Business at a fork in the road
Hi there! Hoping to get some advice from some other stylists about where my business is at. I want to start all of this saying I’m super grateful for my clients, how busy I am, and the people who want to sit in my chair!
I’m in a position where I’m losing clients due to lack of flexibility on my end. I work 4 days a week, 10 hour days, and book out 10 weeks for daytime appointments (first one now available is October 20th at 12pm) and weekend and evenings are out even further (first evening being November 24th) As of now any flexibility on my end if clients need to move things around comes from, last minute cancellation from other clients, or me double booking or coming in early or staying late. I try not to come in early or stay late as it creates a lot of resentment on my end.
When I tell my clients I can get you on a cancellation waitlist they usually will opt for that and then we book my next available just in case nothing opens up. That’s usually okay for one appointment and if they couldn’t get in earlier, they usually understand. But once that happens one or two times to them needing flexibility, and me not being able to offer it, they usually move on to another hairstylist who has more flexibility.
The other aspect to this, is that I really would like to not be so far booked out. I would love to be able to do spontaneous trips two or three months from now. But just feels impossible when my books are already filling for 3-4 months.
I know the most practical frame is to just raise my prices. The thing is, I feel like everyone is on a super delicate balance right now as consumers go. I don’t want to alienate clients who are good at keeping schedule by raising my prices, but at the same time I need to offer more flexibility. Also feels super scary to raise my prices in a time of such finical instability.
I did just move into a nicer bigger suite space so I do think the perceived value is there for me to raise my prices. I just want some other perspectives to make sure I’m not missing something that’s staring me in the face.
Thanks in advance!