Helping HANDS

Discover how a mentor could transform your nail business, as REBECCA HITCHON quizzes coaches on their offerings

Part 1

If you’re struggling with an aspect of your nail business: from marketing to managing money and your mindset, support isn’t far away. Business mentors are gaining traction, so let’s investigate the value of their coaching. Learn about industry programmes on offer, as well as the people behind them and the advantages of high-quality mentorship.

ZAARA KING

Founder of The Beauty Build community & Scratch columnist

/zaaraking.coach @zaaraking

The importance of mentorship “Mentoring helps you achieve your goals, build confidence, avoid mistakes and implement profitable actions. A mentor offers clarity: they can spot your strengths, weaknesses and blind spots.”

Mentoring journey “I established my beauty business in 2011, managing it alongside a clothing company, sales career, being a mother and network marketing. People asked me how I did it all. I found myself mentoring naturally, and love helping women find balance while they build their businesses. My obsession with personal development led me to gain coaching and NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) certificates in 2021.”

Business offerings “My mentoring is profit and energy-driven, and tailored to each pro. I combine mindset and identity work with strategy and business management support. There are a range of ways to work with me, including one-to-one calls, group coaching and my membership.”

Target audience “My mentoring suits women who are ready to grow, with a fire in their bellies and open minds. It’s ideal for self-employed solopreneurs, who want more income without having to work longer hours.”

Cost “I offer different entry points based on a client’s circumstances. My one-to-one containers start at £247, while higher tier, long-term one-to-one mentorship costs up to £3,497. My membership offers ongoing support and community at a lower monthly cost. Use code SCRATCH to access 50% off your first month of membership.”

What makes a good business mentor? “Someone who wants to create something bigger than themselves, and who is genuinely passionate about helping people. They should be able to adapt to different learning styles and be empathetic.”

HANNAH CLAYTON

Manicurist, Scratch online columnist & three-time Scratch

Stars Awards finalist www.studiobyhannahbeth.com /HannahBethNails @studiobyhannahbeth

The importance of mentorship “A mentor saves you years of staying stagnant and making mistakes that set you back. They will have worked through business struggles and can offer advice.”

Mentoring journey “I never planned to be a mentor; it grew from building an online business membership. After 10 years in the nail industry, I had a loyal client base and business that gave me pure joy, but saw so many techs feeling stuck, overwhelmed or ready to give up. I started sharing advice online and realised people needed more than tips; they needed someone who understands.”

Business offerings “My mentoring is real, relatable and tailored. I blend strategy with mindset, and work from the basics up: on topics such as attracting clients, letting customers go that don’t bring joy, building systems, pricing properly and creating a business that will keep growing. I also offer workshops, an online membership and one-to-one coaching calls.”

Target audience “My mentoring is for professionals who love what they do, but feel stuck. Maybe they’re fully booked but exhausted, or quiet but not sure how to find clients. Perhaps they’re ready to step into education but need direction. My clients are driven people who want to grow without losing themselves or their free time.”

Cost “My one-to-one mentoring runs in three and six-month programmes, starting from £450 per month. I also offer single coaching calls and my membership, which is ideal if you want guidance and accountability without a big commitment.”

What makes a good business mentor? “Someone who’s built their business from the ground up and understands the industry. They should be honest, kind and able to push you and keep you accountable.”

RICHARD MCCABE

The ‘Lifestyle Salon Coach’ lifestylesaloncoach.org/vsl-genius /LifestyleSalonCoach @lifestyle_salon_coach

The importance of mentorship “The right mentor will hold up a mirror to your business and help you see what’s working and what’s not. They will focus on growth, which helps you find success faster. A mentor gives you the blueprint, shortcuts and systems to succeed.”

Mentoring journey “I was a hairdresser for over 25 years and owned salons in the UK and Australia. I was working 60-hour weeks, but noticed that even busy salons weren’t making huge profits. So, I went in search of how businesses other than salons made money and started to implement these strategies. My salons became more profitable, and I began helping fellow business owners. At first, this was just a helping hand, but the fire in my belly to support salons burned bright. Eight years ago, I sold my businesses and committed to full-time mentoring.”

