Scranton, PA
Insurance for Scranton, PA barbershops and barbers
Shop liability, razor and service coverage, and chair renter insurance for Scranton barbers. A quote is not a binder.
Scranton has roughly 75,905 residents and sits in Lackawanna County. The Census Bureau's 2023 count shows 5 barber shops with paid staff in the county, out of 110 hair, nail, and skin care businesses with employees overall.
Lackawanna County grooming businesses
| 2023 employer establishments | Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Barber shops | 5 | 301 |
| Employees at barber shops | 15 | 954 |
| Beauty salons | 85 | 4,846 |
| All hair, nail, and skin care | 110 | 6,993 |
| Men's clothing stores | 4 | 238 |
| Barber shops under 5 employees | 80% | 78% |
Data: Census CBP 2023; chair renters without employees are not counted.
There are 5 barbershops and 85 beauty salons with employees in Lackawanna County. Barbershops lean on razors and clippers; salons on chemical services. Insurers price each type on its own.
Related businesses in Lackawanna County: 4 men's clothing stores. Shops that partner with schools for apprentices or with retailers for events should check that their policy covers that work.
Who walks into a Scranton barbershop
Scranton has 35,512.0 homes, 50% of them rented. Dense, renter-heavy neighborhoods feed walk-in traffic, while suburbs lean toward regulars on a two- or three-week cycle.
59% of Scranton homes are single-family, versus 75% statewide. Shops near family neighborhoods see more children in the chair, and children move unexpectedly near clippers.
9% of Scranton's 31,984 workers are home-based (Pennsylvania: 16%). Remote workers fill midday chairs that used to sit empty between the morning and after-work rushes.
Commute data for Scranton: 71% drive alone, 8% travel 45 minutes or more. Early-morning and evening chairs fill first; mobile barbers who drive to clients should check their auto coverage for business use.
ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates (housing tenure, structure, year built, commuting, vehicles); Census 2024 population estimates.
Barber shops in Lackawanna County reported 15 employees and about $345,000 in annual payroll in 2023, roughly $23,000 per employee (state: $35,527). Payroll is the starting point for workers' comp pricing, and tips are generally excluded from it.
Cash and card handling at the chair is a real exposure for Scranton shops. Crime coverage and a simple end-of-day cash routine go a long way. For equipment, see shop property and equipment.
Insurance notes for Scranton barbershops
Razor work drives many barber injury claims. A fresh blade for every client and a disinfection log help most. See razor safety and sanitation.
Employed barbers in Pennsylvania earned a median $36,920 a year in May 2025 (BLS). Payroll at that level is the base for workers' comp pricing.
Paperwork every Scranton shop should have
- Have a policy for redoing cuts so a complaint has somewhere to go besides a claim.
- Write the insurance each chair renter must carry, with limits and the shop as additional insured, into the rental agreement.
- Decide who owns the client book and the booking app account if a barber leaves.
- Require renters to keep their barber license current and displayed.
When a claim does come in, the shop with records is in a much better position than the shop relying on memory.
Scranton next to other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia County, around Philadelphia, has 819 hair and grooming businesses. Pittsburgh's homes are 52% renter-occupied. Among our 30 Pennsylvania city pages, Scranton is 16th by share of renting households.
What insurers ask Scranton barbers
- Chairs
- Lease
- Chair renters
- Equipment
- Off-site work
- Cuts, shaves, beard work, color, hair systems
Start a Scranton barbershop quote
Scranton barbers ask
Which policies do Scranton barbers carry?
Shop liability, service liability, property, and workers' comp for employee barbers.
How many barber shops operate near Scranton?
County Business Patterns counted 5 barber shops with employees in Lackawanna County in 2023. Chair renters are not included.
Do Scranton 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