Every business owner knows one of their biggest challenges is finding great people and getting them to stay. But for Ygnacio “Nacho” Montez—a Great Clips franchisee with 28 salons in the Sacramento, California and Spokane, Oregon markets—the turning point came when he realized he was focused on the wrong approach.
“Recruiting isn’t just about hiring the best stylists,” Nacho told us. “And retention isn’t just about getting them to stay. It’s about helping them thrive.”
That mindset shift—from “recruiting and retention” to “recruiting and development”—has transformed the way Nacho runs his beauty salon franchise business. And the results speak for themselves.
From staffing shortages to a scalable system
When Nacho stepped into ownership of multiple walk-in hair salon franchise locations in 2022, several of them were understaffed. His priority was hiring. That meant investing in job boards, refreshing postings every two weeks, and creating a clear, consistent experience from application to first day.
The payoff? In just 14 months, his team across 14 Sacramento salons grew from 63 to 120 employees.
But even with more people on the schedule, something was missing. “We realized we were hiring great people, but we weren’t equipping them to succeed—so they left,” Nacho said. “That’s when everything changed.”
Why development drives retention
Nacho shifted his focus to building a development-first culture.
New stylists now receive a structured onboarding experience that includes both technical and customer-service training. More experienced stylists move through an accelerated path to sharpen their skills and grow in confidence.
Nacho didn’t stop with stylists. Managers were coached to step into leadership roles through targeted workshops covering 24 key business areas—everything from scheduling and staffing to team culture and communication.
One year later, turnover had been cut in half.
Culture isn’t a buzzword—it’s a strategy
“People stay because of the culture,” Nacho said. “If you ask our stylists why they’re here, they’ll talk about the pride they feel in helping customers. They love being part of something that matters.”
That sense of belonging is what ties it all together. Training and structure matter—but so does how people feel day to day.
“There’s no silver bullet,” Nacho added. “It’s about doing a lot of little things right, every time.”
Tools that work—if you use them
Nacho’s advice to someone looking to invest in a franchise business is to make sure your franchisor has the tools to help you start and grow your business—and then use them!
“The opportunity is there,” said Nacho. “The challenge—and the reward—is in putting them to work.”
If you’re esearching top franchises to own in today’s market, Nacho’s story offers a valuable glimpse into what’s possible. Great Clips continues to be one of the top-rated franchises because it provides a proven model, operational support, and a clear focus on people development.
Want to know more? Give me a call! I’d love to talk with you.
Beth Nilssen
Director of Franchise Development | Great Clips, Inc. 800-947-1143 | franchise@greatclips.com
Learn more about how Great Clips supports franchisees with hiring, training, and team development. Check out the Great Clips training programs and explore how the system helps build a salon culture that sticks.
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