Booth Rent vs Commission Calculator
Find the crossover point where booth rent beats commission — and know exactly when to make the switch.
| Item | Commission | Booth Rent |
|---|
What is the Booth Rent vs. Commission Calculator?
The Booth Rent vs. Commission Calculator shows stylists, barbers, and salon professionals which model puts more money in their pocket — comparing fixed weekly booth rent against a commission split at their actual service volume, retail sales, and product costs.
How is it calculated?
Enter your weekly service revenue, retail sales, the booth rent quote, the commission split offered, and who pays for supplies under each model. The calculator computes monthly take-home under both and finds your break-even revenue — the volume where renting starts beating commission.
Worked example: does booth rent or 50% commission pay a stylist more at $1,800/week?
- Commission take-home
At 50% on services plus 10% on retail: $1,800 x 50% = $900, plus $200 x 10% = $20. Commission take-home = $920/wk.
- Booth rent take-home
You keep all revenue and pay your own costs: $1,800 + $200 – $300 rent – $120 supplies = $1,580/wk.
- Weekly gap
$1,580 – $920 = $660 more per week under booth rent at this revenue level.
- Annualize it
$660 x 52 weeks = $34,320 more per year by renting the booth instead of taking 50% commission.
- Breakeven revenue
Booth rent only wins above ($300 + $120) / (1 – 0.50) = $420 / 0.50 = $840/wk in services.
- Verdict
At $1,800/wk you are more than double the $840 breakeven, so booth rent is the clear winner here.
At what weekly revenue does booth rent start beating commission?
| Commission you keep | Weekly booth cost (rent + supplies) | Breakeven services/wk | Booth rent wins if you bill… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40% | $420 | $700 | more than $700/wk |
| 50% (default) | $420 | $840 | more than $840/wk |
| 60% | $420 | $1,050 | more than $1,050/wk |
| 70% | $420 | $1,400 | more than $1,400/wk |
| 80% | $420 | $2,100 | more than $2,100/wk |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is booth rent or commission better for a stylist?
It depends on your volume. Commission wins at lower revenue because you carry no fixed cost; booth rent wins once weekly revenue clears roughly 2–2.5× the rent. At $300/week rent and a 50% commission alternative, the break-even sits near $600/week in services — above that, renting pays more.
What expenses do booth renters pay that commission stylists don’t?
Booth renters cover their own products and backbar, tools, card-processing fees, liability insurance, scheduling software, marketing, and self-employment tax on all profit — plus the rent itself. Budget 15–25% of revenue for these before comparing against a commission offer.
Are booth renters self-employed for taxes?
Yes. Booth renters are independent contractors: they receive no W-2, pay 15.3% self-employment tax on net profit, file quarterly estimated taxes, and can deduct rent, supplies, education, and tools. Commission employees have taxes withheld but lose most deductions.
What commission split is standard in salons?
Service commissions typically range 40–60% to the stylist, with 50% most common; retail commission runs 10–20%. Higher splits often come with product charges or fees — always compare offers on net take-home at your real numbers, not the headline percentage.
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