Quick answer
Beauty and hair salon business loans fund fit-outs, treatment equipment such as lasers, product stock, new locations and cash flow for salons and skin clinics. Salons take payments daily, so lenders who read card takings can assess them quickly. Equipment finance suits treatment machines, and unsecured loans suit fit-outs and stock.
Key points
- Daily card takings make salons straightforward to assess
- Equipment finance suits lasers and treatment machines
- Fit-outs are the most common larger need
- New salons may need a guarantor or property security
Small spaces, big investments
Salons look simple from the street, but the investment behind them is significant: plumbing for basins, custom joinery, lighting, chairs, treatment beds and, for skin clinics, expensive laser and treatment equipment. Then there is product stock and the wages of skilled staff. Many salon owners are also relatively new business owners, having worked for someone else first.
Common funding needs
| Need | Typical option |
|---|---|
| Fit-out or refresh | Unsecured loan |
| Lasers and treatment machines | Equipment finance |
| Product stock | Small unsecured loan or line of credit |
| Second location | Property-secured loan plus equipment finance |
| Quiet months | Line of credit |
How lenders assess salons
Daily card takings in bank statements show trading volume and consistency. Lenders look at the trend over twelve months, wages and product costs, rent, and any existing finance. For newer salons, the owner’s experience and client following matter.
Watch out for
- Daily-debit loans stacking up during a slow period.
- Long-term leases signed before funding is confirmed.
- Treatment equipment bought without a clear plan to fill the appointment book.
An illustrative example
A skin clinic owner wanted to add a second laser to cut a long waitlist. The clinic was eighteen months old. Equipment finance funded the machine with the machine as security, and the extra appointments covered the repayments within the first few months.
New salons
If your salon is less than a year old, options are narrower. Equipment finance, a guarantor or property security can help. See new ABN business loans. Property-secured loans run of $20,000 up to $5,000,000 and no valuation is required up front.
Mistakes we see in salon funding
Buying high-end treatment equipment before there is demand to fill the appointment book is a common risk. Check how many treatments per week you need to cover the repayments and whether your client base supports it. Another is signing a long lease and committing to a full fit-out before funding is confirmed. Line up finance first, and keep a buffer for the slow weeks after opening.
Fund your salon
Fill in the short form and tell us about your salon and what you need. Asking needs no credit check, a real lender reads it, and nothing is passed on. Get salon funding options.
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance a cosmetic laser?
Yes. Treatment equipment is commonly financed, often with the equipment as security.
How much can a salon borrow unsecured?
It depends on monthly takings and existing commitments.
Can I borrow to open a second salon?
Yes, with evidence the first salon is profitable. Property security helps for larger amounts.
Do lenders care about booking systems?
Booking and payment data can support an application, showing client numbers and repeat visits.
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