As a barber, the simplest answer is that they cut hair. You may want more information. The progression will be based on my own experiences.
First, a barber must complete their education with some expenses. There is usually no guarantee of employment or income.
Teaching is a faith-based job - where you believe in your barber student. You hope that your skills will increase and make you a more desirable employee. Although that is true for most schools, the hope is that barbering skills will be more marketable.
A person's second job is their first, which usually comes at a low rate of pay due to their lack of experience.
Different shops offer different compensation methods and levels. Shops may offer low hourly wages and allow barbers to keep tips. Some shops pay barbers a percentage of the income they make through their work.
This can range from 30% to 80% for a very low salary barber, to 80% for a more high-paying barber.
Most barbershops rent a booth rental every week. The barber pays a set amount each week to the shop owner; fees can vary widely. The barber pays rent and manages their own money in the first case.
A barber may also open a shop to make money, after all expenses have been paid.
Barbers who own a shop can also sell products. This is an additional source of income that goes beyond cutting hair. The sale of the product is not a source of significant income in rural areas.
Shop owners can rent out space to other barbers and expand their one-person shop.
They pay either booth rent or percentage. Although this can be lucrative, the owner may lose customers to the new barbers. The source of income will change, but it is not always a significant increase in income. With more barbers, expenses also rise.
The biggest obstacle to shop owners becoming "rich tycoons" is the fact that they must rent their help for long periods of time.
Every barber has an idea of what they make for the shop. You won't be able to outsmart an intelligent, highly skilled barber if they don't know their costs.
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