How to Start a Barbershop Business | Complete Guide for 2026
Jan 7, 2026
The barbershop industry is thriving. While trends come and go in many sectors, people will always need haircuts. And in recent years, the traditional barbershop has experienced a genuine renaissance—a return to skilled craftsmanship, community atmosphere, and the kind of personal service that chain salons struggle to replicate.
Starting a barbershop is more accessible than many business ventures. The startup costs are manageable compared to restaurants or retail shops. The business model is straightforward: provide excellent cuts, build relationships, and customers return every few weeks for life.
But accessible doesn't mean easy. Success requires more than cutting skills. You need business acumen, careful planning, and understanding of everything from licensing requirements to customer retention strategies.
This guide walks you through everything involved in starting a barbershop business—from initial planning to opening day and beyond.
Is a Barbershop Right for You?
Before diving into logistics, honestly assess whether this business suits you.
The Realities of Barbershop Ownership
You'll work on your feet: Long days standing, often six days a week initially. Physical stamina matters.
Customer relationships are everything: Success depends on building genuine connections with clients. If you're not a people person, this business will be challenging.
Income takes time to build: Your chair won't be full from day one. Expect months of building clientele before reaching stable income.
You're responsible for everything: As an owner, you handle cuts, bookings, cleaning, marketing, finances, staff issues, and everything else. Delegation comes later.
Competition exists everywhere: Every neighbourhood has barbers. You'll need to differentiate through skill, service, atmosphere, or specialisation.
The Rewards
Recurring revenue: Customers need cuts regularly—typically every 2-4 weeks. One satisfied client represents years of repeat business.
Community impact: Barbershops become neighbourhood fixtures. You'll know your clients' lives, families, and stories.
Creative expression: Every cut is your work. Pride in craftsmanship is built into the job. It's the same draw that pulls people toward starting a coffee shop business—the chance to build something tangible that becomes part of people's daily lives.
Scalable potential: Start with one chair, grow to multiple barbers, potentially expand to additional locations.
Relatively low startup costs: Compared to many businesses, barbershops require modest initial investment.
If the realities don't deter you and the rewards excite you, let's build your barbershop.
Planning Your Barbershop Business
Define Your Vision
Before spreadsheets and licenses, clarify what kind of barbershop you're creating:
Target clientele: Young professionals? Families? Specific communities? Your answer shapes everything from location to décor to services.
Atmosphere and style: Traditional with hot towels and straight razors? Modern and minimalist? Vintage Americana? Your vibe attracts matching customers.
Service range: Cuts only? Beard work? Grooming products? Shaves? Hot towel treatments? Broader services mean more revenue per customer but more complexity.
Price positioning: Budget-friendly volume? Mid-market value? Premium experience? This affects location choice, fit-out quality, and marketing approach.
Write this vision down. Reference it when making decisions. A clear concept prevents the scattered approach that confuses customers and dilutes your brand.
Research Your Market
Study the competition: Visit barbershops in your target area. What do they do well? What's missing? Where are they fully booked, and where do they have availability? What do their reviews praise or criticise?
Identify gaps: Maybe no one serves the early-morning professional crowd. Perhaps beard specialists are lacking. Maybe families can't find kid-friendly options. Gaps represent opportunity.
Understand pricing: What do competitors charge for similar services? You don't have to match their prices, but you need to understand the market context.
Talk to potential customers: Ask people in your target area about their barbershop experiences. What do they wish was different? What would make them switch?
Write a Business Plan
Even a simple business plan forces clarity:
Executive summary: Your concept in one page.
Market analysis: What you learned from research. Who are your customers? Who are your competitors?
Services and pricing: What you'll offer and what you'll charge.
Marketing strategy: How you'll attract initial customers and build over time.
Financial projections: Startup costs, monthly expenses, revenue projections, break-even timeline.
Operations: Hours, staffing plans, suppliers, day-to-day logistics.
This document isn't just for potential investors—it's for you. The process of writing it reveals gaps in your thinking and prepares you for decisions ahead.
Legal Requirements and Licensing
Requirements vary by location, so research your specific area carefully. Generally, you'll need:
Business Registration
Business structure: Sole trader, limited company, or partnership. Each has different tax implications and liability considerations. Consult an accountant.
Business name registration: Secure your trading name officially.
Tax registration: Register with HMRC for self-assessment and potentially VAT (if you expect turnover above the threshold).
