At SalonBiz, we believe that if you can see it, you can shift it. That’s why measuring your business’s performance is the key to a smarter – and more profitable – salon.
Luckily you don’t need to rely on complicated spreadsheets, spend hours on reporting, or track every single number. Just focus on a select few smart KPIs, and you’ll get all the data you need to clear your path to profitability.
Here are the seven KPIs to measure in 2026, and how to turn them into a 90-day profit plan. So you can make this year your business’s best yet.
1. Guest count
Guests can leave a long gap between their visits, so maintaining and building your guest count is crucial for protecting and growing your revenue. Track your guest count carefully, so you can check whether your marketing, referrals, and promotions are doing their job – or whether they need a rethink.
2. Existing guest retention
This is all about measuring your repeat business. When your regulars keep coming back, your marketing costs go down, predictability goes up, and financial forecasting becomes much easier.
High-performing salons see existing guest retention above 80%, with premium salons sitting at around 90% – and some micro businesses reaching an incredible 99%. Numbers like these only happen when the guest experience is the top priority.
To help maximize your salon’s guest retention, you could consider using tools like stylist apps, loyalty programs, memberships, referrals, and NPS feedback scores.
3. New guest retention
Every new guest is an investment – and whether that investment pays off depends on whether they come back for round two.
Your new guest retention numbers can tell you a lot about your business. The benchmark for new guest retention is 35%, with most salons sitting around 34%. Exceptional salons (especially micro-businesses) can reach 70–80% retention. Your own percentage will show you whether your marketing is working, how strong your first impression is, and whether your salon’s reality lives up to its brand promise.
You can help improve your new guest retention by putting thought into every element of your new guest journey – from booking to service to checkout. So new guests will be counting down the days until their next visit.
4. Rebooking rate
Rebooking is one of your salon’s most powerful future cash flow predictors. It can protect you in the slower months, reduce gaps in your schedule, and generate more predictable income.
SalonBiz users have an average rebooking rate of 74%, with the most premium salons reaching as high as 78%. This means that out of every 10 guests, 7 or 8 leave with their next appointment already in the appointment book.
You can use the stylist app to make rebooking part of the guest experience – not an afterthought – and help your salon’s schedule get booked up months in advance.
5. Retail performance
Product sales often deliver far higher margins than services alone. So they’re not just an add-on; they’re a key profit driver. Pay close attention to the products that fly off the shelves, and those that stay put, and make changes to your inventory accordingly.
To help boost retail sales, focus on education and personalization – not pressure. Help a guest understand why a product matters, and they’ll be far more likely to take it home with them.
6. High-margin services and add-ons
Every salon has its most profitable services – and it’s important you identify yours. For hair salons, it’s often color services or additional treatments. For spas it might be signature facials, advanced treatments, or other high-demand services with strong margins.
Track which services bring in the most revenue for your business, and use your findings to figure out which training programs and promotions to focus on. SalonBiz makes it easy to incorporate add-ons into your booking flow, so you can get even more revenue out of your most profitable services.
7. Staff retention
Do your team members come and go, or are they with you for the long haul? Long-term team members play a major role in revenue consistency, so staff retention is an important salon KPI to measure.
High staff retention rates mean fewer empty chairs, more rewarding guest relationships, and lower hiring and onboarding costs. Which is why salons that invest in their teams through clear expectations and professional development tend to not only see stronger retention – but also stronger business results.
How to measure your KPIs
Measuring the above KPIs doesn’t have to be a chore. The new Salon Scorecard from SalonBiz brings all these key metrics together in one simple and easy-to-read report.
Your Scorecard shows you what’s working, what’s growing, and where to focus your time and energy. So you can get clear on the numbers that matter to your salon most, and use them to make business decisions with confidence.
Turning your KPIs into a 90-day profit plan
Now that you’re measuring your performance, it can be tempting to try and optimize everything at once. But the most successful salons zero in on just a few key metrics, and take consistent action over a clearly defined period. That’s why a 90-day profit plan works so well.
A simple 90-day plan helps you:
- Prioritize what matters most
- Break big goals into manageable steps
- Track your progress without the overwhelm
So how do you write a 90-day profit plan? Start by identifying the three KPIs that you think could have the biggest impact on your cash flow right now. Then commit to improving those metrics over the next quarter.
The bottom line on your bottom line
From how good your guest experience is, right through to how you treat your team – your KPIs tell a story about your salon. Measure what matters, and review your numbers regularly, and you can gain clarity, confidence, and control over your profitability.
With the right metrics and a focused 90-day profit plan in place, your salon can switch from reacting to results to leading them. Building momentum – and your business – one quarter at a time.
