Bosses In Beauty vs. Esthetician Business Academy: Which Coaching Program Is Right for You?
Have questions about which program is right for you?
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Side by Side
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Bosses In Beauty | Esthetician Business Academy | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 | 2010+ |
| Founders | Raya Cunningham, Trae Cunningham | Maxine Drake |
| Founder Background | Built, scaled, and sold a 7-figure esthetics business 3x Exit | Esthetics business owner & coach |
| Best For | Estheticians ready to grow fast and build a team | Broad esthetics business development at any stage |
| Signature Programs | Solo 6-Figure Blueprint, Build Your 7-Figure Team | Esthetician Inner Circle, VIP Coaching |
| Program Format | Live 8-week cohorts + community | Membership + group coaching |
| Investment | $997 (Solo Program) / $4,000 (Team Program) | $149/month or $1,497/year (Inner Circle) |
| Ongoing Support | Private Facebook group, alumni & coaches active daily | Part of Inner Circle membership |
| Unique Differentiator | Only beauty coaching company co-founded by people who sold for a multiple | Decade-plus track record, large alumni network |
What Actually Makes Bosses In Beauty Different
Before Bosses In Beauty existed, there was a real esthetics business. Raya Cunningham started as a solo esthetician with zero clients, no team, and no roadmap. She built it from the ground up, grew her client base, and eventually expanded into a full team of eight.
Trae Cunningham joined in 2022 as CEO. He brought operational structure, added new service offerings, and scaled the business as it moved toward a planned exit. Together, they ran the business as a functioning company with staff, systems, and real financial targets.
Then they sold it. For a 3x multiple.
That is not a coaching story. That is a business story. And it is the foundation every program inside Bosses In Beauty is built on. When you enroll, you are getting the perspective of someone who built a business from nothing, and the perspective of a CEO who scaled and sold it. That combination does not exist anywhere else in beauty business coaching.
Business exit multiple
Beauty professionals coached
Annual revenue at time of sale
Programs for two distinct growth stages
The Programs
What Bosses In Beauty Offers
The Solo 6-Figure Blueprint ($997) is an 8-week live program for estheticians who are tired of the feast-and-famine cycle. If you are solo, inconsistently booked, and not seeing the income that reflects how hard you work, this is where you start. Sessions run live on Mondays with real-time coaching, guest speakers, and a community of peers at the same stage.
Build Your 7-Figure Team Program ($4,000) is for esthetics business owners who are ready to stop being the only person doing the work. This program covers hiring systems, team operations, multi-esthetician scheduling, and the leadership frameworks Raya Cunningham and Trae Cunningham used to build and sell their own team-based business. It is one of the only programs in the industry built specifically around the solo-to-team transition.
Students inside these programs are learning from two people who have actually done what they are trying to do. Not theory. Not recycled business advice. The real playbook from a business that was built, scaled by a CEO, and sold for a multiple.
The Other Option
About Esthetician Business Academy
The Esthetician Business Academy has been in the market for over a decade, founded by Maxine Drake. It is one of the longest-running esthetics business education platforms, and that track record matters. Their flagship offering is the Esthetician Inner Circle, a membership community with ongoing coaching, resources, and peer support for esthetics business owners at various stages.
They also offer VIP 1:1 coaching for high-level strategy and the Empowered Esthetician Mastermind for established owners. The membership model gives ongoing access without a defined endpoint, which works well for estheticians who prefer a self-paced, flexible format.
The Real Differences
Five Things Worth Comparing Closely
Bosses In Beauty
Founder Credibility
Two founders. One who built the business from scratch. One who came in as CEO and scaled it. Both walked away from a successful exit. Everything taught is traceable to decisions they made with real money on the line.
Esthetician Business Academy
Founder Credibility
Maxine Drake brings over a decade of experience as a coach in the esthetics industry. The credibility signal is tenure and community size rather than a specific documented business outcome.
