Hair Salon Industry in Bodø: A Comprehensive Analysis

Overview of Craftsmanship and Development

Bodø has a well-established craft industry within the hair salon sector, with 71 registered companies in the municipality. In 2026, there are 203 employees, indicating a gradual decline over recent years. Sales reached a peak of 123.5 million NOK in 2023, but have since decreased by 9.1% in 2025. The industry is most active in the center of Bodø, with 34 companies in the city center, while Tverlandet has a smaller but stable presence with 2 companies. The broader hair salon sector in the municipality has 131 companies, showing that the hair salon industry is part of a larger industry. This provides a foundation for both stability and development, but also competition from adjacent sectors.

In 2026, the hair salon industry in Bodø had total sales of 107.7 million NOK, showing a decline of 9.1% compared to 2024. Sales increased by 2.8% in 2022 and 2023, but have since declined. The number of employees has also decreased over time, from 242 in 2016 to 203 in 2026. This indicates a gradual decline in workforce, although there are small variations from year to year. The industry has a high average gross profit margin of 1029%, suggesting that most companies provide high-value services. The EBITDA margin stands at 6%, showing that companies have good cost control, although there are variations between individual businesses.

There are 71 companies registered in the hair salon industry in Bodø, with a dominant share of AS-organized companies (35 companies) and one NUF organization. The most well-known companies include Bech Frisør AS, which has two branches in Bodø and had a high sales growth of 10% in 2022. Other large companies such as Blushstudio AS and Mode Studio AS also have a good market share, although they have experienced a sales decline in 2024. There are also smaller companies such as Mclovin AS, which have no sales or employees, which may indicate a previous decline or a new start. Most companies have a positive EBITDA, but there are variations in the results, with some companies having lower margins or negative values.

The hair salon industry is most active in the center of Bodø, with 34 companies and 201 employees. Tverlandet has a smaller presence with 2 companies and 7 employees. There is a clear concentration of companies in the city center, indicating that customers prefer to have services in central locations. In Bodø, companies have a high sales of 114.8 million NOK, while Tverlandet has a lower sales of 5.4 million NOK. This shows that there is a large difference in market share between the two areas. There is also a higher average income per employee in Bodø compared to Tverlandet, which may indicate that companies in the city center have higher productivity.

The industry has been stable over time, with no bankruptcy registrations in 2026. This shows that companies have good financing and good cost control. However, some companies have experienced a decline in sales and results, which may indicate that they have difficulties with competition or economic challenges. For example, Blushstudio AS and The London Barber AS have experienced a negative EBITDA, which may indicate that they have higher costs or lower sales. There are also companies such as Mclovin AS and Klipp Frisør Bodø AS that have no sales or employees, which may indicate that they have experienced a decline or a new start. This shows that there are variations in the companies' performances, even though there are no bankruptcy registrations.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering starting a hair salon business in Bodø, it is important to be aware of the recent years of decline in sales and number of employees. This may indicate that market conditions have become more competitive, and that there is a higher degree of stability in the industry. However, there are opportunities to establish oneself in the center of Bodø, where there is a high concentration of companies and a large customer base. Entrepreneurs should also be aware of companies with a high EBITDA and good sales growth, such as Bech Frisør AS and Mode Studio AS, which can provide a good example of how to run a successful business. It is also important to be aware of companies with lower margins or negative values, such as Blushstudio AS and The London Barber AS, which can provide a warning about potential challenges.

The broader hair salon sector in Bodø has 131 companies, showing that the hair salon industry is part of a larger industry. Sales in this sector reached a peak of 137.6 million NOK in 2023, but have since declined by 13.5% in 2025. The number of employees has also declined over time, from 262 in 2016 to 238 in 2026. This shows that the broader sector has a higher degree of stability, although there are small variations from year to year. There is also a higher average gross profit margin of 1021%, showing that most companies provide high-value services. The EBITDA margin stands at 4%, showing that companies have good cost control, although there are variations between individual businesses. There is also a list of companies in the broader sector, such as Glow By Elena AS and Syvende Himmel AS, which can provide a good example of how to run a successful business.

The hair salon industry in Bodø has good stability and a high degree of activity, with 71 companies and 203 employees. Sales reached a peak of 123.5 million NOK in 2023, but have since declined by 9.1% in 2025. There is a clear concentration of companies in the center of Bodø, indicating that customers prefer to have services in central locations. This provides opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to start a business in the municipality, but there is also competition from adjacent sectors. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find good locations and analyze market conditions in the municipality to ensure a successful start.