154: Staff Wages Are Out of Control… How Do I Fix It

Staff wages feel out of control right now… but the real problem usually isn’t what you think. In this episode, Jason breaks down how to actually look at payroll the right way before making reactive decisions that can hurt your team, your culture, and your business long term. Because cutting wages isn’t a strategy. Understanding your numbers is. He walks through: • What should actually be included in your “staff wages” category • What healthy wage percentages look like today (and why the old benchmarks don’t always apply anymore) • The difference between a wage problem and a production problem • How to evaluate efficiency across your admin team, assistants, and hygiene department • The key ratios and metrics you should be tracking (and what they’re really telling you) • Why most practices jump to the wrong solution first, especially when it comes to marketing This isn’t about slashing payroll or blaming your team. It’s about asking better questions, pulling the right levers, and making smarter decisions so your business can stay profitable without sacrificing performance or culture. If you’ve ever looked at your P&L and thought “this number feels off… now what?” this episode is your starting point.