How to Choose the Best Spot for Your Next Barber Shop.
10 December 2025
10 December 2025
You can be the best barber in town. Doesn't matter if no one can find you.
Location is everything. Get it wrong and you're fighting uphill from day one.
Get it right? Walk-ins, regulars, and a shop that stays busy.
Here's how to choose wisely.
Most barber shops in the UK are small, independent businesses. Under five staff, usually.
And here's the thing — more barber shops are opening every year. One recent report showed a net increase of 304 new shops in a single period.
That's good news for demand. Bad news for competition.
Let's be honest — even a proper skilled barber can struggle if the shop's tucked away somewhere no one walks past.
Busy streets, shopping areas, near bus stops or train stations — that's where walk-ins come from.
Can people see your shop from the road? Can they spot the signage? If not, you're invisible.
Being near a gym, café, or office block helps too. Their footfall becomes your footfall.
Think about your ideal client. Students? Office workers? Families? Young lads wanting skin fades?
Pick an area that matches. A premium shop in a student area might struggle. A budget shop in an affluent area might feel out of place.
Also think: residential vs commuter zones. Residential means regulars. Commuter means more one-off visits.
Count the barbers nearby.
If there's 15 within a 5-minute walk, it's oversaturated. You'll be fighting for clients from day one.
But no barbers at all? That's not always great either — might mean low demand.
Competition isn't always bad. Clusters of barber shops can mean strong demand. But you'll need something that makes you stand out.
Can people get there easily? Bus, train, car?
Is there parking nearby? If clients have to circle for 10 minutes, they'll book someone else next time.
Higher footfall usually means higher rent. Make sure the numbers work.
Is the space big enough? Enough room for chairs, a waiting area, wash stations?
Check local licensing rules too. Some councils have specific requirements.
Know your ideal client — age, style, spending habits, what they want from a barber.
Scout the area — visit at different times. Morning, lunch, evening. Get a feel for the footfall.
Map the competition — who's already there? What are they charging? What's their vibe?
Do the maths — can the area support another barber? What's your realistic weekly take?
Check the practical stuff — rent, lease terms, parking, transport links, signage options.
Match it to your brand — premium barber? Go somewhere with higher disposable income. High-volume shop? Commuter areas work well.
Test if you can — pop-up, chair rent, short-term lease. Try before you commit.
Barber shops are still growing. Salons are declining.
Demand is solid. But so is competition.
That makes location even more important. A talented barber in a dead spot will struggle.
A great barber in a terrible location will struggle.
A decent barber in a solid, visible, high-footfall spot? That shop will be busy.
Before you sign anything — walk the area. Count the competition. Check the footfall.
Get the location right, and you've already done half the work.
💈 Want to see what you're up against?
Run a free postcode check and see how competitive your area really is.