8 Smart Ways To Boost Your Barbershop Revenue 

Figuring out how to increase revenue in a barbershop without resorting to hard sell all the time? Well, you’re in the right place.

This comprehensive guide goes through the most effective strategies every barbershop owner should consider. It’ll show you not just how to increase sales in your barbershop, but also how to avoid money-wasting tactics and keep a steady client base. 

How To Increase Revenue in a Barbershop: 8 Proven Strategies That Work

Oftentimes, barbershop revenue depends mainly on three building blocks: more bookings, more visits per client, and higher spend per visit. Each strategy below supports one or more of these building blocks. 

1. Engineer your menu for profit, not just aesthetics

Your list of services and prices quietly decides what most clients buy. The order services appear in, the names you choose, and the bundles you feature all push people toward certain choices. 

If your most profitable services are hard to find while low-margin ones are front and center, you’ll probably be doing the same amount of work for less money. 

That said, make sure to do this not just for the menu displayed in your front desk, but also on your website and online booking page.

How to apply this strategy:

• Start with your “hero” services. Identify the top three or four services that earn the most per hour (look at price and minutes), and put those first on your menu. It’s best to put the rarely chosen, low-earning services toward the bottom.
• Use good-better-best bundles to lift the middle. Package services that naturally go together (e.g., Cut Only → Cut + Beard → Cut + Beard + Finish). Price the middle as the smart value and the top tier as a treat. Oftentimes, clients will choose the middle, bringing up their average spend without pressure.
• Name and describe services like a shopper would. Keep names short, include duration, and add one clear sentence on who it’s for or what’s included. 
• Review the menu monthly. Check top sellers, under-booked services, and actual time per service. Promote what performs, drop or temporarily pause what doesn’t, and keep the list lean so clients decide faster and your shop is likely to earn more per hour.

Also read: Psychological Pricing Tactics Every Service Business Should Use

2. Train for high-demand specialties to expand your ceiling

Specialty services let you charge for expertise, not just time. When clients believe you’re the go-to for a specific result, they’ll be willing to travel a bit farther and accept higher prices because they trust you’ll nail it.

How to apply this strategy:

• Choose specialties that fit your customer base (and you). Pick one or two skills that match local demand and what you enjoy. For instance, hot towel shaves and beard sculpting are popular options for events and pair well with a haircut, while textured-hair cuts are ideal for serving a more diverse clientele. 
• Learn the skill properly before selling it. Take one quality class or undergo mentorship, then practice on models before you list the specialty service publicly. Aim for a clear, consistent process you can deliver within a set duration (e.g., a luxury shave in 45 minutes).
• Give the specialty service its own price and duration. Don’t hide it under a generic service (e.g., lumping it in “Haircut”) or treat it as an unlisted add-on.
• Prep your station consistently. Keep the exact tools and products you need within reach so the service runs smoothly every time. For example, when it comes to a sensory-friendly kids’ cut, prep a calmer setup — think lower noise, smaller cape, and simple step-by-step cues. 
• Market it simply and show proof. On your social media pages, post short vertical clips or before-and-afters with a clear “Book” prompt. Feature the new specialty near the top of your booking page for a couple of weeks and collect a few reviews that mention it by name to build trust.

3. Offer event and on-site services

Otherwise called on-location barbering, this involves bringing your services to a client’s home, office, or event venue. With this strategy, you’re selling absolute convenience by cutting out travel and waiting times. 

People will pay more for that, especially in schedule-sensitive settings, such as at a wedding, executive office, or film set. 

Make sure you set a list of on-location services you can deliver reliably outside the shop, without a full sink or big product setup. 

Ideas you should consider:

• Wedding party grooming: Flat half-day rate for a set number of services (e.g., 6–8 hair styling and beard shaping); covers touch-ups and travel within a set radius
• Corporate or hotel concierge cuts: Monthly retainer for on-site services
• Photo or video shoots: Includes initial looks plus on-set maintenance (e.g., flyaway fixing, beard touch-ups) for talent

We also recommend requiring a nonrefundable deposit and a signed agreement with important details like start and end times, parking or access notes, travel fees, and what’s included. 

Tip: Use scheduling platforms like Bookedin that let you take deposits online and attach files to client confirmation emails. 

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4. Run special seasonal promos or bundles

Seasonal offers help your barbershop stand out during peak seasons (think winter holidays and graduations) and fill slower weeks. Make sure these offers have simple mechanics, as well as clear start and end dates, to nudge clients to book ASAP. 

