What kind of beauty business can I start?
- Hair salon or barbershop: cuts, colour, braiding, treatments
- Nail bar: manicures, pedicures, gel and acrylics
- Beauty and skin-care salon: facials, waxing, lashes and brows
- Mobile beauty: going to clients' homes, events and weddings
- Chair or room rental: renting space in an existing salon as an independent
Mobile services and chair rental let you start with less money and build clients before opening your own salon.
How do I start a beauty salon in South Africa?
- Choose your services and target clients
- Decide on your model: mobile, home-based, chair rental or own premises
- Register the business and tax
- Check zoning, business licence and health requirements with your municipality
- Buy equipment and products, and set up hygiene procedures
- Set your prices and booking system
- Market to your first clients and ask for reviews
How much does it cost to start a salon?
| Cost item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Premises | Rent and deposit, or chair rental fees; none for mobile |
| Fit-out | Basins, chairs, stations, lighting, plumbing, ventilation |
| Equipment | Dryers, clippers, steamers, sterilisers, nail stations |
| Products | Professional products for services and retail stock |
| Approvals | Zoning, business licence and inspections where required |
| Booking and payments | Booking app, card machine |
| Marketing | Signage, social media, opening specials |
Do I need a licence to open a salon?
Requirements are set mainly by your municipality and differ from area to area. Check:
- Zoning: the property must allow a salon. Running one from home may need consent from the municipality, especially if clients visit or you employ staff.
- Business licence: some municipalities require a business licence for hairdressing and beauty services under the Businesses Act.
- Health and hygiene: environmental health officers may inspect for clean water, hand-washing facilities, sterilisation of tools, waste disposal and ventilation.
- Signage: outdoor signs usually need approval.
What hygiene standards should a salon follow?
Sterilise or disinfect tools between clients, use single-use items where appropriate, keep work surfaces clean, store chemicals safely, and make sure staff wash their hands and wear gloves where needed. Good hygiene protects clients and is one of the main things clients notice and review.
What tax and labour rules apply?
Register for income tax, and for VAT once taxable turnover exceeds R2.3 million in 12 months (from 1 April 2026). If you employ staff, register for UIF, PAYE where it applies and COIDA, and pay at least the national minimum wage (R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026), or more where a bargaining council for hairdressing applies in your area. Chair renters are usually independent businesses responsible for their own tax.
How do I price salon services?
Price each service from the products used, the time it takes, your rent and overheads, and your margin. Long services such as braiding need prices that reflect the hours involved. Publish a clear price list and charge separately for extras. See how to price your services.
How do I get clients for my salon?
| Approach | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Instagram, TikTok and Facebook | Show your work with real before-and-after photos |
| Google Business Profile | Appear in local "salon near me" searches |
| Online booking and WhatsApp | Make it easy to book and rebook |
| Loyalty and referral offers | Turn first-time clients into regulars |
| Partnerships | Wedding planners, photographers, gyms and offices |
What are the common mistakes?
- Signing a lease before checking zoning and approvals
- Under-pricing long services
- Poor hygiene, which quickly leads to bad reviews
- No booking system, so clients are lost to no-shows and double bookings
- Mixing personal and business money
How can Uminathi help?
You can do these steps yourself. Uminathi can register your business, sort out tax, and build a website with online booking.
Step by step
- Choose services and model. Decide what you offer and whether you will work mobile, from home, from a rented chair or your own premises.
- Register business and tax. Register a company or trade as a sole proprietor, and register with SARS.
- Check municipal requirements. Confirm zoning, business licence, health inspection and signage rules.
- Equip and set hygiene procedures. Buy equipment and products and set up sterilisation and cleaning routines.
- Set prices and bookings. Price from your costs and set up a booking and payment system.
- Get clients. Market on social media and Google, and build repeat business with rebooking and referrals.