What Can You Earn Working as a Barber?

How much should you charge for a haircut? Whether you’re a beginner, experienced barber, or even dreaming of your own shop, we’ve got you covered. 

1. Beginner Barbers: Getting Started

Starting out as a beginner barber can be exciting but challenging. It's okay if you consider cutting hair for free at first to gain experience and build your skills. Your first ten haircuts might not be perfect, but that's part of the learning process. When you first start doing hair the initial few cuts you give will probably be to your friends and family, who are putting their hair in your hands for you to gain more experience, so be sure to show them your gratitude.

2. Working at a Barber Shop: Hourly Wage and Tips

As you gain confidence and proficiency, you might join a barbershop. At this stage, you'll likely earn an hourly wage, often minimum wage, and you get to keep the tips. It's a fair way to begin your barbering journey and gain valuable experience.

3. The Commission Route

Once you become a sought-after barber and your appointment book starts filling up, you can transition to a commission-based setup. This means you get a percentage of each haircut's price, which can be more rewarding than hourly pay. You'll earn more as you continue to bring in more clients. 

4. Chair Rental: Keeping the majority of the income

If you're super busy and have a loyal clientele, you might decide to rent a chair at the barbershop. This way, you keep most of the money you make from your haircuts. It's a great step toward financial independence and can be very profitable.

5. Becoming a Shop Owner

Now, if you've got big dreams of owning your own barbershop, that's fantastic! After about 1.5 years, once your shop becomes bustling with customers and you've built a team, you could be taking home a handsome income. On average, successful shop owners can make at least $120,000 a year. However, this depends on how well you run your business. If you are planning to open your own barbershop or have one and you're not keeping at least $120,000 per year as the owner, you're not doing it right. We do coaching for barbershop owners and help them grow. You can email us info@cadmen.ca