How to sell a salon in Dubai

Prepare 6-12 months ahead

• Clean financials: bank statements, POS and CRM reports that match, VAT and corporate tax filings in order
• Owner's personal expenses separated from the business
• Contracts for all staff with written commission plans
• Client base in the salon CRM, with visit history and consent to be contacted
• Lease with enough remaining term and the landlord's position on transfer known
• Equipment list: owned, leased or financed

What buyers check

• Real revenue and profit over 12-24 months, from bank and POS, not a summary table
• Share of revenue from the top one or two masters and whether they stay
• Repeat clients active in the last 90 days
• Prepaid packages and gift cards the buyer will have to serve
• Licence activities, inspections, any fines or disputes
• Reviews and online reputation

Valuation logic basics

Small service businesses are usually priced from the adjusted annual profit, the profit left after paying a market salary for the owner's role. A common approach is a multiple of that profit; the multiple depends on stability, growth, lease term and risk, and there is no fixed market figure. Treat any number you hear as orientation only and get an independent valuation if the deal is large.

• Higher value: stable profit, strong team, many repeat clients, long lease, systems that run without the owner
• Lower value: dependence on the owner or one master, verbal agreements, short lease, messy accounts
• Fit-out and equipment add value mainly if the business is profitable; otherwise buyers price the premises and equipment only

Transferring licence, lease and staff

The route depends on the structure. Selling the shares of the company usually keeps the trade licence, contracts and visas in the same entity, with a change of ownership through the licensing authority (DET for mainland Dubai or the relevant free zone). Selling only the assets to a new company usually means a new or amended licence, a new lease or assignment, and new visas for staff, with end-of-service settlement or transfer arranged. Requirements and fees depend on the case, so use a licensed business setup consultant and a lawyer.

• Agree with the landlord early: the lease is often the deal breaker
• Talk to key staff at the right moment, with the buyer, and consider retention bonuses
• Agree how prepaid packages and gift cards are handled
• Plan a handover period where the seller introduces the buyer to the team and top clients

How we help

We prepare the team side of the sale: team audit, contracts and commission plans in writing, reduced dependence on key masters, a CRM that shows real repeat clients and, after the sale, recruitment for the new owner. We do not act as a broker or valuer. Recruitment fee: one month's salary of the placed employee, 50% when they start and 50% after probation, no full prepayment, with a free replacement within 2 months. Consulting and CRM projects are priced after a free review, and the first 15-minute call is free.