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Hair Salons, Water Suppliers and Rates
Compare licensed water retailers for hair salons and check the fixed charges that quietly dominate a salon bill.
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Home / Who we help / Hair salons
Last updated August 2026
Who we help
Business Water for Hair Salons
A salon runs on hot water. Backwash basins rinse all day, towels cycle through the wash, and colour work means the taps rarely stay off for long. Yet on most salon bills it is the fixed charges, not the litres, that decide what you pay.
You can switch retailer. Salons in England have had that right since 2017, and Scottish salons since 2008. This page covers where salon water costs come from, why small premises pay heavy standing charges, and where overpayment usually hides.
| Wholesale supply | Comes from regional water companies (Thames Water, Severn Trent, Yorkshire Water, and others). |
|---|---|
| Contracting | Single salons can contract directly with retailers, and chains can contract centrally across every branch. |
| Biggest savings levers | Tariff reviews, standing charge checks and surface water drainage banding. |
| Hot water cost | Water heating sits on the energy bill, so a leaking hot tap or running backwash costs twice, once on water and again on heating. |
| Market opened | England in 2017 and Scotland in 2008. |
| Licensed retailers | Around 20 are licensed by Ofwat to supply non-household water. |
Where the money goes
Why salons pay more for water than they should
Salon bills are small enough that nobody compares them and fixed enough that comparison pays. Standing charges, drainage banding and deemed tariffs usually account for more of the bill than the water a salon actually uses.
Most salons have never chosen a water retailer. The premises came with a supply, the bills arrived, and they have been paid ever since. That default position means a deemed or out-of-contract tariff, which is priced for the retailer rather than for you.
On a small meter the standing charge is a big share of the total, and it scales with meter size rather than use. A salon in a converted shop unit can also carry a drainage band set for the whole building rather than the part it occupies.
Where it shows up
The five areas salons overpay
Where hair salons overpay and why it matters.
Deemed and default tariffs
A salon that has never switched sits on a deemed tariff. It is the most common single reason a small business pays more than it needs to for water.
Standing charges and meter size
The fixed charge follows the meter size, not the takings. A smaller meter, correctly sized for a salon, usually means a lower standing charge.
Surface water drainage
Drainage banding in shared or converted buildings is often set for the whole property. If your salon occupies part of a building, the band is worth checking.
Hot water leaks
A dripping backwash or a passing hot tap wastes water that has already been paid for twice, once to the retailer and once to heat it. Small fixes show up on both bills.
Estimated readings
Small meters get read less often, so estimates run for long stretches. A catch-up bill after years of low estimates is a common and avoidable shock.
Results
Case studies
Recovered on historic surface water drainage charges that should never have applied.
Worth knowing
Eligibility and how the market works
A salon is a non-household supply, so it is eligible to switch retailer through the open market run by Open Water. England opened in April 2017 and Scotland has been open since 2008.
Renting a chair or a room does not usually change anything, because the water account follows whoever holds the supply agreement for the premises. If your landlord holds it, the saving conversation belongs to them, and if you hold it, the choice of retailer is yours.
The market
Switch water supplier for your salon
Yes. England’s non-household water market opened to competition in April 2017 and Scotland’s opened in 2008, so every salon can choose a different water retailer. Wholesale supply still comes from your regional water company; only the retailer (the company that bills you and reads your meter) changes.
The 12 retailers below are all licensed by Ofwat to supply non-household water. Pricing, service and sector experience vary from retailer to retailer.
Choose your route
Routes to procurement
Three ways salon owners typically bring a new water contract in. Each comes with its own trade-off between control, effort and how sharp the price lands.
Direct with a retailer
The salon signs straight with a licensed retailer. Best for a single salon that wants a sharper rate. You handle the comparison and the switch yourself.
Chain-wide contract
Salon groups can put every branch on one central contract with one retailer. Efficient at scale, and one renewal date covers every site.
Broker-led market test
A water broker compares the market for you, handles the paperwork and manages the switch from start to finish. Nothing changes on site.
Why choose The Business Water Shop
- Award-winning independent brokerage, not owned by or tied to any water retailer.
- Rated 5 stars on Google and 5 stars on Trustpilot by UK businesses.
- Experts with experience in business water for hair salons and high street businesses.
- We compare quotes from up to 14 licensed retailers.
- We handle the whole switch, from the comparison and paperwork to the supplier contact.
- One point of contact for multi-property portfolios.
Questions
Salon water FAQs
How do I get a quote?
Send a recent water bill for the salon. The SPID, annual volume and current retailer are all on it. We come back within two working days with an alternative quote and a flag if anything looks worth checking on standing charges or drainage banding.
Our bill is small. Is it worth switching?
Often yes, precisely because it is small. Fixed charges dominate small bills, and those are the charges that move most between tariffs. The switch itself takes little of your time either way.
I rent my premises. Can I still switch?
If the water account is in your name, yes. If your landlord holds the account and recharges you, the switch is theirs to make, though it is worth raising because the saving passes through to you.
Who fixes a burst pipe or supply problem?
The regional wholesaler still owns and maintains the network up to your boundary, whichever retailer you choose. Anything on the private side of the meter remains your responsibility.
Will switching disrupt anything on site?
No. A switch is paperwork rather than plumbing. There is no interruption to supply, no engineer visit and nothing changes for clients or appointments.
We run several salons. Can they go on one contract?
Yes. Retailers operate nationally, so a group can consolidate sites in different wholesaler regions onto a single retailer, one contract and one point of contact.
Do salons pay VAT on water?
No. Hairdressing is a service activity, and service businesses do not pay VAT on the water supply itself. If VAT appears on your water bill, the classification is worth querying.
