Client Spotlight: Isaac Crawford  

Isaac Crawford is a ray of sunshine who went after his dreams and came out on top when he started his own hair salon. He has been in the hair industry for almost 15 years and has serviced hundreds of clients in Chicago. An inspiration to entrepreneurs, we are excited to share his story as we spotlight another wonderful client. Let’s take a moment to get to know Isaac better, and you can learn more about his salon.  

How did you get started in cosmetology?  

I officially started doing hair in a salon in 2007. I’m originally from a small town in Missouri, and sadly there weren’t a lot of ways to be creative in that area. I felt like doing hair would help me to explore that part of me. I remember thinking that doing hair was going to be “so easy,” so I went to the beauty school near my house. I was definitely not prepared for how much work it was going to take! On my first day, we talked about bone structure and facial muscles and different types of anatomy – not what I expected at hair school! But I loved that it challenged me, and it brought out my creative and technical abilities. After I finished school and built up my career and experience, I decided to pack up everything and head to Chicago. Now I’ve been doing hair in Chicago for nine years!  

Tell us a bit more about your salon! 

One of my goals early on in my career was to own my own salon. I previously managed a salon, so I felt that I had the upper hand in knowing exactly what it takes to run a salon, so I went for it! One thing about my salon is that it’s actually inspired by my grandparents. They were my biggest supporters, and they told me, “If you’re going to do it, you need to do it the best you can.” With that inspiration, I opened my salon on March 1st of this year. We’ve got 6 stylists, including myself, and two amazing front desk people. What I believe sets my salon apart is amongst our team, we collectively have over 60 years of experience. Plus, I have worked with these same team for eight years – they followed me to open this salon! I owe all of the salon’s success to the team.  

What surprised you about becoming a business owner? 

Coming from a small town, you feel a glass ceiling that tells you that you can’t do something, and it limits your potential. Just because I came from a small town doesn’t mean I have to think small! But I remember Googling “how to make a business plan” because I had no idea how to open my own business; I only knew how to run a business as a manager. But I learned that you truly can do anything you put your mind to; if you put positive pressure on yourself, you can do anything.  

What have you learned about finances as a business owner? 

One of the biggest things I learned even before I owned a business is the true value of the dollar. Daliah has told me that I run a very “slim” business, which I think means that I’m just extra careful about what I spend my money on! I saved my own money for years and years in order to open my own salon. I was able to do this without having to take any loans, which is huge! I also have this mentality of “my staff eats first,” so I am willing to slim down my own income at times in order to make sure my employees are well taken care of and they have everything they need. Having Daliah behind me and keeping me informed on where I’m at with my spending and where I can go with my spending has made finances one of the easiest parts of my business! 

How has Fritz Financial Solutions helped your business? 

I definitely want to give a shout-out to Daliah! One of the most important things I have done for my business is to have her behind me. She keeps me in line and takes so much of the financial stress off my shoulders. The things that she and her staff do behind the scenes help me so much because I then don’t have to worry or think twice about any of the numbers. She was actually a referral from one of my clients, and she is hands down the best decision I’ve made for my business. 

If you are a business owner looking for a smart and passionate team to provide insightful financial services to your company, contact Fritz Financial Solutions today. Our team of professionals will ensure you have the business insights you need to make informed decisions and are ready to take on any challenge.