What’s Holding Your Beauty Business Back?

Elaine Truesdale
May 5
3 min read

Five Things I See Every Day—and How You Can Fix Them by Elaine Truesdale

As the Executive Director of ANHC PRO and the founder of Truesdale and Associates, I get to work with incredibly talented stylists, salon owners, and product creators. But over and over again, I see beauty businesses that should be thriving hit the same roadblocks. Many want to believe the problem is a lack of time or funding, but often, the issue is that a few business fundamentals need to be put in place first—before additional funding or team building can make a meaningful impact.

In our recent ANHC PRO Business Mastery Series, I walked through five of the most common issues that slow down beauty businesses—and how to fix them with the tools and resources you already have.

If anything in this blog sounds like you, I’m offering a free Discovery Call to help you get unstuck. You can schedule your free session at www.truesdaleandassociates.com. We’ll talk through where you are and where you want to go, and I’ll follow up with a written action plan you can start using right away.

1. Your Clients Aren’t Rebooking—or Buying Again

Telling a client, “See you next time,” is not a strategy. If you’re not giving them a clear next step—when to come back, what to buy next, how long their product will last—you're leaving money and trust on the table.

What to do: Build a consistent follow-up process. At minimum, reach out the day after their visit, halfway to their next appointment, and again when it’s time to return. Don’t just remind them—guide them. Show them what to do next based on their service history or past purchases.

2. You’re Doing Everything Manually

This is the one that burns people out. If you're still sending appointment reminders, checking stock, or confirming orders by hand—things will start slipping through the cracks.

What to do: Automate your bookings, confirmations, client messages, and even your social media. I recommend using what you already have—Wix, Square, Vagaro, or Facebook Business Suite are great starting points. Reserve your energy for the personal touches that actually need you.

3. Your Online Presence Looks Good—but Doesn’t Convert

Beautiful posts and websites don’t mean anything if they don’t get people to book, buy, or show up. A lot of what I see online is stunning—but it’s missing a clear call to action.

What to do: Make sure your website and social media clearly say what you offer, who it’s for, and what to do next. Speak directly to your clients’ pain points and tell them how to take the next step with you. Bonus tip: if you run a local salon, make sure your content is reaching people in your area—not just getting likes from other cities.

4. You Don’t Have a Growth Plan

This is big. You might want to raise your prices, add memberships, or expand—but if you’re just reacting to the day-to-day, you’re not going to get there. Growth doesn’t happen by accident.

What to do: Set goals. Track the numbers that matter. Create a simple plan that spells out what you're aiming for, how you’ll get there, and what needs to happen at each step. Not sure where to start? I help clients build those plans every day—and I’d love to help you, too.

5. You’re Trying to Do It All Alone

Listen, I get it. Being a solopreneur feels like you have to wear all the hats—but that doesn’t mean you should. You don’t have to do it alone. You shouldn’t.

What to do: Whether it’s building your team, outsourcing specific tasks, or working with a consultant, the help you need is out there—and often way more affordable than you think. Even if it’s just getting support to plan things out, it can make all the difference.

Real Talk on Funding

Miki Wright joined us for the Q&A and shared some eye-opening insights about how unstructured finances are blocking beauty pros from getting funded. If you’re not separating your business income, or your money is spread across five apps, lenders can’t see what you’re actually doing. That’s fixable—and it starts with one business bank account and a basic tracking system.

Let’s Fix It—Together

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s talk. During a free Discovery Call, I’ll listen to what’s really going on in your business, help you identify your next moves, and follow up with a personalized action plan you can use right away. No pressure—just real support and clarity.

📍 Schedule your free session at: www.truesdaleandassociates.com