What going independent as a beauty pro really costs.

The expensive surprises in this industry all show up after the signature, so let’s find every one of them now, while you’re still calm and holding a calculator instead of a lease.

When I went independent, I budgeted exactly one number, and it was the rent. Then the first backbar order landed, then the insurance quote, then a tax bill I’ll never forget. Every number below is the line I wish somebody had shown me, with a source you can check yourself.

Who this is for, and who should wait

This is for a beauty pro who already has a book and is seriously pricing out the jump. If you’re straight out of school, here’s how I put it in my course: “When you’re first leaving school, you probably don’t need to go independent. You need to go to commission.”

And if a private room fits how you work better than an open floor, I say that too: “If you like a lot of alone time and don’t want the community of a salon, maybe a suite is right for you. We’re not for everyone, and we don’t want to be.”

If you’ve already signed with a salon, reread that agreement before anything else.

How much does the space cost?

The space is your biggest recurring cost, and it has the widest range of any line. Industry estimates from GlossGenius put booth rent around $400 a month on average, ranging $250 to $1,200 by market. For a private suite, a national suite company publishes 2026 ranges of roughly $265 to $900 a week, with Austin singles at $385 to $625 a week.

Notice those units...

Booth rent is usually quoted by the month and suites by the week, and comparing them raw is how people fool themselves. In Module 1 of my course, I teach my students to ask about the weekly rate (I’ve seen Austin run anywhere from $150 to $1,000 a week) and the security deposit ($500 to $2,000), then convert everything to one monthly number they can compare before signing anything.

How much do supplies and backbar cost?

Supplies run a few thousand dollars a year once the shelf is yours to stock. Vagaro’s guide estimates $3,000 to $5,000 a year for backbar and product, and that’s before towels, capes, cleaning supplies, and the laundry somebody has to run every week. Behind your own door, that somebody is you, on your day off.

In Module 1 of my course, I tell my students to ask every space exactly what’s included, item by item, down to the backbar, towels, capes and cleaning supplies, because the answers vary far more than the rent does.

What ongoing business costs should I budget for?

Your ongoing costs are small, steady drips, and here’s every line in one place...

The sneaky one is card processing, because it grows with every sale. At Square’s 2.6% rate, $6,000 a month in services costs about $156 a month in fees, which quietly makes it one of your bigger recurring costs.

Insurance is the opposite. It’s nearly free, per Elite Beauty Society, and it’s the worst line on this page to skip.

In Module 1 of my course, I have my students open a business bank account, set up Square or Venmo, and link every business expense to it before the first client walks in, so these drips show up on one statement instead of hiding across three.

How much should I set aside for taxes?

Taxes are the line that gets first-year stylists, because as an employee, payroll taxes came out before you ever saw your hard-earned money. Once you’re self-employed, YOU are payroll. The IRS self-employment tax is 15.3% of your net earnings, on top of regular income tax, and you pay it through quarterly estimated payments.

In Module 3 of my course, I teach my students to open a separate tax account and move 10 to 20 percent of gross income into it every quarter, untouched, so the bill is already funded when it lands. Think of that as a starting habit, and check the exact rate with your own accountant.

How do I compare my options honestly?

The fair comparison is your projected TOTAL for each option, on one page.

Two options with the same space cost can end up a thousand dollars a month apart once you add up what’s included and what isn’t. That’s also the fairest way to look at a membership model like ours.

At bex+Co., the place I built, the space and supplies lines mostly fold into the membership. You get your chair and full workstation on one open floor, with backbar, towels, capes and cleaning handled, plus business education and your profile on a site clients actually find. You bring your color and tools, and you keep your prices and your clients.

When you tour us, make us give you the same total-cost answer you’re demanding from everyone else. And if the model’s new to you, here’s how it works.

★★★★★

At bex+Co.^® I have complete freedom over my schedule. It lets me actually enjoy my life outside of work, something I never had before. I've met some of my best friends here. It gave me confidence, support, and a community I didn't expect to find.

What should I do before I tour or sign?

Work through these five steps in order, and you’ll know your total before you commit...

An hour of this beats a year of surprises. You’ll find the 10 questions in this tour guide, and once you know your total, the next thing to figure out is how many clients it takes to carry it. I did that math too, on a receipt.