How much it costs to open a salon

How much does it cost to open a salon? The honest answer is: it depends on your trade, size and location — but think in two separate pockets. There are one-time startup costs to get rolling, and monthly running costs you pay again and again. A small one-to-two-chair salon in most European cities tends to launch in the lower tens of thousands of euros, but the range is wide depending on how much building work and new equipment you need.

The crucial part is not underestimating the second pocket. Many new owners spend everything on equipment and the opening, forgetting that a calendar fills gradually. So always add a cash buffer to your budget for the first months. This article breaks down both pockets, shows an example table, and explains how to open smartly even on a tighter budget.

One-time startup costs

You pay these mostly once, before you welcome your first client:

• Fit-out. Painting, flooring, electrics, plumbing, lighting, partitions. The least predictable line — an older space needing renovation can double the budget.
• Equipment and furniture. Chairs, wash units, mirrors, reception desk, sterilisation, trade-specific tools. Some can be bought second-hand.
• Rental deposit. Landlords commonly ask for two to three months' rent upfront as security.
• Branding and signage. Logo, shop sign, window graphics, business cards, basic interior photos.
• Software and online presence. A booking system, a website and a point of sale for receipts.
• Initial marketing. A maps profile, an opening offer, first posts and ads so people find you.
• Opening stock. Your first purchase of consumables — colour, peroxide, disposables.

Before you sign anything, work calmly through the full checklist for opening a salon so no line slips through.

Monthly running costs

The second pocket runs from day one regardless of revenue:

• Rent and utilities. Usually the biggest fixed line. Add electricity, water, heating and internet to the rent.
• Wages or commission. If you don't work solo, this is often the single largest cost.
• Consumables. They grow with client numbers — a variable cost.
• Software. Monthly subscriptions for booking, point of sale and website.
• Marketing. Ongoing ads and looking after your profiles.
• Insurance, accountant and odds and ends. Liability, tax, cleaning, laundry.

Example budget for a small salon

The figures below are an ILLUSTRATIVE example only, for a small two-chair salon in a mid-sized city. They are not real prices — they exist purely to show the structure. Plug in your own local quotes.

As an example: if you want a buffer for three slow months, plan roughly 1,760 × 3, about €5,300 on top of the one-time costs. Recalculate these numbers against real quotes in your own area.

How the budget changes by salon type

• Hair salon. Higher fit-out because of wash units and plumbing, pricier chair equipment.
• Barbershop. Similar to a hair salon, but often a smaller space and stronger branding.
• Nail studio. Lower startup costs — desks, lamps and extraction, with less plumbing work.
• Beauty salon. Mid-to-higher costs for treatment beds and devices, with a hygiene focus.

The more installations a trade needs — water, extraction, electrics — the pricier the fit-out tends to be. Then set your price list to cover exactly those costs; see how to set salon prices.

How to open on a tighter budget

You handle budget pressure cleverly, not by cutting everything:

1. Start in a smaller space or rent a chair until you've proven demand.
2. Mix new and used equipment — buy the most visible items new, the rest second-hand.
3. Split purchases into "needed to open" and "buy from first revenue".
4. Launch online booking before you open so you fill the calendar from day one.
5. Don't skimp on the buffer — postpone the luxury equipment instead.

Also work out your salon break-even point so you know how many clients per week just cover your costs. For more concrete tips, see how to reduce salon costs.

The cheapest part of launching today is the digital one: the fastest way to start is to create a free YourSalon account and switch on booking — compare what's in each plan on the pricing page.

Why the buffer is the most important line

A buffer isn't a luxury — it's insurance. A new salon's calendar fills over weeks or months, and rent and wages won't wait. If you don't include a cushion for three to six months of running costs, every slow week pushes you toward rushed discounts or debt. Plan the buffer before the most expensive chair.

Common budgeting mistakes

• Forgotten buffer. The most common and most expensive mistake — money runs out before the calendar fills.
• Underestimated fit-out. Hidden electrics and plumbing costs surface only after you sign.
• Everything new. Expensive kit the client can't tell apart, instead of a buffer.
• No pricing plan. With prices not tied to costs, the salon "earns" but leaves no profit.
• No business plan. Without numbers on paper, estimates drift — a salon business plan helps.

A quick budget checklist

• Add up one-time costs (fit-out, equipment, deposit, branding, software, marketing, stock).
• Calculate monthly running costs and multiply by your number of buffer months.
• Verify prices with local suppliers, not from guesswork.
• Set the price list to cover both costs and profit.
• Switch on online booking before you open.

Opening a salon isn't about one big number — it's about two pockets and the cushion between them. Build your own table from local quotes, add the buffer, and you'll have a budget that carries you through a slow start.