Hairdresser renting a salon chair

Your own regular clients, plus walk-ins and new customers who find the salon.

You keep the service income and pay a weekly or monthly chair rent, so earnings depend on how full your appointment book is.

• Cutting, colouring and styling
• Self-promotion and social media
• Managing your own bookings and money

• Read the rental agreement carefully, including notice periods, product rules and what happens if you are away
• Check how your province and the CRA treat self-employed chair renters versus employees
• Commercial general liability insurance, as the salon's cover may not include you
• Rent is due even in slow weeks, so keep a cash buffer
• You may need to register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $4,000, depending on your tools, products and deposit. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your client book and prices, before chair rent.

Read the agreement carefully, including notice periods, product rules and what happens if you are away. Also check how your province and the CRA treat self-employed chair renters versus employees, and whether you need to register for GST/HST.

Check for commercial general liability insurance, as the salon's cover may not include you. Rent is due even in slow weeks, so keep a cash buffer while you build your client book.