Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marleny Aguilar, Owner of The Color Collective, located in Houston, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

The Color Collective is a small salon that has been open for two years. We pride ourselves on providing an exceptional experience that starts with a thorough consultation and recommendations based on their needs and lifestyle. We are able to provide a range of hair color, cutting, and styling services. We are a color-focused salon specializing in anything from all-over basic color to hair color corrections and more.

I want our space to make clients feel confident in their hairstylist achieving their goals and leave feeling satisfied. Our clients range from young professionals and students to retirees. We offer a multitude of services that will cater to anyone. We recommend that all new guests schedule a complimentary consultation to ensure we are a good fit for them.

Tell us about yourself

After being a hairstylist for 12 years, I decided it was time to take the plunge and start living my dream. That included leaving the salon I'd been at for 9+ years and starting my own business. For a very long time, I shut down the idea of becoming a small business owner, but as I grew behind the chair and educated in the hair color world, I realized I was meant to do more.

For the last eight years of my career, I have really focused on mastering and refining my color theory and coloring techniques. I taught for two different color companies and worked a great deal in converting salons to new color lines and training new stylists as they started their journey behind the chair. Seeing them grow and develop their skills is so rewarding and motivating.

I want to continue growing my knowledge and sharing it with new stylists ready to jumpstart their careers. I'm working on building a small team of amazing hair colorists that train with me and learn everything I've learned in the last 14 years. I have BIG dreams for them.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a business owner, I think my biggest accomplishment has been being able to start a successful business while finding out I was pregnant with my first baby in the midst of it. The news of my pregnancy came two weeks after signing my lease and making the decision it was time to start a new chapter.

It has been an insane amount of work growing a business and raising a sweet baby boy. Juggling mom and business owner life has been a very adventurous, busy, and exhausting time. However, being two years into The Color Collective and wrangling a very busy 1.5-year old I couldn't imagine having these last two years look any different. Cheers to more years and more babies!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is always being on. I am always thinking about ways to improve my business, grow myself and plan for the future. As much as I love focusing on my business, it is also very important that I focus on my family and raising my sweet baby boy. Finding that balance and knowing when to turn on mom mode vs. work mode can be very challenging. I am figuring it out, and I know it'll all be worth it in the end, and everything I do is for my family!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Be ready to work really hard. Your business will become your life, and that is what you will constantly think about. Be ready to sacrifice time, money, sleep, and much more. It sounds scary, but it's also so much fun and rewarding when you start seeing the growth.
  2. Prioritize. Build a business plan, and don't get stuck focusing on things that don't matter. List things in order of importance and focus on doing them one at a time. You'll already have stress from owning a business; you don't need added stress about things that aren't going to propel you forward.
  3. Never stop educating yourself.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thecolorcollectivehtx.square.site/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecolorcollectivehtx
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecolorcollectivehtx/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.