How Much Does It Cost to Start a Barbershop?

If opening a barbershop is a dream of yours, you may be wondering just how and where to start. Of course, there are a lot of logistics, planning and financial expectations that come with opening a barbershop — and we are here to tell you that it’s no easy feat.

While every barbershop is different, we wrote this blog post to break down the financial aspect of opening a barbershop to provide a glimpse into how much it could cost to open your own shop. 

When getting your finances in line to open a barbershop, there are a lot of different aspects that you will need to think about. From purchasing salon tools to investing in the right talent and obtaining legal certificates and documents, you’re going to have a lot on your plate. 

But we are here to simplify this process for you by breaking down the costs associated with opening a barbershop and giving you a range you can expect to spend. Let’s get into it!

How much does it cost to start a barbershop?

Depending on the kind of barbershop you want to open, there are quite a few factors that contribute to the total cost of starting a barbershop. And you can count on every barbershop to have its own unique set of expenses and costs. At SALONORY, we work with salon and barbershop professionals on a daily basis, which provides us with the unique insight of knowing how much it could cost to open a barbershop or salon. We estimate that opening a business like this could cost starting at $10,000, depending on the size of your shop, the number of barbers you plan to hire and the kinds of equipment you need. However, your specific barbershop may fall below or above this cost spectrum.

Create a Business Plan to Better Determine Costs

If you want to know exactly what you’re signing up for as you embark on opening a barbershop, creating a business plan can help you narrow in on a budget and identify some solid numbers of what you’re willing to spend. You can forecast expenses like a space mortgage or rent, supplies and equipment and hiring talent. 

The Expenses of Opening a Barbershop

To give you a better idea of the expenses you could encounter when opening a barbershop, here is an exhaustive list. 

• Obtaining Licenses and Certifications — To open any business, you must obtain a license, but when you’re opening a barbershop, you will need barbershop or salon licensing and certificates that are specific to your business. This is especially important if you plan to offer services that are special and unique to your business but require a certain level of talent or expertise.
• Opening a Physical Location — You will need to start shopping for a space to open your barbershop. Whether you’re purchasing a storefront or you are renting a space, this could be one of your biggest recurring costs as a barbershop owner.  
• Renovations to Your Physical Location — When you find a space that’s perfect for your shop, you will most likely need to perform renovations or adjustments to make sure it’s set up for your business needs. We strongly advise keeping a budget for additional renovation costs.
• Investing in Barbershop Equipment — Obviously, one of the biggest investments you will make in your business will be your equipment. We highly recommend investing in high-quality pieces that will get you and your talent through your first couple of years in business. 
• Purchasing Barbershop Tools and Products — Once you have your equipment and your space set up, you will need to start thinking about filling your barbershop with STMNT hair products and tools that empower your talent to do the best job they can. 
• Hiring Talent — If you’re opening a shop for yourself where you will be the sole barber, you may not need to worry about this. However, if you are planning to have several barbers working for you, there may be an upfront investment needed to find talent and hire them. 
• Creating a Digital Space — Not only is opening your physical location an important step in establishing yourself as an official business, but barbershops also need a digital footprint to be successful. You will need a website, Google listing, social media accounts and booking software that allows your clients to communicate with you and reach you seamlessly. The costs associated with creating a digital footprint are purchasing a domain name, investing in software, hiring someone to handle digital marketing efforts and more. 

We know this might be a lot of information to take in all at once, but we are here for you! You can lean on SALONORY’s extensive resources and tools to help you get started.