Start with your salon
Starting a Barbershop in 2026: The Complete Guide
From your first haircut to a fully functioning barbershop. Everything you need to know about costs, permits and supplies when starting a barbershop in the Netherlands.
You’re sure. You want to start your own hairdressing salon. But where do you start?
💡 Tip From Salonora
Don’t start with the furnishings, but with a plan. Many starters take action immediately, while good preparation can save you thousands of euros. Please read this guide completely before making any decisions.
1. Create a business plan
A solid business plan is the foundation of every successful barbershop. It forces you to think about who your customers are, what you offer them and how you will make money. Banks and investors almost always ask for it, but it is especially valuable for you.
In any case, answer these questions in your business plan:
- Who is your ideal customer? (age, style, budget)
- What makes your barbershop different from the rest?
- How many customers do you need to break even?
- How are you going to attract new customers?
- What are your expected income and expenses in the first year?
A good business plan does not have to be dozens of pages. Even a clear five-page document with concrete figures and a well-thought-out strategy is enough to start with.
2. At home or on location?
One of the first big choices is: are you going to work from home, are you going to rent a space, or are you going to buy your own location? Each option has different financial and practical consequences.
Start your own hairdressing business at home
Starting from home is the cheapest option. You have no rental costs and your investment is minimal. Still, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
- ✅ Check whether your zoning plan allows this
- ✅ Inform your insurer about business use of your home
- ✅ Provide separate access for customers if possible
- ✅ Take parking for customers into account
Renting a business space
Renting your own retail space gives you more professionalism and visibility. You can create your own atmosphere and are not dependent on your home situation. Take into account a rental price of €800 to €2,500 per month, depending on location and surface area.
Important points to consider when renting:
- Duration of the rental contract (often at least 5 years)
- Service costs and additional charges
- Condition of the building and renovation costs
- Visibility and accessibility for customers
3. Starting a barbershop — the costs
How much does it cost to start a barbershop? That largely depends on your choices, but below you will find a realistic overview of the most common cost items.
| Cost item | Estimated costs |
|---|---|
| Chamber of Commerce registration | €50 |
| Equipment for hairdressing chair(s) | €1.500 – €4.000 |
| Equipment and tools | €800 – €2.500 |
| Renovation / adaptation space | €2.000 – €15.000 |
| Website and marketing | €500 – €2.000 |
| Insurance (first year) | €600 – €1.200 |
| First stock of products | €300 – €800 |
| Overall average | €5.750 – €25.550 |
💬 Customers must be able to find you. With Salonora you can be online within 10 minutes — including booking system, customer management and automatic reminders.
4. Supplies for a barbershop
What is the minimum equipment and materials you need? Below is an overview of the basic supplies for a professional hairdressing salon.
Furniture and furnishings:
- Hairdressing chairs (at least 1-2 before the start)
- Washbasin with chair
- Mirror(s) with lighting
- Waiting room with chairs
- Cash register system or tablet with accounting link
Tools and equipment:
- Professional hair clippers and scissors
- Hair dryers and straighteners
- Coloring and treatment materials
- Disinfectants and disposables
- Towels and washing capacity (washing machine)
💡 Tip
Buy second-hand hairdressing chairs or furnishings from the start. You save up to 60% on the purchase price and can invest the money in marketing and customer acquisition.
5. Laws and regulations for a barbershop
You must meet a number of legal requirements before you can receive customers. The most important points are listed below.
- Chamber of Commerce registration — Register your company with the Chamber of Commerce. This is mandatory for every entrepreneur in the Netherlands.
- Diploma and certificates — A recognized hairdressing diploma (SVH or MBO level 2/3) is required to work independently.
- Hygiene and safety rules — As a hairdresser you work with skin and hair. You are obliged to work in accordance with the RIVM guidelines for hygiene.
- Insurance — Take out professional liability insurance. This covers damage to customers due to your work.
- Municipal permit — Check with your municipality whether you need an environmental permit for your location.
- GDPR — Data — Store customer data in accordance with GDPR legislation. Do you have a digital booking system? Then also check the processing agreement.
⚠️ Please note!
Do you work with hair color products? Then you also fall under the rules for hazardous substances (REACH). Always keep the safety data sheets of the products you use.
6. Finding customers for your new barbershop
A barbershop without customers is not a barbershop. The first customers are always the hardest to find — but if you do it smart, you will grow quickly.
Proven customer acquisition strategies:
- Friends and family are the first customers — Invite them for a free or deeply discounted treatment in exchange for an honest Google review.
- Google My Business — Create a free profile immediately. Local searches such as “hairdresser in [your city]” bring in a lot of customers.
- Instagram and TikTok — Share results of haircuts and treatments. Visual proof works better than any other marketing tool in the hairdressing industry.
- Flyers nearby — Distribute flyers in the immediate area with an opening offer.
- Online booking system — Customers who can book directly online return faster and more often.
Salonora helps barber shop owners with this
With Salonora you can manage appointments, send automatic reminders and keep track of your client history — all in one place. This way you save time and you no longer lose a single customer due to a forgotten appointment.
Your checklist: starting your own hairdressing business
Use this checklist to keep track of what you have already arranged and what is still on your to-do list.
- ☐ Business plan written
- ☐ Chamber of Commerce registration arranged
- ☐ Location chosen and arranged
- ☐ Permits applied for
- ☐ Furnishings and equipment ordered
- ☐ Insurance taken out
- ☐ Google My Business created
- ☐ Online booking system active
- ☐ Social media profiles created
- ☐ First customers invited
The step that many starters take too late
Most new hairdressers focus entirely on the profession — and rightly so. But administration, customer management and marketing are often postponed for too long. Anyone who sets this up properly from day one will save themselves a lot of stress and lose less turnover.
A good software system is not a luxury but a must. It helps you appear more professional, schedule more appointments and keep customers coming back.
Ready to start your hairdressing business?
You now have everything you need to start well prepared. From business plan to customer acquisition — take the steps one by one and build a sustainable hairdressing business.