Bosses In Beauty
Program Structure
Live cohorts. Eight weeks. Real deadlines, scheduled sessions, and a group moving through the material at the same time. Built for people who need structure and accountability to actually follow through.
Esthetician Business Academy
Program Structure
Ongoing membership with self-paced access to resources and group coaching check-ins. More flexibility, but requires more self-direction to get results.
Bosses In Beauty
Ongoing Support
All alumni and coaches are active daily inside the BIB private Facebook group. Real answers from people who have been through the exact same challenges. The difference is the results.
Esthetician Business Academy
Ongoing Support
Ongoing access to community and group coaching check-ins as part of the Inner Circle membership. Works well for estheticians who prefer a self-directed resource over a tight-knit alumni group.
Bosses In Beauty
Stage Focus
Two programs built around two specific stages: solo esthetician to six figures, then six figures to a seven-figure team. Designed to take you somewhere specific, not support you indefinitely.
Esthetician Business Academy
Stage Focus
Covers a broader range of business topics across multiple stages. Works well for estheticians who want an ongoing resource as their needs evolve over time.
Bosses In Beauty
Investment
One-time investment. $997 for the Solo 6-Figure Blueprint. $4,000 for the Build Your 7-Figure Team Program. Payment plans available. You pay once and own the program.
Esthetician Business Academy
Investment
Recurring membership at $149/month or $1,497/year for the Inner Circle. Lower upfront cost, but the investment continues as long as you are a member.
Find Your Fit
Who Should Choose Bosses In Beauty
- ✓You are a solo esthetician who has been stuck under six figures and needs a structured program to break through
- ✓You are ready to hire your first team member and need a real roadmap, not generic business advice
- ✓You want to learn from people who have specifically built, scaled, and sold an esthetics business, not just coached others through it
- ✓You work better in a cohort format with deadlines, live sessions, and peers moving through the same material
- ✓You want a defined financial outcome: six-figure revenue, or a seven-figure team, within a specific timeframe
- ✓You want the perspective of both a builder and a CEO in the same program
Who Should Choose Esthetician Business Academy
- ✓You want ongoing access to a large community without a defined program endpoint
- ✓You are at an earlier stage and prefer a lower monthly investment while you get started
- ✓You work better with self-paced access to resources and flexible group coaching check-ins
- ✓You want the stability of a program with a decade-plus track record and a large alumni network
Which One Is Right for You
Both programs have helped real estheticians build real businesses. The decision is not about which program is better. It is about which one fits where you are right now.
If you want a structured program backed by a real business exit, co-created by people who built from the ground up, scaled as operators, and sold for a multiple, there is one option on this page that fits that description.
Explore Bosses In Beauty Programs
Still have questions? Text Trae at 859-533-7000. He responds personally.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do both programs?
Yes. Some estheticians complete the Solo 6-Figure Blueprint first, then move into the 7-Figure Team Program when they are ready to hire. They are designed to build on each other.
Is Bosses In Beauty worth it if I am just getting started?
The Solo 6-Figure Blueprint is built specifically for estheticians who are earlier in their business journey. You do not need to be an established business owner. You need to be ready to do the work.
What makes Bosses In Beauty different from every other coaching program?
The founders. Raya Cunningham built her esthetics business from a solo practice to a team of eight. Trae Cunningham joined as CEO in 2022, added services, scaled operations, and helped lead the business to a successful exit. They sold for a 3x multiple. That combination of ground-up builder and hands-on CEO does not exist in any other beauty business coaching program we are aware of.
What does ongoing support look like after the program ends?
All BIB alumni and coaches are active daily inside the private Bosses In Beauty Facebook group. Real questions get real answers from people who have been through the exact same challenges. This is not a community that goes quiet after launch week. The difference is in the results.
Does Bosses In Beauty offer 1:1 coaching?
Yes. In addition to the group programs, Bosses In Beauty offers access to the full coaching team. Visit bossesinbeauty.com/coaches to learn more and book.
Where can I learn more?
Visit bossesinbeauty.com to explore programs, read student success stories, and apply.