Business offerings “I combine traditional coaching with the latest in AI, automation and delegation. I coach salons to increase their revenue by 30% in 12 months: 10% from the use of smart marketing, 10% based on an improvement in client retention and 10% on mastering the client journey and upselling, to increase average spend.

“What makes my mentoring unique is SAAMM: my Salon AI Automation Management Machine. I created software to give salon owners more time and money, without them having to undertake training. SAAM runs in the background, automating tasks like client follow-ups, review requests, bookings and promotions.”

Target audience “I work best with salons that have an employed team, as they tend to have foundations in place. If you’re struggling to retain staff, fill appointments or scale your income without burning out, Lifestyle Salon Coach is for you.”

Cost “Programmes range from £300 to £650 per month. The goal is always a 30% revenue increase in 12 months, and we measure that progress together.”

What makes a good business mentor? “Someone with industry experience, who gets joy from seeing others win and gives truth with kindness. A good mentor challenges you to be better, not just busier.”

“A mentor is like a torch on a dimly lit pathway. You know where you want to go, but it’s a lot easier to navigate with a torch!”

PENNY ETHERIDGE

Creative business consultant www.pennyetheridge.co.uk

@petheridgeconsultancy

The importance of mentorship

“A mentor is like a torch on a dimly lit pathway. You know where you want to go, but it’s a lot easier to navigate with a torch!”

Mentoring journey “I entered the hair and beauty industry after leaving school. When I was 27, I opened my first salon, and after six years I made the decision to engage with a business coach. This allowed me to expand to four salon premises and reach a turnover of £2 million per year. In 2003, I decided to sell my business and develop my coaching and consultancy.”

Business offerings “My mentoring is mainly conducted face-to-face, but I do deliver coaching via Zoom. I visit salons and work with their teams, helping them implement systems to achieve financial and creative goals as individuals and collectively. I also work with independent professionals in small groups and on a one-to-one basis.”

Target audience “Anyone who seeks a personalised, bespoke and private mentorship collaboration.”

Cost “For individuals who wish to develop a freelance business, my mentoring starts at £150 per month. In-person mentoring in London starts at £250, and in-salon coaching starts at £500.”

What makes a good business mentor? “Someone who has worn the T-shirt, dug the earth and as my dear dad would say, ‘got mud on [their] boots’.”

KATIE GODFREY

Entrepreneur, author & podcaster www.kgbusinessmentor.com

/katiegodfreybusinessmentor

@kg_katiegodfrey

The importance of mentorship

“A mentor helps you avoid mistakes and fast-tracks your progress. It is invaluable to receive support from someone that truly understands your situation and holds you accountable.”

Mentoring journey

“I started mentoring 10 years ago. I was working in my two salons day-to-day, then fell pregnant as a single mum. I thought, ‘how am I going to do this when I’m the busiest on the salon floor and the main earner?’. So, I created a system that allowed me to hand my clients over and focus on the business. Doing this helped me build a chain of salons, while travelling the world. Other salon owners wanted to know how I did it, so I started mentoring.”

Business offerings

“I’m a qualified life coach and business strategist, with 16 years’ experience running salons and training academies. To achieve long-term results, I focus on developing every aspect of a client’s business. My approach is personalised, and I offer masterminds, events and global retreats, as well as an accredited manager programme and pricing app called Salon Success Manager. I’ve also created the KG AI Mentor, which provides business guidance 24/7.”

Target audience

“I work with a diverse mix of clients, from solo, home-based nail artists who dream of growing their incomes, to salon owners ready to create more balance. I also mentor clients who want to step into the coaching space, guiding them to create their own programmes.”

Cost

“I offer a range of products and services to suit all budgets, from my app starting at £27 per month to higher-level investments like masterminds.”

What makes a good business mentor?

“Someone who has achieved success and truly understands what you’re going through. A great mentor is an excellent listener, and is able to communicate with different personalities and adapt to various learning styles.”

“A good mentor finds the line between being supportive and empathetic, while pushing you out of your comfort zone and taking you to new heights.”

ALEXANDRA TAVERNER

ADHD UK ambassador & founder of The Clubhouse hub www.alexandrabeautyexpert.com

/alexandrabeautyexpert

@alexandra.beautyexpert

The importance of mentorship

“A mentor can save you years of trial and error. They challenge, guide and cheer you on, helping you play to your strengths, develop key skills and ideas, and stay focused. Beauty professionals may possess amazing hands-on skills, but little business know-how. A mentor can fill that gap, teaching you the mindset, structure and confidence needed to succeed.”

