What Should Be the Best Location to Set Up a Salon? 

Choosing the best location to set up a salon is one of the most important business decisions you’ll ever make as a salon owner or beauty entrepreneur. Your location influences everything — who you attract, how much you can charge, how easy it is for clients to visit, how fast your business grows, and how profitable you become.

A beautiful interior and amazing service can’t fix a bad location. You could have talented stylists, luxury equipment, and high-quality products, but if your salon is hidden, inconvenient, unsafe, or far from your ideal clients, you’ll struggle financially and emotionally.

On the other hand, choosing the right location can transform your business into a thriving, fully booked salon with consistent growth, referrals, and premium-paying clients. A smart location doesn’t just bring clients — it acts as free advertising 24/7.

So what should be the best location to set up a salon? Cooviphair will walk you step-by-step through everything you need to know before choosing a salon space, including location types, foot traffic strategy, budget planning, competition analysis, safety considerations, building layout, and much more.

Why the Right Salon Location Matters

For most beauty businesses, location determines success or failure. Unlike e-commerce businesses or virtual services, salons rely heavily on physical accessibility, convenience, and visibility.

The right location will help your salon:
 Attract walk-in clients naturally
 Increase credibility and brand trust
 Support premium pricing
 Reduce advertising expenses
 Build long-term loyal customers
 Scale and expand faster

The wrong location will cause:
Low foot traffic & slow bookings
Difficulty retaining clients
High marketing costs to compensate
Inability to raise prices
Safety concerns and cancellations
Business stagnation or closure

Research shows that location is the #1 factor affecting new salon success within the first 2 years of opening.

Best Types of Locations to Set Up a Salon

While the ideal location may vary depending on your target audience and services offered, data from salon performance patterns worldwide shows that the best salon locations tend to fall into the following categories:

1. Shopping Centers & Strip Malls

One of the strongest and most profitable choices for salon placement is a high-visibility shopping plaza.

Why this location works extremely well

Constant foot traffic from shoppers
Clients already in a spending mindset
Plenty of parking
Opportunities for cross-business referrals
Nearby stores increase awareness and brand trust
Visible signage attracts drive-by customers

A salon located between a Starbucks and a gym is exposed to hundreds of potential clients daily — people who value looking good, self-care, and convenience.

Best for

Walk-in salons
Barbershops
Mid-range to high-traffic salons
Extension, color, & blowout specialists

Real Example:
A salon owner reported doubling monthly revenue after relocating from a second-floor suite to a strip mall beside a grocery store and fitness studio — simply because more people saw her sign and stopped in.

2. Near Residential Neighborhoods

People love convenience. Many clients prefer a salon that is close to home rather than far away, especially those with families.

Why this is a great location

High retention & recurring business
Easy access and stress-free parking
Sense of community & familiarity
Perfect for maintenance-based services

Best for

Family salons
Children’s haircut studios
Stylists with recurring clientele (color or extensions)

Someone who needs gray touch-ups every 4 weeks or extension move-ups every 6–8 weeks is more likely to choose a salon near home.

3. Busy Commercial Districts & City Centers

Urban and downtown business areas are prime territory for clients with higher spending power and busy schedules.

Benefits

Large daytime customer flow
Higher pricing potential
Professionals willing to pay for quality & convenience
Office-based partnerships & event bookings

Ideal for

Blowout bars
Men’s grooming lounges
High-end salons
Bridal & glam services

In city centers, clients care less about price and more about efficiency, image, and trust.

4. Near Gyms, Spas, Beauty Supply Stores & Wellness Businesses

People who prioritize beauty and self-care already frequent these spaces.

Advantages

Highly aligned audience
Strong marketing partnerships
Easy referral opportunities
Increased brand visibility

Best for

Extension specialists
Color transformation studios
Treatment-focused salons (Keratin, Botox, smoothing)

A gym customer might walk in after noticing your salon sign daily — curiosity becomes consultation, consultation becomes full service.

5. Near Colleges & Universities

Students care about hair trends and appearances and rely heavily on recommendations.

