Hair Salon Industry in Namsos: A Comprehensive Overview

Overview of the Hair Salon Industry in Namsos

Namsos has an active hair salon industry with 24 registered companies in the municipality. In 2026, there are 39 employees in the industry, showing a continuous decline since 2016. Sales have also been on a downward trend, with a total sales value of NOK 16.0 million in 2025. One of the most notable developments is the bankruptcy of Chill As in 2026, which had a negative EBITDA of NOK -178.0K and 0 employees. This shows that the industry has its challenges, but there are also companies such as Ellemelle Namsos As and Chikita As that achieve positive results with high EBITDA margins.

Sales Development:

• 2016: NOK 22.3 million
• 2025: NOK 16.0 million
• Decrease of 29.6% from 2020 to 2021, but a gradual increase since 2022.

Employee Development:

• 2016: 66 employees
• 2026: 39 employees
• Decrease of 40.3% over the period, with an average annual decline of 3.8%.

Key Figures in 2026:

• Total sales: NOK 16.0 million
• Total number of employees: 39
• Average EBITDA margin: 2% (for the most active companies).

There are 24 companies registered in the hair salon industry in Namsos, with the following organizational forms:

• AS (12 companies): The most common organizational form, with a total of 39 employees.
• ENK (1 company): Anitas Salong, which has 0 employees.
• KBO (1 company): Chill As Bankruptcy Estate, which has 0 employees.

Key Companies:

• Ellemelle Namsos As: 5 employees, EBITDA NOK 179.0K, EBITDA margin 5%.
• Chikita As: 4 employees, EBITDA NOK 225.0K, EBITDA margin 6%.
• Chill As (bankruptcy): 0 employees, EBITDA NOK -178.0K, EBITDA margin -9%.

Namsos:

• 11 companies, 36 employees, total sales NOK 14.2 million.
• Average EBITDA margin: 2%.

Namdalseid:

• 1 company, 3 employees, total sales NOK 0.
• The company Hjemmefrisør 1 As has no activity.

Conclusion: The industry is heavily concentrated in Namsos, with little activity in Namdalseid. This indicates that Namsos is the main town for hair salons in the municipality.

Bankruptcy Statistics:

• Chill As is the only company in the industry that has gone bankrupt in Namsos. This has led to a negative EBITDA of NOK -178.0K and 0 employees.

Reasons for Bankruptcy:

• Low sales growth (-20% from 2025 to 2026).
• High wages (NOK 1.3 million) compared to sales (NOK 1.8 million).

Impact of Bankruptcy:

• Reduced competition in Namsos, which can provide opportunities for surviving companies.
• Reduced employment opportunities in the industry.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

Outlook in Namsos:

• Opportunities:
• The bankruptcy of Chill As provides opportunities for new companies in Namsos.
• Low competition in the town can provide market share.
• Challenges:
• Decline in sales and employees over time (a 40.3% decrease in the number of employees since 2016).
• Low EBITDA margin (average 2%) for the most active companies.

Recommendation:

• Focus on cost control and differentiation to compete in Namsos.
• Consider establishing yourself in Namsos rather than Namdalseid, where activity is very low.

Comparison with the Barber Shop Industry:

• Sales:
• The barber shop industry has higher sales (NOK 16.9 million in 2025) compared to hair salons (NOK 16.0 million in 2025).
• Employees:
• The barber shop industry has 42 employees in 2026, while hair salons have 39 employees.

Peer Companies in the Barber Shop Industry:

• Lunula Velvære Og Interiør As: NOK 841.0K sales, 5 employees, EBITDA NOK 52.0K.
• Anastasiia Alkhimova Nail: 0 employees, 0 sales, EBITDA NOK 0.
• Furulund X Beauty: 0 employees, 0 sales, EBITDA NOK 0.

Conclusion: The barber shop industry has better economic results compared to hair salons, but both industries show a decline in the number of employees over time.

The hair salon industry in Namsos has both opportunities and challenges. With 24 companies and 39 employees in 2026, there is a clear decline since 2016, but there are also companies that achieve positive results. The bankruptcy of Chill As provides opportunities for new companies, but it is important to focus on cost control and differentiation. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find good locations in Namsos for hair salons, based on data and market analysis.