“I run The Clubhouse, a networking hub for creative women in business. It’s a supportive online space full of tutorials, guides and resources to help manage the challenges of running a business with a busy mind. My coaching focuses on developing strategies and goals for the individual, and I also support clients through the UK Government’s Access to Work scheme.”

Mentoring journey

“I’ve been in the beauty industry for 25 years, and after 15 years as an educator, mentoring felt like a natural next step. Lately, I’ve focused on supporting neurodiverse professionals to work in ways that suit them. Our industry is full of creative, brilliant minds, and helping them reach their full potential is what drives me.”

Business offerings

“I mainly mentor ADHD and neurodiverse female business owners. Being diagnosed with ADHD later in life opened my eyes to the number of neurodiverse professionals in our industry and the support that is needed.

Target audience

“My mentoring is ideal for busy female business owners, especially those who are neurodiverse or have idea-filled minds. I help them organise ideas, create phased plans and focus on key areas for growth. Each session blends business skills, confidence-building and mindset work.”

Cost

“The Clubhouse membership costs £9 per month, and I offer flexible one-to-one mentoring options from £150. These include one-off ‘booster’ sessions, tailored coaching programmes and Access to Work support.”

What makes a good business mentor?

“Someone who is approachable and can relate to your struggles, while challenging, inspiring and supporting growth in a way that suits you. The best mentors help you find confidence, clarity and a strategy to move forward.”

LIZ MCKEON

Salon business expert, author & speaker www.lizmckeon.com

/liz.mckeon.9

@lizmckeonbizliz

The importance of mentorship

“If you want to be successful in business, you must invest in yourself. A mentor has one aim: to help you achieve your goals as strategically and effectively as possible. Running a business can be lonely and scary, and a mentor protects you, keeps you on track and helps you be the best version of yourself.”

Mentoring journey

“I have managed a health club, salon, spas and a skincare centre, but when I encountered difficult business challenges, I couldn’t find someone with industry understanding to support. One day, my skincare business development manager said, ‘I wish you would teach everybody else to do what you do’. I discovered my calling when I trained as a business coach.”

Business offerings

“I have worked with over 5,000 business, and never encountered an issue that I don’t have experience solving. I provide one-to-one mentoring on-site and online, business owner retreats and mystery client audits. I have a unique ability to see how much money a business can generate.”

Target audience

“My mentoring is for anybody starting a new business, or established businesses wanting to improve operations and expand. My clients range from single operators to chains and large multi-national companies.”

Cost

“I offer something for every budget and time commitment. Whatever a client pays me, I strive for them to make this back and more.”

What makes a good business mentor?

“A good mentor finds the line between being supportive and empathetic, while pushing you out of your comfort zone and taking you to new heights.”

RYAN & HOLLIE POWER

Founders of Salonology www.salonology.uk

/ryan.power.1213 & /hollie.gordon.9 & /SalonologyUK

@itsryanpower & @holliefromsalonology & @salonologyuk

The importance of mentorship

“Business is a lonely space, so having someone to listen and bounce ideas off is priceless – and even more so when they’ve been where you want to go. Without guidance, you may make mistakes, which can cost you money and time.”

Mentoring journey

“Mentoring seemed like a natural progression that plays to our individual and combined strengths. We’ve grown multiple businesses of our own, and believed others would benefit from learning how to build businesses that provide profit and freedom.”

Business offerings

“All our offerings are group programmes, as we believe that a group environment encourages faster growth and is more financially accessible. We’ve been able to impact thousands of entrepreneurs over the last decade.”

Target audience

“We help people who don’t know how to push their businesses to the next level. Maybe they want to take home more money, or enjoy more freedom.”

Cost

“Investment starts from £67 per month for our most affordable offering, and reaches several thousand pounds per year for our most exclusive memberships.”

What makes a good business mentor?

“Someone who listens, understands and finds solutions. They’ve been where you are, offer a different perspective and lift you far higher than you could manage on your own.”

“Beauty professionals may possess amazing hands-on skills, but little business know-how. A mentor can fill that gap, teaching you the mindset, structure and confidence needed to succeed.”