I used to think successful entrepreneurs were a certain type of person – someone with a business degree, a clear plan or deep pockets. And I certainly didn’t fit that profile.
But if there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that success doesn’t always come from following the rules. Sometimes, it’s about taking a leap, even when it may seem reckless. I took that gamble, and I’m so pleased to say I did.
Now, I’m known as The Funding Godmother, having built a seven-figure training business and helped secure more than £6million in funding for others in the beauty industry.
But it didn’t start that way. In fact, if we were to rewind three decades, I was 38, a mum of two, working for Avon and £75,000 in debt.
“I thought, ‘Why not me?’”
I grew up in Folkestone. My mum was poorly with MS, and this became too much for my dad, whose mental health suffered. He took his own life when I was just seven.
My grandparents looked after me and my sister, and they discouraged me from going into the beauty industry. After many jobs, including as a sales leader at Avon, I was desperate to create something of my own. But the thought of starting a business felt overwhelming.
I had enough to think about. There were bills to pay, and I, along with my husband Andy, was already carrying a mountain of debt. Then one day, the owner of my favourite nail salon told me she was selling up and exiting for £20,000.
I knew nothing about starting a beauty salon, and £20,000 might as well have been £200,000 with my finances. But something about it stuck with me. I thought, “Why not me?”
I didn’t let myself overthink it. I applied for a bank loan, got approved and handed over the money. In hindsight, it sounds wild – taking on more debt while already struggling.
But without friends and family funding, I didn’t know where else to turn. And sometimes, the boldest decisions are the ones that change everything.
“Andy retrained as a body piercer to help out”
The early days were chaos. Andy quit his job to join me. He even retrained as a body piercer to bring in extra income, eventually becoming one of the best nail technicians we had. We worked ridiculous hours trying to turn the salon around.
I didn’t know anything about beauty treatments, but I knew how to meet customer needs and make them feel special. We focused on creating a warm, welcoming environment. People didn’t just come for the treatments — they came for banter and a sense of community.
Despite our best efforts, it wasn’t easy. Debt kept mounting and there were times when I thought we’d never make it. But the struggles forced me to think bigger.
I discovered government-funded training programmes, which were a game-changer. I realised I could use this money to grow the business and train staff. But more than that, I saw an opportunity to empower others.
This wasn’t just about running salons anymore – it was about helping others in the beauty industry get the skills and funding they needed to succeed. That shift in focus led to something bigger than I ever imagined.
From five salons, to nationwide training
By 2008, we had five salons, but I made the bold decision to pivot away from day-to-day salon management and focus entirely on training. I wanted to give back to an industry that had given me so much.
My first funding pitch to the local council was nerve-wracking. I felt like an imposter – just a mum from Folkestone with no formal business training. But I had a clear vision: to provide high-quality, accessible training for hair, nails and beauty professionals.
It worked. Over the next decade, I scaled the business, helping thousands of people gain qualifications and access funding. Today, we’re one of the leading training providers in the industry, with a seven-figure turnover.
I also put a debt management programme in place, and paid off ALL my loans. It felt incredible to finally be able to say I was debt free.
“You don’t need all the answers to get started”
If you’d told me back when I was drowning in debt that I’d one day clear it all and build a million-pound business, I wouldn’t have believed you. It wasn’t easy. I had to invest in business coaching, change my mindset, and learn to manage risks.
But through it all, I never lost sight of my purpose: to empower others. Today, I get to travel the world, spend time with my grandchildren, and work on something I am truly passionate about. Whether by funding or training, my mission is to help people realise their potential.
Taking the leap to buy that £20k salon on a whim was terrifying, but it was also the best decision I ever made. If you’re thinking about starting a business but feel like you don’t fit the typical entrepreneur profile, let me tell you this: you don’t need all the answers to get started.
You just need to believe in yourself, embrace the challenges, and take that first step. You never know where it might lead.
By Sarah Abel, CEO of TNB Skills Training
Sarah Abel is an award-winning, seven-figure serial entrepreneur, best-selling author and speaker with an extraordinary against-the-odds story. Sarah, a business strategist specialising in training, and the CEO of TNB Skills Training, a training academy that also secures government funding for other salons.
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