Hairdresser profile on Websta: set up your site in New Zealand

What your Websta profile should contain

Your profile page acts like a small website. It needs enough information for someone nearby to understand what you offer and get in touch. Start with a clear description of the services you provide - for example, cut and colour, styling, treatments, or children's cuts. List each service separately so customers can see what is available.

Add at least five to ten photos. Show your work: finished cuts and colours from different angles, styling for different hair types, and the space where you work if it is welcoming. Photos matter more than long text for hairdressers. If you work from home, photograph the treatment area. If you work in a salon, show the interior.

Include your opening hours and the days you work. Add your location - the suburb or town, not just a vague area. Write a short note about yourself: your experience, any specialisations, and what kind of clients you usually work with. Keep it to two or three sentences.

Set up online booking if you offer appointment slots, or a quote request form if clients need to discuss what they want first. Both options are available on Websta. Choose what suits your workflow.

Languages for your profile

Publish your profile in English. This covers the vast majority of clients in New Zealand. If you regularly serve speakers of other languages - te reo Maori, Samoan, Mandarin, or others - add key information in those languages as well: your name, services, and hours. Websta supports multiple languages on one profile.

How people search for hairdressers in New Zealand

Websta has a marketplace where people nearby can find providers by service and location. Someone looking for a hairdresser enters their suburb or town and browses the results. They filter by service type - cut, colour, styling - and look at photos and reviews to decide who to contact.

Clients also search online with terms like 'hairdresser near me', 'haircut [suburb name]', or 'hair salon [town]'. Having a profile on Websta means you appear in local searches on the platform. Make sure your profile lists the exact suburb or town where you work so the right people find you.

Being self-employed or independent in New Zealand

If you work as a sole trader or are self-employed, you must register with the Inland Revenue Department and have an IRD number. You are responsible for paying tax on your income. If your turnover is over a certain threshold, you must register for GST - check the current threshold with the IRD as it changes. Keep records of all income and expenses.

Set up a business bank account separate from your personal account. On Websta, payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe, the payment processor. You handle the money directly, not through Websta.

Check with your local council about any bylaws or consents if you work from home. Some areas require resource consent or have restrictions on home-based businesses. If you rent a chair in a salon, make sure the salon owner or manager allows you to take online bookings and payments.

You will need public liability insurance if you work with clients. This is a standard requirement in the beauty and personal care industry and protects you if a client is injured.

What to write in the first hour

You do not need a perfect profile to start. Begin with the essentials: your name, the suburb or town, your main services (cut, colour, styling, treatments), and your opening hours. Write two or three sentences about yourself - for example, 'Ten years' experience with colour correction and textured hair' or 'Specialising in short cuts and men's grooming'.

Add one or two photos right away - a finished cut or colour if you have one, or a photo of your workspace. You can add more photos later. Set up either online booking for fixed appointment times or a quote request form if you prefer to discuss each client's needs first.

Make sure your contact details are correct and your location is accurate to your suburb or town. Once this basic information is live, you can refine it over time as you get bookings and add more examples of your work.

Payment and money handling

Websta uses Stripe to process card payments. When a client books or pays through your profile, the money goes to your own bank account - you do not receive it through Websta. Stripe charges a processing fee, which is deducted before the payment reaches your account. Check the Websta help section or Stripe documentation for current rates and how to set up your Stripe account.

You set your own prices for each service. There are no preset packages or pricing plans on Websta - you decide what to charge and can change prices when you want. Keep your pricing clear and consistent on your profile.

Marketing your profile

Once your profile is live on Websta, you can share the link with existing clients and on social media. The profile URL can be customized - for example, websta.ai/marketplace/hair/your-name. Tell clients where they can book online and see your photos.

Update your profile with new photos of your work regularly. This keeps it fresh and shows potential clients what you have been doing. Respond quickly to quote requests and booking inquiries - fast replies build trust.