Empty chairs don't have to stay that way. Discover how to fill the void in your salon and your pockets with a new rental model that's proven to work.
There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing an empty chair in your salon. Whether it’s due to a last-minute cancellation, a stylist leaving unexpectedly, or even just seasonal slowdowns, an empty chair means lost salon revenue. And unless you’ve got a time machine, that’s money you’re not getting back!
An unoccupied chair isn’t just a missed opportunity for stylists and clients—it’s a hit to your salon’s cash flow. But what if you could fill that chair without the hassle of finding a new team member and dealing with all the onboarding admin? Enter the rent-a-chair model.
Renting a chair is a growing movement in our industry that’s gaining traction not just overseas but here in Australia. In the United States, over 60% of salons have adopted some form of chair rental model, boosting their cash levels, improving salon income, and filling chairs quickly. While waiting for the right full-time stylist, why not make some extra income with a ready-to-go freelancer? Who knows, you might even find someone you want to hire permanently!
To learn how renting a chair works, and how you can quickly implement this model, keep on reading!
From free seat to freelance
Empty chairs in a salon can occur for several reasons…staff turnover, stylists taking maternity leave, or even just seasonal fluctuations that affect your bookings. Perhaps a stylist decided to start their own journey or move to a new city, leaving you with a vacancy you didn’t expect. Or maybe you’re expanding your salon, and now you’ve got a few more chairs than you can fill at the moment.
Most salon owners would look to hire traditionally at this point, and as you know, this can take time! Time to create an ad, time to interview, time to trial, and admin for onboarding. While you’re on this journey it can take a while until this new team member is contributing to the revenue for your salon. So why not hire out the available chair during this period?
Capture extra revenue for your business and cover overheads
While business challenges come and go, making smart decisions can turn them into opportunities. An empty chair doesn’t have to be a setback—it can be a chance for growth. By renting it out to a freelance stylist, you’re creating a new revenue stream that contributes directly to your overheads—like rent, wages, and product costs.
We all know running a salon isn’t cheap.There’s rent, utilities, insurance, equipment, and more. These expenses don’t stop just because chairs are empty. But renting out those spare chairs can turn that problem around. Instead of feeling the financial pinch, you’ll have a steady flow of income to help cover fixed costs, freeing you up to focus on what really matters, running a thriving, buzzing salon.
We spoke to Raphael Veron, Co-Founder and CEO of new Rent-a-Chair App MuseAvenue, who said:
“Renting one chair for just four days per week can help a salon generate an extra $20,000 of profit every year.”
What could an extra $20,000 profit do to your salon? Extra cash for the down period after holidays? New sinks? Pay for your booking software? The opportunities are endless!
Thomas Roux and Raphael Veron, co-founders of MuseAvenue
Finding a freelancer or independent stylist
So, you’ve got a spare chair and you’re ready to rent it out. What’s next? Finding a freelance or independent stylist doesn’t have to be a hassle. We recommend joining Muse Avenue, the “Uber for Independent Stylists.” Instead of looking for riders, you’re looking for talented freelance stylists in your area who are eager for a great space to work in.
Muse Avenue has hundreds of independent stylists on their platform waiting for salons like yours to advertise available chairs. It’s a win-win for both salons and freelancers.
“MuseAvenue wants to make it easy for salon owners and freelancers to collaborate through chair rental so that they can both thrive and keep focusing on their clients” – Raphael Veron, MuseAvenue.
Process and track chair rental income with salon software
Ready to Fill Those Empty Chairs? Why let empty chairs collect dust (and stress) when they could be earning you extra salon income? Renting out a chair is a quick, easy, and proven way to keep your salon lively, profitable, and buzzing with energy. Whether you’re looking to cover costs, find a new stylist, or just want to make the most out of your space, the rent-a-chair model is a fantastic solution.
Take the first step towards turning that empty seat into a profit powerhouse. Head over to Muse Avenue and start connecting with talented freelance stylists in your area today! Your next great hire, or your next source of steady income, could be just a click away.
