Hair salon in Ringerike: Industry Profile, Companies, and Outlooks

The hair salon industry in Ringerike constitutes an important part of the municipality's local economy, with a mix of established businesses and newer companies. In 2025, there are 68 registered companies in the sector, with a clear concentration in Hønefoss. The most represented organizational forms are AS (14 companies) and ENK (1 company). The sector has shown variation in sales development, with an increase up to 2022, followed by a sharp decline in 2025. This indicates both opportunities and challenges for new entrants.

Sales and employees in the hair salon industry in Ringerike have shown a complex development in recent years. The sales overview shows an increase from NOK 21.1 million in 2016 to a maximum of NOK 34.9 million in 2023, followed by a sharp decline to NOK 26.8 million in 2025. Employees have been more stable, with a decline from 77 in 2016 to 62 in 2026. The most significant decline in sales (23.0%) in 2024–2025 may be due to external factors such as economic pressure or changes in customer skills.

In Ringerike, there are 68 registered companies in the hair salon industry, with the following selected examples:

Most companies are AS entities, with a single ENK entity (Frisør Vivaldi Hege Thoresen). Some companies, such as På Hengende Håret As and Frisøren 1 As, have no registered sales or operating results, which may indicate new or weak businesses.

The hair salon industry in Ringerike is heavily concentrated in Hønefoss, with 14 companies and 62 employees. Sokna has one business, but with only 2 employees. The key figures for Hønefoss:

• Sales: NOK 32.9 million
• Operating income per employee: NOK 713.4K
• EBITDA margin: 2%
• Gross margin: 97%

Sokna's single company (Lines Frisør As) has a higher EBITDA margin (4%) and lower operating income per employee (NOK 1.0M), which may be due to small scale or specialization.

The sector has been relatively stable in terms of bankruptcy, with no registered bankruptcies in the hair salon sector in Ringerike. However, data shows that some companies have very low operating results or no sales (e.g., På Hengende Håret As and Frisøren 1 As). This may indicate that some businesses are in a transitional phase or have very low activity. It is important to monitor these companies to identify potential risk factors.

For founders in Ringerike, the hair salon sector can offer both opportunities and challenges. The strong concentration in Hønefoss indicates an established market with good infrastructure, but also competitive players. The sharp decline in sales in 2025 (23.0%) shows that the sector can be sensitive to external conditions. Founders should consider differentiating themselves through specialization, customer customization, or digital solutions to ensure competitiveness.

Compared to the broader hairdresser salon sector (which includes 105 companies in Ringerike), the hair salon sector shows a slightly different development. The hairdresser salon sector had higher sales in 2023 (NOK 40.5 million) compared to the hair salon sector (NOK 34.9 million). However, the hair salon sector had a more stable number of employees (62) compared to the hairdresser salon sector (87). Peer companies in the hairdresser salon sector include, among others, Cebrina Hårstudio Hønefoss As (NOK 5.1M sales, NOK 413.0K EBITDA) and Hønefoss Hudpleie As (NOK 499.0K sales, NOK -8.0K EBITDA). This shows that the hairdresser salon sector has a broader variation in EBITDA, which may indicate different operating models or market positions.

The hair salon sector in Ringerike shows a mix of stability and challenges. With a concentration in Hønefoss and a relatively low bankruptcy risk, the sector can be attractive for founders looking to establish themselves in an established market. However, it is important to be aware of the recent decline in sales and number of employees. SmartGrunder can help founders identify optimal addresses and strategies to ensure competitiveness in this sector.