Commission is a pay model where stylists earn a percentage of the service (and sometimes retail) revenue they generate. It is one of the most common UK salon pay structures alongside hourly wages and chair rental.
UK salon commission often sits around 30–50% on services, with retail usually lower. Employer National Insurance and pension rules still apply for employed stylists. The hiring chapters stress that pay design must attract talent and still leave salon margin – racing to the highest split without pricing discipline wrecks both sides.
Many salons land near 40% for mid-level stylists, with juniors lower and seniors higher. Retail is often a smaller percentage. Always model salon margin, not only stylist happiness.
Different risks. Commission keeps quality control and PAYE duties. Chair rental shifts self-employment to the stylist and gives the salon more predictable rent income.
Most UK salons pay a smaller retail split to encourage product sales. Decide it in writing so there are no end-of-month arguments.
Commission is usually calculated on the ex-VAT service amount. Confirm with your accountant and keep the rule consistent in software.
The hiring academy lesson and hiring book chapter cover attracting talent – commission is only one lever beside culture and retention.
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Compare employment, commission, and rental paths.
Payroll is the process of calculating and paying staff – wages, commission, holiday pay, tax, and National Insurance on time and accurately.
Chair rental — also called booth rent — is an arrangement where a self-employed stylist pays the salon a fixed fee for a chair and facilities, while keeping their own service revenue. It is an alternative to employing stylists on wages or commission.
Holiday pay is what eligible staff receive for annual leave. For variable earners such as commission stylists, calculation needs a clear written method.
Staff retention is how long good team members stay and perform. Replacing a strong stylist usually costs more than investing in the ones you already have.
A staff rota is the weekly schedule of who works when. It balances client demand, labour cost, and fair hours for the team.