Professional Licensing
Barbering qualifications: Most areas require formal barbering qualifications. If you're not already qualified, this training comes first—typically 12-24 months depending on the route.
Premises license: Your shop may need specific licensing depending on local council requirements.
Health and safety registration: Barbershops typically need to register with local environmental health departments.
Insurance: Public liability insurance is essential. Consider professional indemnity and employer's liability if you'll have staff.
Premises Requirements
Planning permission: Ensure the premises can legally operate as a barbershop. Change of use may require planning applications.
Building regulations: Any significant alterations need to comply with building regulations.
Health and safety compliance: Proper ventilation, hygiene facilities, fire safety equipment, and accessibility considerations.
Waste disposal: Arrangements for disposing of hair and any clinical waste (if offering services involving skin contact).
Don't skip this section or assume you'll "figure it out later." Operating without proper licensing can mean fines, closure, or worse. Get everything in order before opening.
Choosing Your Location
Location significantly impacts success. Consider:
Foot Traffic vs. Destination
High street locations: More passing trade, higher rents, immediate visibility. Works well for walk-in focused models.
Side street or destination locations: Lower rents, less passing trade, but customers will find you if you're good. Requires stronger marketing initially.
Accessibility
Parking: Is there nearby parking? Especially important outside city centres.
Public transport: Proximity to bus stops or train stations matters for commuter customers.
Visibility: Can people see your shop from the street? Is signage easily visible?
Demographics
Match location to target market: A premium barbershop targeting professionals should be near business districts. A family-focused shop should be in residential areas or near schools.
Competition proximity: Being near competitors isn't always bad—it can create a destination cluster. But ensure the area can support another barbershop.
Practical Considerations
Size: Enough space for your planned chairs, waiting area, retail display, and storage. Room to grow if successful.
Condition: A space needing minimal renovation gets you open faster with less capital.
Lease terms: Length, break clauses, rent review terms, permitted alterations, subletting rights if you want to rent chairs.
Utilities: Adequate electrical capacity, water supply, drainage for basins.
Take your time with location. A bad choice is expensive and difficult to fix. A good choice gives you tailwinds from day one.
Equipment and Supplies
Essential Equipment
Barber chairs: Your biggest equipment investment. Quality chairs last decades and affect both barber comfort and client experience. Budget £500-2,000+ per chair.
Mirrors and stations: Large mirrors at each station, proper lighting, storage for tools.
Waiting area: Comfortable seating, reading material, potentially a TV or entertainment.
Reception area: Counter or desk for check-in and payment.
Wash basins: At least one backwash basin for hair washing services.
Sterilisation equipment: UV sterilisers, Barbicide jars, autoclaves if offering skin-contact services.
Hot towel equipment: Towel steamers if offering hot towel services.
Tools and Consumables
Clippers: Professional-grade clippers—multiple sets for different purposes. Budget for quality; cheap clippers don't last and cut poorly.
Scissors and shears: Various sizes for different cutting techniques.
Razors: Safety razors, straight razors if trained, disposable options.
Combs, brushes, and accessories: Multiple sets for hygiene between clients.
Capes and neck strips: Quality capes that clean easily, disposable neck strips.
Products: Shampoos, conditioners, styling products, aftershave, beard products. Both for use in services and retail sales.
Cleaning supplies: Disinfectants, floor cleaners, towel service or washing facilities.
Technology
Point of sale system: For processing payments. Many barbers use simple card readers connected to phones initially.
Booking system: Online booking is increasingly expected. Many options exist from basic calendars to sophisticated salon software.
Loyalty program: Essential for retention. Platforms like Perkstar let you set up digital stamp cards that customers save to their phones—customers earn stamps with each cut and receive a free cut after a certain number of visits. If you're comparing options, the best punch card apps in 2026 start from as little as £15 per month and require no special hardware—just a QR code at your station. No paper cards to lose, plus you can send push notifications about promotions or remind customers when they're due for a trim.
Budget for quality where it matters (chairs, clippers) and economise where you can (décor, initial retail stock). You can upgrade later as revenue allows.
Hiring and Training Staff
Unless you're running a single-chair operation indefinitely, you'll eventually need additional barbers.
Hiring Options
Employed barbers: You pay wages, handle taxes, provide equipment. More control but higher fixed costs.
Chair rental: Barbers pay you rent for chair space, operate as self-employed. Lower risk but less control over service quality.
