Why is it that we — yes “we,” as in the embarrassing majority of the people who work in our industry — think that it’s reasonable to expect a break on rent if we’re only going to work part time?

I own my own salon. I have a lease with the building owners. They don’t give a rat’s behind if I work 168 hours a week or if I work six hours a week— they expect the same amount of rent every month.

The bank that holds our mortgage doesn’t care if we take a three-month vacation — they expect our mortgage payment to be made in full, on time, whether we live in our house full time or not.

So why do people constantly try to negotiate with salon owners for “part time” booth rent?

Is your stuff going to occupy that station when you aren’t working? Well then, welcome to the whole concept of rent.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of salon owners out there who are willing to make deals on part-time booth rent.

The whole thing makes my head spin, actually. Just one of those bizarre hypocrisies that seem to be totally common in our world.

Frankly, I don’t understand how “booth rent” and “independent contracting” manages to spark such heated debate — I don’t understand why there’s such rampant misunderstanding of the terminology. I don’t understand why so many people use the terms interchangeably. And I don’t understand why salon owners who offer booth rental are expected not to make a profit on the rent?

Seriously? So you managed to find out what a salon owner pays in rent and then you think if that salon has four stations that the booth rent should only be one quarter of the owner’s rent on the whole salon? Seriously?!

And even worse is how many salon owners are doing the same math in their heads.

Man, do we suck at capitalism. That is, until we become the owner. Then all of a sudden we’re figuring if we rent 1,000 square feet for $1,000 a month and have eight stations and the average booth rent in town is $100 a week... WOW!... we’ll make $3,500 a month!

Never mind the failure to take into account expenses above and beyond rent like utilities, insurance, and common area supplies like toilet paper... by the time your renters realize you’re profiting off of their space rent and talk you into a break because they only want to work three days a week....

Yeesh. This is why I work alone. Good thing this came up today, I was just starting to consider a roommate.