Hi,

My sister owns a hair salon and is wondering if she could charge her commission-based hair stylists for the supplies they use for their own hair in the salon and also their client's hair for example: color, foils, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

They don't rent their chairs, they get 50-60% commission. She said that all of the other salons in the area charge 7-10% off their gross pay check at the end of the pay week, but she had a stylist say she was going to call the labor board on her because she wasn't allowed to do that. Are hair salon owners allowed to charge their hairdressers something for supplies used if they're commission based? She's located in Connecticut.

Thanks in advance for your help.

How are prices set for the service, If the product is part of the service cost, and the salon gets all the money for the service and then merely pays the workers a commission, then the salon is using all the products ( except for that of personal use)

If an employee uses items for personal use, that can be charged.
** think of a worker at McDonald having to pay for their own Big Mac.
* they don't get it free.

But the cook at McDonald does not have to pay for the hamber meat they use.

If she merely rented the space, then she could charge for the products they took.

Thank you for responding to my question.

To answer your question about how prices are set.. . The stylists are commission based. Most of the stylists get 50% commission, some get 60%. Each stylist sets their own prices for the services they perform. So say a service is $100. The stylist gets $50 and the salon gets $50. So you're saying that the salon has to pay for all of the supplies the stylist uses for that $100 service: color, foils, shampoos, hairsprays, gels, etc. out of the $50 the salon gets? How is the salon supposed to make any money that way? :( Out of curiosity, are you a stylist or salon owner?

Thanks again for your help.

Well I am a salon owner and that is an interesting question. I had not thought about that before. I am thinking about going to commission from rental right now. The reason is that I will make a lot more money from each stylist. The most I could charge for rent would be $700. Per month.
If I could make 50% on all the stylist services instead I would be very happy considering that my best day ever I made $700. I have friends who pull $800 and more on a good day. I use to work for a man in a San Francisco Color department he made on average $200. Per hour. I wouldn't be too worried about $20.-$40. In product cost I think that is a small price to pay. When staff is bringing in that much dough for your establishment. She should work on Helping them make more money instead through marketing the salon and giving them encouragement, maybe rais the cost of color services etc. Please understand I am not saying stylists are an easy bunch to manage they can really be a big pain. Your sister needs to make sure product is not being wasted as well.