Tipping a Hair Stylist Who Operates Her Own Business

I tip the lady who cuts my hair who works out of her house. I think it's only fair but that's because I worked for several years where my income depended on tips so I'm pretty sensitive to the matter.

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I hope this advice isn't too late... :)

Traditionally, the business owner performing a service should not be given a tip. The business owner is making money off of all her/his employees (or in the case of a person working out of her basement, is keeping 100% of the profit.) The business owner is already pricing her services to cover her overhead and make a profit -- and does not rely on tips as income.

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A tip tells the person how satisfied you are with their service. It does not matter if they are the owner, that does not affect how you feel about your hair cut after she is done. You should tip no matter if it's the owner or employee and whether she is in her basement or not. Maybe that is why she is in her basement, waiting to make enough money to open up her own salon. You never know one's situation.

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My aunt runs a salon from her basement, and I never tip her. I do know a lot of her clients do each time, but I figured I am family and she charges me the same as everyone else - no family discount. She takes 100% of her profit, except supplies that she purchases.

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Hi Michelle,
I used to do hair out of my house and almost everyone always left me a tip (there was a handfull that did not) and it made me smile every time. It does cost a lot of money running your own business from home. Paying taxes, extra water and electricity are also being used so it's always nice for us to get a little extra in tips-A. ;-)

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