How Michelle Golden Opened a Salon for $35K—and Built a Waitlist in 90 Days
Description
In this deeply inspiring episode, I’m joined by longtime Stylist Soul Tribe member and salon owner, Michelle Golden, for a powerful conversation about grit, growth, and building a beauty business with heart.
Michelle takes us behind the scenes of her journey—from being a shy, self-doubting booth renter to launching Salon Au in Ankeny, Iowa, with only $35K… and filling all five chairs within three months.
We go deep. Michelle opens up about:
- The childhood trauma that shaped her resilience
- What it really took to fund her salon (including a $10K client donation!)
- Why she refuses to operate like a traditional landlord-style booth rental owner
- Her unique “Golden Experience” brand philosophy
- The launch of her Golden Ticket marketing campaign inspired by Taylor Swift
- And how she’s leading with transparency, community, and pure gold-level service
Whether you're dreaming of salon ownership or reinventing your culture, this episode will light a fire in you.
📲 Connect with Michelle:
Instagram: @michellegoldenhairstylist
Salon: Salon Au, Ankeny, IA
Want to reach out or ask questions? Slide into her DMs—she’s an open book!
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Connect with Lisa Huff
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