Daily Opening Checklist for a Barbershop

A shop that opens the same way every day runs more smoothly, trains staff faster, and makes fewer client-facing mistakes. The opening checklist is one of the first systems every barbershop should have in writing.

This list covers the 15-point standard that applies to most barbershops. Customize it to your specific services and layout.

Why a Written Checklist Matters

Verbal instructions produce inconsistent results. A barber who has been shown the opening procedure three times may miss different items each day. A written checklist makes the standard explicit and gives you a document to reference when correcting performance.

When you have staff, the checklist also protects you during staff transitions. A new hire can follow the checklist independently rather than requiring supervision for every task. That saves owner time every single day the shop is open.

The 15-Point Daily Opening Checklist

Sanitation and cleanliness

1. Disinfect all barber stations: Wipe down the counter surface, mirror, and chair with a barbicide-approved disinfectant. Not a quick wipe. A proper wipe-down that covers the full surface, including edges and crevices.
2. Disinfect all tools: Clippers, trimmers, and scissors should be cleaned and in disinfectant solution from the night before. Confirm all tools are submerged properly or have been sprayed and dried according to your disinfectant protocol.
3. Replace neck strips, disposables, and blade guards: Restock disposable items at every station. Running out mid-service is a preventable problem.
4. Check and restock the washroom: Soap, paper towels, toilet paper. Clients notice a restroom that is not maintained.
5. Sweep or vacuum the floor: The floor collects hair from the previous day's close. Even if it was swept at night, check it before opening. Hair on the floor when the first client arrives is a first impression problem.

Equipment check

6. Test all clippers and trimmers: Turn on every clipper and trimmer. Confirm they run smoothly and the blades are sharp. A clipper that starts pulling or snagging during a service is a frustrating and avoidable problem.
7. Check hot towel cabinet temperature: If your shop uses a hot towel cabinet, it should be at temperature when the first client arrives. This takes 15 to 20 minutes to heat up, so turn it on before opening.
8. Check product levels at all stations: Shave foam, beard oil, clipper oil, edge gel. Restock before the day starts rather than sending someone to the supply room between clients.
9. Check and start any booking or POS systems: Confirm the booking software is loaded, appointments for the day are visible, and the POS is operational. A crashed system at check-out is a friction point that costs you in client experience.

Station setup

10. Arrange tools by station: Every barber should have their tools at their station before the first client. A barber who walks away from a client in the chair to get a trimmer from a bag signals disorganization.
11. Check that all chairs are clean and adjusted: The chair height and headrest should be ready for the first client. A sticky chair lever that jams mid-service is a small but memorable annoyance.
12. Confirm capes and neck strips are stocked at each station: Each station should have enough capes for a full morning without resupply.

Client readiness

13. Review the day's appointments: Who is the first client? What service? Any notes from previous visits? Knowing who you are expecting and what they want before they arrive lets you greet them by name and set up accordingly.
14. Check for cancellations or changes since last night: Online booking platforms allow last-minute changes. Review the schedule before opening so you are not surprised.
15. Open the front door exactly at your listed hours: Consistency in opening time is a trust signal. A shop that opens at 9 some days and 9:15 others erodes client confidence in the business. If your hours say 9am, open at 9am.

How to Implement This in Your Shop

Print the checklist and post it in the back room or staff area. Create a simple sign-off procedure: the person responsible for opening checks each item and marks it complete. Review the checklist with staff monthly, not just during onboarding. Standards slip without reinforcement.

The checklist should take 20 to 30 minutes to complete properly. If someone is completing it in 5 minutes, it is being checked off without being done.

Building Barbershop Systems Beyond the Checklist

The opening checklist is one piece of a fully systematized barbershop. Shops that run on clear, written procedures retain staff longer, make fewer operational errors, and give owners the ability to step back from daily execution.

CADMEN's online business coaching program is built for shop owners who want the full operational framework: staffing, retention systems, pricing, and the procedural backbone that CADMEN used to run multiple award-winning GTA locations. The program is $4,000 USD.

Inquiry at academy.cadmen.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be on a barbershop opening checklist?

A barbershop opening checklist should cover sanitation (disinfect stations, tools, and floor), equipment check (test clippers, hot towel cabinet, POS), station setup (tools arranged, capes stocked), and client readiness (review schedule, check for cancellations, open on time). A 15-item checklist completed in 20 to 30 minutes is standard for most barbershops.

How do you disinfect a barber station?

Wipe down the counter, mirror, and chair with a Barbicide-approved or equivalent hospital-grade disinfectant. Tools should be in a disinfectant solution (Barbicide or similar) between clients or sprayed with a clipper disinfectant spray and allowed to air dry. Check your provincial regulations for specific requirements, as disinfection standards may vary by province and are monitored by public health inspectors.

How long should a barbershop opening take?

A thorough opening following a 15-point checklist should take 20 to 30 minutes. If your shop requires a longer setup (more stations, additional services like hot towels or shaving), budget 30 to 45 minutes. Rushing the opening creates client-facing problems during the day that take more time to manage than the few minutes saved.

Should barbershop barbers follow the same opening checklist?

Yes. Every person with opening responsibilities should follow the same checklist. Different staff members doing different versions of the opening creates inconsistency in cleanliness standards and station setup. The checklist is the standard; the standard applies to everyone.

What are the most common opening mistakes in barbershops?

The most common ones: not checking tool sharpness before the first client, running out of disposables or products mid-morning, not reviewing the day's schedule before clients arrive, and opening late or inconsistently. All four are solved by a written checklist followed without shortcuts.