How to Start a Barbershop
A good barbershop is part craft, part routine and part neighborhood hangout. Clients come back every few weeks for years, which makes it one of the most loyal small businesses you can build. This guide shows you how to start a barbershop, from licensing and chair models to pricing, walk-ins and filling your chairs in the first months.
Key takeaways
- US states license barbers, and many also license the shop itself. The UK has no national licence, but some councils license special treatments, so check locally.
- Decide early between employing barbers and renting chairs, because it changes your income, control and paperwork.
- A clear mix of walk-ins and booked appointments keeps chairs busy without long waits.
- Rebooking, reminders and a simple loyalty habit matter more than flashy marketing.
Most barbershop owners start as barbers. They build a following at someone else's shop, then decide it is time to run their own. Others are business owners who see a gap in their neighborhood. Whichever describes you, the steps are the same: choose your model, get licensed, find the right space, set prices, and create a shop people want to return to.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or employment advice. Licensing and employment rules vary by state, country and council, so check official sources and speak with an accountant or lawyer about your own situation.
Pick your barbershop model
Before you look at a single shopfront, decide how the business will work day to day.
- Solo shop or suite. You work alone in a small room or one-chair shop. Overheads stay low and every client is yours, but your income stops when you stop cutting.
- Shop with employed barbers. You pay barbers wages or commission, set the prices and control the brand. You also handle payroll, training and scheduling.
- Chair rental shop. Self-employed barbers rent a chair from you each week and keep their own clients and prices. You earn steady rent with less admin, but less say over standards.
- Hybrid. Some shops employ a few barbers and rent one or two chairs. This can work well, but keep the agreements clear and separate.
Whether a barber counts as an employee or self-employed depends on how the relationship actually works, not just what the contract says. Rules differ between the US, UK and Europe, so get professional advice before you set up chair rental.
Common mistake
Calling barbers "chair renters" while setting their hours, prices and dress code like employees. That mix can create tax and employment problems later. Pick one model for each barber, write it down and run the relationship to match.
Licensing and registration
Barbering is a regulated trade in many places, so start here.
United States
US states license barbers, and many states also require a shop or establishment license. The state board that oversees barbering usually sets training hours, exams, sanitation standards and inspection rules. Some states treat barbers and cosmetologists differently, which affects services like chemical treatments or shaves. Your city or county may also require a business license, zoning approval and a certificate of occupancy. Check your state board's current rules before you sign anything.
United Kingdom
The UK has no national licence for barbers, so anyone can technically open a shop. However, some councils license special treatments, and local premises, planning and signage rules still apply. Ask your council's licensing team what applies to your services and your address. Clients and insurers often look for recognized qualifications, so keep training certificates visible.
Startup basics everywhere
The common startup steps apply too: business structure, registration, licenses and permits for your location, insurance, pricing, a booking and invoicing setup, and a Google Business Profile. Public liability insurance is especially important when you work with sharp tools close to clients' faces.
Find and set up your shop
Location matters a lot for a barbershop because many clients choose a shop they pass every day. When you compare spaces, look at:
- Foot traffic and visibility. Near transit stops, gyms, offices or busy shopping streets is ideal for walk-ins.
- Water and drainage. Shampoo bowls need plumbing, and adding it to a dry retail unit can be expensive.
- Power. Clippers, trimmers, dryers and sterilizing equipment at every station need enough outlets in the right places.
- Waiting area. Walk-in shops need comfortable seating, and the waiting area becomes part of the shop's atmosphere.
- Lease terms. Check the length, rent reviews, who pays for fit-out and whether your use is permitted.
Equipment list
Plan for barber chairs, mirrors, stations with storage, clippers and trimmers (plus spares), scissors, razors with single-use blades where required, capes and neck strips, a disinfection setup, towels and a laundry plan, a reception desk, and a card reader. Buy the chairs and clippers you can rely on, and save on decor until money is coming in.
Pro tip
Open with one more chair than you have barbers. An empty chair is a place to bring on a new barber fast when demand grows, and it can be rented short term while you recruit.
Walk-ins, bookings and the daily flow
Barbershops have a choice most salons do not: walk-ins. Many clients like dropping in, while others want a guaranteed slot. The best shops plan for both.
- Study your clients. Office workers often want booked lunchtime slots, while students and weekend clients may prefer walk-ins.
- Choose a mix. Some shops keep certain chairs or hours for walk-ins and others for bookings. Others take bookings all day and fill gaps with walk-ins.
- Use a booking app. Tools such as Booksy, Fresha, Vagaro, Square Appointments and Boulevard handle online booking, reminders and client history. Check current features, pricing and privacy policies.
