Become an independent beauty professional with beauty salon booth rental

If you’re a beauty professional working at a salon for commissions, you’re probably frustrated by how much of your earnings are slipping out of your hands. Professionals like you pay anywhere between 40-59% in commissions to salons. Now that’s a huge amount! 

But here’s the thing – if you’re craving independence and more earnings, you should consider beauty salon booth rental. 

Working with a commission salon indeed has its advantages, especially if you’re a beginner and do not have a steady clientele. It can also double up as a great foundation for learning on the job. In some cases, you will be able to leverage employee benefits and insurance when you work with a team. 

However, a beauty salon booth rental or a hair salon booth rental can mean many things for you as a beauty professional. For one, you can be your own boss; nothing beats working independently! You can skip the whole salon drama and have your one-on-one private sessions with your guests, which allows for better customer service and building a salon culture that’s uniquely yours. 

More and more stylists in the U.S. now prefer working independently through salon booth rental over commissions. The trend is catching on in the U.K. as beauty professionals become increasingly familiar with the benefits of booth rental salon entrepreneurship.

If you’re thinking about beauty salon booth rental but wondering how to manage the business aspects of entrepreneurship, Zenoti’s salon software can help. 

When your hands are full with managing your guests and delivering the best customer service, it can be challenging to handle appointment bookings, finances, marketing, and other critical aspects of running your business. 

Zenoti’s growth software comes in handy for an independent beauty professional like you to automate key business responsibilities so that you can focus on your guests and offer the best services possible. 

Transform your beauty business with the power of automation! Learn more about how Zenoti's growth software can support you.

What is beauty salon booth rental?

Before you choose the best business model for your career as a beauty professional, here are some things you need to know about beauty or hair salon booth rental. 

The salon booth rental model allows beauty professionals like hairstylists, cosmetologists, make-up artists, and nail care professionals to rent a space, chair, or "booth" within a salon. 

This means they are not directly hired by the salon; instead, they work as independent contractors, paying a weekly or monthly fee to the salon owner. In exchange, they can access a dedicated space and shared resources like electricity, water, and equipment like sinks or styling chairs. However, they use their own products and smaller tools and equipment and enjoy complete entrepreneurial independence and exclusivity with their clients. 

Benefits of salon booth rental for independent stylists and salon owners 

The booth rental salon model is fantastic for stylists and beauty professionals who want to create an independent path for themselves in the beauty care business. It has several advantages compared to working within a salon on a commission basis or starting a full-fledged salon business. 

Benefits for independent stylists

• Lower startup costs: Opening a full-scale salon needs big investments in space, equipment, and payroll, not to forget, insurance, taxes, and other business expenses. With the beauty salon booth rental, you can kick off your business instantly without the overhead costs. 
• Independence and flexibility: With the booth rental salon model, you work for yourself! This means you enjoy greater flexibility in scheduling appointments, you can set your own hours, and basically have full control over your business. 
• Set your own benchmarks: When you’re the boss you know what kind of standards you want to set for yourself. You can do this by choosing products you like, creating an environment you prefer around your booth, and setting your customer service standards to suit your values. This lets you truly stand out from the others. 
• Save on resources: Salon booth rental allows you to share resources with the salon so that you don’t have to spend on amenities like a receptionist, water, electricity, and specific equipment, helping you save on resources. 
• Set your prices: The booth rental salon model lets you price your services based on your understanding of the type and quality of services you offer and the products you use. 
• Build and keep your clientele: Working independently allows you to bring your own clientele based on the unique services you offer or the product line you use. You can choose whom you want to work with and attract the right clients to grow your business. 

The salon booth rental model is, as a matter of fact, beneficial to salon owners too. Owning and running a salon business comes with its challenges and advantages, but renting out booths can help earn revenues without the excess baggage of managing the business singlehandedly. 

Curious about scaling your salon business? Discover Zenoti’s features designed to boost profitability

Benefits for salon owners

• Simplified management: When you rent out booths to independent beauty professionals, you don’t have to manage them directly, reducing the need for comprehensive supervision, and easing day-to-day operations. 
• Better reputation: A diverse group of stylists at your salon means you can offer different types of services and therefore attract more clients and be recognized for your versatile services. 
• Consistent income: With the salon booth rental model you are assured of monthly income without being dependent on sales. 
• Lower overhead expenses: The model allows you to eliminate expenses like payroll, health insurance, benefits, and even the frequent spending on products and smaller equipment. 

What to look for when renting a booth?

Are you ready to take the salon booth rental route? Here are a few things you must consider when renting a booth:

• Salon booth rental rates: It’s the most important aspect of renting a booth. The rates go up depending on where the salon is located. High-end areas will be more expensive. Review the rates carefully and any additional costs such as liability insurance, credit card processing fees, and equipment rental charges. Compare all these charges with your expected income to ensure you can manage the costs and make a profit. 
• Payment frequency: Check with the salon owner about a rental agreement where the frequency of payment is specified. Figure out if you’re comfortable with a weekly or monthly payment. Your earnings will be a good measure to make this decision. 
• Duration of rental: Make sure you discuss and agree with the salon owner on how long you plan to rent the booth. The rental rates may vary depending on how long you stay. However, make sure you consider the chances of finding good clientele. 
• Location: A good location is as important as a good list of clients. You don’t necessarily have to be located in a high-end neighborhood. But a good location can make or break your business. It should be a convenient location for your existing clients and allow you to attract new ones. 
• Amenities: Look for the right ambiance, facilities, and space where you can create your distinct salon service niche. Does it suit your aesthetics? Will you have the freedom to give the space your unique touch? 
• Salon reputation: You’d want to associate with a salon that has an established reputation in the neighborhood. When you work at a reputable salon with professional staff, it will reflect on your services and reputation too. 
• Level of autonomy: Review the salon’s policies and rules before you commit to a rental booth. Remember that you’re there for the independence and flexibility of the booth rental model, so make sure you get the level of autonomy you’re looking for. 

Where should I go to rent a booth?

To find salon booth rentals, you can check online classifieds like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace; salon job sites like BehindTheChair.com, SimplyHired, Indeed, and Salon Employment; and social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can also check out salon websites. Another way is to call ahead and visit salons to check if they offer booths for rent. 

In the U.K., you can look for salon booth rentals on job sites like Salon Employment, HairandBeautyJobs.com, and CV-Library. 

How much is a booth rent in a hair salon?

Hair salon booth rentals start around $250 a month and can go up to $1,000 a week, depending on the location of the salon. Before you rent a salon booth, carefully weigh the costs. Building a strong client base and establishing your reputation is essential when starting your own business. If you're a beginner in the industry, gaining experience at a salon on commission can be a great way to build your following. 

Conclusion

Starting on your own is a big decision and one that needs careful consideration. It’s an exciting journey, nonetheless, and Zenoti’s growth software can help bridge the gaps and provide the exact support you need to get started. Ask for a demo to learn how we can help. 

Find out how Zenoti streamlines salon management for independent stylists and salon owners alike.