Earn Your Leisure Podcast

Episode: Barbering to 50 Rents a Month: How Jay Majors Turned Two Barbershops Into a Million-Dollar Empire

Date: November 21, 2025
Hosts: Rashad Bilal & Troy Millings
Guest: Jay Majors

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights Jay Majors, a self-made entrepreneur who evolved from a barber with a troubled past into the owner of a million-dollar barbering empire. Jay shares his personal transformation, business strategies, and insights into scaling barbershops, launching the world's largest barber expo, and building wealth through micro real estate and consulting. Throughout, the conversation uncovers critical lessons for barbers and entrepreneurs alike, emphasizing community impact, ownership, financial literacy, and diversity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jay Majors’ Origin Story & Barbering as a Lifeline (06:01–10:27)

• Background: Jay grew up with little, became entangled with the law from age 14, and served time in jail. Barbering, initially “pretend” (06:04), became his path to redemption.
  • Quote: “I made pretend I was a barber because I was already like doing my own edge ups... I should have went back to jail for the haircuts I was giving. Bro, I was misdemeanor hairlines back.” – Jay Majors (06:04)
• Self-taught Craft: He honed his skills during incarceration, using improvised tools, sharing how time and dedication led him to mastery.
• Epiphany: Decided to “treat this barbering just like I treated the streets, and I’m gonna go full throttle with it.” (08:28)

2. From the Streets to Business – Climbing the Ladder (10:27–14:41)

• Harnessing Relationships: Jay’s clients, such as realtors and loan officers, became mentors, helping him secure loans and understand credit.
  • Quote: “I’m not self-made. My clients…opened so many doors for me.” – Jay Majors (10:27)
• Barbershop as Community Nexus: The shop functioned as an information hub and networking space, with barbers as trusted community members.

3. Ownership, Diversity & Scaling Up (14:41–20:50)

• Entrepreneurial Expansion: After getting support from a real estate developer, Jay opened his first shop in a diverse strip mall, embracing multiculturalism as a business and community strength.
  • Quote: “The beauty about my shop—it was like the United Nations...diversity is key.” (13:07)
• Business Mentality: Jay’s strategy was pragmatic: “I’m such a businessman that I want everyone’s money.” (15:13)
• The Shift in Prices: Barbers historically undercharged, but modern professionalism, technology, and branding have raised rates and expectations (16:07–17:22).

4. Impact of Technology on Barbering (17:36–19:06)

• Appointment-Driven Model: Apps like Squire have streamlined scheduling, increasing efficiency and professionalism, enabling better time management and client experience.
  • Quote: “Technology has definitely changed that...you can have it scheduled and put more people on that regimen.” (17:36)

5. The Salon (Barber) Suite Business Model (19:19–31:43)

• Transition to Suites: Learning the vulnerabilities of traditional rental models, Jay leveraged ownership by buying buildings and dividing them into rentable suites for barbers.

  • Quote: “I don’t believe you own the barber shop unless you own the building...if you have a landlord...they can raise the rent.” (19:19)

• Real Estate Play: Purchased buildings with apartments above and suites below; apartments cover the mortgage, suites generate profit (23:59–28:25).

  • Model Details: Two buildings, 50+ rents (suites and apartments), rents ranging from $300-525/week per suite (27:35).

• Suite System: Barbers can lease fully equipped or empty suites, design their own spaces, and finance equipment through Majors’ network (25:30–27:07).

• Business Ecosystem: Pipeline from Majors’ barber school to shop to suite to ownership, fostering generation after generation of barbers and entrepreneurs.

