{
  "name": "Austin Hair salon Profit Margin Benchmarks",
  "description": "Gross margin, net margin, cost-share, labor, and market-size benchmarks for independent hair salons in Austin, Texas. Ranges are planning benchmarks for owner-operated businesses, not forecasts.",
  "version": "2026 city benchmark edition",
  "city": "Austin",
  "state": "Texas",
  "industry": "Hair salon",
  "reviewStatus": "screening",
  "coverage": "Independent hair salon operators in Austin, Texas; national chains, franchise groups, and multi-unit operators excluded unless noted",
  "dataCompiledAt": "June 22, 2026",
  "sourcesVerifiedAt": "2026-09-27",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "sourcePage": "https://hustlefin.com/benchmarks/salon/city/austin/",
  "citation": "HustleFin (2026). Austin Hair salon Profit Margin Benchmarks. Retrieved from https://hustlefin.com/benchmarks/salon/city/austin/",
  "metrics": [
    {
      "key": "gross_margin_pct",
      "label": "Gross margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 51,
      "average": 62,
      "high": 72
    },
    {
      "key": "net_margin_pct",
      "label": "Net margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 4,
      "average": 10,
      "high": 15
    },
    {
      "key": "commission_cost_pct",
      "label": "Stylist commission (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 38,
      "average": 44,
      "high": 50
    },
    {
      "key": "rent_cost_pct",
      "label": "Rent (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 7,
      "average": 10,
      "high": 13
    },
    {
      "key": "typical_revenue",
      "label": "Typical revenue",
      "unit": "text",
      "value": "$185,000 – $950,000/year for independent Austin salons"
    }
  ],
  "labor": {
    "minimumWage": "$7.25/hr (federal/state)",
    "stateMinimumWage": "$7.25/hr (Texas follows federal)",
    "note": "Market salon wages run $14–17/hr due to tech-sector competition. No Texas state income tax."
  },
  "market": [
    {
      "label": "Estimated salons",
      "value": 1900
    },
    {
      "label": "Commercial rent range",
      "value": "$28–35/sqft (South Congress prime), $18–25/sqft (secondary corridors)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Sales tax (general)",
      "value": "8.25% combined (on retail product sales)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Special fees",
      "value": "No state income tax; Texas franchise tax may apply above revenue threshold"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "BLS OEWS — Hairdressers, Hairstylists & Cosmetologists (39-5012)",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes395012.htm",
      "note": "Occupation-level wage estimates for hairdressers and cosmetologists."
    },
    {
      "label": "Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts",
      "url": "https://comptroller.texas.gov/",
      "note": "State sales tax, mixed-beverage gross receipts tax, and local rates."
    },
    {
      "label": "Professional Beauty Association",
      "url": "https://www.probeauty.org/",
      "note": "National trade association for the beauty industry; source of salon business and compensation context."
    },
    {
      "label": "City of Austin",
      "url": "https://www.austintexas.gov/",
      "note": "City permits, licensing, and local fee schedules."
    }
  ]
}