Fit-out finance · Beauty and salons
Fit-out finance for beauty and salons
Beauty and salon finance is lending for hair, beauty and cosmetic clinics, funding treatment equipment such as aesthetic lasers, salon fit-outs, retail stock and the working capital around seasonal trade.
How fit-out finance works for beauty and salons
In this industry the fit-out is part of what clients are paying for. Basins and plumbing, styling stations, treatment rooms, lighting, joinery and a retail display area add up quickly and none of it comes with you if the lease ends. Fit-out finance spreads it across the lease so the opening budget can cover stock and staff instead. Match the term to the lease including options — a five-year fit-out loan on a three-year lease is a problem waiting to happen.
The cash-flow pattern we plan around
Appointment-based income paid at service, peaking sharply in November and December and dipping in late January and February.
What beauty and salons typically fund
- Aesthetic lasers, IPL and skin treatment devices
- Salon fit-out, chairs, basins and mirrors
- Treatment beds and sterilisation equipment
- Retail product stock
- Booking, POS and marketing systems
Fit-out finance for beauty and salons: the numbers
| Typical amounts | $20,000 – $1,500,000 |
|---|---|
| Term | 12–60 months |
| Indicative rates | 9.5% – 22% p.a. |
| Repayments | Monthly |
| Speed | 3–10 business days |
| Documents beauty and salons usually need | ABN and lease for the premises · 6 months of bank statements and merchant statements · Equipment or fit-out quote from the supplier |
Rates are indicative, change without notice and depend on the lender, product, asset, term and your credit profile at the time of application. They are not an offer of finance. Comparison rates, where shown, are true only for the example given.
Key terms
Salon equipment finance
Salon equipment finance is secured lending for hair and beauty equipment — styling chairs, basins, treatment beds, sterilisers and aesthetic devices — typically written over two to five years against the equipment.
Aesthetic device payback
Aesthetic device payback is the number of treatments required for a laser or IPL machine to cover its finance repayment, used to test whether a device purchase is supported by realistic client demand.
What is fit-out finance?
Fit-out finance is business lending used to fund the construction or refurbishment of commercial premises, including joinery, flooring, lighting, signage and the equipment installed. It typically combines secured equipment finance with an unsecured component for fixed works.
Can leasehold improvements be financed?
Yes, but usually not as secured equipment finance, because fixed improvements attach to a building the borrower does not own. Lenders fund them through unsecured facilities or specialist fit-out products, priced above standard asset finance.
How does a lease term affect fit-out finance?
Lenders will not normally amortise fit-out debt beyond the remaining term of the premises lease, including exercisable options. A five-year lease generally means a fit-out loan of five years or less.
Questions from beauty and salons
Can a salon or clinic finance an aesthetic laser or IPL device?
Yes. Lasers, IPL, skin and body devices are financed for salons and cosmetic clinics over three to five years, with established businesses usually approved on low documentation. Lenders assess the device’s brand and resale market and the salon’s trading history, and handpieces and training can be included.
Can a salon fit-out be financed?
Yes. Basins, chairs, mirrors, joinery, lighting, flooring and signage can be funded under one fit-out facility with the shopfitter and suppliers paid as the work progresses, repaid over three to five years within the lease term. Equipment is often financed separately at a sharper rate.
How do salons fund the late-January and February dip?
A line of credit drawn as needed and repaid when trade returns is the cheapest option, and a short unsecured loan covers retail stock ahead of the November and December peak. Applying while trade is strong in spring gets the best terms.
Can a new salon owner get finance?
Yes, with the right lender. New salons are approved with a deposit, a signed lease, industry experience and a clean personal credit file, and equipment from major brands is easier to finance than unbranded devices. Established salons qualify on bank statements, often within a day.