{
  "name": "Seattle Hair salon Profit Margin Benchmarks",
  "description": "Gross margin, net margin, cost-share, labor, and market-size benchmarks for independent hair salons in Seattle, Washington. Ranges are planning benchmarks for owner-operated businesses, not forecasts.",
  "version": "2026 city benchmark edition",
  "city": "Seattle",
  "state": "Washington",
  "industry": "Hair salon",
  "reviewStatus": "screening",
  "coverage": "Independent hair salon operators in Seattle, Washington; 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/seattle/",
  "citation": "HustleFin (2026). Seattle Hair salon Profit Margin Benchmarks. Retrieved from https://hustlefin.com/benchmarks/salon/city/seattle/",
  "metrics": [
    {
      "key": "gross_margin_pct",
      "label": "Gross margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 52,
      "average": 62,
      "high": 72
    },
    {
      "key": "net_margin_pct",
      "label": "Net margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 2,
      "average": 7,
      "high": 12
    },
    {
      "key": "commission_cost_pct",
      "label": "Stylist commission (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 43,
      "average": 48,
      "high": 54
    },
    {
      "key": "rent_cost_pct",
      "label": "Rent (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 9,
      "average": 12,
      "high": 15
    },
    {
      "key": "typical_revenue",
      "label": "Typical revenue",
      "unit": "text",
      "value": "$200,000 – $950,000/year for independent Seattle salons"
    }
  ],
  "labor": {
    "minimumWage": "$20.76/hr (Seattle city, no tip credit)",
    "stateMinimumWage": "$16.66/hr (Washington state, 2025)",
    "note": "Highest major-city minimum wage in the U.S. — sets a guarantee floor under commission stylists. Plus B&O gross-receipts tax (~1.5% services) on revenue."
  },
  "market": [
    {
      "label": "Estimated salons",
      "value": 2400
    },
    {
      "label": "Commercial rent range",
      "value": "$22–42/sqft (Capitol Hill/Ballard), $18–26/sqft (Georgetown/Columbia City)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Sales tax (general)",
      "value": "~10.35% combined (applies to retail product sales)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Special fees",
      "value": "WA B&O tax ~1.5% on personal-services gross receipts; Seattle business license"
    }
  ],
  "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": "Washington State Department of Revenue",
      "url": "https://dor.wa.gov/",
      "note": "State and local sales tax rates and B&O tax guidance."
    },
    {
      "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 Seattle",
      "url": "https://www.seattle.gov/",
      "note": "City labor standards, licensing, and local fees."
    }
  ]
}