1.0Market Snapshot
- 33,895
- Hairdressers (16,469), beauty salons (12,911) and other personal-care businesses (4,515) in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 96.02.01, 96.02.02 and 96.04.02). Almost all are micro-businesses.
- 53,614
- Employees in hairdressing, beauty and personal care in 2024 (BFS STATENT), 35,271 full-time equivalents: an average of 1.6 people per business. Employment is up 22.2% since 2011.
- +2.9%
- Growth in employment across the three classes from 2020 to 2024 (BFS STATENT); beauty salons grew while hairdressing employment fell 2.0%.
According to Val Index analysis of Swiss commercial-register and federal data (2026), Switzerland counts 33,895 beauty salons & hair studios companies — Hairdressers (16,469), beauty salons (12,911) and other personal-care businesses (4,515) in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 96.02.01, 96.02.02 and 96.04.02). Almost all are micro-businesses..
2.0Industry Overview
Hairdressing and beauty is one of Switzerland's most fragmented trades. BFS counted 33,895 businesses with 53,614 employees in 2024 (STATENT): 16,469 hairdressers with 29,684 employees, 12,911 beauty salons with 17,163 and 4,515 other personal-care businesses with 6,767. The average business has 1.6 employees, and the average beauty salon less than one full-time position. The number of beauty salons has risen 58.9% since 2011, while hairdressing employment fell 2.0% between 2020 and 2024, so growth comes mainly from new one-person studios.
3.0Industry Health Check (SWOT)
- Steady, local demand
- Very small businesses dependent on the owner
- Higher-value beauty and skin treatments
- Many new one-person studios
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Beauty Salons & Hair Studios business valuation in Switzerland
- Statutory Multiple (EBITDA)
- 1.5 - 2.5×
- Deal Multiple (EBITDA)
- 2.0 - 3.5×
- Market Trend
- Stable
Indicative ranges based on market research. Actual multiples vary by company size, growth, and market conditions.
8.0Regional Clusters
Western Switzerland
8,961 businesses with 13,717 employees in 2024 (BFS STATENT), the most of any region.
Zurich
5,916 businesses with 10,030 employees; Coiffeur Saleh and Varibelle are registered here.
Eastern Switzerland
4,770 businesses with 7,135 employees.
Bern and Solothurn
4,761 businesses with 6,961 employees.
Northwestern Switzerland
4,321 businesses with 6,584 employees.
Central Switzerland
3,117 businesses with 6,036 employees, the largest on average (1.9 per business); GIDOR (Baar) and Hairstylist Pierre (Freienbach) are registered here.
Ticino
2,049 businesses with 3,151 employees.
Sources
9.0Frequently Asked Questions
▶How much is a hair or beauty salon worth in Switzerland?
ValIndex's multiples table puts Swiss hair and beauty salons at 2.0–3.5× EBITDA in transactions and 1.5–2.5× EBITDA on statutory valuations. Because customers often follow the owner, many small salons sell for little more than their equipment and customer list.
▶What drives the value of a Swiss hair or beauty salon?
Buyers price: (1) regular customers and the appointment book; (2) employees who will stay; (3) the lease and location; (4) dependence on the owner; (5) product sales; (6) compliance with the collective agreement.
▶How big is the Swiss hair and beauty sector?
BFS counted 33,895 hair, beauty and personal-care businesses with 53,614 employees in 2024: 16,469 hairdressers, 12,911 beauty salons and 4,515 other personal-care businesses.
▶Who are the main Swiss hairdressing chains?
Chains are rare. GIDOR Coiffure (Baar) reports 95 salons and 1,000 employees; other multi-salon companies include Hairstylist Pierre (Freienbach), Coiffeur Saleh (Zurich) and Varibelle (Küsnacht). Ryf closed its seven Swiss salons after filing for insolvency.
▶What are the key trends in Swiss hair and beauty?
Five trends: (1) a boom in small beauty salons; (2) stagnating hairdressing employment; (3) rising minimum wages; (4) more wage inspections; (5) mixed fortunes for chains.
▶What are the main risks when buying a Swiss salon?
The main risks are: (1) customers leaving with the owner or a stylist; (2) rising wage costs; (3) lease terms; (4) unpaid wages or contributions under the collective agreement; (5) new low-cost competitors. Due diligence should check the customer base, staff contracts, wage compliance and the lease.
▶What is the minimum wage for hairdressers in Switzerland?
Under the collective agreement declared binding until 2027, a qualified hairdresser (EFZ) earns at least CHF 4,160 a month in the first two years of work and CHF 4,360 from the third year in 2026, rising to CHF 4,240 and CHF 4,460 in 2027.
▶Where are Swiss hair and beauty salons located?
Using BFS figures for 2024: Western Switzerland has the most businesses (8,961, with 13,717 employees), followed by Zurich (5,916; 10,030), Eastern Switzerland (4,770; 7,135), Bern and Solothurn (4,761; 6,961), Northwestern Switzerland (4,321; 6,584), Central Switzerland (3,117; 6,036) and Ticino (2,049; 3,151).