Wilkes-Barre, PA
Insurance for Wilkes-Barre, PA barbershops and barbers
Shop liability, razor and service coverage, and chair renter insurance for Wilkes-Barre barbers. A quote is not a binder.
County Business Patterns lists 6 barber shops with paid staff in Luzerne County for 2023. Wilkes-Barre, home to about 44,661 people, is one of the places those shops draw customers from.
Counting barber chairs near Wilkes-Barre
| 2023 employer establishments | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Barber shops | 6 | 301 |
| Employees at barber shops | 18 | 954 |
| Beauty salons | 108 | 4,846 |
| All hair, nail, and skin care | 151 | 6,993 |
| Men's clothing stores | 7 | 238 |
| Barber shops under 5 employees | 83% | 78% |
U.S. Census Bureau CBP, 2023; establishments with at least one paid employee.
For every barbershop in Luzerne County there are about 18.0 beauty salons (Census, 2023). Shops that offer both barbering and salon services should list every service on the application.
The county also counts 7 men's clothing stores. Men's retail nearby is a sign of grooming demand, and shops that sell products should confirm products coverage.
Wilkes-Barre's neighborhoods and regulars
The median home in Wilkes-Barre was built in 1943. Older commercial strips can mean older wiring and plumbing behind the stations, worth checking before you install sinks and add clipper outlets.
Single-family houses are 64% of Wilkes-Barre's housing (Pennsylvania: 75%). Family neighborhoods bring kids' cuts and weekend rushes, so a clear floor and a safe waiting area matter.
Work-from-home share in Wilkes-Barre: 8%, against 16% for Pennsylvania. Shops near residential streets tend to pick up weekday walk-ins from people working at home.
69% of Wilkes-Barre commuters drive alone and 2% ride transit. Parking and street visibility decide a lot of walk-in business, and a slippery entry on a rainy day is a classic liability claim.
City data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B08301, B25003, B25024, B25035), via Census Reporter, plus B08303 and B25044. Population: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 city population estimates.
With about 3.0 employees per barber shop and $19,556 in average payroll per worker (Census, 2023), most Luzerne County shops are small crews, so one injured barber can sideline a big share of the chairs.
Thinking of opening or expanding a shop in Wilkes-Barre? 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 Wilkes-Barre
Break-ins targeting clippers and card readers happen in Wilkes-Barre as they do everywhere. Keep a list of equipment with serial numbers.
BLS counts 530 barbers on payrolls in Pennsylvania with a median annual wage of $36,920 (May 2025). Owner-barbers and renters are not included.
Agreements that keep Wilkes-Barre shops out of disputes
- Note skin conditions, allergies, and declined services on the client's record.
- Write the insurance each chair renter must carry, with limits and the shop as additional insured, into the rental agreement.
- Get a certificate from event organizers' vendors when you cut off-site, and give yours when asked.
- 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.
Wilkes-Barre next to other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia (Philadelphia County) sits in a county with 55 barber shops. Pittsburgh's homes are 52% renter-occupied. Hazleton, same county, has a 3% work-from-home share. Among our 30 Pennsylvania city pages, Wilkes-Barre is 19th by share of renting households.
Before you request a Wilkes-Barre barbershop quote
- Claims history
- Services
- Values for chairs, tools, and build-out
- Service and retail sales
- Off-site work
- Barbers on payroll and estimated payroll
Start a Wilkes-Barre barbershop quote
Wilkes-Barre barbers ask
What insurance does a Wilkes-Barre barbershop need?
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 barber shops operate near Wilkes-Barre?
County Business Patterns counted 6 barber shops with employees in Luzerne County in 2023. Chair renters are not included.
Do Wilkes-Barre 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