Clients aren't property. They choose professionals, not locations. Here's how to navigate client relationships ethically and legally.
<h2>The Client Relationship Question</h2><p>Who owns client relationships—you or your employer? The answer: neither. Clients own their own decisions.</p><h2>Legal Considerations</h2><h3>Non-Compete Agreements</h3><p>Some states enforce them, others don't. Even where enforceable, they typically only restrict:</p><ul><li>Working at competing salons within specific distance</li><li>Actively soliciting current clients</li><li>Taking proprietary client data</li></ul><p><strong>What they typically DON'T restrict:</strong></p><ul><li>Clients following you of their own choice</li><li>Announcing your new location on social media</li><li>Clients who find you through your portable professional profile</li></ul><h3>Check Your Agreement</h3><p>Read what you signed. Consult an employment attorney if unclear. Many non-competes are unenforceable or narrower than they appear.</p><h2>Ethical Considerations</h2><h3>What's Professional</h3><ul><li>Building relationships with YOUR clients</li><li>Maintaining your professional profile</li><li>Allowing clients to follow you</li><li>Announcing your new location publicly</li></ul><h3>What's Unprofessional</h3><ul><li>Stealing salon's client database</li><li>Secretly soliciting while still employed</li><li>Badmouthing your employer to clients</li><li>Violating legitimate contractual obligations</li></ul><h2>The Modern Reality</h2><p>Professional identity systems change this dynamic. When clients book with YOU through portable profiles, they're explicitly choosing you as their provider—not just choosing a salon.</p>