Booth rent vs commission calculator.
Compare what a stylist takes home under booth rent vs commission. Helps both owners and stylists structure the deal honestly.
Stylist economics
Defaults assume a mid-tier hairstylist in a Vienna boutique salon.
Stylist take-home
How this calculator works (the same formula nouz uses)
There are two common ways to pay a stylist, and they reward completely different things. Commission gives the stylist a percentage of what they bill, with no fixed cost to them. Booth rent charges a flat weekly fee plus their own supplies, and lets them keep everything above that. This calculator shows take-home under each model side by side, and finds the weekly bookings level where the two structures pay exactly the same — the break-even that makes the conversation honest for both sides.
Commission take-home = bookings × commission %
Booth-rent take-home = bookings − rent − product
Break-even bookings = (rent + product) ÷ (1 − commission %)
A worked example
Defaults: €1,400 of weekly bookings, a 50% commission, €250 weekly booth rent, and €80 of weekly product the stylist buys under booth rent. Under commission the stylist keeps 1,400 × 50% = €700. Under booth rent they keep 1,400 − 250 − 80 = €1,070. The difference is €370 in favour of booth rent. Break-even bookings are (250 + 80) ÷ (1 − 0.50) = 330 ÷ 0.50 = €660 per week. Because this stylist bills €1,400, well above €660, booth rent pays them more.
What a healthy number looks like
The break-even point is the whole story. As a rule of thumb:
| Weekly bookings vs break-even | Who wins | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Below break-even | Commission | No fixed cost, so a quiet week still pays |
| At break-even | Tie | Both models pay the same |
| Above break-even | Booth rent | Every extra euro is fully theirs |
A stylist still building a book, or with uneven weeks, is usually safer on commission. A stylist with a full, independent book who wants the upside is usually better on booth rent. Neither is "generous" or "stingy" — they simply suit different stages. The break-even also protects the salon: below it, a commission stylist earns while the salon still keeps a margin; well above it, moving a busy stylist to booth rent can leave the salon better off collecting a predictable fee than sharing an ever-larger commission.
Common mistakes
- Comparing gross numbers only. Commission is usually employment with social charges; booth rent is usually self-employment with the stylist's own tax. The take-home shown here is before tax on both sides.
- Forgetting the stylist's supplies under booth rent. Booth renters buy their own product. Leave that out and booth rent looks better than it is.
- Assuming a busy month is a normal month. Break-even should be judged against a realistic average week, not the best one.
- Ignoring who owns the client. If clients book through the salon, commission fits. If they follow the stylist, booth rent fits — and the ownership question matters more than a few euros.
- Setting the rent without checking the break-even. A booth rent priced above what an average week can clear will drive a stylist back to commission or out the door. Test the rent against realistic bookings before you name a figure.
When to use it — and what's next
Reach for this before you hire, before you renegotiate, or when a strong stylist asks to go independent. Running the numbers together removes the emotion and shows both sides where the fair line sits. It does not replace advice on employment status, tax, or social charges — those depend on your country and belong with your accountant. Once the structure is set, keep an eye on whether the salon's own margin holds up as your mix of renters and commission staff changes: the nouz salon dashboard tracks that daily.
Common questions
How do I calculate the break-even between booth rent and commission?
Break-even weekly bookings equal the booth rent plus weekly product cost, divided by one minus the commission rate. With a 250 euro rent, 80 euros of product, and a 50 percent commission, that is 330 divided by 0.5, which is 660 euros. Above that weekly volume booth rent pays more; below it, commission does.
Which model is better for the stylist?
It depends on volume. Below break-even, commission pays more because there is no fixed cost to carry on a quiet week. Above break-even, booth rent pays more because every extra euro is fully theirs rather than shared. A stylist with a full, steady book usually earns more on booth rent.
Why does booth rent include a product cost but commission does not?
Under commission the salon typically supplies product, so it is not deducted from the stylist. Under booth rent the stylist buys their own supplies, so the calculator subtracts weekly product cost from their take-home. Leaving that out would make booth rent look more attractive than it actually is.
Does the take-home figure account for tax?
No. Both figures are gross, before tax. In most EU countries commission is usually an employment arrangement with social charges, while booth rent is usually self-employment with the stylist handling their own tax. The gross comparison is only half the picture, so confirm the status implications with an accountant.
When should a salon prefer commission over booth rent?
Commission fits stylists still building a book, those with uneven weeks, and situations where clients book through the salon rather than following the stylist. It shares the risk of quiet weeks with the salon and keeps client ownership with the business, which matters if you are growing the brand rather than renting out chairs.
What does this calculator leave out?
It leaves out insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, and the employment-status and tax consequences that differ by country. It compares only gross weekly take-home under each model at a given booking level. Use it to frame an honest conversation, then settle the legal and tax structure with a professional before signing anything.