What should I charge for a haircut in NZ?
Why copying the salon down the road doesn't work, and what one extra quarter hour does to a $100 cut.
Guides
The money side of a salon, in plain English.
Straight answers to the questions NZ salon owners and stylists ask most, with the sums worked through on New Zealand rates.
What do I really earn an hour as a self-employed stylist?
Takings minus every cost, tax and ACC, over every hour you work. Often closer to minimum wage than you'd guess.
What does it really cost to employ a stylist in NZ?
KiwiSaver, leave, public holidays and ACC, and what they mean for every hour in the chair.
Public holiday pay for NZ salons: is it worth opening?
Time and a half, days in lieu, the Saturday rule, and the dates coming up.
Chair rental in NZ: what to charge, and the 2026 contractor test
Rent that covers the chair, and what the February 2026 gateway test means for salons.