How to charge the right price as a Mobile Hairdresser

The very first step to growing your mobile hairdressing business is to charge correctly for all your services and ensure your services aren’t unnecessarily being discounted or undercharged.

To define your pricing in the best possible way, you should take into consideration these 3 elements:

• The required lowest price needed to cover all business overheads (travel, products, time)
• How your competitors’ price their services
• Your own level of experience

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How much should a self-employed hairdresser charge?

This is variable and depends on experience, how well established you are and where you are in the country. You may find it difficult to put your prices up later down the line, so you shouldn’t set it too low to begin with, even if initially your clients include just family and friends. However, as you gain experience working on your own and you build a loyal client base, you could increase your prices.

It’s best to do your research and find out what other self-employed hairdressers are charging in the area.

For example, outside of London, you would find hairdressers charge around £20 to £25 for a basic cut and style. If you’re working in London, the prices people expect to pay would be slightly higher.

You can choose two options when planning how to charge your clients:

Charging by time (Hourly pay)
An hourly rate can work well at ensuring that a freelance hair stylist is paid for all of the work that they carry out during a job. It is common for hair stylists to work overtime as their hours are very unpredictable. By charging by the hour, the hair stylist will be paid for every minute they work on the job.

Flat Rate
Flat rates are popular as they decrease the risk for the client. By giving a fixed fee before the job starts, both the hair stylist and the client know what is expected of them and there are no sneaky surprises that will affect the cost at the end.

You will find that majority of hairdressers choose to charge a flat rate fee.

It is also important to consider the overall costs of running your mobile hairdresser business. You can do this by using calculation tools.

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What expenses can I claim as a mobile hairdresser?

You should take into account things you will be able to claim back on your tax return when calculating the costs you charge as a mobile hairdresser, to keep your prices competitive. Claiming for everything you are entitled to could save you hundreds of pounds every year.

Some of the main deductions include:

Travel Expenses
If you need to travel for work, then you will be able to claim certain travel expenses against your profits on your tax return. You can claim travel costs as long as you are only including travel which is undertaken for work purposes. This could include visiting clients, travel to training events or even to the bank to deposit your takings.

Materials and Equipment
From basics, such as scissors, shampoo and a hairdryer, to more specialised colouring and styling equipment, it can all be included as expenses on your tax return.

Clothing
You may wear a uniform when you work, if so, you will be able to claim back the costs as a business expense. You can also claim for any protective clothing that you have to purchase for work such as aprons and gloves.

Training
Keeping your skills up to date and learning new ones is a vital part of being a self-employed hairdresser, so if you attend any training or complete any courses that are directly related to the running of your business, then these are also deductible.

Marketing and Advertising
If you do any advertising to promote your services, you will be able to claim back some of the expenses.

Insurance
Any hairdresser will need Hairdressing Insurance without exception, so it is always best to make sure you are covered to ensure that you aren’t left footing the bill if anything happens, plus you can deduct the cost of your insurance against tax.

By taking into account expenses, you would be able to work out how much to charge as a mobile hairdresser to stay competitive.

If you are looking for more information on expanding your business, you can find out more in our blog on How to attract more clients to your business.

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