Can You Open A Salon With An Esthetician License
Opening up a salon is a dream for many estheticians. You’ve honed your craft, built a loyal client base, and now you’re ready to take the next step. But can you open a salon with just your esthetician license?
Short answer: no
Unfortunately, in most states, you need more than just your esthetician license to open a salon. While estheticians are licensed professionals, they are typically not licensed to operate a business. Instead, salon owners need a salon or cosmetology license.
A salon or cosmetology license is issued by the state and indicates that the owner has met certain requirements, such as completing a certain number of hours of training or passing an exam. The license also ensures that the salon is complying with all relevant health and safety regulations.
So, what are your options?
If you want to open a salon but don’t have a salon or cosmetology license, you have a few options. The first is to partner with someone who does have a license. You can hire someone to operate the salon while you focus on providing services.
Another option is to work as an independent contractor within an existing salon. This allows you to operate your own business and set your own prices, but you’ll still be working under someone else’s license.
If you’re dead-set on operating your own salon, you can always go back to school to get your salon or cosmetology license. This will require additional training and a significant investment of time and money, but it will also give you the freedom to run your own business.
What about regulations?
Regardless of whether you’re operating under your own license or someone else’s, you’ll need to comply with a variety of regulations. These may include zoning laws, health and safety regulations, and licensing requirements for each individual service you offer.
For example, if you want to offer spray tanning services, you’ll need to get a separate license from the state. If you want to offer massage services, you’ll need to comply with any massage therapy regulations in your state.
The bottom line
Opening a salon is a big step, and it’s important to do your research before you dive in. While it may be possible to open a salon with just your esthetician license, it’s not the norm. Instead, you’ll likely need to partner with someone who has a salon or cosmetology license or go back to school to get your own.
Regardless of which path you choose, it’s important to comply with all relevant regulations to ensure the safety of your clients and your success as a business owner.