Rent a chair or rent a room?

If you're going self-employed in hair or beauty, you'll usually choose between renting a chair in someone else's salon or renting a private room of your own. Both let you work for yourself without signing a lease on a shop. They suit different people.

Renting a chair

You rent a styling station inside a working salon. The backwash, mirrors, lighting and reception are already there, and you bring your own clients and kit.

It suits stylists and barbers who want to build their own client list without the cost of a salon, and who like working alongside other people.

Most chair rentals are a fixed rent by the day, week or month. Some salons charge a share of your takings instead, or a smaller fixed rent plus a share. Ask which before you agree.

Renting a room

You rent a private room, by the hour, day or month. It suits treatments that need privacy or a couch: aesthetics, lashes and brows, waxing, facials, massage, nails and hair if you prefer to work alone.

You control the space while you're in it, and clients get a private, quieter experience. You'll usually pay more per hour than a chair, but you only pay for the time you book.

What it costs on Roomki

These are typical prices on Roomki in October 2026, including Roomki's service fee on hourly and daily bookings:

Prices vary a lot by area and what's included, so check each listing.

Which should you choose?

• Choose a chair if you cut and colour hair, want a ready-made salon around you, and are happy working on the salon floor.
• Choose a room if your treatments need privacy or a couch, you want your own space and branding, or you only need a few hours a week.
• Start by the hour or day if your client list is still growing, then move to a monthly room or chair once you're busy.

Self-employed or employed?

Renting a chair or room should mean you run your own business: you set your own prices, hours and appointments, and you pay the rent. If a salon tells you when to work, sets your prices or supplies everything you use, that can look more like employment. HMRC published guidance on this for hair and beauty in May 2025. If you're unsure, check it or ask an accountant.