Dictionary.com defines a salon as a shop, business, or department of a store offering a specific product or service related to fashion, hairdressing, or beauty. There are two main types of salons. Hair salons mainly focus on hair care—cutting, styling, colouring, relaxing, or braiding—basically, your go-to place when you want a fresh look, a quick wash, or a protective hairstyle.
Beauty salons, on the other hand, offer a wide range of services beyond hair. They might include makeup, facials, nail care, massages, waxing, or even skincare treatments.
However, in Uganda, most salons blend both, because why not? Ugandans are known for playing against the rules after all, we eat our rolexes for crying out loud. In an uptown Ugandan salon, you can braid your hair, fix your nails, do your eyebrows and get a massage, all under one roof.
What You Need to Start a Salon in Uganda
Starting a salon in Uganda doesn’t always require a huge budget, but it does need planning and creativity. You must also ensure to start small, especially if you’re not so thick in the wallet. Aside from that, starting small allows for recovery from any loss or shock. Here’s a quick checklist of what you’ll need:
#1. A good location: Look for an area with regular foot traffic, like a busy street, near markets, around offices, or next to schools or universities. Visibility is everything. Every single salon located in Wandegeya cannot fail to get money daily because of the constant student traffic from Makerere University. A good location will lead to a large client base to start milking money from.
A good location also means that the environment is attractive. Today, people don’t look for salons to just do hair and go; they go to salons for the experience. The surrounding area must be neat, free from rubbish and also easily accessible.
#2. Licenses and permits: Register your business with Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), using a catchy name for your salon. This registration will cost about UGX 50,000 to UGX 100,000. Acquire a TIN as well as a Kampala Capital City Authority trading license, which will cost UGX 52,500 to UGX 210,000 per year, depending on the scale of business.
It is mandatory to get a health permit from the district offices, since salons require a clean environment to operate in. This permit cost depends on the conclusion made by the district health inspector. Additionally, in the event that you are going to adjust a rented space, a permit to make these adjustments is required; this permit can go for as low as UGX 200,000.
#3. Basic equipment: You’ll need mirrors, chairs, dryers, combs, hair products, towels, hair extensions and for beauty salons, nail kits, makeup tools, sterilisers, carpets, and probably wallpapers. For those who want to go the extra mile with their beauty salons, you’ll need massage chairs, plush carpets, and generally beautiful aesthetics, such as fancy lampshades and bulbs.
#4. Skilled staff: Hiring trained stylists or beauticians is key. Many clients come back because of a stylist’s personal touch and skill. I remember doing regular box braids with a salon lady who had experience doing hair for brides. I kid you not, I am hunting for that lady every day because the hair she did for me was far from the usual. Light and bulky, but not too bulky. The same goes for barbers. Not every shop with the word ‘barber’ will deliver. With skilled staff, you will be sure to stay on top of your game.
In the future, you could consider training your staff. Training staff ensures that your salon is always up to date and keeps up with industry trends. When your staff are at the top of their game, your salon stands out from the rest.
#5. Comfortable setting: A clean, welcoming, and well-scented space makes clients feel valued and relaxed. Some salons even offer free coffee or a free head massage as a bonus to make their clients feel at home. Such a warm, welcoming and relaxing environment will guarantee customer retention in the long run. Note that even free WiFi can also add to the comfort of a salon.
#6. A Budget: This is the most important thing to have before starting anything. You must be able to write down how much you have and where the money shall be allocated. A Budget helps ensure that you aren’t overspending and also ensures that a semblance of order is maintained.
The budget will include rent. Rent in an ideal area is oftentimes high, so you must be equipped with bargaining skills to lower it to something that you can accommodate and that the landlord can agree to as well. Rent can range from UGX 150,000 to UGX 6,000,000, depending on the area.
You know how motivational speakers have small beginnings: ‘I grew up in a one-room house with my ten siblings, now I own 8 estates…’ or ‘I started my chicken farm with only one feather.’ Some of them may be exaggerations, but they still highlight the power of small beginnings. Anyone looking to start up a salon should start small and build from there. Use your vision to propel you forward steadily.
Once you’ve got your basics in place, focus on branding and customer experience. Set up an attractive signboard, and create a business page on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok to showcase your work. Ugandans love before-and-after transformations—and those photos can easily attract new clients. So, endeavour to keep records at every step of the way, this will also help you track your progress as you progress.
Clients love incentives, so in addition to the free WiFi or cup of coffee, offer your loyal clients discounts or a free hair tie after every appointment. There is a natural hair salon I went to that gave every client a card after the first appointment. On that card were the details of the salon and three boxes to tick after every appointment. Once all were ticked, you would be entitled to a free hair appointment. How incredible is that!
Salon Pricing and Trends in Uganda
Pricing depends on location, target market, and services offered. For example, a wash and treatment costs UGX 10,000 or UGX 20,000 in most local salons, while high-end places charge UGX 50,000 and above. Braiding can range from UGX 40,000 to UGX 300,000, depending on the style and length.
Trends greatly shape the salon business. Recently, natural hair care, wig installations, and gel nails have become very popular in Uganda. Social media influencers and celebrities are driving demand for trendy looks, pushing salon owners to stay creative and up to date with new techniques.
Expected Returns from Salon Business in Uganda
After all operational costs have been cleared, you can earn UGX 300,000 to UGX 20,000,000 per month from your salon business. This is all dependent on the scale of the business and the magnitude of expenditure. Bottom line is, at the end of the day, you will make a good profit running a salon business in Uganda.
Take into consideration clients who come just to be styled—no electricity, no water being used—just gel, hair oil or spray. Nothing extraordinary. Now imagine having 20 women walk into your salon requesting to be styled, each paying UGX 20,000. You will make UGX 400,000 in just a matter of hours!
Salons in Uganda aren’t just about beauty; they are about creativity and community. Whether it’s a quick trim before work or a full weekend pampering session, the salon experience is a big part of Ugandan culture. There is magic in every salon, but it’s up to the salon owner to ensure it doesn’t fade out.
If you’re just thinking of starting a salon, there’s never been a better time. All you need is passion, skill, and the courage to bring your styles to life.
