreciate how Jill took the time to truly understand the business. She didn’t just offer general legal advice; she did her research and asked the right questions. It didn’t take long before we saw Jill not just as our lawyer, but as a valued partner in our business.’

‘In terms of future plans, I’d love to say that once the rebrand is done, I’ll take a step back and enjoy the success – but I know myself too well! There will always be something new on the horizon.’