Hair Salon Services in Kristiansand: Industry Analysis and Outlook

Kristiansand has a well-established hairdressing sales industry with 256 registered companies in the municipality. It is a mix of both large and small salons, with a clear dominance of AS companies. Although there has been a decline in sales and number of employees in recent years, data shows that there is still growth potential in certain geographic areas. A single bankruptcy case has been registered, but there is no sign of systematic instability in the industry. For entrepreneurs, it may be a good idea to focus on areas with higher sales growth and existing competitive companies.

Sales and employee development:

The industry experienced strong growth in 2022, but has since experienced a decline. There is a clear trend of having fewer employees compared to 2016, despite small variations in recent years. Sales figures have also shown a decline after 2022, which may be due to economic pressure or changes in customer behavior.

Top companies in the industry:

Organizational form:

• AS: 73 companies, 280 employees, 149,1M in operating income
• DA: 1 company, 6 employees, 0 in operating income
• Enk: 1 company, 4 employees, 0 in operating income

There is a clear dominance of AS companies, indicating established and stable companies in the industry. However, some companies have very low or no operating income, which may be a sign of operational challenges or declining customer behavior.

Advantages of companies and employees per district:

Kristiansand is the most active district with over 60 companies and 246 employees. Søgne and Nodeland also have significant presence, while Flekkerøy and Hamresanden have lower activity. There is a clear concentration of companies in Kristiansand, which can be an advantage for entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in an already established market.

Bankruptcy cases:

• Movig Tjenester As (Linnkjellveien 1, Kristiansand): 0 in sales, 0 in EBITDA, 0 employees

One bankruptcy case has been registered in the industry, but there is no sign of systematic instability. It may be a single development in a specific company's operations, but it is not an indication that the entire industry is in danger. It is important to note that some companies have very low or no operating income, which may be a sign of operational challenges or declining customer behavior.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

Trend analysis:

• Sales have shown a decline after 2022, but there is clear growth in certain districts such as Kristiansand and Søgne.
• There is a clear dominance of AS companies, indicating established and stable companies in the industry.
• There is a significant variation in EBITDA margins, which may be a sign of companies with higher efficiency and lower operating costs.

Recommendation:

For entrepreneurs, it may be a good idea to focus on areas with higher sales growth and existing competitive companies. It is also important to be aware of companies with lower operating income, which may be a sign of operational challenges or declining customer behavior. It may be a good idea to analyze companies with higher EBITDA margins and look for possible strategies to emulate their model.

Overall industry (hair salon):

• Number of companies: 432 (more than in the hairdressing sales industry)
• Sales: 172,2M in 2025 (decline from 191,4M in 2022)
• Number of employees: 339 in 2026 (decline from 399 in 2020)

Peer companies:

Conclusion:

The overall industry (hair salon) has more companies and higher sales compared to the hairdressing sales industry. There is a clear variation in EBITDA margins, which may be a sign of companies with higher efficiency and lower operating costs. There is also a clear dominance of AS companies, indicating established and stable companies in the industry.

Kristiansand has a well-established hairdressing sales industry with 256 registered companies in the municipality. It is a mix of both large and small salons, with a clear dominance of AS companies. Although there has been a decline in sales and number of employees in recent years, data shows that there is still growth potential in certain geographic areas. A single bankruptcy case has been registered, but there is no sign of systematic instability in the industry. For entrepreneurs, it may be a good idea to focus on areas with higher sales growth and existing competitive companies. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Kristiansand for this industry.