Last Updated on April 23, 2026
How much should you actually spend on marketing your salon? The standard advice is 5-10% of revenue. But that is a wide range, and most hairdressers have no idea what to spend it on. Here is a realistic breakdown based on what UK salons actually pay in 2026.
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Marketing Budget by Salon Size
| Salon Type | Annual Revenue | Marketing Budget | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo / mobile hairdresser | £30-50k | £1,500-5,000 | £125-415 |
| Small salon (2-4 chairs) | £80-150k | £4,000-15,000 | £335-1,250 |
| Medium salon (5-8 chairs) | £150-300k | £7,500-30,000 | £625-2,500 |
| Multi-location | £300k+ | £15,000+ | £1,250+ |
What Each Channel Actually Costs
| Channel | DIY Cost | Outsourced Cost | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Free | N/A | Do first |
| Instagram / social media | Free (your time) | £300-800/mo | Do first |
| Booking system | £0-40/mo | N/A | Do first |
| Email marketing | £0-25/mo | £200-500/mo | Build phase |
| Website | £10-30/mo | £500-2,000 one-off | Build phase |
| Local SEO | Free (your time) | £300-800/mo | Scale phase |
| Google Ads | £100-300/mo spend | £200-500/mo management | Scale phase |
| Professional photography | N/A | £200-500 per session | Quarterly |
Where to Start If You Have No Budget
Zero-budget marketing plan:
- Set up Google Business Profile (free, 30 minutes)
- Ask 10 clients for Google reviews this week (free)
- Post 3 transformation reels on Instagram (free)
- Sign up for Fresha for online booking (free)
- Set up a free Mailchimp account for rebooking emails (free up to 500 contacts)
This alone will put you ahead of 80% of UK salons who have not done any of it properly.
Common Mistakes That Waste Money
- Paying for Instagram followers. Fake followers do not book haircuts.
- Printing flyers nobody reads. Digital marketing is measurable, flyers are not.
- Hiring an agency before doing the basics. No agency can fix a missing Google Business Profile.
- Boosting random Facebook posts. Without targeting, you are paying to show your post to people who will never visit your salon.
- Building a fancy website nobody can find. A simple site that ranks beats a beautiful site that does not.
Related: Marketing for Hairdressers and Barbers | How Much Should Marketing Cost? | UK SEO Pricing Data
Find out what you should be spending
Free personalised report with specific budget recommendations for your salon.
Salon Marketing Budget Calculator
£20k£80,000£500k
3%7%15%
Your recommended annual marketing budget
£5,600
£467 per month
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