In every town and village one of the most common shops you will always see is a barber shop. Men need haircuts regularly, they need shaving, trimming and nowadays even small beauty care like face cleaning or coloring. That is why opening a barber shop is a good small business idea. It does not need too much education but it needs skill, patience and practice.
Learning the Work
To become a good barber, the first thing is training. Many people learn barber work directly under another barber. For example, a young boy in a village can work for 1 to 2 years as a helper in an existing shop, watching and slowly learning the art of hair cutting and shaving. Some towns also have small training centers where they teach barber skills, use of scissors, clippers, razors and even hair styling.
In cities like Guwahati, Silchar or Kolkata, there are short barber and men’s salon courses, usually 3 to 6 months, which are not very costly. Skill India and other government programs also support such training.
Investment Needed
A barber shop is one of the lowest investment businesses. You will mainly need:
- A small rented place or even a corner of your house in the village.
- A barber chair ( special chair that can move up and down ).
- Scissors, razors, clippers, combs, brushes and towels.
- A mirror, some shelves and basic furniture.
- Soaps, shaving cream, aftershave lotion and hair oils etc.
The total starting cost can be Rs30000 to Rs80000 depending on the size of the shop. If you want a modern look with air-conditioning, it can go higher.
Licenses and Permission
For a small rural barber shop, usually no heavy license is required. If you open in a town, you may need a shop and trade license from the local municipality or panchayat. This is usually simple and does not cost much.
Getting Customers
Barber work is such that once people like your service they will always come back. Word of mouth is the best advertisement. A neat and clean shop with a smiling barber attracts more customers. Keeping magazines or newspapers or even a small fan in summer, makes the shop friendly.
Some barbers also give home service for old men who cannot come to the shop. In towns, many barbers add fancy haircuts, beard styling, hair coloring to attract young boys.
Modern Beauty Care for Men
Earlier, barber shops only meant hair cutting and shaving. But now, even in small towns, men ask for:
- Face massage and face cleaning.
- Beard design and trimming.
- Hair dye or henna.
- Simple facial and skin care.
Adding these services can increase income.
Problems and Struggles
Starting a barber shop looks simple, but there are challenges. Sometimes getting a good location in the bazaar is costly. Also, in many villages people pay very little for haircuts, so income may be slow in the beginning. Buying good quality scissors and clippers is also necessary, because cheap ones break easily.
But with patience customers grow slowly. If you keep your tools clean and hygienic people will trust your shop more.
A Story Example
Take the example of Raju from a small village near Hailakandi. He started by working in a barber shop in Hailakandi town for two years. He saved money, bought his own chair, mirror and rented a small space in his village bazaar. At first, only a few customers came. But slowly word spread that Raju’s haircuts were neat, stylish and his shaving was smooth. He started offering beard designs for young boys and even home haircuts for elderly men. Now his small shop runs well and he earns enough to support his family.
Future Growth
A small barber shop can later grow into a men’s salon. You can add more chairs, hire helpers, and give advanced services. In towns, some barbers even open air-conditioned salons with stylish designs. But even in a small rural setup, a clean, well-maintained barber shop can give steady income for years.