The supplies that don't get counted: colour, developer, foils, gloves, retail stock, coffee cups.
Salons overpay on supplies because ordering from 3–5 disconnected suppliers hides price differences, triggers emergency top-ups, and buries spend that should sit at 11–18% of turnover under the ATO Small Business Benchmarks (2023–24) — many salons actually run at 20–24%. Stopping the bleeding means consolidating orders, setting stock alerts, and tracking spend in one place.
Rent, wages, and utilities are predictable. But colour tubes, developers, gloves, foils, and even coffee cups quietly eat away at profit when nobody's watching the total. Recent price hikes — a weaker AUD and a 3.7% jump in manufacturing input prices (ABS Producer Price Indexes) — have only made the gap between 11–18% and where most salons actually sit wider.
The quiet profit leak you didn't notice
Salon owners are often busy making sure their clients look great and feel happy, which means keeping track of every little cost can be difficult. However, there are several common inventory mistakes salons make when buying supplies that quietly increase their expenses.
Many salons unknowingly lose thousands each year due to inefficient supply management. A small adjustment in your purchasing habits can lead to significant savings.
Six avoidable costs
What each one looks like on an ordinary week — and what fixes it.
Buying from a few different suppliers, each with different prices and ordering systems, you're likely missing out on better deals.
Friday 4pm courier charges because colour tubes ran out.
"Free freight over $350" forces you to load up on slow movers.
You miss quarterly spend targets or manufacturer cashbacks.
Overstocked seasonal shades expire on the shelf.
March-2025 colour-tube list prices up another 4–6%.
*Indicative ranges based on industry observations across Australian salons. Base cost benchmarks from ATO Small Business Benchmarks (2023–24).
How much money can you save?
Let's look at a simple example. Hairdressers typically spend 11–18% of turnover on supplies. For a salon earning $400,000 per year at 15%, that's $60,000 each year. Cut it to 13% by reducing emergency orders and overstocking, and you'll spend $52,000 instead — an $8,000 saving you can put back into the business or use to reward your team.
How we can solve this
Imagine a streamlined solution that helps solve all these hidden cost issues easily, specifically for salons. Here's how you can stop the bleeding and optimise your purchases.
Quickly see the best prices from all your suppliers in one place, ensuring you always get the best deal. It also streamlines ordering, saving time and reducing errors.
Get warned before you run out of products, avoiding expensive emergency orders. Learn more about automated reordering systems.
Order multiple brands from one place to meet free shipping requirements without extra stock.
Never miss out on supplier rebates or manufacturer cashbacks again. Track purchases against spend targets and get reminded of upcoming rebate opportunities.
A simple tool that predicts which products you actually need helps prevent overstocking, keeping your shelves tidy and saving money.
Stay ahead of price increases and currency fluctuations. Stock up before a price hike or explore alternative suppliers if costs become prohibitive.
Get insights into your purchasing history with each supplier, helping you negotiate better terms and build long-term partnerships. Also watch for hidden fees on invoices.
Take back control of your salon expenses, before the next price hike
Every dollar counts when running a successful salon. While price increases from suppliers are unavoidable, making small changes to how you order can protect your salon from unnecessary expenses. This isn't about complicated business strategies — it's about making small, simple changes that add up to big savings. Using tools designed for salon owners can simplify ordering and help manage costs more effectively.
The money you save can help your salon grow, reward your staff, or simply make running your business less stressful. Even small savings make a big difference in the long run.
Our ordering platform is built for salons to find the best prices, prevent wasteful spending, and simplify inventory.
Signing up is free, takes less than 5 minutes, and is the first step towards a more profitable business.