As far as I’m concerned, the second you start asking if you should leave, you’ve already answered your own question. You can read this post if you want to systematically determine whether you’re making the right decision, but in my opinion, you should absolutely leave. As soon as you recognized you’re in a very unhappy work environment, you should have started making an exit strategy. Could it be worse somewhere else? Probably, but I don’t think “the devil you know” should ever stop you from trying to find greener pastures.

Booth rental can be tricky. I’ve written about why here.

As far as asking questions, please do! As a salon owner, I love it when professionals ask me questions about how and why we do things the way we do. (Largely because I can’t pass up an opportunity to brag about how great we are, lol.) It’s important to ask questions because you’re interviewing the salon owner, too. It’s not a one-way street. You have every right to ask and a rational owner will be happy you did. After all, it’s in both of your best interests to ensure you’re going to be happy working together, long-term. You don’t want to waste time working somewhere you’ll end up leaving in a few weeks or months when you could be building at the salon that suits you best. (Whether you decide to rent or seek employment, I recommend reading this post. It includes a bunch of questions for you to ask the salon owner and provides more practical advice for seeking the best salon for you.)

Good luck with everything!

You can legally rent a single space to as many professionals as you’d like, so long as each understands the arrangement. For instance, you’d want to clarify in your rental agreements with each tenant when the space will be available to them and when it will not. You’ll also need to clarify where they are to store their things and how the station is to be left after they’re done using it.

Renters are business owners. They’re completely in charge of their own marketing and advertising. Not only do they not have to use your colors, logo, or name, they should not. It should be clear that their business is a completely separate entity from yours.

Am a salon landlord and wondering what are the rules for a booth renter advertising with in my salon & social media? Do they need to used my logo, colors, name, etc?

Hi Marie! I recommend reading the following articles:

Know Your Rights
Independent Contractor Defined
The 20 Factor IRS Test

It sounds to me like you are misclassified, but you should read those articles and compare the information to your situation.

So long as the building is zoned for retail use, you can lease anywhere you like. Check with your state board and county zoning requirements. In my area, the building needs to be classified a certain way by the zoning board to be used for salon purposes. Most offices are approved for that purpose (at least here).