You've been thinking about it for a while. Maybe a year. Maybe longer. The booth rent grind is wearing thin, and you keep hearing about stylists who left for private suites and never looked back. Here's how to actually do it — without panicking, without burning bridges, and without losing momentum.

Step 1 — Audit your client base before anything else

Open your booking platform. Look at the last six months. Count two numbers: how many clients book ahead, and how many of those are repeat clients. If the answer is roughly 70% or higher, your base is portable. You can move and bring them with you.

If the number is lower, don't panic — but slow down. Spend three to six months tightening retention before you sign a lease. The move is harder when you're still relying on walk-ins.

Step 2 — Run the real numbers (not the headline ones)

Most stylists wildly overestimate suite rent and underestimate booth rent. Sit down with your last three months of pay stubs or settlements. Calculate what percentage of your gross is actually leaving your pocket — not just the line item called "rent" or "commission."

Now compare to a private suite. A $300/week suite is $1,300/month. If you're booking $5,000–$8,000/month in services, that's a small fraction of your gross — and you keep all of it. The math almost always works.

Step 3 — Tour at least three suites

Don't sign with the first one you visit. Tour at least three. What you're comparing isn't price — it's experience. The shared spaces (hallways, bathrooms, water station, parking) say more about how your clients will feel than the suite itself does.

When you walk in, ask yourself: would a high-end client feel comfortable here? If yes, you're in the right building. If you flinch even slightly, keep looking.

Step 4 — Negotiate the lease, don't just sign it

Most salon suite operators expect some negotiation. Things to ask about:

  • Free weeks at the start of your lease (we offer three at My Place)
  • Customization allowance for paint, signage, decor
  • Referral bonuses for bringing other tenants
  • Length flexibility (one-year is standard but month-to-month options sometimes exist)
  • What's included in utilities (electric, water, internet — make sure all three are covered)

Step 5 — Move with intention, not panic

Don't disappear from your old salon. Tell your clients with at least three weeks' notice. Update your booking platform's location. Post on Instagram. Ask the new building if they'll do a tenant-spotlight reel for your move (we do — it brings clients in fast).

Most stylists are operational at their new suite within seven to fourteen days of signing. Plan for two weeks of slightly lighter bookings while clients adjust to the new location. By month three, you'll usually be busier than you were before.

The move feels huge. Six months later, it'll feel like the smallest big decision you ever made.

If you're considering Henderson, Nevada, we'd love to show you around. Three weeks free with a signed lease, and a marketing team that helps you announce your move. Book a tour here.