How Much Does It Cost to Open a Barbershop? Real 2026 Numbers

Ask ten barbers what it cost to open their shop and you will hear very different numbers, and all of them can be true. What it costs to open your barbershop depends on your city, your space, your chair count and your standards.

This guide prices the part of the budget we can price exactly, the equipment, from our live catalog. For the rest (lease, build-out, licenses and insurance) it tells you what to plan for and where to get a local number, instead of guessing.

Prices as listed on modernstudiosupply.com, 7 Oct 2026.

The short answer: barbershop equipment cost at a glance

Package prices include curbside freight to your address. Want the equipment line for a different chair count? Our salon build-out cost calculator builds it from live catalog prices.

Barbershop equipment costs, item by item

If you would rather pick each piece yourself, here is what the main items cost in our catalog:

A useful rule of thumb from those prices: one working station (barber chair, styling station and mat) runs about $624 to $1,380, before the shared items like the backwash unit, reception desk and waiting seating. Freight on individual items is calculated at checkout.

One warning on chairs: a very cheap marketplace chair is not the same product as a commercial barber chair. The difference sits in the hydraulic pump, the steel in the base and the upholstery, which are the parts that take the wear of all-day use. Check the published weight rating and recline on the product page before you compare prices.

Packages for 1, 4, 6 and 8 stations

• 1 station, $1,149. The Barber Suite package for a rented suite.
• 4 stations, $4,595. The Essential package, the classic first shop.
• 6 stations, $9,795. The Pro package, with front of house.
• 8 stations, $15,495. The Premium package, with statement chairs and an LED reception desk.

Each build-out package has a fixed price with curbside freight to your address included, and ships as one consolidated freight delivery instead of many separate orders. If you want to swap a chair or add a station, ask for an itemized quote.

Build-out and renovation: the biggest variable

Nothing swings a barbershop budget like the condition of the space you lease, and it is the one line no catalog can price for you. A former salon or barbershop, with plumbing, drains and electrical already where you need them, may need little more than paint, flooring and fixtures. A raw retail shell may need new plumbing for backwash units, more electrical at every station, HVAC work and accessible restrooms.

• Lease a former salon or barbershop if you can. Inheriting plumbing is one of the biggest savings available to a new shop.
• Ask about a tenant improvement allowance. Some landlords contribute toward build-out, but only if you ask before you sign.
• Give your contractor the product specs before they bid. Backwash unit pages list published dimensions and what ships in the box, which helps your plumber quote the rough-in without guessing.

Licenses, insurance and the paperwork

Requirements vary by state, but most shops need a barber license for you or your manager, a shop license from your state barber board, a business entity, a local business license and a certificate of occupancy after build-out. Check your state board's rules before you sign a lease, because some states set requirements for the shop itself.

For insurance, plan on general liability, professional liability and property cover for your equipment, and workers' compensation if you hire employees. Get local quotes before you open.

The costs people forget

• Working capital. Keep enough in reserve to cover rent, utilities and payroll for the first few months while your book fills.
• Booking and point-of-sale software, usually a monthly fee plus card processing.
• Signage, including any permit your city requires.
• Tools and supplies: clippers, shears, capes, sanitation supplies and retail stock.
• Utility deposits and hookups, which often catch first-time commercial tenants off guard.

Is owning a barbershop profitable?

It can be. Haircuts are recurring revenue with local loyalty, and a shop earns from booth rent, commission or employee services, plus retail. Your numbers depend on your rent, your chair count and how full your book is, so build your own forecast rather than borrowing someone else's. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes earnings data for barbers if you want a national baseline.

How barbers pay for it

Few owners write one check for the whole build. A common mix is personal savings for the deposit and licenses and a small business loan for the build-out; the SBA's loan programs are a good place to start. For equipment, we offer flexible payment options, and larger orders can be quoted and paid by invoice.

Your barbershop startup checklist

1. Write your target number using the tables above, then add a contingency.
2. Scout spaces, prioritize former salons and barbershops, and ask every landlord about a tenant improvement allowance.
3. Check your state board's requirements before signing anything.
4. Price your equipment early so delivery fits your timeline.
5. Form the business, then secure licenses and insurance.
6. Schedule the build-out, then the equipment delivery, then inspections.
7. Open with operating cash in reserve.

Get your real number

Averages are for articles; your shop needs a quote. Tell us your station count and city, and we will send an itemized equipment quote. Start with our build-out packages or request a custom quote. Also see what it costs to open a nail salon.