Barber on a rented chair

Men and boys in the neighbourhood, including regulars who book every few weeks, plus walk-ins.

Price per cut or service, plus tips and add-ons like beard trims and shaves. You pay the shop a weekly or monthly chair rent and keep the rest.

• Clipper and scissor cutting, including fades
• Safe razor shaving and sanitation
• Friendly, reliable customer service

• Provincial licensing or trade certification rules vary, check with your provincial regulator
• Insurance: check whether the shop's cover includes you or whether you need your own liability policy
• Self-employed tax: check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold
• Read the rental agreement carefully for fees, notice periods and who owns the client relationship
• A thin client book in the first months can make chair rent hard to cover

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $1,000 to $4,000, depending on your tools and supplies. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $6,500, depending on how quickly you build your client book.

Provincial licensing or trade certification rules vary, so check with your provincial regulator. Also check whether the shop's insurance covers you or you need your own liability policy, GST/HST registration past the small supplier threshold, and the rental agreement's fees and notice periods.

Estimates suggest at least about 20 hours a week. You need clipper and scissor cutting including fades, safe razor shaving and sanitation, and friendly, reliable service. A thin client book early on can make chair rent hard to cover.