Business energy and utilities for hair, barber and beauty salons
Backwashes, dryers, straighteners and good lighting make salons heavy users of hot water and electricity for their size. Many also have self-employed stylists renting chairs. We look after the contracts behind the salon and keep them simple.
- Electricity and gas quoted separately, with your end date checked first
- Card payments set up around how your stylists work
- Clear about which waste we arrange and which needs a specialist
How Helios helps salons and barbers.
Hot water, dryers and a busy card machine. Helios keeps your salon’s contracts on one list, with one person to call.
One contact for the salon
Electricity, water, waste, card machines and insurance renewals on one list, with one person to call.
Hot water and dryers on the right rates
Backwashes, dryers and straighteners shape your bills. We compare rates as printed against your own usage.
Card payments for the team
Card machines compared on fees and terms, including set-ups that work for self-employed stylists and chair renters.
Waste handled properly
General waste and recycling collected to suit the salon; anything that needs a specialist collector is flagged.
Where a salon’s energy goes
Heating and hot water
The National Hair & Beauty Federation’s energy advice puts heating and hot water at the top of the list for salons.
Source: NHBF
Lighting and styling tools
The NHBF also points to lighting, and to dryers, curlers and straighteners left on standby, as places energy is used and wasted.
Source: NHBF
Contracts nobody is watching
If a fixed contract ends without a new one, you can move onto out-of-contract or deemed rates, which Ofgem says are usually higher.
Source: Ofgem
What salons usually need from us
Self-employed stylists and card payments
NHBF evidence to Parliament in 2024 said 62% of workers in hairdressing and barbering and 65% in beauty are self-employed. If stylists rent chairs, decide early who takes card payments and who holds the card machine contract, so fees and settlement go to the right person.
We compare card machines on the fee per transaction, the monthly rental, the contract length and the exit terms. See card machines.
Source: NHBF evidence
Salon waste: recycling, and what needs a specialist
Salons in England are covered by Simpler Recycling, which requires dry recyclables, food waste and general waste to be kept apart. The NHBF describes the sector as predominantly small and micro businesses, and businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees have until 31 March 2027.
GOV.UK’s healthcare waste guidance includes similar waste from non-medicinal procedures in the hair and beauty sector, and from cosmetic piercing and body art. Offensive waste must be segregated from mixed waste once you produce more than a set amount. That waste needs a specialist collector; we arrange general waste, cardboard, dry mixed recycling and food waste.
Sources: GOV.UK, GOV.UK healthcare waste, GOV.UK classification
One salon or several
A single salon
Usually one meter, a water supply and a card machine. We check the dates first and quote against your own bills.
Several salons
Each salon keeps its own meters and dates. We put them on one list. See multi-site groups and franchises.
Keeping contracts and documents in order
Before we quote, we list:
- Electricity and gas: end dates and notice windows
- Who holds each card machine contract
- Water account and retailer
- Which waste goes to which collector
What to send us
Send what you have and we will ask for anything else we need.
- A recent electricity bill, and gas bill if you have gas
- Your water bill
- Card machine statements
- Your waste invoice
How Helios looks after a salon.
Here is how a salon’s contracts look in the Helios portal: every service, every end date and every document in one place.
- One contact for every service and every site
- Every end date and notice window tracked, with reminders
- Rates exactly as printed: electricity and gas always quoted separately
- Contracts, documents and meter readings in your Helios portal
Salon · Market SquareIllustration only- ElectricityDryers and lighting31/08/2027Live
- GasHot water31/08/2027Live
- WaterBackwashesRollingLive
- Card machinesFront desk and chairsRolling monthlyLive
- WasteGeneral and recycling28/02/2027Renewal due
What we may find
It depends on your bills. These are the things we check.
- An energy contract on out-of-contract rates
- Card machine fees that have changed
- No recycling collection in place
- A phone line kept only for an old card terminal
Get a quote for your salon
Tell us about your business and we’ll be in touch. We check your contract end dates and notice windows before we quote.
Prefer to talk? Call 020 4628 5727, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Frequently asked questions
What uses the most energy in a hair salon?
The NHBF’s advice points first to heating and hot water, then lighting and styling tools. Your own bills show where your money actually goes.
Does a salon need a special waste collection?
Some treatment waste counts as healthcare or offensive waste under GOV.UK guidance and needs a specialist collector. General waste and recycling we can arrange.
Can a salon choose its water supplier?
In England, most business customers can choose their water retailer. In Scotland you choose a licensed provider; in Wales only very large users can switch.
Do I need employers’ liability if my stylists are self-employed?
You need it as soon as you employ anyone. Whether a stylist is self-employed or an employee depends on the arrangement, so check before assuming.
Bring your salon into one place.
Send us a recent bill and we will start with your contract dates and prices. Add the rest of your services whenever you are ready.
