Nowadays, when there are almost no completely free niches in business, it is extremely difficult to come up with something that will be as unusual and original as possible. Another 20-25 years ago, everything was much easier with this. An unsuspecting consumer could be interested quite easily. Many niches were empty, so novice entrepreneurs had a good chance of opening a profitable business, because without active competition it was much easier to do it. Over time, you could become a leader in a particular field.
Barbershops have made a breakthrough in the beauty industry relatively recently. They are a kind of analogue of beauty salons, but exclusively for a male audience. In the West, they have existed for more than a decade, but here they appeared quite recently. In large cities there are now a lot of them, and in small settlements this is a great option for a start if you are thinking about stopping working for someone and starting your own business. Where to start? What will you need? What income can you expect? In this article we will try to answer all these questions.
Why is a barbershop a good business idea?
Firstly, every year the fashion for a well-groomed appearance ceases to be an exclusively female attribute. Men are increasingly becoming interested in the beauty industry. A suitable haircut, good styling, a well-groomed beard are what make men more attractive in the eyes of women.
Secondly, in most such places you can not only get a haircut and trim your beard, which is currently in fashion, but also get certain other personal care services, such as hair removal, selection of suitable men's cosmetics, etc. This makes such establishments even more popular.
Thirdly, the prices for services in barbershops are much higher than in regular hair salons, which has a positive effect on the income from such a business. This is due to the higher quality of service, individual approach and the special atmosphere of a men's club, where you can not only improve your appearance, but also have a pleasant time in a male company with interesting conversations on men's topics. Where to start?
First stage: market analysis and concept selection
Target audience
The barbershop's main customers are men aged 20 to 45. These are often people who value style, comfort, and quality service.
Concept
You can choose a classic barbershop in a retro style like in the USA, a modern establishment with a minimalist design, or something original and interesting. Why not show your imagination?!
Location
Remember that a good location is 50% of success. It is important that the barbershop is located in an area of active traffic: near office centers, residential complexes, shopping malls or popular retail outlets.
Second stage: drawing up a business plan
You can't do without it. It's important to calculate and think everything through, and it shouldn't be in your head, but on paper with specific, or at least approximate, numbers.
Opening costs:
- Renting a space - on average, this can range from 15,000 to 50,000 UAH per month, depending on the city and district.
- Renovation and design - to create a beautiful interior, you need to invest from 100,000 UAH (building materials and work). If you can't come up with everything yourself, then be prepared to also spend money on an interior designer - this is another about 10,000 UAH.
- Purchase of equipment - basic tools: hairdressing chairs, furniture, mirrors, hair clippers, trimmers, scissors, cosmetics. The total cost is from 50,000 UAH per workplace.
- Marketing - to get started, you need to allocate at least UAH 20,000 for advertising and promotion on the Internet. Don't forget about outdoor advertising, such as a signboard, etc.
Further costs:
- Barber salaries are one of the largest expenses. Barbers usually receive a flat rate or percentage of their services.
- Expenses for utilities, further purchases of consumables and cosmetics.
Income
This is the most interesting thing, isn't it? Let's count! The average check in a barbershop is 300–700 UAH (again, depending on the city, popularity of the establishment, prices, etc.). With daily service to 15–20 clients, income can reach 100,000–300,000 UAH per month.
Third stage: legal aspects
Don't forget about the various bureaucratic nuances and subtleties. You can't just start working. You have to formalize everything. What exactly is needed?
- Register a business. This can be a sole proprietorship or LLC, depending on the scale. An interesting solution is to buy a ready-made franchise. We recommend considering this option.
- Obtain permits from fire and sanitation services, consumer protection, labor protection inspection, tax and other authorities.
- Sign a rental agreement for the premises.
- Register employees.
Stage four: finding a space and renovating
You need to carefully consider the various available commercial real estate options in your city. Do not rush into buying a property. In the early stages, it is better to simply rent the premises. This is especially important if you do not have a very large budget or do not want to take additional risks with your money. The premises for a barbershop should be convenient for customers and meet all sanitary and technical standards. When considering different options, take into account the specifics of the business. Remember that the premises will need to be decorated so that it looks attractive.
If we talk about repairs, then it all depends on the concept you choose. You should not spend a lot of money on decor. Yes, the design should be interesting, but this is not home repairs. Do not forget that clients will come here for a haircut. That is why it is more rational to buy high-quality equipment, for example, clippers and trimmers from manufacturers such as Wahl, Moser, BaByliss, Andis, cosmetics from famous and time-tested brands, for example, American Crew (USA) Dapper Dan (UK), Reuzel (Netherlands), Uppercut (Australia), Nishman (Turkey).
Stage Five: Marketing and Promotion
Don't underestimate the importance of advertising and promoting your brand. What are the options? Here are a few directions that will give you the results you need:
First, use all the social media and messengers available to you, such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.. Don't forget about YouTube.
Secondly, use targeted advertising on social networks and Google Ads. It is better to entrust this to professionals, because there are nuances and subtleties. Such services are not very expensive today, but it will be much more useful than trying to do it yourself if you do not have the appropriate theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Third, think about promotions that will interest potential clients. For example, offer discounts for first visits, free styling, or other bonuses for new clients.
A few useful tips that will come in handy for you
Many people completely forget about a number of little things that at first glance seem completely unimportant, but in fact turn out to be quite significant.
1. Pay attention to the little things:
- Why not offer waiting customers coffee? It should be of high quality.
- Regularly order magazines so that customers don't get bored and those who don't like to talk a lot can read something interesting, for example, on the topic of sports, cars, men's fashion, etc.;
- Provide free Wi-Fi. This will create additional comfort for customers.
2. Follow customer reviews online
Try to respond to them regularly. For positive reviews, a banal response will suffice: “Thank you for your feedback. Your rating is important to us. Come back again!” Respond to negative reviews depending on the situation. If the criticism is constructive, take the comments into account and constantly improve the quality of service.
3. Follow industry fashion trends
We recommend subscribing to the social media pages and YouTube channels of popular barbers from the United States of America, because they are the ones who set the trend.
Let's summarize the above:
A barbershop is a business with great potential, but only if you approach the matter wisely and think everything through. Drawing up a business plan will help you calculate approximate expenses and plan everything in advance. With the right approach, a barbershop can pay for itself within one to two years. A successful establishment can bring in from 50,000 to 200,000 UAH of net profit per month, depending on the number of clients, pricing policy and expenses. The main points that are important to pay attention to and useful tips have been voiced in this text. You can safely take them into "armament".
