Key Takeaways: Creating your barbershop business plan for 2026 should include a few key considerations to set the stage for success. From utilizing client feedback to adapting to new trends, staying on top of your game as a barber requires focus and planning.
UPDATED: November 10, 2025
With the end of 2025 ahead (or upon us), business owners are beginning to turn their attention to 2026. As a barbershop owner or professional barber, your focus should also shift to what you want to accomplish in the upcoming year.
While your preferences and the uniqueness of your barber business will dictate some of your emphasis, there are a handful of things you should consider for 2026 when planning your barber business. With the right priorities and a proper plan, you will set yourself up for success.
Your 2026 Barbershop Business Plan: What to Consider
Learn from Previous Years
As you prepare for 2026, take some time to reflect on past years. What can you learn from the successes and failures that led your barber business to where it is today? Embracing this exercise of reflection can include an intrinsic look at yourself.
Ask: in what ways have you grown and how would you like to continue to improve? At the same time, how did your business fare? Take an objective look at your finances, your client acquisition and retention, your staff turnover, and so on. Are there any areas that stand out as overwhelmingly positive or negative? How can you build on or correct these things?
Listen to (& Implement) Client Feedback
Your clients are the heart and soul of your barber business. Without them, you have no job, no career, and no barber shop.
In other words, your clients are kind of important, and their feedback should be a valuable source of inspiration and guidance. Consider this feedback in all its forms–from your reputation in the community to reviews posted online. You can even ask clients for feedback directly, either in person or via a digital survey.
While you can’t realistically obsess over every piece of feedback, you can determine whether there are underlying trends or widely held opinions. These critical insights can direct the steps you take with your barber business in 2026.
"Your clients are the heart and soul of your barber business–without them, you have no job, career, or shop. In other words...their feedback should be a valuable source of inspiration and guidance."
Adapt to New Barbering Trends
The world of barbering is perpetually engaging and exciting because it is always changing. Innovations emerge, trends explode onto the scene, and there is always something new to adapt to.
In 2026, part of your planning for your barber business should be to remain flexible to evolution. While your foundational skills–including technical abilities, creative passion, and customer relationships–will always endure, being willing to adapt to new trends is essential to remaining relevant.
Not only does this help you stay sharp, but it also creates opportunities to offer new services to your clients and attract a larger audience to your shop.
Commit to Continuing Education
In addition to being adaptable to new trends, committing to continuing education is an essential part of remaining at the top of your barbering game.
Whether you sign up for courses at your local institution or attend a variety of industry events and barber expos, push yourself to refine your skills, learn new techniques, grow your business acumen, network with fellow professionals, and otherwise indulge in the many benefits of continuing education.
Revisit Your Barber Business Goals
When first considering your goals, it is easy to feel excited and driven to achieve them. If you're not careful, the hustle and bustle of the year can quickly make you lose sight of the specifics of those goals, even if you continue to work toward them.
By revisiting your goals before the start of the new year, you can not only refresh yourself and feel reinvigorated to achieve them but also revise and refine them to align with the current state of your barber business and the vision you have for its future.
The clarity this practice can bring can be invaluable for your plan entering the new year.
Make an Actionable Plan
If you want to see your barber business thrive in 2026, taking the time to make a plan that goes beyond conceptual ideals and embracing actionable steps to achieving success is the best way to do it.
Try to take your lofty visions and dreams of the future and turn them into a step-by-step plan to accomplish them. It’s okay to start small and build from there–remember, you want your plan to be actionable!
Why Barber Insurance Should Be Part of Your 2026 Barbershop Business Plan
When building your barbershop business plan for 2026, insurance is a must. Maybe you thought you had this piece of the puzzle figured out last year and were mistaken. Maybe you're just now in the market for insurance. Wherever you're at, barber insurance is a non-negotiable – here's why.
It Protects Your Business from Risk
Every service you offer – from a standard haircut or shave to more advanced grooming treatments – brings risk. Slip-and-falls, product reactions, equipment accidents, or even advertising liability are real concerns.
Did you know the average liability claim in the barber industry is more than $5,000? A single incident (seriously, just one!) could seriously derail your finances or your reputation. Including insurance in your 2026 plan demonstrates foresight and professionalism.
Coverage Enhances Credibility
When you present a business plan to partners, investors, landlords, or even potential renters of chairs in your shop, having coverage shows you are serious and prepared.
Though not everyone will have the same coverage, one of the major coverage highlights we offer includes professional & general liability (e.g., $2 million per occurrence, $3 million annually) and identity theft protection. This level of coverage not only protects you, it strengthens your brand.
Financial Forecasting and Budgeting
In your business plan, you will outline projected costs and contingencies. Insurance premiums should be included in your operating budget for 2026.
These are predictable, manageable expenses that protect against unpredictable liabilities. By factoring them in up front, you avoid being caught off guard and ensure your financial projections are realistic.
Coverage Enables Growth & Peace of Mind
As you make 2026 a year of growth (whether expanding services, hiring new barbers, or opening a new location), insurance gives you room to operate with confidence. When your team knows the business is insured, you’re less distracted by “what ifs” and more focused on delivering an excellent client experience.
And when your clients see a vetted, professional operation, your brand grows stronger.
Your 2026 barbershop business plan should include a dedicated section on risks, insurance strategy, budget for premiums, and how insurance supports your growth goals.
Want a detailed guide on how to create the ultimate business plan? Take a peek at our blog Creating a Barbershop Business Plan: Everything to Know.Whether you’re an established barber trying to take your barber business to the next level or you’re just starting out and aspiring for greatness, taking these things into consideration when planning for 2026 will set you up for success.
To further equip yourself for success, be sure to subscribe to the National Barbers Insurance and check out our blog for tips, tricks, and valuable barbering insights.
