How and when should I raise my salon prices?
Let your book tell you, then raise where it counts.
Raise prices when your best stylists are booked out, when a service earns less per hour than the rest of your menu, or when wages and product costs have gone up since your last change. Raise the services that take the most chair time for the least money first, give clients a few weeks of notice, and check your numbers again after a month.
Three signs it is time
- The book is full weeks out. If clients wait two or three weeks for a stylist, that stylist's time is worth more.
- Long services earn less per hour. A four-hour color that earns less per hour than a cut and gloss is underpriced for the chair time it uses.
- Costs moved and the menu did not. Minimum wage, color, foils and rent go up most years.
Price by the hour, not the ticket
| Service | Price | Chair time | Per hour |
| Cut and style | $75 | 1 hr | $75 |
| Gloss add-on | $35 | 0.5 hr | $70 |
| Full balayage | $260 | 4.5 hr | $58 |
| Extensions install | $420 | 6 hr | $70 |
Made-up menu. The balayage has the biggest ticket but earns the least per hour of chair time, so it is the first to look at.
How to do it kindly
- Raise a few services, not the whole menu at once.
- Tier by stylist level so newer stylists stay an option for price-sensitive clients.
- Give clients 30 days of notice in person, by text or on your booking page.
- Keep the message short: costs went up and you want to keep quality where it is.
- After a month, check revenue per labor hour and rebooking. A few lost clients is normal if profit goes up.
Quick answers
When should a salon raise prices?
When stylists are booked out weeks ahead, when a service earns less per hour of chair time than the rest of the menu, or when wages, product and rent have risen since the last change. Many salons review prices about once a year.
How much should I raise salon prices?
Many salons raise in small steps, often a few dollars or about 5 to 10 percent on chosen services. Start with the services that earn the least per hour of chair time.
How do I tell clients about a salon price increase?
Give about 30 days of notice in person, by text or on your booking page. Keep it short and honest, and offer a newer stylist for clients who want a lower price.
How do I find which salon services are underpriced?
Divide each service's price by the chair time it really takes. Tangled Analytics shows revenue per labor hour by service, day and stylist from your booking export. Start with the free profit snapshot at tangleddata.com.