{
  "name": "New Orleans Hair salon Profit Margin Benchmarks",
  "description": "Gross margin, net margin, cost-share, labor, and market-size benchmarks for independent hair salons in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ranges are planning benchmarks for owner-operated businesses, not forecasts.",
  "version": "2026 city benchmark edition",
  "city": "New Orleans",
  "state": "Louisiana",
  "industry": "Hair salon",
  "reviewStatus": "screening",
  "coverage": "Independent hair salon operators in New Orleans, Louisiana; 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/new-orleans/",
  "citation": "HustleFin (2026). New Orleans Hair salon Profit Margin Benchmarks. Retrieved from https://hustlefin.com/benchmarks/salon/city/new-orleans/",
  "metrics": [
    {
      "key": "gross_margin_pct",
      "label": "Gross margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 49,
      "average": 60,
      "high": 71
    },
    {
      "key": "net_margin_pct",
      "label": "Net margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 4,
      "average": 10,
      "high": 16
    },
    {
      "key": "commission_cost_pct",
      "label": "Stylist commission (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 36,
      "average": 42,
      "high": 49
    },
    {
      "key": "rent_cost_pct",
      "label": "Rent (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 8,
      "average": 11,
      "high": 14
    },
    {
      "key": "typical_revenue",
      "label": "Typical revenue",
      "unit": "text",
      "value": "$170,000 – $880,000/year for independent New Orleans salons"
    }
  ],
  "labor": {
    "minimumWage": "$7.25/hr (federal)",
    "stateMinimumWage": "$7.25/hr (Louisiana follows federal)",
    "note": "Market salon wages $11–14/hr. Hurricane-zone insurance; Louisiana income tax on owner profit."
  },
  "market": [
    {
      "label": "Estimated salons",
      "value": 1300
    },
    {
      "label": "Commercial rent range",
      "value": "$28–35/sqft (French Quarter), $18–28/sqft (Uptown/Bywater/Mid-City)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Sales tax (general)",
      "value": "9.45% (4.45% state + 5.0% Orleans Parish; on retail product sales)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Special fees",
      "value": "Hurricane-zone insurance; Louisiana income tax on owner profit"
    }
  ],
  "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": "Louisiana Department of Revenue",
      "url": "https://revenue.louisiana.gov/",
      "note": "State sales tax and parish-level tax administration."
    },
    {
      "label": "U.S. Census Bureau",
      "url": "https://www.census.gov/",
      "note": "Federal statistical baseline for population, business counts, and local market size."
    },
    {
      "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 New Orleans",
      "url": "https://nola.gov/",
      "note": "City occupational licenses and local permits."
    }
  ]
}