What a minute in the chair costs
Add up what the shop costs in a month: rent, electricity and water, products, equipment, software, and the pay of anyone not paid per service. Divide it by the minutes the chairs are actually booked in a month, not the minutes the shop is open. That is your cost per minute.
The formula: cost per minute, duration and margin
Multiply the cost per minute by how long the service takes. That chair cost, the barber's share and the margin the shop needs to grow must all come out of the price. Then round to a price that is easy to say.
A worked example
Monthly costs of 6,000 in your currency over 6,000 booked minutes is 1 a minute, so a 40-minute cut costs 40 in chair time. If the barber takes 40% of the price and the shop wants a 20% margin, 40% of the price is left for the chair: the cut costs 100.
| Service | Minutes | Chair cost | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | 40 | 40 | 100 |
| Beard | 20 | 20 | 50 |
| Cut and beard | 60 | 60 | 150 |
The figures are an example: use your own costs, your own minutes and your own currency.
How to show the price list
- The same prices everywhere: the board at the counter, your booking page and your messages.
- Each service with its duration, so the client knows what they are booking.
- No hidden extras: if a product or a wash costs more, say so on the list.
When and how to raise prices
Review the list when your costs move, or when your chairs are full most of the week; that is the sign demand allows it. Announce the new prices a few weeks ahead and keep the change round and easy to explain.
Questions
How much should I charge for a haircut?
Enough to cover what each minute in the chair costs, what the barber receives and the margin the shop needs. Work it out from your own costs; the price at the shop next door is a reference, not a formula.
How often should I raise my prices?
When your costs rise or your chairs are full most of the week. Announce it ahead and keep the new prices round.
Should the price list show how long each service takes?
Yes. The client knows what they are booking, and the appointment book reserves the right amount of time.