§1What this business is
A shop with chairs, mirrors, scissors and cosmetics offering hair cutting and shaving. The KVIC profile says such a unit can employ 4 people and that educated youth now start saloons in rural areas too.
Capacity: Annual service value ₹83,700 in the profile (hair cutting and shaving).
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A trained barber or a young person ready to learn the trade and run a shop.
Who it is not for
Someone looking for large profits from a small shop.
Advantages
- Very low start-up cost
- Daily, repeat demand in every village and town
- No raw-material risk
- Skill can be learnt in a few months
Drawbacks
- Income depends on footfall and location
- Many competing shops
- Long standing hours
- Small earnings at the KVIC profile's figures
Skills you need
- Hair cutting and shaving
- Hygiene and tool sterilising
- Customer handling
- Basic shop accounts
Why difficulty 1/5: Very low cost and simple setup; success depends on skill and location.
§3Market
Who buys
- Local men, women and children
- Weddings and functions
How it sells
- Walk-in customers
- Home visits for functions
Good to know
- The profile says hair cutting and dressing is an essential service for men and women.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hair-cutting chairs, mirrors, scissors and cosmetics | — | ₹30,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Barber Shop (PMEGP)
- Cosmetics and consumables (shaving cream, blades, talc)₹5,000 a year in the profile
§5Licences & registration
- Shop and establishment registration
- Municipal trade licence
- Udyam
- GST (only above the turnover limit)
§6Schemes & subsidies
The KVIC profile is for PMEGP/Gramodyog; MUDRA Shishu loans suit this size.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: building shed 250 sq ft ₹50,000, equipment (chairs, mirrors, scissors, cosmetics) ₹30,000, working capital ₹13,000 = ₹93,000. Land own.
Working capital: Working capital ₹13,000; requirement per cycle ₹13,898.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current equipment prices and rent.
§8Export potential
Export council / board: Not applicable
- A local service; there is no goods export.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Poor location
- Competition
- Hygiene complaints
- Staff leaving with customers
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working barber shop (hair cutting saloon) unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Shop and establishment registration, Municipal trade licence), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Barber Shop (Hair Cutting Saloon)?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.