Do I need to register as self-employed in Belgium before I take my first hairdressing customer?

Yes, you should register before you start earning money. The exact process depends on your situation - whether this is a side income or your main work, and whether you are a Belgian citizen or from another EU country. Contact your local municipality office in Mechelen or a tax advisor (belastingadviseur) to register correctly. Starting without registration can lead to fines later.

What happens to the money customers pay me through Websta?

When a customer books and pays through Websta, the payment is processed by Stripe and goes to your own bank account. Websta is the platform; the money is yours. You handle all tax reporting for this income with the Belgian authorities.

How much should I charge for a haircut in Mechelen?

Price depends on what you offer and how you position yourself. Visit local salons, check their websites, or ask other hairdressers in Mechelen to see the range. Set a fair price that covers your time, products, and costs - not the lowest price in the market. You can adjust your price as demand grows and you gain experience.

How long does it usually take to build steady hairdressing income?

There is no set timeline. Your first customers may come within weeks or months. Building enough regular bookings to replace a full-time job takes time - often six months to two years, depending on your effort, visibility, and location. Starting as a side income lets you build without the pressure of immediate money.

What should I include in my Websta profile to attract customers?

Include your name and location in Mechelen, a clear list of services (haircut, colour, styling, etc.), and prices for each. Add a few photos of your work if you have them. Write a short, honest description of what you do. Make sure your online booking is set up correctly so customers can see your real availability.

How to make money as a hairdresser in Mechelen

Updated October 21, 2026

Where paying customers for hairdressing in Mechelen come from

Mechelen is a city of about 85,000 people with a mix of residents, workers commuting from suburbs, students, and tourists. Paying customers for hairdressing come from several directions. Residents in the city itself book appointments for haircuts, colour work, and styling - some look online, some ask friends for recommendations, some pass a salon or studio and walk in. Workers and students in Mechelen during the day may book before or after work. People visiting the city centre or travelling through may need a quick cut. Word of mouth - one customer telling another - builds slowly but steadily and is often how side income grows.

Online search is how most people in Belgium now find local services. When someone in Mechelen types 'hairdresser near me' or 'haircut Mechelen' into Google or another search engine, they see results. Having a visible online profile with your name, location, services, prices, and booking option makes it much easier for these searchers to find you and book. Without an online presence, you rely mostly on people who already know you or who stumble across you by chance.

Setting your price and talking about money

Your price is yours to set. In a city like Mechelen, hairdressing prices vary widely depending on what you offer - a simple cut costs less than colour work or complex styling. Look at what other hairdressers in Mechelen charge by visiting salons, checking their websites, or asking around. This gives you a sense of the local market. Your price should reflect the quality of your work, the time you spend, the products you use, and the cost of running your business - whether you work from home, rent a chair, or use a studio.

Start with honest pricing, not the lowest price. Customers who pay very little often book last-minute, cancel, or leave if you are not available instantly. A fair price attracts customers who value your work and are more likely to come back and refer others. As you gain more bookings and regular customers, you can adjust your pricing based on demand and your costs. Keep prices simple - one price for a men's cut, another for a women's cut, another for colour, for example - so customers understand what they are paying for.

Tax and payment steps for independent hairdressing in Belgium

If you work as an independent hairdresser in Belgium and earn money from customers, you are self-employed. This means you must register with the authorities and handle tax obligations. The exact requirements depend on whether this is your only income or a side income, and on the amount you earn. You should contact your local municipality office (gemeente) in Mechelen or a tax advisor (belastingadviseur) to clarify what you need to do.

When customers pay you through Websta using a bank card, the payment goes through Stripe and is paid out to your own bank account. This is between you and your customer - Websta is the platform. You keep track of all income and expenses, and you report these to the tax authorities. You may need to register as a sole trader (eenmanszaak) or register for VAT depending on your income level. A tax advisor in Mechelen can help you set this up correctly the first time, which is worth the cost.

What your first ten customers usually look like

Your first paying customers often come from people who already know you - friends, family, colleagues, or people they have told. Someone sees your new profile online or hears you are taking clients and books an appointment. These first customers are often more forgiving of a home setup or basic studio space because they trust you or want to support you. They may also be more patient if you take a little longer than a busy salon would.

The first ten customers rarely appear all at once. You might get one or two a week, or one or two a month - it depends on how actively you market yourself, how easily people find your online profile, and how quickly they hear about you through word of mouth. Each customer who is happy with their haircut and experience is more likely to return and to recommend you to others. This is how the work grows. Some of these early customers become regulars; others book once. Do not expect immediate high income - this phase is about proving your work and building trust.

Common mistakes in the first months

New hairdressers starting independent work often price too low, trying to compete or fill their calendar quickly. This attracts price-focused customers, eats into profit, and teaches people that your work is cheap - hard to change later. Another mistake is not having clear terms: no cancellation notice, no deposit for colour work, no clear description of what you offer. Customers book without reading details and then complain or do not show up. A third mistake is poor online visibility - no profile, no clear location, no way to book, no way to contact you. People cannot pay you if they cannot find you.

Time management is another real issue. If you are working another job and doing hairdressing on the side, scheduling becomes complex. Customers want appointments after work and at weekends - exactly when you are tired or busy with your main job. Without a booking system that syncs with your calendar, you will double-book or miss appointments. Websta's online booking lets customers see your actual availability and book themselves, which cuts down confusion.

How a Websta profile with booking helps

A Websta profile gives you a professional online home. It shows your name, location in Mechelen, services (haircut, colour, styling, or whatever you offer), and prices. People searching for hairdressers in Mechelen can find your profile through Websta's marketplace, and they can see everything they need to decide whether to book with you. Your profile is a page you can send to anyone - a link in a text message, in an email, on social media - so word of mouth is easier.

Online booking means customers book themselves at times that suit them, and your calendar updates automatically. You do not have to answer calls during work or chase confirmation texts. Payments come through Stripe to your own bank account - you own the relationship with each customer and keep all the money you earn. This simplicity lets you focus on the work itself and on quality, not on admin.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register as self-employed in Belgium before I take my first hairdressing customer?: Yes, you should register before you start earning money. The exact process depends on your situation - whether this is a side income or your main work, and whether you are a Belgian citizen or from another EU country. Contact your local municipality office in Mechelen or a tax advisor (belastingadviseur) to register correctly. Starting without registration can lead to fines later.
What happens to the money customers pay me through Websta?: When a customer books and pays through Websta, the payment is processed by Stripe and goes to your own bank account. Websta is the platform; the money is yours. You handle all tax reporting for this income with the Belgian authorities.
How much should I charge for a haircut in Mechelen?: Price depends on what you offer and how you position yourself. Visit local salons, check their websites, or ask other hairdressers in Mechelen to see the range. Set a fair price that covers your time, products, and costs - not the lowest price in the market. You can adjust your price as demand grows and you gain experience.
How long does it usually take to build steady hairdressing income?: There is no set timeline. Your first customers may come within weeks or months. Building enough regular bookings to replace a full-time job takes time - often six months to two years, depending on your effort, visibility, and location. Starting as a side income lets you build without the pressure of immediate money.
What should I include in my Websta profile to attract customers?: Include your name and location in Mechelen, a clear list of services (haircut, colour, styling, etc.), and prices for each. Add a few photos of your work if you have them. Write a short, honest description of what you do. Make sure your online booking is set up correctly so customers can see your real availability.

About the numbers

Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.

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