Industry
Opening a salon or beauty studio
Hair, nail, cosmetics or massage studios are personal services with a low entry barrier – but tight margins. Professional qualification and hygiene rules are central.
Legal form
Sole proprietorship for a solo business (chair-rental model), LLC from 2 people or a fixed shop location.
Capital need
CHF 20,000 – 80,000 depending on setup and location. Chair-rental model sometimes from CHF 5,000.
Regulation
What you need to know
Federal certificate or equivalent
A hairdressing certificate is advisable for collective-agreement businesses; SFPKS or SBK diplomas are common in beauty.
Hygiene rules
The cantonal laboratory checks sterilisation, disposal and water connections (especially for pedicures and piercing).
Hairdressing collective agreement
Minimum wages and working hours are generally binding – even for sole businesses with employees.
Product liability
For chemical treatments (colouring, permanent make-up), disclosure and documentation duties apply.
Cost blocks
Where the money goes
Equipment
Wash chairs, seats, dryers, tools: CHF 15,000 – 40,000 per workstation.
Product costs
10–15% of revenue for colours and care products.
Chair rental
Alternative to your own salon: CHF 800 – 2,500 per month, but less risk.
VAT & tax
Tax specifics
Services are subject to the standard VAT rate of 8.1%. Selling care products is also 8.1%.
Practical tips
What experienced founders do differently
- Adopt digital appointment management early on (e.g. Fresha, Treatwell) – cuts no-shows by 20–40%.
- Building a returning customer base in the first 6 months is decisive.
- Consider combined studios (hair + nails + cosmetics) to share fixed costs.