Allentown, PA
Insurance for Allentown, PA barbershops and barbers
County barbershop data, chair rental notes, and what insurers ask Allentown barbers. A quote is not a binder.
Allentown has roughly 127,138 residents and sits in Lehigh County. The Census Bureau's 2023 count shows 4 barber shops with paid staff in the county, out of 215 hair, nail, and skin care businesses with employees overall.
Shops and schools around Allentown
| 2023 employer establishments | Lehigh County | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Barber shops | 4 | 301 |
| Employees at barber shops | 10 | 954 |
| Beauty salons | 151 | 4,846 |
| All hair, nail, and skin care | 215 | 6,993 |
| Men's clothing stores | 7 | 238 |
| Barber shops under 5 employees | 100% | 78% |
Data: Census CBP 2023; chair renters without employees are not counted.
In Lehigh County, beauty salons outnumber barber shops 151 to 4. Barbershops compete on walk-ins, speed, and regulars rather than long appointments.
Census data adds 7 men's clothing stores in Lehigh County. A steady supply of newly licensed barbers keeps chair rental common, which raises the question of who carries what insurance.
Who walks into a Allentown barbershop
The median home in Allentown was built in 1952. Older commercial strips can mean older wiring and plumbing behind the stations, worth checking before you install sinks and add clipper outlets.
62% of Allentown homes are single-family, versus 75% statewide. Shops near family neighborhoods see more children in the chair, and children move unexpectedly near clippers.
About 9% of employed Allentown residents work from home, less than the 16% state share. That changes when the shop is busiest, not whether people need a cut.
17% of Allentown households do not have a car. With 70% driving solo to work, shops near transit stops and walkable blocks get customers who would not drive across town for a cut.
ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates (housing tenure, structure, year built, commuting, vehicles); Census 2024 population estimates.
Barber shops in Lehigh County reported 10 employees and about $146,000 in annual payroll in 2023, roughly $14,600 per employee (state: $35,527). Payroll is the starting point for workers' comp pricing, and tips are generally excluded from it.
Thinking of opening or expanding a shop in Allentown? Coverage usually has to start when the lease does, not when the doors open. The opening checklist walks through the order of steps.
Running a shop in Allentown
Break-ins targeting clippers and card readers happen in Allentown as they do everywhere. Keep a list of equipment with serial numbers.
Pennsylvania had about 530 wage-earning barbers in May 2025 (BLS), plus many more renting chairs or running their own shops.
Agreements that keep Allentown shops out of disputes
- Note skin conditions, allergies, and declined services on the client's record.
- Have a policy for redoing cuts so a complaint has somewhere to go besides a claim.
- Require renters to keep their barber license current and displayed.
- Decide who owns the client book and the booking app account if a barber leaves.
None of this replaces insurance, but it keeps small problems small. Insurers may ask whether you use written rental agreements and keep sanitation logs.
Allentown next to other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia's homes are 48% renter-occupied. Allegheny County, around Pittsburgh, has 807 hair and grooming businesses. By renter share, Allentown ranks 9th of 30 Pennsylvania cities on this site.
Before you request a Allentown barbershop quote
- How many and whether they carry coverage
- Off-site work
- Services
- Revenue
- Chairs
- Values for chairs, tools, and build-out
Start a Allentown barbershop quote
Allentown barbers ask
Which policies do Allentown barbers carry?
General liability, professional liability for cut and shave injuries, property for chairs and tools, and workers' comp with employees. See the Pennsylvania page.
How many barbershops are in Lehigh County?
County Business Patterns counted 4 barber shops with employees in Lehigh County in 2023. Chair renters are not included.
Do Allentown chair renters need their own insurance?
Typically not. See the chair rental agreement guide.
Other Pennsylvania cities for barbers
Barbershop insurance in Pennsylvania · Coverage
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research