How much does it cost to rent a chair at a salon?
Is your intuition telling you to rent a chair at a salon? Not sure what this move entails financially? You’re definitely not alone! Many stylists and other beauty professionals have difficulty putting an actual figure on starting with a rental space and having their own dedicated spot to conduct business.
Before you go for it and tell your clients your services are now available in a different location, give this blog a read. Take a closer look at what you need to fork out for, what to check before signing the agreement, and how much to pay for the rent.
Rental fee vs. Commission
Let’s break down what may constitute salon chair rental costs. In most cases, you will be offered these three types of deals when approaching a salon owner or operator.
Percentage of your earnings
In this case, you’ll give the salon owner a cut of what you make. For example, if your contract is based on a 70/30 split and you earn $100 a day, you’ll only keep $70 to yourself. If the split is 40/60, you’d keep $40 and hand over $60. You’ve got the math.
Fixed rental fee
If you sign the contract based on a fixed fee, you’ll pay an unchangeable sum – say $200 a week or $800 a month – no matter how much you make from clients. It couldn’t be easier to budget and plan for, but you should invest more time predicting how you will cover that fee on sick days or slower weeks.
Combination of a percentage and a fixed fee
This model is rare, but it still occurs. It entails that a beauty professional pays a small regular fee for renting a facility plus a percentage of their earnings. Depending on your customer flow, this model may result in hefty costs.
Signing the salon chair rental contract
Even if you don’t have any prior experience in signing contracts, you can always discuss unclear or arguable points in the document with the property owner. This will make things run smoothly and allow you to avoid setbacks later.
Here are some key things to look over in your salon chair rental contract:
- Length. How long will this arrangement last? Setting a clear timeframe helps everyone know what to expect.
- Working hours. Define when you’re allowed to work to keep expectations clear about your schedule and the flexibility for your business.
- Disciplinary action. You must know what happens if either contract party doesn’t follow the rules. Outline a fair process for handling issues.
- Sickness or vacation. Discuss whether your rental fees will change when you’re away on sick days, maternity/paternity leave, or vacation.
- Supplies and equipment. Make sure the contract specifies who is responsible for supplies, tools, and equipment.
- Product sales. If you sell beauty products, discuss how your sales can be arranged. The salon operator may want to take an extra cut from additional revenue sources.
- Location-specific details. Find out practical things like how noisy the place is at different times, parking options, and the ease of getting to the salon.
You don’t want to plunge into the unknown. Scrutinize all the contract terms and talk through all business aspects before signing on the dotted line.
Taxes and insurance
Once you’re a self-employed hairdresser or lash tech, you handle your own taxes and insurance. Be ready to spend some time finding a good plan for salon chair rentals to fit your budget and cover your needs.
Explore coverage options that include public liability, treatment liability, and product liability insurance. In that case, if an accident happens at your workspace or something goes wrong with a product you use or sell, you’ll be financially protected.
When it comes to taxes, as a self-employed pro, you’ll need to pay both federal self-employment and state taxes. Most beauticians usually set aside money during the year for these taxes after sorting out essential business expenses. You can also claim deductions and reduce what you owe in some cases.
What else can you get from a chair rental at a salon?
We all love extra perks. Here are some from Optima:
- Flexibility. As long as the salon is open, you pick when and how much you work. Depending on your deal, you can even access the facility outside of regular hours.
- Environment. Working solo may feel lonely. Salon chair rentals mean you’re around other talented specialists, which is great for sharing ideas and meeting clients in a lively setting.
- Opportunity. The more foot traffic you see during busy days, the more clients you can attract to expand your services.
- Marketing and promotions. When the salon operator does their own marketing, you can benefit from that exposure. For example, Optima is serious about marketing for all our locations and offers a free app for renters and their clients.
- PPE and hygiene. Sharing a space means sharing responsibility for keeping it safe and clean. Often, you’ll get personal protective equipment to maintain the required hygiene standards.
With Optima, you can rent a salon chair for makeup, hairstyling, eyelash, nail, and other services. We share all beauty passions here in the US!
How much does it cost?
A quick calculation: If you rent a chair for $295 per week in California and work Monday through Friday, your daily rental fee is $59. If you’re a hairdresser and serve at least four clients a day, you can definitely make your chair rental at a salon work, considering an average haircut cost in California is $50-$120 and that the profit potential for extensions and coloring is huge.
Choose your location and how much space you need for your services and, possibly, sales. Our suites start from 90 sq. ft. You can rent a salon chair alone or in partnership with other specialists while having exclusive access to the Optima Booking app and marketing. We don’t charge any commissions and offer fixed contracts that are a win-win for everyone.