How Salon Owners Can Unlock Hidden Profit with Back Bar Tracking

Running a salon isn’t just about creating gorgeous hair, it’s about running a profitable business. We sat down with Jason Everett, owner of High Performance Salon Academy (HPSA), to talk about the secret to turning overlooked areas of your salon into real profit.

The Hidden Profit in Your Back Bar

Jason has one mission: to elevate the salon industry by helping owners increase their bottom line. He explains that most salon owners, around 93%, either break even or lose money. That’s where tools like SalonScale come in. By accurately tracking color usage and other back bar items, salons can stop absorbing costs and start making money.

“It’s not about being a greedy profit-seeker,” Jason says. “A business owner should make a profit, just like an employee expects a paycheck. If you’re not, you’re basically working for free.”

This idea of “profitable back bar” or “transparent pricing” might sound intimidating at first. Many salon owners resist change, worried it will be complicated or affect their relationships with clients. But Jason points out that resistance is often just a fear of the unknown. Once owners implement the system correctly, the results can be transformational.

Resistance Is Normal, And Overcoming It Pays Off

Jason shares stories of salon owners who were hesitant to mark up back bar items. Some tried half-measures, like only tracking waste, or undercharging for products. The result? They continued old habits and left money on the table.

Once they adopted proper back bar tracking, they saw immediate results: $3,000, $10,000, or even $50,000 in additional monthly profit. “That’s how it should be,” Jason says. “You should have that kind of good results from the tools you’re using in your salon.”

And it’s not just about money. Many salons use the extra profit to benefit their team, offering perks like covering credit card fees, additional vacation time, or even 401(k) contributions. “The goal is to reward people for doing it right,” Jason explains. “You want your team motivated, not overworking for nothing.”

Tracking, Marking Up, and Paying Commission

Many salons implement Parts + Labor systems but forget to integrate commissions or perks for stylists. Jason emphasizes the importance of aligning incentives: if you mark up products, consider giving the team a cut, or using the profit to fund benefits that make their work easier and more rewarding.

Even simple changes, like absorbing credit card fees through back bar profit, can have a huge impact. It’s a creative use of perks and it’s net-positive for both the salon and the team.

Change Is Hard, but Worth It

Implementing SalonScale or profitable back bar tracking is a major shift. It affects how stylists mix color, how inventory is tracked, and how teams are paid. But, the results speak for themselves. Owners who embrace the change see measurable increases in profit and team satisfaction, making the effort more than worth it.

“Change is hard,” Jason admits. “But once you get over the fear, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.”

Key Takeaways for Salon Owners:

• Most salons lose money by not tracking back bar products properly.
  
  
• Proper markup and tracking can generate thousands in additional monthly profit.
  
  
• Incentivize your team, commissions, perks, or benefits to increase engagement.
  
  
• Change is hard, but tools like SalonScale make it manageable and measurable.
  
  
• Customize your system, one approach doesn’t fit all salons.
  
  

If you’re ready to stop leaving money on the table, consider adopting a profitable back bar system. It’’s a roadmap to smarter pricing, better team incentives, and a healthier bottom line. 

Book a demo today and see how it can work for your salon!