Commission-based: Barbers earn percentage of their takings. Aligns incentives but requires careful tracking.
Many barbershops use hybrid models—owner works one chair as employed, additional chairs rented to self-employed barbers.
What to Look For
Skills: Obviously essential. Ask for portfolios, give cutting tests.
Personality: They'll interact with your customers constantly. Client relationships matter as much as cutting ability.
Reliability: Showing up consistently, on time. Unreliable barbers drive away customers.
Professionalism: Hygiene standards, appearance, communication style.
Cultural fit: Do they match your shop's vibe and values?
Training and Standards
Even experienced barbers need onboarding:
Your shop's specific service menu and pricing
Your booking and payment systems
Your hygiene and safety standards
Your customer service expectations
Your loyalty program (how to enrol customers, how to allocate stamps)
Document standards so expectations are clear and training is consistent for future hires.
Pricing Your Services
Pricing affects profitability, positioning, and customer expectations.
Research-Based Pricing
Start with market research. What do competitors charge for similar services? Where do you want to position relative to them?
Below market: Attracts price-sensitive customers, requires volume, may signal lower quality.
At market: Competes on factors other than price—service, convenience, atmosphere.
Above market: Requires justification—premium experience, specialised skills, superior results.
Cost-Based Considerations
Calculate your costs:
Chair time per service
Product costs per service
Rent, utilities, insurance (allocated per service)
Staff costs if applicable
Your target hourly earning
Ensure pricing covers costs and delivers acceptable profit. A busy shop losing money on every cut isn't sustainable.
Service Menu Structure
Core services: Standard cuts at accessible prices—your volume drivers.
Premium services: Extended cuts, specialist services, grooming packages—higher margin for customers wanting more.
Add-ons: Beard trims, hot towels, product applications—increase ticket value without requiring separate appointments.
Products: Retail products for home use—additional revenue with minimal time investment.
Pricing Psychology
Round numbers vs. specific: £20 feels different than £18.50. Neither is wrong; they signal differently.
Tiered options: Good/better/best pricing lets customers self-select based on their preferences.
Package deals: Bundled services at slight discount can increase per-visit revenue. Bundling also pairs well with loyalty mechanics, though it's worth understanding the genuine pros and cons of loyalty programmes before committing—poorly designed rewards can erode the margins you've carefully built into your pricing.
Review pricing regularly. As your reputation grows and chairs fill, prices can increase. Leaving money on the table by underpricing isn't humility—it's a business mistake.
Marketing Your Barbershop
Before Opening
Build anticipation: Social media accounts showing fit-out progress, coming soon signage, local press coverage if possible.
Soft launch: Friends and family cuts before official opening. Gets you practiced, generates early reviews, creates word-of-mouth.
Grand opening: An event that draws attention—special offers, refreshments, entertainment, local personality appearances.
Ongoing Marketing
Social media: Instagram and TikTok are natural fits for barbershops. Before-and-after transformations, technique videos, shop atmosphere content. Consistency matters more than perfection.
Google Business Profile: Essential for local search. Keep it updated with accurate hours, photos, and respond to all reviews.
Reviews: Actively encourage satisfied customers to leave Google reviews. Respond professionally to all reviews, positive and negative. When evaluating tools, a clear framework for choosing a loyalty platform helps you avoid overpaying for features you'll never use—barbershops need simplicity, not enterprise-level segmentation.
Local partnerships: Cross-promote with complementary local businesses—gyms, men's clothing shops, sports clubs.
Referral program: Reward customers who bring friends. Could be integrated into your loyalty program—bonus stamps for referrals.
Community involvement: Sponsor local sports teams, participate in community events, offer charity cuts. Builds goodwill and visibility.
Customer Retention
Acquiring new customers is expensive. Keeping existing customers is efficient. Focus heavily on retention:
Exceptional service: The foundation. Every cut should be excellent, every interaction positive.
Remembering customers: Names, usual cuts, personal details mentioned in previous conversations. This is where relationships are built.
Loyalty program: A digital loyalty program gives customers tangible reasons to return specifically to you rather than trying alternatives. Perkstar's stamp cards are perfect for barbershops—simple "every 10th cut free" mechanics that customers understand instantly. The biggest mistake is assuming customers will sign up on their own—if customers aren't joining your loyalty programme, it's usually because staff aren't mentioning it at the chair. If you've already tried a programme and it fell flat, the issue is almost always in the setup or promotion rather than the concept—most underperforming loyalty programmes have fixable problems like poor visibility or overly complicated reward structures. Wallet integration means customers don't need to download apps; push notifications let you remind them when they're due for a cut or promote slow periods.