Here are some ideas for seasonal promos or bundles you should consider:

Note: Remember to remove or archive a promo from your booking page once it ends, as to avoid accidental bookings at outdated rates. 

5. Set up a small retail shelf

Whether it’s a fresh cut or a shaped beard, your clients will want that look to hold up even weeks after their appointment. 

The most effective way for you to help would be recommending the exact products you used in the chair — and pointing out that clients can buy these from your barbershop. 

How to apply this strategy:

• Keep the lineup small but useful. Aim for 8–12 types of products you truly stand behind. Think in categories: for instance, one pomade, one clay, one cream, a salt spray or texture spray, a beard oil or balm, and a daily shampoo and conditioner. This makes it easier for clients to decide on what to buy, and you won’t have to keep track of too much inventory.
• Show, then suggest. Place the product you used right at the station (besides just the retail shelf) while you style and explain in one sentence what it does and how much to use. That short demo beats any pitch. If they like the result, you can easily do a segue that doesn’t sound like sales talk. 
• Set “impulse-buy-friendly” prices for smaller items, such as travel-size pomade, salt spray, and beard oil. Aim for under $25; at this price point, clients would feel comfortable testing a product without committing to a full size or worrying about wasting money if it’s not a fit.

Also read: A Beginner’s Guide to Upselling in Barbershops

6. Reward repeat visits with a loyalty program

Useful loyalty perks are a great way to ensure clients will keep returning to your barbershop and stick with you, even if (let’s say) a competitor is closer to them or cheaper. 

Pick a simple structure and let your clients know about it. Below are three common loyalty program setups that most barbershops go with.

• Visit-based stamps: Give clients a stamp for each paid visit; you can either use a paper stamp card or track it automatically in your booking system. After a certain number of stamps, the client will receive a small reward on the next visit.
• Points that convert to small perks: For example, clients earn 1 point per $3 spent; once they reach at least 50 points, they can redeem a quick upgrade or $5 off retail.
• Membership perks: This is ideal if you already have some form of membership program. Here, members get built-in perks like one free upgrade per month or 10% off retail — nothing to track separately.

Limit loyalty perks or rewards to free add-ons (like brow tidy, hot-towel finish) or a few dollars off retail items. Avoid giving away free full services, as you’ll want to protect your profit margins. 

Also, it’s best to set a reasonable expiry for redeeming rewards (e.g., 90 days), and remind the client about it. This will help prompt them to come back without necessarily pressuring them.

7. Build a simple referral program

People are more likely to trust recommendations from friends than any ad. So, why not give your regular clients an incentive to bring someone in? 

One way to go about this would be to give each client a unique referral link or code that they can share by text or DM. When a new client books with that link, both people get a clear, modest perk like “Give $10, Get $10” or $5 off next visit. 

If you prefer the offline route, you can give clients a referral card that they can give to a friend. When their friend books an appointment and brings that card on their visit, you can verify it at the front desk and apply the reward to both people — no apps needed. 

Oh, and make sure to cap how often the reward can hit per visit (e.g., one reward per new client), or set a simple price rule (like “referral credits apply to services over $20”). Avoid stacking multiple promos; the referral reward should stand on its own.

8. Sell gift cards year-round

Gift cards help bring in immediate revenue and secure a future client booking at the same time. And similar to the referral program, they’re also an easy way for clients to encourage their friends and family to visit your barbershop and try out your services.

That said, it’s best to offer both e-gift cards and physical cards so people can buy in person or from their phone. 

Display gift cards on the front desk so clients see these while checking out, add an e-gift card option on your website, and promote it on your social media posts to reach more people. 

Lastly, keep the terms simple: Gift cards don’t expire, can be used on services and retail, and can be combined with promos unless otherwise stated.

Key Takeaways on Boosting Your Barbershop Revenue

As you can see, the playbook for how to increase revenue in a barbershop isn’t as complicated as it might seem. It’s all about making small improvements and observing what works for your majority clientele. 

Also, remember that your revenue comes down to three main moves: book more clients, get them to return more often, and nudge them to avail of higher-margin services (or retail items) whenever possible. 

While you’re at it, you should definitely look into using Bookedin, with its multiple features that’ll help you grow your barbershop. And if you’re on the fence about it, don’t worry — you can sign up for free and get a 14-day free trial to try everything it has to offer!

FAQs About How To Increase Revenue in a Barbershop