The Power of Office Hours: Why Every Stylist Needs Weekly Admin Time

When I first went independent, I thought success meant maximizing every hour behind the chair. More clients = more money, right? But I quickly learned that running a sustainable, profitable salon business requires something many stylists overlook: dedicated office hours.

Here's the truth: you can't build a thriving business if you're always reactive, scrambling between clients, ordering color at the last minute, or trying to remember which client you needed to call back three days ago.

What Are Office Hours?

Office hours are sacred blocks of time—away from the chair—where you focus solely on the business side of your work. For me, that's a 3-4 hour block every Monday or Tuesday morning. For you, it might be an hour on Sunday evening or two hours on Wednesday. The key is consistency and protection—this time is non-negotiable.

What I Accomplish During My Office Hours

Every week, I use this time to:

• Review my schedule for the week and make any necessary adjustments
• Contact clients who need pre-appointment consultations or follow-ups
• Handle bookkeeping in QuickBooks—keeping my finances current, not chaotic
• Write and send thank you cards to new clients (this personal touch makes such a difference!)
• Order supplies for the week—whether that's placing online orders or making a Cosmoprof/Salon Centric run
• Check inventory so I'm never caught without the products I need
• Review my budget to ensure I can pay myself properly and cover business expenses
• Work through my running checklist of tasks that pile up during service days

These aren't glamorous tasks, but they're the backbone of a professional, organized business.

Why This Matters

Without dedicated office hours, you're constantly playing catch-up. You're texting clients between appointments, realizing mid-foil that you're out of toner, or lying awake at night trying to remember what you forgot to do.

Office hours give you clarity, control, and peace of mind. They allow you to:

• Show up fully present for your clients instead of mentally juggling admin tasks
• Avoid the burnout that comes from never "leaving" work
• Run your business proactively instead of reactively
• Create systems that support your growth
• Maintain the professional standards that keep clients coming back

Start Small, Stay Consistent

If a 3-4 hour block feels overwhelming, start with one hour. What matters most is that you protect this time and use it intentionally. Put it in your calendar. Treat it like a client appointment—because it is. You're serving your business, which ultimately serves your clients better.

Your business deserves this attention. You deserve the breathing room. And your clients will feel the difference when they're working with a stylist who has their act together.

What does your weekly admin routine look like? I'd love to hear what works for you!