Chicago, Illinois — Startup Costs
Hair Salon Startup Costs in Chicago
Opening a hair salon in Chicago typically costs $90,000 – $270,000. Here is the full breakdown — lease deposits, wash-station buildout, styling stations, product inventory, and licenses — with real dollar ranges based on Chicago market data.
Startup cost breakdown
| Cost item | Low | High | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease deposit + first months' rent | $10,000 | $30,000 | 1,000–1,400 sqft at $18–40/sqft |
| Buildout & wash-station plumbing | $40,000 | $110,000 | — |
| Styling stations, chairs & mirrors | $18,000 | $52,000 | — |
| Initial color & retail product inventory | $8,000 | $22,000 | — |
| Licenses, insurance & POS | $5,000 | $15,000 | — |
| Total estimated range | $81,000 | $229,000 | 3–6 months from lease signing to opening |
Timeline to launch
3–6 months from lease signing to opening
How Chicago compares
Chicago salon startup costs are moderate — $18–40/sqft rent spans neighborhood to River North, and the 10.25% sales tax (highest of any big metro) raises the cost of initial retail product inventory the salon resells. For comparison, see our national salon profit margin benchmarks and the gross margin calculator.
Plan your Chicago salon
Use our break-even calculator to model your startup costs and find out how long it takes to recover your investment.
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