Business finance options for UK hair salons
This guide explains which UK SME finance products may suit hair salons and the eligibility signals lenders typically weigh. Educational guidance only — Lendrly is not a regulated credit broker and does not submit applications on your behalf. Final fit is subject to lender underwriting.
Typical facility size for this industry: £5k to £75k. Last reviewed .
Eligibility guidance only - not financial advice, not a loan offer, not a guarantee of approval. Lendrly is not FCA-authorised and is not a credit broker.
Common funding needs
The funding reasons we see most often for UK hair salons.
- Buying or refurbishing salon chairs, basins and dryers
- Funding a salon refit, mirrors and lighting
- Working capital for stock of colour, products and tools
- Marketing spend for a relaunch or rebrand
- Bridging quieter weeks between peak seasons
Product families that may suit
Based on how UK lenders typically describe the profile of hair salons, the product families below are worth exploring. Whether any individual lender will fund is subject to lender underwriting, affordability checks and documentation.
Merchant Cash Advance
Cash advance repaid as a share of card/POS/platform sales.
Read the merchant cash advance guide →
Asset Finance
Finance to buy/refinance equipment, vehicles or machinery.
Read the asset finance guide →
Business Credit Card
Revolving credit/charge card for expenses and short-term spend.
Read the business credit card guide →
Common blockers and gotchas
What we see most often slow down or narrow the lender pool for UK hair salons. Worth checking before you apply.
- Chair-rental models with a small number of self-employed stylists can be harder to underwrite
- Cash-heavy takings without a clear bank statement trail
- Short remaining lease horizon
- Owner-operator structure without separate business banking
- Adverse credit history on a sole-trader file
Worked example
Illustrative scenario
A three-chair salon with 18 months of card-led trading wanted £15k to refit basins and add a new colour bar. Asset finance on the basins and a small MCA top-up are products that may suit this profile, subject to lender underwriting.
Illustrative only. Not a quote, not a loan offer, not a guarantee of approval. Eligibility is decided by each lender at underwriting.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a small hair salon get finance?
- Yes, asset finance on chairs and basins and an MCA against card sales are common starting points. Established operators with 12+ months of accounts can also consider an unsecured term loan.
- How are chair-rental salons assessed?
- Lenders typically look at the bank-statement revenue of the salon entity rather than the self-employed stylists. Where chair rent is the main revenue line, affordability is modelled on that.
- Can I finance a salon refit on a short lease?
- Lenders usually want the loan term to sit comfortably within the remaining lease. Shorter leases limit the available term and may increase the asked deposit.
- What documents will a lender want?
- Typically: business bank statements, recent accounts, identification, and for asset finance a supplier invoice for the new equipment. Some lenders also ask for the lease document.
Related guides
Merchant cash advance vs business loan
Compare merchant cash advances and unsecured business loans in the UK: repayment mechanics, cost, eligibility, speed and the right use case for each.
Asset finance for vehicles and equipment
How UK asset finance works for vehicles, machinery and equipment: hire purchase vs finance lease vs operating lease. Pricing, eligibility, providers.
See which UK lenders may suit your hair salons business
The eligibility checker takes about two minutes and returns a shortlist based on the criteria UK lenders publish. Educational guidance only — Lendrly does not submit applications on your behalf.
Eligibility guidance only - not financial advice, not a loan offer, not a guarantee of approval. Lendrly is not FCA-authorised and is not a regulated credit broker. Provider criteria can change and final approval is subject to lender underwriting, affordability checks, credit assessment and documentation.