Barber skills short courses and workshops

Hobbyists, apprentices, early-career barbers wanting to sharpen their skills, and shop owners who want to train their team.

A fee per student per class or per multi-week course, with extra income from tool kits and product sales.

• Strong, current barbering technique
• Clear teaching and patience with beginners
• Social media and local marketing
• Organising bookings and class materials

• Check with your provincial ministry for private career colleges whether short courses or anything called a certificate or diploma need registration
• Do not promise that a short course qualifies someone as a licensed or certified barber unless it does
• Commercial general liability insurance that covers teaching and practising on students or models
• Check hygiene rules for tools and any rules around practising on the public
• Demand can dip in winter and around holidays, so plan your calendar

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on whether you rent a chair space or studio, plus equipment, teaching materials and insurance.

Check with your provincial ministry for private career colleges whether short courses, or anything called a certificate or diploma, need registration. Do not promise a course qualifies someone as a licensed barber unless it does. Also check teaching insurance and hygiene rules for tools.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on class sizes and how often you run them. Plan for at least about 8 hours a week, and expect demand to dip in winter and around holidays.