Your own neighborhood barber shop
Lease a small storefront, set up a few chairs and build a local shop with a team of barbers.
- $15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
7,789 US businesses with employees in this field, +5.8% in a year
NAICS 812111 “Barber shops”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small storefront barber shop with two to four chairs, where you cut hair yourself and may rent chairs to or employ other barbers. You run the bookings, supplies and shop licensing.
Your first three steps
- Check your state board for shop license rules and your city for zoning and business license requirements
- Scout storefronts with foot traffic and get a lease quote, then build a startup budget including chairs, mirrors, sinks and signage
- Form an LLC, get an EIN and line up barbers who would bring clients or rent chairs
Who pays
Local men and boys who want regular cuts and shaves, plus walk-in customers passing by.
How it makes money
Income from your own services and retail products, plus chair rent or a share of services from other barbers, after paying rent and supplies.
Skills that help
- Strong barbering skills
- Managing people and schedules
- Basic bookkeeping
- Local marketing
Watch out for
- Shops usually need a state establishment license and inspections, and barbers need individual licenses, check your state board
- Workers' compensation insurance once you hire employees, plus general liability coverage
- Lease commitments are a big risk if the shop is slow to fill
- Check sales tax registration if you sell products like pomade
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: your own neighborhood barber shop
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a barber shop?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your premises, number of chairs and equipment. Lease commitments are a big risk if the shop is slow to fill, so check terms carefully.
What licenses do I need to open a barber shop?
Shops usually need a state establishment license and inspections, and barbers need individual licenses, so check your state board. Also check workers' compensation insurance once you hire employees, plus sales tax registration if you sell products like pomade.
How much can a barber shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on chairs, prices and how quickly the shop fills. Expect to spend at least about 40 hours a week running it.
Other ways to run this business
Rent a chair and build your own barber clientele
Rent a chair in an existing shop and run your own client book, with low startup costs.
- $1k-4k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Mobile barber who visits clients
Bring cuts and shaves to homes, offices, care homes and events with a portable kit.
- $800-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
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Photo: louiscarter196 on Pixabay