The best accounting software for self-employed hairdressers
Quick answer
For most self-employed hairdressers and chair renters, Sage Sole Trader is the best accounting software, with a free MTD plan and a highly rated app. Starling's free sole trader account suits stylists who want banking and MTD in one place. QuickBooks (from £10) suits mobile hairdressers who need mileage tracking.
Self-employed hairdressers work in lots of different ways. Some rent a chair in a salon. Some are mobile and visit clients at home. Others run a small salon of their own. From 6 April 2027, Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax applies to sole traders with qualifying income over £30,000 (GOV.UK). We picked the software that suits each set-up, based on our review of features, pricing and user ratings. Prices were checked in October 2026.
Not sure if you need MTD yet? Our Do I need MTD? checker gives you an answer in 30 seconds.
Best accounting software for hairdressers at a glance
| Software | Price (checked October 2026) | MTD for Income Tax | Free tier | VAT returns | App rating | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sage Sole Trader | Free plan, or £7/month | Yes | Yes (with limits) | On Sage Accounting plans | 4.7 iOS / 4.7 Android | Non-VAT sole traders who want a free, well-known brand | Visit site |
| Starling (sole trader account) | Free (built into the sole trader account) | Yes | Yes | Not stated | 4.9 iOS / 4.8 Android | Sole traders who want banking and MTD in one free app | Visit site |
| QuickBooks | From £10/month (Sole Trader Plus) | Yes | No (30-day trial) | Yes (not on Sole Trader Plus) | 4.7 iOS / 4.6 Android | Sole traders who want strong mobile receipt capture and mileage tracking | Visit site |
| FreeAgent | From £10/month (Landlord) or £19/month (Sole trader). Free with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle | Yes | Yes, with eligible bank | Yes | 4.8 iOS / 4.7 Android | NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank and Mettle customers (free) | Visit site |
| Zoho Books | Free plan, or from £12/month | Yes | Yes | Yes (including Free) | 4.8 iOS / 4.8 Android | People who want a full free ledger with VAT and invoicing | Visit site |
Prices exclude VAT unless stated and were checked on each provider's website in October 2026. Introductory offers change often, so always confirm the live price. App ratings are from the UK App Store and Google Play in October 2026.
Our top 3 picks for hairdressers
Best overall for hairdressers
Sage Sole Trader
- Price
- Free plan, or £7/month
- MTD for Income Tax
- Yes
- Free tier
- Yes (with limits)
- Landlords
- Yes (Sage Sole Trader and Landlord)
Sage Sole Trader's free plan covers MTD for non-VAT sole traders, and its app is rated 4.7 to 4.8. It keeps things simple, which suits chair renters who just want to log takings and costs. The £7 plan removes limits on invoices and automatic sorting. Read our Sage review.
Best for banking and MTD together
Starling (sole trader account)
- Price
- Free (built into the sole trader account)
- MTD for Income Tax
- Yes
- Free tier
- Yes
- Landlords
- Not stated
Starling's sole trader account has no monthly fee and MTD tools built in. It suits stylists whose clients pay by card or transfer. Cash deposit fees apply, so it is less suited to stylists paid mostly in cash.
Best for mobile hairdressers
QuickBooks
- Price
- From £10/month (Sole Trader Plus)
- MTD for Income Tax
- Yes
- Free tier
- No (30-day trial)
- Landlords
- Single property only on Sole Trader Plus
QuickBooks tracks mileage with GPS and lets you snap receipts for products on the go. At £10 a month it suits mobile stylists who drive between clients. Read our QuickBooks review.
How hairdressers' income and costs work
Hairdressing income is usually many small payments: cuts, colours and treatments, paid by card, transfer or cash. Takings often rise in busy seasons.
Chair renters
If you rent a chair, you are self-employed. You pay the salon owner rent and keep your own takings. Chair rent is normally a business expense. It does not reduce your qualifying income, which is gross takings before expenses (GOV.UK).
Mobile hairdressers
If you travel to clients, your car or van is a big cost. You can usually record actual running costs or use mileage. Ask an accountant which method suits you.
Typical expenses to record include:
- Chair rent paid to a salon owner
- Products: colour, shampoo, styling products and foils
- Tools: scissors, clippers, dryers and straighteners
- Travel: fuel and running costs, or mileage, for mobile work
- Card machine fees and booking app subscriptions
A worked example
Leah (an illustration, not a real customer) rents a chair in a town-centre salon. In the 2025 to 2026 tax year her clients pay her £32,000. She pays the salon owner chair rent every week, and buys her own products. Her qualifying income is £32,000, before chair rent and other costs.
That is over £30,000, so Leah joins MTD from 6 April 2027. Her first quarterly update is due by 7 August 2027 (GOV.UK). She is not VAT registered, so Sage Sole Trader's free plan could cover her. She would log chair rent as a regular expense and snap product receipts as she buys them.
What to look for in hairdressers' accounting software
- MTD for Income Tax support on a free or low-cost plan
- Bank feeds (your bank transactions flow in automatically) for card and transfer payments
- A quick way to log cash
- Recurring expenses for weekly chair rent
- Mileage tracking if you are mobile
- VAT returns if you are VAT registered. Zoho Books includes VAT on its free plan.
Comparing more widely? See our best MTD software for sole traders.
Who should not choose these tools
- Hairdressers with qualifying income of £20,000 or less, who are currently exempt (GOV.UK).
- Salon employees paid only through PAYE, because wages do not count towards MTD.
- Salon owners with staff, who will also need payroll software.
- Stylists paid mostly in cash, who should check Starling's cash deposit fees first.
Frequently asked questions
Do self-employed hairdressers need MTD?
Yes, if your qualifying income is over the threshold. That is over £30,000 from 6 April 2027 and over £20,000 from 6 April 2028. Qualifying income is your gross takings before expenses such as chair rent and products.
Is chair rent included in my qualifying income?
No. Qualifying income is your gross income before expenses, so chair rent is not taken off when working out whether you need MTD. Chair rent is normally a business expense you record in your software.
What is the best app for a self-employed hairdresser?
Sage Sole Trader is our top pick, with a free plan and an app rated 4.7 on iOS and 4.8 on Android. Starling's sole trader account has the highest rated app in our list at 4.9 on iOS, with MTD tools built in.
Do salon employees need MTD?
No, not for their wages. Employment income paid through PAYE does not count towards MTD. If you also have a side business or rental income, that may count. Check with our Do I need MTD? checker.
Which software suits a VAT-registered hairdresser?
Zoho Books' free plan includes VAT returns as well as MTD for Income Tax. FreeAgent and QuickBooks also do VAT, with QuickBooks needing its £16 Simple Start plan. Sage Sole Trader does not do VAT, so you would move to Sage Accounting.
What can mobile hairdressers record as expenses?
Common costs include products, tools, and travel to clients, either as vehicle running costs or mileage. Keep receipts and a log of your trips. An accountant can tell you which method suits you best.
This page is general information, not personal tax, legal or financial advice. Tax rules can change and your situation may differ. For advice on your own affairs, speak to a qualified accountant or tax adviser, or check GOV.UK.