How Much Does It Cost to Open a Salon? Hair, Nail and Beauty Salon Startup Costs Explained
How much it costs to start a hair salon, nail salon or beauty salon
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Opening a salon can cost from a few thousand dollars (booth rental or a salon suite with your own tools) to roughly $50,000–$150,000+ for a small full-service salon, and more for large or luxury salons. The biggest variables are rent and build-out (especially plumbing for shampoo stations and ventilation for nail services), equipment, and working capital to cover costs while your client base grows. Costs vary widely by city and design.
Rough startup cost by model
| Model | Rough startup cost |
|---|---|
| Booth/chair rental | ~$1,000–$10,000 (tools, products, licences, booking software) |
| Salon suite | ~$5,000–$25,000 (deposit, furnishing, products) |
| Home or mobile salon | ~$5,000–$30,000 (compliance, equipment, vehicle setup for mobile) |
| Small hair or nail salon | ~$50,000–$150,000 |
| Full-service/luxury salon or spa | $150,000–$500,000+ |
Illustrative ranges; get local quotes.
Cost breakdown
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Lease | Deposit, first months' rent |
| Build-out | Plumbing, electrical, ventilation, flooring, lighting, mirrors, signage |
| Equipment | Styling chairs, stations, shampoo units, dryers, nail tables, pedicure chairs, sterilisation |
| Licences and insurance | Salon licence, business registration, liability and property insurance |
| Software and tech | Booking/POS software, website (see How to make a booking website), Wi-Fi, sound |
| Initial inventory | Professional and retail products |
| Branding and marketing | Logo, photos, website, opening promotions |
| Staff | Hiring, training, pre-opening wages |
| Working capital | 3–6 months of expenses |
Monthly running costs
Rent, payroll or commission, products, utilities, software subscriptions, insurance, laundry, marketing and card fees.
Nail salon specifics
Nail salons need ventilation for fumes, pedicure chairs (with plumbing), nail tables, UV/LED lamps and strict sanitation. (Starting one: How to start a nail business.)
Ways to open for less
- Start with booth rental or a suite
- Take over a former salon with existing plumbing
- Buy used equipment
- Phase services (add colour bar or spa later)
- Pre-sell packages and memberships
- DIY social media marketing at first
(Steps: How to start a hair salon. Income: How much do salon owners make?)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to open a salon?
From a few thousand dollars for booth rental or a suite to roughly $50,000–$150,000+ for a small full-service salon, and more for large salons.
How much does it cost to start a hair salon?
A small hair salon commonly costs tens of thousands to over $100,000 depending on location, build-out and equipment.
How much does it cost to open a nail salon?
Similar ranges to small hair salons; ventilation and pedicure plumbing can add significant cost.
What is the biggest cost of opening a salon?
Usually rent and build-out, particularly plumbing and electrical work.
Can I open a salon with no money?
It's hard, but booth rental, salon suites, used equipment, loans and pre-selling services can minimise upfront costs.
How long until a salon is profitable?
Often months to a couple of years depending on client base, pricing, rent and staffing.
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Start a conversationWritten by Sachin Rawat
AI & automation engineer · websites, apps and motion design
I build AI agents, automations, websites, apps and motion design for businesses. These guides answer the questions people actually search, written from hands-on experience building them.
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