Luxury Salon Secures Future in St. Petersburg with SBA Loan

Salty Roots Salon of Pinellas County

Located in the heart of St. Petersburg, Leah LeSure’s salon, Salty Roots Salon, provides a luxurious yet laid-back atmosphere where clients can enjoy expert haircuts, vibrant color transformations, seamless extensions, and more. The salon’s reputation for personalized service and cutting-edge techniques has made it a go-to destination for those seeking both style and comfort.

“I’ve been a hair stylist for 16 years and decided to open up Salty Roots Salon about eight years ago. I just wanted to create a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere for likeminded stylists to work in, and that we can be a team and create a nice atmosphere,” she said.

When LeSure decided to take her business to the next level by acquiring a building, she turned to the Florida Business Development Corporation, where Anthony DiMauro, suggested that she meet with the Florida SBDC at USF for business guidance. She was then paired with business consultant Brad Mix, who helped her navigate the complexities of business planning and financial projections—crucial steps in securing a 504 Small Business Administration (SBA) loan.

“It started with Anthony DiMauro who was in the process of helping me get a loan to buy a building. He worked with the Florida Business Development Corporation. He led me to Brad with the Florida SBDC at USF, [who] went through all the financials to get me qualified for the loan and everything that we needed to do for the business side of things,” LeSure said.

The meticulous planning paid off. With a clear roadmap and detailed projections in hand, LeSure successfully obtained the SBA loan needed to purchase the dream property. This milestone not only provided a permanent home for Salty Roots Salon but also set the stage for future growth.

“We were able to obtain the loan and open the doors two months ago after being under construction for about eight months. We completely redid everything inside the space, inside and out. We hired three new hairstylists, so we only have one chair open now and all the girls are happy, and their clients are loving it and we’ve been just thriving,” LeSure expressed.

LeSure also mentioned how her dream has come true with the help of Mix and their business planning. “When we were writing the business plan, it’s almost like a dream board because I hadn’t even found a location yet and things that I wrote in there, like being in a good location, being on a corner with a sign, potentially at a streetlight, I feel like we manifested it in creating this location. That all worked out so perfectly so that was so great. And it all came true,” she said.

Today, Salty Roots Salon continues to thrive, offering an elevated experience to its clients and contributing to the vibrant St. Petersburg business community. Looking ahead, LeSure plans to continue working with the Florida SBDC at USF for strategic advice and support.

“I just want to keep Brad in my back pocket forever. He’s helped me with so much being able to look at the financials and marketing ideas, so I would love to continue to have that relationship. Possibly a new location in the future and just keep growing,” LeSure said.

To other small business owners seeking business guidance, LeSure offers this advice: “My advice to any small business owners working with the Florida SBDC at USF would be let them help you look into your business. No matter how long you’ve been in busy for, there’s always something that they can find to help you grow and to help you do better. There’s always more information that can help you grow as a business.”