6. Wealth-Building & Financial Literacy (41:09–46:52)

• Educational Focus: At his expos and in his shops, Majors urges barbers to focus on retirement planning, asset ownership, and diversifying income, noting that many barbers “retire broke” despite earning well.
  • Quote: “Barbers as a whole make a lot of cash but retire broke...At my seminars I’ve been focusing more on building wealth, 401k, Roth IRAs, real estate.” (41:09)
• Tax & Business Structuring: Advocates for LLCs, correct tax strategies, and structured credit to enable barbers to buy property and build wealth.
  • Quote: “Get that LLC…unless you’re paying $60,000 a year nowadays, banks don’t even look at you to buy a property.” (44:15)

7. The Connecticut Barber Expo – The World’s Largest (34:01–40:43)

• Genesis of the Expo: Began as a small group event in a nightclub, grew to 10,800+ attendees, now at Mohegan Sun Casino.
• Community & Industry Impact: More than a trade show—it’s a networking hub, competition space, and learning platform for financial, entrepreneurial, and technical education.
  • Quote: “I just kept growing...energy in that room and the doors that were opening…made it big.” (39:59)
• Barbering as Leadership: Jay has supported thousands in opening shops via his mentorship and ecosystem, reflecting a legacy-focused approach.

8. Consulting, Partnerships, & Seven Streams of Income (49:02–54:31)

• Consulting: Jay consults for industry giants like Conair/Babyliss and Squire, leveraging his dual perspective as a barber and entrepreneur.
  • Quote: “I’m a barber, originally, but I’m a barber entrepreneur...If you have a product line, I could help you pump it because I know what barbers are looking for.” (49:02)
• Multiple Income Streams: Real estate, expos, consulting, equipment leasing, and education make up his portfolio (“seven streams”), a model for other barbers to follow.

9. Legacy, Growth, and Advice for Barbers & Entrepreneurs (54:53–62:48)

• Portfolio: Owns 11 properties, stresses importance of “earning your leisure” and setting up the next generation financially.
• International Expansion: Speaks and teaches globally, with upcoming events in Africa and a broad vision for industry impact (56:56).
• Essential Equipment: Emphasizes being prepared for any client or scenario, regardless of gear brand, but highlights that “if you have the technique, you have the technique.” (59:35)
• Mastery: True master barbers must be able to cut all hair types (62:44).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Giving Back:
  "There’s nothing worse when I see ‘self-made’ in a barber’s Instagram bio, because like, without our clients, we ain’t nothing." – Jay Majors (63:15)
• On Owning the Real Estate:
  “Apartments paid a mortgage. Everything else is profit. You know… They’re not building more land.” – Jay Majors (31:31)
• On the Value of Community:
  “The real celebrity client is that father that brings his son in every single week.” – Jay Majors (63:15)
• On Personal Growth:
  “I wanted to change the narrative—I didn’t let a lot of that stuff go on in my shop ... I don’t want my place to be an atmosphere for breeding that type of negativity.” – Jay Majors (33:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jay’s Backstory: Turning to Barbering (06:01–08:46)
• Building Client Trust, Networking (10:27–12:24)
• Scaling & Multicultural Barbershops (13:07–15:13)
• Salon Suites Real Estate Model (19:19–28:29)
• Salon Suite Financials & Logistics (27:07–29:41)
• Barber Expo Origins & Impact (34:01–41:09)
• Financial Literacy for Barbers (41:09–46:52)
• Advice on Marketing, Clientele (47:17–48:57)
• Consulting for Industry Brands (49:02–51:16)
• Portfolio & Life Lessons for the Next Generation (54:53–56:44)
• Tools of the Trade & Barbershop Culture (59:35–62:48)

Conclusion

Jay Majors' trajectory from a troubled youth to an industry godfather exemplifies the power of self-education, relentless hustle, community building, and strategic ownership. This episode delivers a treasure trove of practical lessons on entrepreneurship, financial discipline, networking, and vision—essential for aspiring barbers, business owners, and anyone interested in building a legacy from the ground up.

Connect:

• Instagram: @jay_majors
• Connecticut Barber Expo: June 5–8, Mohegan Sun

(Note: All timestamps are in MM:SS format. Conversation has been streamlined for clarity; some sections condense continuous discussion threads.)