Hairdressing and beauty salons in a debt loop. Costs and new regulations are killing the industry

The debt of hairdressers and beauticians increased to almost PLN 55 million, i.e. by 14%. on an annual basis – according to data from the National Debt Register (KRD). Rising costs, strong competition and new regulations are worsening the condition of the beauty industry, which is counting on improvement during the carnival season.

According to KRD, over 3.7 thousand people have problems with repaying their liabilities. entities from the beauty industry, and the average debt of one salon is PLN 14.7 thousand. zloty.

KRD data shows that despite the growing demand for hairdressing and beauty services, the financial situation of entrepreneurs is worsened by higher business costs.. Raw materials and cosmetics are becoming more expensive, and according to estimates, their prices are approximately 10 percent higher. higher than a year earlier. In addition, there are rising costs of labor, energy and premises rental.

“Beauty salons in large cities and metropolises usually have higher debt, while those from smaller towns or regions are doing better. One of the reasons for this situation may be the high costs of running a business in large cities, where the rent for the premises is several times higher, employees expect better earnings, and customers may have high demands, which means the need to quickly adapt to their needs. In small towns there is less competition and lower employee turnover, which makes it easier to maintain profitability,” said Adam, president of the National Debt Register, quoted in the release. Łącki.

KRD indicates that the number of hairdressing and beauty salons in Poland currently amounts to approximately 132,000, which means very high competition. Salons from the Masovian Voivodeship have the greatest problems with repaying their liabilitieswhere over 700 companies accumulated PLN 13.7 million of debt. Right behind them were hairdressers and beauty salons from Pomerania, where 383 companies owe over PLN 6 million. The inglorious podium is closed by entrepreneurs from Greater Poland – 354 entities have to pay a total of PLN 5.8 million.

The National Debt Register points out that new regulations are an additional burden for the industry. From January 2025, salons must register in the Waste Database, and failure to comply with this obligation may result in fines ranging from PLN 5,000. zloty. In September 2025, there was also a ban on the use of TPO – a substance commonly used in nail polishes in cosmetics, which particularly affected manicure salons.

The beauty industry currently has large obligations to financial institutions (securitization funds, banks, leasing companies and insurers). They are PLN 40.3 million in arrears. Hairdressing and beauty salons owe much less, PLN 4.3 million, to mobile operators, PLN 2.2 million – they have to pay to energy suppliers, and PLN 1.6 million – to property managers. (PAP)

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