- Show the wait. A visible waitlist or a simple text message when a chair is free keeps walk-ins from leaving.
- Rebook at the chair. Many clients return every few weeks. Offer the next appointment while you finish the cut.
Set clear rules for late arrivals and no-shows and display them at booking. Deposits are less common for a quick cut, but they can make sense for longer services or busy Saturday slots.
Price your services
Barbershop pricing should be simple enough to fit on one board. Start with your core cuts, then add services that raise the average ticket.
Know your cost per chair hour
Add up your monthly rent, utilities, insurance, software, supplies and other fixed costs. Divide by the chair hours you can realistically sell each month. That gives you a rough cost per chair hour, which every service price must cover along with the barber's pay.
Build a short menu
A typical menu might include a standard cut, a skin fade, a beard trim, a cut and beard combo, a kids' cut and a hot towel shave where your rules allow it. Combos are popular because they save the client time and raise your ticket.
Pricing template
Fill in one row per service. The figures are made-up examples for illustration only.
| Service | Time | Supplies (example) | Barber pay (example) | Price (example) | Popular days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin fade | 40 minutes | $1 | $15 | $35 | Friday, Saturday |
| Cut and beard | 50 minutes | $2 | $19 | $45 | Thursday, Saturday |
| Kids' cut | 25 minutes | $1 | $9 | $20 | Weekdays after school |
If a service earns less per hour than your cost per chair hour plus pay, either raise the price, shorten the time or drop it.
Hypothetical example
Imagine Marcus, who opens a four-chair shop near a college. Weekday mornings are quiet, while Saturdays have a long line. He keeps two chairs for walk-ins on Saturdays and takes bookings on the others, adds a weekday morning kids' cut slot for parents before school, and introduces a cut and beard combo. Within a few months his quiet hours shrink, and Saturday walk-ins wait less.
Hygiene, safety and your team
Clients notice a dusty station or a reused neck strip immediately. Write a short hygiene routine based on your local rules: clean and disinfect tools between clients, use fresh blades and neck strips, launder towels properly and keep a cleaning log. Walk every new barber through it.
Workplace safety rules also apply. In the US, OSHA's general duty clause expects employers to keep the workplace free of recognized serious hazards. In the UK, the Health and Safety at Work Act applies, and employers with 5 or more employees need a written health and safety policy and a written risk assessment. Think about electrical safety, slips on cut hair and safe storage of chemicals.
When hiring, check licenses or qualifications, ask for a trial cut on a model, and talk about how they treat clients, not just how they fade.
Open and grow your client list
Mid-August is a great time to open. Back-to-school haircuts, end-of-summer weddings and a fresh look before autumn bring steady demand, and the US Labor Day weekend and UK summer bank holiday are busy for many shops.
- Move your existing clients. If you are a barber, tell your regulars where you are going, while respecting any non-solicitation terms in your current agreement.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. Add photos, hours, services and booking links, and post updates and offers.
- Share your work. Post photos of fresh cuts, with each client's permission.
- Ask for reviews. A quick request at checkout, plus a reply to every review, builds trust fast.
- Reward regulars. A simple loyalty card or a referral thank-you keeps people coming back.
Your barbershop opening checklist
- Choose your model: solo, employed barbers, chair rental or hybrid
- Confirm barber and shop licensing with your state board or council
- Check zoning, plumbing, power and lease terms for your space
- Register the business and buy insurance
- Buy reliable chairs, clippers and a disinfection setup
- Write your hygiene routine and cleaning log
- Build a short, costed service menu
- Set your walk-in and booking mix and choose a booking app
- Claim your Google Business Profile and invite your first clients
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a barber license to own a barbershop?
It depends where you are. In many US states, the owner may not need to be a barber, but the people cutting hair need licenses and the shop may need its own. In the UK there is no national licence, though council rules may apply. Check with your state board or council.
Is chair rental or employing barbers better?
Chair rental gives steady income and less admin, while employing barbers gives you more control and a more consistent brand. The right answer depends on your goals and local employment rules, so get advice before deciding.
Should my barbershop take walk-ins?
Many shops do well with a mix. Walk-ins attract spontaneous clients, while bookings protect your busiest hours. Watch your data for a month and adjust which chairs and hours you keep for each.
Related reading
The bottom line
Starting a barbershop comes down to a clear model, the right licenses, a well-placed shop and a daily flow that keeps chairs busy. Price from your real costs, keep hygiene visible and make rebooking a habit, and your regulars will become the backbone of the business.
This week, choose your model, call your licensing board or council, and sketch your first pricing board. Those three steps turn the idea into a plan.
