The Hair Salon Industry in Sandnes: Business Analysis and Outlook

Overview of the Hair Salon Industry in Sandnes

The hair salon industry in Sandnes is an important part of the local business structure, with 176 registered companies in the municipality. The industry has shown a weak declining trend in recent years, with both sales and number of employees decreasing. Nevertheless, several companies have managed to maintain positive EBITDA margins and stable operations. This shows that there are opportunities for innovation and differentiation in a competitive market.

Key figures in 2025:

• Sales: NOK 87.9 million
• Number of employees: 266
• EBITDA margin: 2–8% for some companies
• Competitive companies: 16 companies with positive operations

Economic Overview

The hair salon industry in Sandnes has shown a weak declining trend in sales and number of employees over the past few years. The most central figures are:

Important trends:

• Sales: Decrease of 39% from 2016 to 2025
• Employees: Decrease of 30% over the same period
• EBITDA margins: Ranging between 0% and 8% for the most active companies
• Largest decline: 2022 (–25.4% in sales) and 2020 (–11.1% in sales)

Conclusion: The industry has been affected by economic pressure and competitive conditions, but there are still companies achieving profitability.

Companies in the Industry

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

• Nikita Hair (Gamle Stokkavei 1): 16 employees, EBITDA NOK 1.2M
• Ms/mr As (Langgata 40): 9 employees, EBITDA NOK 158K
• Beauté Fatale As (Langgata 38): 8 employees, EBITDA NOK 190K
• Annes Hårdesign Sandnes As (Langgata 21): 7 employees, EBITDA NOK 140K

Organizational forms:

• AS: 44 companies (main form)
• ENK: 6 companies

Observation: Many companies have zero sales or negative operating results, which may indicate challenges in operations or recent startups.

Business Geography

The hair salon industry is strongly concentrated in Sandnes, with the following distribution:

Important observations:

• Sandnes: Dominates with 47 companies and 270 employees
• Hommersåk: Has 3 companies, but lower sales and employees
• Business concentration: Many companies in Sandnes, but lower activity in Hommersåk

Business Dynamics and Operational Risk

The industry has shown a weak declining trend in operating results and number of employees. Key figures:

• EBITDA margins: Ranging between 0% and 8% for the most active companies
• Operating results: Many companies have zero or negative operating results
• Bankruptcy safety: No companies are marked as bankrupt, but several have zero sales or negative operating results

Examples of challenges:

• Tehe As: 7 employees, EBITDA NOK 28K (0% margin)
• Sayso Hair & Style: 11 employees, zero sales and operating results
• Modern Design Drift As: 24 employees, zero sales and operating results

Conclusion: The industry has a mix of stable and unstable companies, with a need for operational optimization and differentiation.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering starting a hair salon in Sandnes, it is important to consider the following:

• Competitiveness: The market is set by 176 companies, with a focus on AS and ENK entities
• Operating results: Many companies have low or negative EBITDA, which may indicate operational challenges
• Trend: Sales and number of employees have declined over time, but there are opportunities for companies with high quality and differentiation
• New opportunities: Companies such as Ms/mr As and Nikita Hair have proven to be profitable, which can provide inspiration

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should focus on unique offerings, efficient operations, and marketing to stand out in a competitive market.

Outlook for the Broader Hairdressing Salon Sector

The hairdressing salon sector in Sandnes is larger than the hair salon industry, with 287 companies. Key figures:

• Sales: NOK 105.8M in 2025 (a decline of 15.7% from 2024)
• Employees: 352 in 2026 (an increase of 2.9% from 2025)
• Peer companies: Include companies in skincare, nail salon, and beauty salon

Examples of peer companies:

• Venita Wellness Sriwichai (eyelash salon): NOK 24.9M in sales, EBITDA NOK 12.9M
• Form Team As (beauty salon): NOK 4.8M in sales, EBITDA NOK 1.1M
• Bare Clinic Drift As (beauty salon): NOK 6.0M in sales, EBITDA NOK 423.4K

Conclusion: The hairdressing salon sector has larger volume and variety, but similar operational challenges as the hair salon industry.

Conclusion

The hair salon industry in Sandnes is an important part of the local business structure, but has shown a weak declining trend in recent years. This is due in part to competitive conditions and economic pressure. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for companies that can adapt to the market through innovation, efficient operations, and differentiation. Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on unique offerings and marketing to stand out in a competitive market. SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and locations in Sandnes for new companies in this industry.