Stylist Turns Tips Into Her Dream Car 

When stylist Bailey began working at her local Great Clips® salon in Wisconsin last year, one of the programs she learned about was the salon’s electronic tip payment system. Through the system, tips from customers who pay with a credit or debit card are loaded onto a personal VISA card account for the stylist. Charged tips are loaded to the stylist’s account after the daily closing process is complete, and they are available right away. 

“When I learned about the electronic tip program, I thought it was going to be really convenient,” Bailey said. “Getting all of my card tips loaded to a VISA card would streamline things and I also wouldn’t have to worry about carrying around a lot of cash.” 

“New stylists love the tip card program,” said Carrie Langan, the franchisee who owns and operates the salon where Bailey works. “They can use the card directly as a debit card or transfer the money to a savings or checking account. Previously, when stylists got all their tips as cash, they were more likely to spend it freely on impulse purchases and they also may not have really recognized the sum total. But when their tip card is funded at the close of the day, they get a text message telling them how much they made in charged tips. The reporting helps them see that they are earning a lot in tips. It’s significant money that really adds up when used wisely.” 

“The more I checked my tip card reports, the more I could see how the funds were growing,” Bailey said. As she thought about the possibilities for that money, Bailey decided she would save up for her dream vehicle. “I never had the funds for a big purchase like that before I started working at my Great Clips® salon,” Bailey said. “But with the tip card program, I realized I could afford it.” 

Bailey saved more than $16,000 in charged tips and was able to purchase her dream car by making a sizeable down payment. “The tip card is such a great way to truly see how much you make in tips and to save for different things,” Bailey said. “Of course, it doesn’t have to be for big purchases; it’s great for things like groceries and paying bills, too.” 

According to Carrie, many of her other stylists use the tip card funds as annual vacation money. “The stylists who save diligently are able to treat their families to a dream vacation once a year, such as a cruise or a trip to Disneyland — something they otherwise would not be able to do,” she said.  

“I’m going to continue to transfer money from my tip card to my savings account so I can save up for a house,” Bailey said. “This just makes me want to keep working harder to reach my goals.” 

If you’re interested in working for a Great Clips® salon, we invite you to search for openings near you.  

Please note: The electronic tip payment system referenced in this article is an optional program available to Great Clips® franchisees in the US who choose to participate. Not all Great Clips® salons participate in the electronic tip payment system, and it is not available to franchisees in Canada. 

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ALL GREAT CLIPS© SALONS ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED BY THIRD PARTY FRANCHISEES. FRANCHISEES, NOT GREAT CLIPS, INC., ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL HIRING AND PERSONNEL MATTERS AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL SALON.