Was in a shop in Portland that only charges $15 for a cut, but they're booked solid. Are we underpricing ourselves?

3 comments

3 Comments

Consider raising your prices. That Portland shop is booked solid because they're cheap, not because they're good. People see a low price and jump on it, but that doesn't mean they're happy or that it's a good business model. You could be turning away better clients who assume a higher price means better skill. Being constantly booked at a low rate just burns you out for less money.

the_morgan2mo ago

But that shop being booked solid is the whole point... they're moving people through the chair and making real money on volume. If you're charging $15 and booked all day, you're probably taking home more than someone charging $40 with empty slots. It's a different way to work, fast and steady, and for some clients, a reliable cheap cut is exactly what they want. Not every business needs to chase the high-end market.

michael_bennett111mo ago

That bit about "a reliable cheap cut is exactly what they want" is probably true for a lot of people. I've seen plenty of folks who just want it neat and fast without any fuss. @the_morgan I get your point about volume adding up, but it's a grind, you know? Running at $15 all day means you're basically a machine, not a stylist. In my experience, you end up working twice as hard for the same money, and your hands and back start to feel it after a couple years. You might take home more cash short term, but that model usually burns people out hard.