Rebooking: Encourage customers to book their next appointment before leaving. Many barbershops see dramatic retention improvements just from consistent rebooking.
Communication: Stay in touch between visits. Push notifications about new services, seasonal promotions, or simply "haven't seen you in a while—your usual chair is waiting."
Managing Finances
Startup Costs
Typical barbershop startup costs (UK, 2026):
Premises: First month rent, deposit, potentially premium for taking over lease. £2,000-10,000+ depending on location.
Fit-out: Chairs, stations, waiting area, flooring, decoration. £10,000-50,000+ depending on condition of space and quality of finish.
Equipment: Clippers, tools, initial product stock. £2,000-5,000.
Licenses and professional fees: Registration, insurance, accountant setup. £1,000-3,000.
Marketing: Signage, initial advertising, grand opening. £1,000-5,000.
Working capital: Money to cover expenses until revenue stabilises. 3-6 months of operating costs recommended.
Total: £20,000-80,000+ is realistic for most barbershops. Single-chair operations in modest locations can be lower; premium multi-chair shops in prime locations can be higher.
Ongoing Expenses
Track monthly expenses carefully:
Rent and utilities
Product costs
Insurance
Marketing
Software subscriptions (booking, payments, loyalty)
Staff costs if applicable
Loan repayments if applicable
Your own drawings
Revenue Management
Track per-service and per-day: Know which services are profitable, which days are busy, which times are slow.
Manage cash flow: Revenue fluctuates; expenses are mostly fixed. Maintain reserves for slow periods.
Tax planning: Set aside money for tax bills. Quarterly estimates prevent nasty surprises.
Reinvestment: As profit allows, reinvest in the business—better equipment, expanded services, additional marketing, improved premises.
Consider accounting software from day one. Proper financial tracking prevents problems and enables better decisions.
Growing Your Barbershop
Once established, growth opportunities include:
Adding chairs: More barbers mean more capacity and revenue. Ensure demand supports expansion.
Expanding services: Grooming treatments, skincare, massage. Increases revenue per customer and attracts new clientele.
Retail expansion: Curated product selection for home grooming. Higher margins than services.
Additional locations: Replicate your success elsewhere. Significant complexity increase but substantial growth potential.
Training and education: Teach barbering skills to others. Different revenue stream with different economics.
Growth should be deliberate, not reactive. Each expansion increases complexity and risk. Make sure your foundation is solid before building higher.
Your First Year: What to Expect
Months 1-3: Building initial clientele. Chairs aren't full. Income is below target. Focus on excellent service to every customer—they're your foundation.
Months 4-6: Word-of-mouth building. Repeat customers returning. Revenue growing but likely not yet covering all expenses.
Months 7-9: Momentum establishing. Regular customers forming loyal base. Considering additional marketing to fill remaining capacity.
Months 10-12: Approaching stability. Understanding what works and what doesn't. Making adjustments based on real experience. Possibly considering growth.
Patience matters. Barbershops are relationship businesses, and relationships take time to build. The shops that succeed are those that persist through the challenging early months while maintaining quality and building reputation.
Getting Started
Starting a barbershop is a significant undertaking, but it's achievable with proper planning and execution:
Clarify your vision: What kind of barbershop are you building?
Research thoroughly: Understand your market, competition, and customers.
Handle legalities: Qualifications, registrations, licenses, insurance.
Find the right location: Take your time; this decision matters enormously.
Set up your shop: Equipment, technology, systems.
Build your team: If not solo, hire carefully.
Price strategically: Cover costs while positioning appropriately.
Market consistently: Before, during, and after opening.
Focus on retention: Loyalty programs, rebooking, communication.
Manage finances carefully: Track everything, plan for taxes, maintain reserves.
For customer retention, Perkstar offers barbershops a simple, effective loyalty program. Digital stamp cards that customers save to their phones—no app download required. Every cut earns a stamp; after a set number, they get a free cut. Push notifications remind customers when they're due for a trim or promote quiet periods. The 14-day free trial lets you set everything up before committing.
Start your free trial at Perkstar →
Your barbershop journey starts with one decision: deciding to begin. Everything else follows from there.
