Funding for salons, spas, barbershops, and beauty businesses. No collateral, fast decisions, all credit profiles considered.
We fund beauty & salon businesses across the country. One application gets your file in front of 70+ lenders competing to offer you the best terms — no collateral required, all credit profiles considered.
Salons sit in a sweet spot for several lender categories. Strong credit card revenue (60–90% of payments are card-based for most salons) makes them ideal candidates for credit-card-split MCAs. The industry has predictable seasonality (holiday / wedding / prom spikes), so cyclical LOC products fit well. And the equipment is well-understood and depreciates predictably, making equipment financing competitive.
The challenges are industry-specific. Stylist turnover affects revenue continuity (lose a top stylist with a book and revenue can drop 15–25% in a quarter). Lease commitments are heavy (rent is typically 8–15% of revenue, with multi-year leases). And many owners run booth-rental models where the salon owner only collects a fixed weekly amount per stylist — underwriters need to understand whether your reported "revenue" is salon revenue or just booth rent collected.
| Product | Fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Split MCA | Strong fit | High card volume = clean repayment via daily card-split. Funds 24–72hr. Common rates 1.25–1.40 factor. Best for 6mo+ TIB, 580+ FICO. |
| Working Capital MCA | Common fit | For salons with mixed payment methods. Daily ACH from operating account. Slightly higher rates than card-split (1.30–1.45 factor). |
| Equipment Financing | Strong fit | Stations, chairs, dryers, color bars, lasers. Equipment-secured at 10–18% APR. Typical $15K–$200K. |
| Line of Credit | 2+ year operators | For seasonal cash flow management. 14–22% APR. Best when you can pay off during peak seasons. |
| SBA Express | Up to $500K | Good fit for salon expansion, second location, or major buildout. 15–36 day approval, rates Prime+4.5–6.5%. |
| Build-out / TI Loan | New space only | For new salon openings or major renovation. Often combined with equipment financing. Typical $50K–$300K. |
The 6 most common capital deployments we see across our salon & beauty clients, with the funding product that fits each.
Build-out, equipment, initial inventory, working capital reserves. Total need typically $80K–$300K. SBA 7(a) or Express + equipment financing combo.
Acquisition of another salon, partner buyout, or buying a building you currently rent. SBA 7(a) for the cheapest financing if time allows.
New stations, color bars, blow dryers, salon chairs, esthetic lasers. Equipment financing at 10–18% APR.
Signing bonuses for top stylists, increased commission to retain. MCA or LOC if cash flow won't carry the upfront cost.
Launching keratin, laser hair removal, or new color line. LOC if pre-approved; otherwise smaller MCA.
January and August dip. LOC drawdown is structurally cheapest.
Beyond the standard credit + revenue + time-in-business thresholds, salon & beauty businesses face industry-specific underwriting variables.
Often yes, particularly for salons with strong credit card volume. Card-split MCAs deduct a fixed percentage from each card transaction (typically 8–15%), which means slow days take less and busy days take more — better cash-flow match than fixed daily ACH. Use MCAs when you need speed (24–72 hours) or have credit below 660. For larger amounts ($150K+) or longer payback (12+ months), term loans or SBA tend to be cheaper.
Typical ranges: card-split MCA $15K–$300K (capped at ~1 month of card volume per advance). Working capital MCA $10K–$200K. Equipment financing $15K–$200K. LOC $25K–$250K. SBA 7(a) up to $5M for acquisitions, real estate, or major build-outs. SBA Express up to $500K with faster underwriting.
Difficult. Most lenders want 6+ months of bank statements showing real revenue. Pre-revenue salons typically fund through SBA Microloan ($500–$50K, longer process), personal credit, or build-out lender programs that combine equipment + buildout financing. Once you're past 6 months with $15K+ monthly deposits, the broader market opens up.
Yes — equipment financing is the standard path. The lender pays the vendor directly; you pay monthly over 36–72 months at 10–18% APR. Equipment becomes yours at end of term (vs equipment leasing which is an operational lease — you don't own at end). For under $25K equipment, often easier to use a business card or LOC.
Yes — salons are SBA-eligible. The 7(a) program is most common for acquisitions, second locations, and real estate purchases. SBA 504 fits real estate purchases specifically. SBA Express fits expansions $500K and under with faster underwriting (15–36 days vs 45–90 for standard 7(a)).
4–6 months of business bank statements (the core), credit card processing statements (for card-split MCAs), business formation docs, voided check, photo ID. Larger amounts ($150K+) require last 2 years of business tax returns, P&L. SBA loans require business plan, lease, equipment quotes, and personal financial statement.
Yes, but typically at lower amounts. Booth-rental income shows as more stable revenue than direct service revenue, but lenders cap funding to roughly 10–15% of annual booth rent collected. Salons running a hybrid (some employees, some booth renters) are common — lenders evaluate the mix.
MCA: 24–72 hours from application to wire. Equipment financing: 2–7 days. LOC: 1–5 days. Term loan: 3–7 days online, 2–6 weeks bank. SBA Express: 15–36 days. SBA 7(a): 45–90 days.
Ready to see what salon & beauty lenders actually offer for your file?
Apply for Funding — FreeEditorial picks from our 72-lender review of operators who actually fund this industry well.