Barber Shops Revenue Benchmarks
The average barber shops business in the United States generates $325K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 6,157 barber shops businesses in the U.S., employing 26,118 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $37K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Barber Shops Business Actually Do?
Traditional and modern barber shops focused on men's grooming — haircuts, beard trims, hot-towel shaves. Modern shops often blend traditional craft with premium experience.
Who buys: Men on 2–6 week haircut cycles; a small share of women preferring shorter styles.
Average Revenue
$325K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$77K
per year
Total Businesses
6,157
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$26K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$37K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.9
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Barber Shops Charge?
Barber shops charge per service with add-on beard trims and hot-towel shaves.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Standard haircut | $20–45 |
Premium barber shop haircut | $40–90 |
Beard trim | $15–35 |
Hot-towel shave | $25–60 |
Kid's cut | $15–30 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete barber shops business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a barber shops business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the barber shops industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $53K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $123K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $35K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $18K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $70K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $26K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
15.3%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.36%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.18%
annual
Businesses Closed
13,322
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Barber Shops Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
69 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a barber shops business do?
- Traditional and modern barber shops focused on men's grooming — haircuts, beard trims, hot-towel shaves. Modern shops often blend traditional craft with premium experience. Men on 2–6 week haircut cycles; a small share of women preferring shorter styles.
- How much do barber shops charge?
- Barber shops charge per service with add-on beard trims and hot-towel shaves. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average barber shops make per year?
- The average barber shops business generates $325K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $26K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many barber shops businesses are there in the US?
- There are 6,157 barber shops businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 26,118 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a barber shops business?
- Startup costs for a barber shops business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
- What is the average salary in the barber shops industry?
- The average employee in the barber shops industry earns $37K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The barber shops industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (15.3% entry vs 11.4% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 55% of barber shops businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 13,322 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the barber shops industry earns $37,431/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 7,728 establishments employing 33,534 people, the typical business has about 4 employees. Most businesses in this industry are small operations — often owner-operated with minimal staff.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The barber shops industry has grown 70% since 2000 (from 73,946 to 125,871 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Barber Shops revenue with other industries: