Boost Your Beauty Business: 13 Essential Reads for Salon Owners Using the TimeTailor Salon Software

Running a salon in the Digital Age means more than just perfecting the latest trends. It’s about mastering the beauty business from behind the counter!

The most successful salon owners know that great customer experiences, smart marketing, an established online presence, and efficient booking systems keep chairs full and clients loyal.

Here are 13 must-read books that every salon owner should have on their shelf. Each one offers lessons you can put into practice immediately, especially when paired with the TimeTailor salon software:

1. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

This is a must-read for every small business owner who’s ever felt overwhelmed by daily operations. You should think of your salon as a scalable brand, and Gerber explains how to shift from working in your business to working on your business, creating structures, strategies, and top client experiences. A salon management software like TimeTailor helps you automate the systems Gerber talks about, so you can focus all your attention on growth.

2. Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated. Miller teaches how to simplify your message so customers instantly understand why they need your services. Your website and social media can tell a story where your client is the hero and you are the guide. Using a salon software that supports online booking and marketing tools makes it easier to bring that story to life.

3. The Psychology of Selling by Brian Tracy

Tracy breaks down the mindset behind successful sales, understanding client needs, building trust, and providing solutions that actually work. Upselling isn’t pushy when it’s personal, and a salon booking software with a digital salon menu makes all the difference.

4. Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh

Written by the late CEO of Zappos, this book shows how exceptional customer service and company culture drive long-term success. Your salon’s energy matters just as much as your services. From friendly reminders to loyalty rewards, salon management tools can help you create a consistent experience that makes every client feel seen and valued.

5. Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy

Known as the Father of Advertising, Ogilvy shares timeless principles on persuasive marketing, branding, and storytelling. Every post, email, and ad your salon puts out should make people feel something. Ogilvy’s advice on honesty, creativity, and understanding your audience can help you craft a strong brand image that can be brought to life by the TimeTailor salon website builder.

6. Marketing Management by Philip Kotler

Kotler is considered the world’s leading expert on modern marketing. His book provides a deep dive into customer needs, market positioning, and brand differentiation. Your salon isn’t competing only on price or style, but perception. Use these insights to define what makes your salon unique and communicate it consistently across all channels.

7. Atomic Habits by James Clear

This book is all about creating small, sustainable habits that lead to big results in business, leadership, and productivity. Especially at the beginning, building better daily routines for you and your team sets the tone for how the business will perform over time. By using a digital solution like the TimeTailor salon management system, you’ll make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

8. Love + Work: How to Find What You Love, Love What You Do, and Do It for the Rest of Your Life by Marcus Buckingham

Buckingham dives into why burnout happens, especially for small business owners, and how reconnecting with the parts of your work you love can reignite passion and purpose. As a salon owner, it’s easy to get buried under admin tasks and lose touch with the creative spark that inspired you to start in the first place. Buckingham’s book reminds you to focus on what truly matters!

9. Getting Along: How to Deal with Anyone (Even Difficult People) by Amy Gallo

Gallo offers practical strategies for managing challenging relationships at work with empathy, confidence, and professionalism. Every salon owner deals with tricky situations, whether it’s demanding clients, miscommunication with stylists, or tension within the team. The book can help you handle difficult moments gracefully, while the TimeTailor salon appointment app keeps everyone’s schedules clear.

10. Financial Intelligence: A Manager’s Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean by Karen Berman, Joe Knight, and John Case

This book demystifies the financial side of running a business, explaining what key numbers actually mean and how to make better choices based on them. You can learn how to interpret profit margins, cash flows, and KPIs so you can spot trends early and make confident decisions. Most salon softwares today include dashboards that bring these concepts to life.

11. Profit First for Salons by Ronit Enos

Many salon owners work hard but still struggle to pay themselves consistently. Ronit Enos adapts the Profit First management system for salons, showing you how to organize your finances so you’re setting aside profit first instead of waiting to see what’s left at the end of the month. You can easily apply Enos’s principles and make every dollar count by using a salon booking system like TimeTailor.

12. The Salon Owners Bible by Simon Lotinga and Julie Eldrett

A practical guide to running a successful salon. Lotinga and Eldrett combine real-world experience with proven strategies for leadership, team management, client care, and financial performance. They focus on the systems, culture, and mindset every owner needs in order to create a thriving environment. Paired with an online salon booking system that handles scheduling, payments, and team management, these principles can help you build a strong foundation.

13. The Beauty Industry Survival Guide by Tina Alberino

Tina Alberino’s book is a must for anyone navigating the challenges of working in or running a salon. She pulls back the curtain on the business side of beauty, covering contracts, pricing, professionalism, and protecting your rights as a salon owner or stylist. It’s both practical and empowering, helping you understand the rules, avoid mistakes, and create a space that operates with integrity. Combined with the TimeTailor salon appointment software, Alberino’s advice ensures you’re building an ethical and profitable business.

Running a successful salon takes creativity, strategy, and the right digital tools. While these books offer insights and practical lessons you can start using today, a salon software like TimeTailor can put these ideas into practice, making daily routines easier to handle.

For more information, visit www.timetailor.com or reach out at contact@timetailor.com.