Getting Started
Barbershop opening checklist: software, screens and the front door
Opening a barbershop means two lists at once: the one the state inspector brings, and the one nobody hands you about walk-ins, waits, payments and the lobby. This checklist covers both, in the order most new owners need them, so the first week runs on a plan instead of a clipboard.
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The checklist at a glance
Six jobs, in this order. Each one has its own section below.
- 8 weeks out: permit and floor plan. Read your state board’s shop rules before the lease and the chairs.
- 4 weeks out: stations and lobby. Chairs, sinks, sterilization, and a wall for the TV.
- 2 weeks out: software. The walk-in line, bookings if you take them, payment at the chair and a client list.
- 1 week out: the front door. Hours, a QR code to get in line, and a line about waiting anywhere.
- Opening week: three numbers. Walk-ins, walk-outs, and quoted against real waits.
- First month: reviews. Ask regulars while the shop is new.
Six to eight weeks out: the permit and the floor plan
Every state licenses barber shops differently, so start with your state board. In North Carolina, the Board of Barber and Electrolysis Examiners asks for a shop permit application, a $120 inspection fee and a $50 permit fee, and recommends applying early (source).
The same board publishes a new-shop checklist: at least 196 square feet, 5 feet between chair centers, a 4-foot clear aisle in front of each chair, and a hand-washing sink within 7 feet of each chair (source). Measure your floor plan against your own state’s numbers before the plumber locks it in.
Four weeks out: chairs, stations and the lobby
Stations come first, because the inspection depends on them. Chairs, mirrors, sterilization, and a spot for towels and trash.
Then count your lobby seats honestly. A busy walk-in shop fills them fast, and people who cannot sit often decide not to wait, so plan where they will wait instead.
Pick one wall for a TV before the painters come, so the outlet and mount go in the right place. Our guide to the best TV device for a waiting room display covers the hardware.
Our pick for a new walk-in shop
Two weeks out: the software stack
Most new shops need software for four jobs. A walk-in line, appointments if you take them, payment at the chair, and a client list you can reach later.
Write down what each app does before you pay for it, so you never pay twice for the same job. Our barbershop waitlist software checklist covers what the line should do.
Set up payments before opening day. Test a real card, a tip and a refund, and make sure each barber can do all three.
One week out: the front door
The front door is where a walk-in decides whether to stay. Put your hours there, a QR code that says “Scan to get in line”, and one line saying they can wait anywhere and watch their place on their phone.
Print the code large enough to scan from a few steps back. Put the same link in your Instagram bio and your Google Business Profile.
Opening before the software is ready? A printable barbershop sign-in sheet beats a blank notepad for the first few days.
Opening week: what to watch
Write down three numbers every day.
| Number | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Walk-ins who joined | Your real demand, by hour |
| Walk-ins who left before their turn | The cost of a long or wrong quote |
| Quoted wait against the real wait | The first thing to fix when people leave |
Ask regulars for a review in the first few weeks, while they are glad you opened. Then set a weekly time for the numbers, using our list of barbershop KPIs to check every week.
Running the line with the NextUp app
The NextUp app puts the line, the lobby TV and the front door in one place. Customers scan your QR code or open your link, add a name, and see their place and wait on their phone.
Barbers call the next person from the Staff Screen, and the TV shows who is up on an Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV or any web browser. Once the line runs, managing walk-ins at a barbershop covers the daily routine.
See the NextUp app for barbershops, TV display, door tablet, card readers.
The Walk-in plan is $29 a month for your first location and Pro is $59. Every paid plan starts with a 14-day free trial, once per business. A card is needed to start, but nothing is charged until the trial ends, when the plan is charged unless you cancel first. See pricing.
Ready for opening day?
Questions
What do I need before I open a barbershop?
A shop permit from your state barber board and a passed inspection, licensed barbers, and a floor plan that meets your state’s spacing and sink rules. Then the stations, payment setup, a way to run the walk-in line such as the NextUp app, and a sign at the door.
How early should I apply for a barber shop permit?
As early as you can. North Carolina’s board, for example, recommends submitting the application before the shop is ready, because an early application avoids delay.
Do I need a TV in a barbershop waiting area?
No, but a screen that shows who is up next answers the question walk-ins ask most. The NextUp app’s TV display is on every plan, Free included. Plan the outlet and mount before the walls are finished.
Can a new barbershop start on a free plan?
Yes, with the NextUp app: the Free plan covers 1 location, 1 team member and 50 check-ins a month, with the TV and door tablet and no card. More team members are on paid plans.