Salon equipment financing lets you pay for styling chairs, shampoo units, dryers, pedicure spas and other equipment over time instead of in cash. The main choices are an equipment loan, where you own the equipment from the start, a lease, where you decide at the end whether to buy it, and dealer financing arranged by the company selling the equipment. The right one depends on how much you are buying, your credit and how long you expect to use it.
This page is part of our beauty salon loans guide. It explains how each option works, the terms equipment sellers and lenders publish, and what to check before you sign. Figures were checked on September 21, 2026.
What salon owners finance
- Stations and furniture. Styling chairs, stations, mirrors, reception desks and retail shelving.
- Backbar and wash area. Shampoo units, backwash sinks and water heaters.
- Nail and spa equipment. Pedicure spas, manicure tables, ventilated tables and treatment beds. Nail salons have more on this in our nail salon financing guide.
- Aesthetic devices. Lasers and skin devices usually cost more and follow different lending rules. See cosmetic equipment loans and med spa financing.
- Technology. Point-of-sale systems, booking hardware and security cameras.
Loan, lease or dealer program
| Option | How it works | Who owns it | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment loan | Lender pays the seller; you repay in fixed installments | You, with the lender holding a lien | Down payment and minimum amount |
| Lease with a set buyout | Monthly payments, then buy at a price set at signing | Lessor until you buy | Total of all payments plus the buyout |
| Fair market value lease | Lower payments; buy at market value, renew or return at the end | Lessor | Buyout price unknown until the end |
| Lease-to-own program | Payments over a set period, ownership at the end | Lessor until paid | Total cost compared with the cash price |
| Dealer promotional financing | 0% or deferred-interest terms through a finance partner | You | Deadlines and deferred interest |
| SBA 7(a) or microloan | Bank or nonprofit loan that can cover equipment plus build-out | You | Paperwork and time to close |
Lease end options vary by seller. PediSpa, for example, says that at the end of its leases “the equipment can be purchased at a pre-set price, fair market value or returned”. Ask which one your lease uses before you sign. Our guide to equipment financing vs leasing compares the two in more detail.
Terms equipment sellers publish
Many salon furniture sellers arrange financing through outside companies rather than lending themselves. Takara Belmont USA says plainly that it “does not provide financing” and passes applications to an unaffiliated, third-party financing company. Here is what a few sellers publish:
| Seller | Program | Published terms |
|---|---|---|
| Buy-Rite Beauty | Klarna | Purchases of $150 up to $20,000; 3 to 24 months; soft credit check |
| Buy-Rite Beauty | Snap Finance | Up to $6,000; “100 Days Same as Cash”; limited or no credit needed |
| Buy-Rite Beauty | Lease-to-own | $3,000 up to $300,000; multi-year terms; credit considered |
| Amerispa | Synchrony | 0% promotional terms from 12 to 72 months on qualifying chairs and purchases; “No Interest If Paid In Full Within 12 Months” offer |
| PediSpa | Leasing | Most customers get an answer within 24 hours |
Sources: Buy-Rite Beauty financing, Amerispa financial services, PediSpa financing. Rates on these programs are not published, so ask for the APR and total cost in writing before you commit.
Two terms matter when you read these offers:
- APR is the annual percentage rate. It folds interest and most fees into one yearly figure, so you can compare offers of different lengths.
- Deferred interest is common in “no interest if paid in full” offers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that if the balance isn’t paid in full by the deadline, you could owe all of the interest back to the original date of the charge. A true 0% APR offer does not do this. If an offer says “same as cash,” ask exactly what you will owe if the balance isn’t paid off in time.
Terms lenders publish
Dedicated equipment lenders set their own criteria. As one example, Kapitus lists equipment financing with a $20,000 minimum, a 660 FICO score, two years in business and terms up to 72 months, and says qualified buyers can finance 100% of the equipment cost with no down payment. It quotes interest rates “starting at 7.5%”, which is an interest rate rather than an APR, and says equipment must be revenue-generating and come from a licensed dealer. A salon buying a few chairs may fall below a minimum like this and do better with a dealer program or a smaller loan.
For larger projects that combine equipment with a remodel, the SBA’s 7(a) program goes up to $5 million and covers machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and working capital. SBA rules cap equipment maturities at 10 years, and SBA Express loans go up to $500,000. SBA microloans go up to $50,000 with a maximum term of seven years and can pay for furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment.
Tax treatment
For tax years beginning in 2026, the Section 179 expensing limit is $2,560,000, reduced once more than $4,090,000 of qualifying property is placed in service in the year (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). The IRS also says 100% bonus depreciation is permanent for qualified property acquired after January 19, 2025. Whether you can take these deductions can depend on whether you take a loan or a lease, and on the type of lease, so ask your tax preparer before you choose.
What lenders and lessors look at
- Credit. Lenders usually check the owner’s personal credit and often ask for a personal guarantee.
- Time in business. Some lenders set a minimum, such as the two years Kapitus lists. Newer salons often rely on dealer programs, microloans or startup equipment financing.
- Bank statements. Recent statements show whether revenue can cover the new payment.
- The quote. A written quote from the seller listing each item, with model numbers and delivery and installation costs.
Pitfalls to watch for
- Comparing monthly payments only. A longer term or a lease can lower the payment and raise the total. Add up every payment plus any buyout.
- Missing a promotional deadline. With deferred interest, interest from day one can come due if a balance remains.
- Financing past the useful life. A term longer than the time you’ll use the chair or dryer means paying for equipment you’ve replaced.
- Forgetting installation and plumbing. Shampoo units and pedicure spas need plumbing and electrical work. Ask whether the financing covers it.
- Skipping the end-of-lease terms. Know the buyout price, notice period and return rules before you sign.
Salon equipment financing FAQs
Can I finance salon equipment with bad credit?
Some programs accept limited credit. Buy-Rite Beauty, for example, lists a Snap Finance option that needs “limited or no credit.” Expect a higher total cost and shorter terms than with good credit. Our guide to equipment financing with bad credit covers other options.
Is it better to lease or buy salon chairs?
If you plan to keep the chairs for many years, a loan or a lease with a set buyout usually costs less over time. If you want lower payments and plan to upgrade, a fair market value lease may suit you better. Compare the total cost of each.
Can I finance used salon equipment?
Some lenders finance used equipment. Kapitus, for example, says used equipment can be financed. See used equipment financing for what lenders check.
Do I need a down payment?
It depends on the lender and your credit. Kapitus says qualified buyers can finance 100% of the cost. Other lenders ask for a down payment, especially for newer businesses. See no-money-down equipment financing.
Next step
Get written quotes for the equipment you need, then gather recent business bank statements and your salon license. You can estimate payments with our equipment loan calculator, and our beauty salon loans hub explains how SMB Compass helps you compare offers from the lenders we work with.
Sources
- Takara Belmont USA: Financing form
- Buy-Rite Beauty: Salon equipment financing
- Amerispa: Financial services
- PediSpa: Financing
- Kapitus: Equipment financing
- SBA: 7(a) loans
- SBA: 7(a) terms, conditions and eligibility
- SBA: Microloans
- CFPB: How “no interest if paid in full” offers work
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32
- IRS: Guidance on the additional first-year depreciation deduction
About this page. Written by Ezra Cabrera, Content Team Lead at SMB Compass. Figures were checked against the primary sources listed above on September 21, 2026; lenders change their terms, so confirm current terms before you apply, and let us know if you spot a figure that has changed. SMB Compass is a business financing broker: we don’t lend our own money, and we are paid by the lenders we place loans with. This page is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.