Hair Salon Industry in Sandefjord: A Comprehensive Analysis

Hair salons in Sandefjord constitute a stable, yet dynamic part of the municipality's economy. A total of 120 companies are registered in the industry, with a combination of AS and ENK entities. However, one bankruptcy was registered in 2024, indicating that the industry is not without challenges. At the same time, data show potential for growth in certain geographical areas, particularly in Stokke and Melsomvik. For entrepreneurs, this may indicate both opportunities and the need for strategic planning.

In 2025, the hair salon industry in Sandefjord had a total sales volume of NOK 61.4 million, representing an increase of 5.7% compared to 2024. The total number of employees in the industry, however, fell to 129, a decline of 4.4% from 2024. In recent years, sales figures have been unstable, with an increase of 34.1% in 2021 following a sharp decline in 2020. Employee numbers have shown a weaker trend, with a decrease of 6.2% from 2020 to 2021. This shows that the industry has been affected by external factors, such as the pandemic, but also that there is a degree of stabilization in recent years.

In Sandefjord, 16 companies are registered in the hair salon industry, with a combination of AS and ENK entities. The most well-known companies include:

• Hc Sandefjord As (Nygårdsveien 84): 11 employees, sales of NOK 8.6 million, EBITDA of NOK 840,000
• Frisørstua Andebu As (Andebu Sentrum 24): 9 employees, sales of NOK 3.9 million, EBITDA of NOK 167,000
• Blend Frisør As (Rådhusgata 14): 8 employees, sales of NOK 6.2 million, EBITDA of NOK 855,000
• Chic Frisør Stokke As (Frederik Stangs gate 1): 8 employees, sales of NOK 3.0 million, EBITDA of NOK 225,000
• Tango Stokke (Kornmagasingata 1): 8 employees, sales of NOK 12.9 million, EBITDA of NOK 1.4 million

There are also several companies registered with very low or no sales, such as Heads Up Sandefjord As and Elins Hårstudio As, which may indicate new companies or companies in the start-up phase.

The hair salon industry in Sandefjord is distributed across several districts and municipalities within the municipality. The most active company-localized areas are:

1. Sandefjord: 31 companies, 103 employees, sales of NOK 45.9 million, EBITDA of NOK 4.2 million
2. Stokke: 2 companies, 16 employees, sales of NOK 15.9 million, EBITDA of NOK 1.6 million
3. Andebu: 2 companies, 10 employees, sales of NOK 3.9 million, EBITDA of NOK 167,000
4. Melsomvik: 1 company, 3 employees, sales of NOK 1.9 million, EBITDA of NOK 12,000
5. Kodal: 1 company, 2 employees, sales of NOK 1.1 million, EBITDA of NOK 34,000

It is particularly interesting to note that Melsomvik has a high sales growth of 20%, but a 0% EBITDA margin, which may indicate high operating costs or low income. Stokke, on the other hand, has a higher EBITDA margin of 10%, which may be an advantage for entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves there.

One bankruptcy has been registered in the hair salon industry in Sandefjord, namely Fjorden Hårstudio As on Torggata 15. The company had no sales, no employees, and no operating result. This shows that there may be challenges in the industry, especially for companies with low volume or poor financial management. However, no other bankruptcies have been registered, which indicates that most companies in the industry have a stable financial position. It is also worth noting that some companies have negative EBITDA values, such as Gullsaksen As and Voyage Sandefjord As, which may indicate financial challenges.

For entrepreneurs in the hair salon industry in Sandefjord, there are both opportunities and challenges. There is a stable number of companies, but there has been a decline in both sales and the number of employees in recent years. This may indicate a competitive market, where it is important to differentiate oneself and offer quality-driven services. There are also opportunities in certain geographical areas, such as Stokke and Melsomvik, where there is high sales growth. Entrepreneurs should also be aware of operating costs and EBITDA margins, which are important indicators of financial stability. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations and assess market challenges in Sandefjord.

When comparing the hair salon industry with the broader category of beauty salon in Sandefjord, data show that the beauty salon has more companies (231) and a slightly higher sales volume (NOK 73.8 million in 2025). There is also a weaker decline in sales in the beauty salon compared to the hair salon industry. This may indicate that the beauty salon has a more stable market position. In the beauty salon, there are also more companies with positive EBITDA values, such as Tittins På Torvet As (NOK 136,000) and Vip Beauty Lounge As (NOK 106,000). This may indicate that the beauty salon has better financial management. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider both the hair salon industry and the beauty salon when considering establishing themselves in Sandefjord.

The hair salon industry in Sandefjord shows both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs. There is a stable number of companies, but there has been a decline in both sales and the number of employees in recent years. There has also been one bankruptcy registered, indicating that there may be challenges in the industry. However, there are opportunities in certain geographical areas, such as Stokke and Melsomvik, where there is high sales growth. Entrepreneurs should also be aware of operating costs and EBITDA margins, which are important indicators of financial stability. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations and assess market challenges in Sandefjord.