Opening a barbershop
A barbershop is one of the easiest businesses to start if you know how to cut: small investment compared with a bar, little stock and customers who come back every 3–5 weeks.
How much it costs
Depending on the location and the state of the premises, figures of €15,000 to €50,000 are quoted. A realistic example in a medium-sized town, in a premises that was already a shop:
Example monthly fixed costs
Rent: €800 · Self-employed fee: €80 the first year, then about €300
Electricity, water, internet: €250 · Insurance: €50 · Gestoría: €100
Products and towels: €300 · Booking app and card terminal: €50 · Other: €150
Total: about €1,800–2,000 a month without employees.
Electricity, water, internet: €250 · Insurance: €50 · Gestoría: €100
Products and towels: €300 · Booking app and card terminal: €50 · Other: €150
Total: about €1,800–2,000 a month without employees.
What you need to know
- You don’t need an official qualification to open a barbershop, but you do need to be very good: your work is your advertising.
- It usually opens with a prior notification to the town hall. Keep hygiene: sterilise tools, clean towels and labelled products.
- Renting a chair to another barber can help pay the rent, but put it in writing and make sure they are registered.
- Online bookings and a Google Maps listing with good photos and reviews will bring you many of your new customers.
Do the maths: at €15 a cut (without VAT) and about €2,000 in costs, you need about 7 customers a day not to lose money and about 11 to pay yourself a wage. If that is not realistic in your area, change the plan before opening. Try it in the calculator.