Beauty salons are one of the largest groups in our price index, and the range of prices is wide, because a two-room nail and brow studio and a clinic with lasers and a team of therapists are very different businesses. Buyers start from the profit the salon leaves its owner and then look hard at the equipment, the treatments and the clients’ loyalty to the salon rather than to one therapist.
What beauty salons are selling for
Our price index tracks UK beauty salons advertised for sale on the main business-for-sale marketplaces and specialist brokers. Between 8 September and 22 October 2026 we recorded 158 leasehold beauty salons for sale. Where sellers state their profit, the median listing is advertised at 2.1 times it, across 43 listings.
| Lower quarter | Middle | Upper quarter | Listings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asking price | £40,000 | £65,000 | £100,000 | 127 |
| Turnover | £76,500 | £144,500 | £208,500 | 120 |
| Asking price ÷ turnover | 34% | 56% | 82% | 100 |
| Asking price ÷ stated profit | 1.6 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 43 |
These are asking prices. Agreed prices are usually lower once a buyer has seen the accounts, so treat these figures as a ceiling, which is why we value on profit rather than on what others are asking. The full figures, and how we compiled them, are in the Salon Price Index.
How buyers value a beauty salon
Almost every owner-run beauty salon is valued on the profit it leaves a working owner: net profit with the owner’s own salary, dividends and any personal costs added back. Buyers then apply a multiple that reflects the risk of that profit continuing under them.
Take a beauty salon where the owner works in the business and is left with £45,000 a year once every cost is paid, before taking anything for themselves. At 1.5 to 2.1 times that figure, the business would be worth roughly £67,500 to £94,500, plus stock at valuation. The lease, the team and how long it has traded decide where in that range it lands.
Why you will see different multiples quoted
Some websites say salons sell for one to two and a half times profit, others say three or four times, and both can be right because they measure different profit. The lower figure applies to the profit left for a working owner before they pay themselves, which is how almost every owner-run salon is priced. The higher figure applies to profit after a manager has been paid a market salary to run it, which accountants call adjusted EBITDA. That is a smaller number, so the multiple on it is bigger. Applying the higher multiple to the bigger number is the most common way owners end up over-pricing their salon.
What moves the price
Treatment mix
Repeat treatments such as nails, brows, lashes, waxing and facials bring clients back every few weeks and give buyers confidence the income will continue. One-off or seasonal treatments are valued more cautiously.
Equipment and finance
Lasers, skin machines and IPL kit can be worth a lot or very little depending on age and whether they are still on finance. Buyers will want the finance agreements and service records.
Courses, memberships and vouchers
Prepaid courses and vouchers are money already taken for work the buyer will have to do. They are usually deducted from the price, so keep a clean record.
Qualifications and licences
Some treatments need a council licence, and buyers will check the team’s qualifications and insurance cover the treatments on the menu.
Therapist dependence
If clients follow one therapist, buyers price in the risk of losing them. A salon where clients book the salon is worth more.
Getting a figure for your beauty salon
Our valuation calculator gives an instant range from eight questions. For a figure you can rely on, we will value your beauty salon from your accounts and lease, free and in confidence. If you are ready to sell, our selling guide for beauty salons explains how the process works.