The Hairdressing Industry in Karmøy

Karmøy has a good development pattern for the hairdressing industry, with 80 registered companies in the municipality. Sales have grown by 3.3% from 2024 to 2025, and there has been a stable growth over the past few years. However, data shows that the number of employees has fallen by 7.7% from 2025 to 2026, which may indicate increased competitiveness or efficiency in the sector. There is also a lot of variation between suburbs, with Karmsund and Åkrehamn being the most active areas. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Karmøy for this industry.

Sales Development:

Employee Development:

Sales have grown continuously since 2016, with an increase of over 38% in total. This shows a stable growth in the industry. The number of employees, however, has shown more variation, with a decline of 7.7% from 2025 to 2026. This may be due to increased efficiency or increased competitiveness in the sector.

There are a total of 80 companies registered in the hairdressing industry in Karmøy, but only 16 of these are listed in the data. Examples of companies include:

• Spektrum Frisør As (Karmsund) – 13 employees, 12.5M in sales, 1.7M in operating profit
• Studio Haarr As (Åkrehamn) – 7 employees, 6.6M in sales, 2.1M in operating profit
• Barbershop Oasen As (Karmsund) – 3 employees, 2.3M in sales, 389K in operating profit

Organizational Forms:

• AS (25 companies, 91 employees) – Dominant organizational form with higher sales and operating profit
• ENK (2 companies, 7 employees) – Less active, with zero sales and operating profit

There is a clear dominance of AS companies, which have higher operating profit and sales compared to ENK companies.

Business Activity per Suburb:

Åkrehamn and Karmsund are the most active suburbs with higher sales and operating profit. Vormedal and Veavågen have lower activity, with zero or negative operating profit.

Bankruptcies and Operating Profit:

• Auji Vikings Barberstue As (Austigard 12, Åkrehamn): 0 in sales, 0 in operating profit, 0 employees
• Sissel Dale Pedersen As (Heggheimvegen 37, Skudeneshavn): 1.2M in sales, 25K in operating profit, 0 employees

Operating Profit Margins:

• Åkrehamn: 21% operating profit margin, higher than the average in the municipality
• Kopervik: 2% operating profit margin, lower than the average
• Veavågen: 0% operating profit margin, with negative operating profit

There is a lot of variation in operating profit margins between suburbs, with Åkrehamn being the most profitable and Veavågen being the least economical.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The hairdressing industry in Karmøy shows stable growth in sales over the past few years, with an increase of 3.3% from 2024 to 2025. This shows that there is potential for growth in the sector. However, there is a decline in the number of employees, which may indicate increased competitiveness or efficiency in the sector. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in suburbs with higher operating profit margins, such as Åkrehamn and Karmsund, and avoid suburbs with lower margins, such as Veavågen and Kopervik. It is also important to be aware of the competitiveness in the sector, as shown by the decline in the number of employees.

Broader industry2 grouping:

• Number of companies: 124 (more than the hairdressing industry)
• Sales: 55.6M in 2025 (higher than the hairdressing industry)
• Number of employees: 102 in 2026 (lower than the hairdressing industry)

Peer companies:

Conclusion:

The broader hair salon sector has higher sales and more companies compared to the hairdressing industry, but fewer employees. This shows that the sector is more diversified and may have different competitiveness. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in the sector with higher operating profit margins and focus on efficiency.

Karmøy has a stable and growing hairdressing industry with 80 companies and an increase in sales of over 38% since 2016. There is variation in operating profit margins between suburbs, with Åkrehamn and Karmsund being the most profitable. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in these suburbs and be aware of the competitiveness in the sector. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Karmøy for this industry.