Why this location is powerful

Thousands of potential clients
Rapid word-of-mouth growth
Student discounts drive loyalty
Trend-based services perform extremely well

Best for

Affordable or mid-priced salons
Barber services
Color & styling services
Lash and brow studios

One viral transformation can bring hundreds of campus referrals.

6. Inside Professional Salon Suites

Beauty co-working suites like Sola, Phenix, MY SALON Suite, and Salon Lofts are increasingly popular.

Benefits

Low startup cost compared to storefront
Private branding and full business control
Ideal for appointment-only models
No long-term lease risk

Ideal for

Solo stylists
Extension or color specialists
Lash, brow, or aesthetic services

This is a smart transitional step before expanding into a larger storefront.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Salon Location

No matter what type of location you choose, evaluate these essential factors:

1. Foot Traffic

More people = more visibility = more walk-ins = more revenue.

How to check foot traffic

Visit multiple times of day
Evaluate weekend vs weekday activity
Observe nearby business busyness
Count passersby in 10–15 minutes

2. Parking & Accessibility

Parking is a make-or-break factor. Beauty clients hate difficult parking.

Ask:

• Is parking free?

• Is it safe and well lit?

• Is the entrance easy to find?

• Is it accessible for disabled or elderly clients?

3. Neighborhood Safety

Clients — especially women — must feel safe at all times.

Evaluate:
Lighting
Cleanliness
Surrounding businesses
Crime rates

A client will not book an evening appointment if the area feels unsafe.

4. Competition Analysis

Competition is healthy — it indicates demand. But oversaturation makes growth harder.

Study:
Nearby salon offerings
Price range
Online reviews
Client complaints

Look for market gaps

Example:
If salons nearby don’t offer extensions or luxury blonding, specialize there and dominate the niche.

5. Demographics

Match location to ideal clientele.

Consider:
Age group
Income level
Lifestyle
Housing density

Luxury services belong in high-income neighborhoods. Student pricing belongs near colleges.

6. Space Layout & Functionality

Interior structure matters more than square footage.

Evaluate:

• Plumbing & electrical setup

• Natural lighting

• Number of stations possible

• Storage & back room space

• Room for retail

• Filming & social media content area

• Reception & checkout area

A bad floor plan limits earning potential.

7. Lease Terms & Negotiation

Never sign blindly — ask questions and negotiate.

Ask:
Who pays for maintenance?
Can rent increase & how much?
Are renovations allowed?
Is signage permitted?
Are there free rent build-out months?

Hiring a commercial attorney is smart protection.

Case Study Example

A stylist offering high-ticket extension services moved from a hidden upstairs suite to a corner unit in a popular shopping plaza.

Before relocation

Inconsistent bookings
Struggling to sell retail
No walk-ins
Limited growth

After relocation

Booked 6–8 weeks ahead
New walk-ins weekly
Higher-paying clientele
Tripled revenue in 6 months
Became the top extension salon in area

Location changed everything — not skill level.

Signs You Found the Right Location

You regularly see your ideal clients in the area
Parking feels easy & safe
Businesses nearby are thriving
The space fits your long-term vision
You can picture your salon branding there
The financials make sense

Signs It’s the Wrong Location

Too hidden or hard to find
Unsafe or dark surroundings
Very low foot traffic
Surrounded by failing businesses
Rent too high for realistic revenue

Final Thoughts

The best location to set up a salon is one that aligns with your ideal client, offers convenience, visibility, strong foot traffic, safety, and financial viability. It should support growth today and expansion tomorrow.

The right location helps your salon grow naturally
The wrong location forces your business to struggle constantly

Take time to research, compare options, visit in person at different hours, and make a confident business decision based on strategy — not emotion.

Next Step: Increase Revenue With High-Profit Hair Extensions

Once your location is secured, focus on offering premium services that boost income such as hair extensions.

Many successful salons partner with Cooviphair for:
Butterfly Wefts
Hand-Tied & Machine Wefts
Tape-Ins
Raw Bundles & Virgin Hair
HD Lace Wigs
Private Label Branding & Wholesale Pricing

Premium extensions attract high-value clients and increase profitability significantly.

Your dream salon begins with the right location — and the right strategy.