How to Start a Beauty Business in the UK (2026)
Good news first: you don't need a licence to be a hairdresser, do nails, lashes, waxing or makeup in the UK — anyone can start. But "no licence" hides a trap: the moment you offer skin piercing, microblading, or injectables, legal registrations and rules kick in, and getting them wrong can mean a fine or a criminal offence. This guide walks every step in order, whether you're opening a salon, going mobile, or setting up an aesthetics clinic.
Step 1 — Know which treatment rules apply to you
This is where beauty businesses differ, and where most get caught out.
- General hair & beauty (cutting, colouring, nails, lashes, waxing, facials, makeup) — no licence required. Qualifications (e.g. NVQ Level 2/3) build trust and unlock insurance, but aren't a legal must.
- Skin piercing, tattooing, microblading / semi-permanent make-up, electrolysis, acupuncture, microneedling — both you and your premises must be registered with your local council (a Special Treatments Licence in London) under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. Trading without it can mean a fine.
- Injectables (Botox, dermal fillers) — Botox is a prescription-only medicine, and it is a criminal offence to give Botox or fillers to anyone under 18 in England, even with parental consent. A new local-authority licensing scheme for fillers and Botox is being introduced — getting set up to the standard now keeps you ahead of it.
Step 2 — Choose your structure and register with HMRC
- Sole trader — simplest for a single chair, mobile, or home salon; register for Self Assessment.
- Limited company — limited liability, often more tax-efficient as you grow; register at Companies House (~£50) + Corporation Tax.
Register within 3 months of starting to trade.
Step 3 — Get treatment liability insurance
General public liability often won't cover the treatments themselves. Specialist treatment liability (plus professional indemnity for advice) protects you if a client reacts badly or claims harm — essential in this trade. Employers' liability becomes a legal requirement the day you hire anyone (note: renting a chair to a self-employed stylist isn't employing them).
Step 4 — Protect your client data (ICO)
Salons hold names, contact details, bookings and treatment notes — so you most likely owe the ICO a small annual data-protection fee (around £40–£60) and need a short privacy notice. Easy to miss, easy to sort.
Step 5 — The practical setup
- Business bank account (keep business and personal money separate).
- Music licence (TheMusicLicence via PPL PRS) if you play music in the salon.
- VAT — register once turnover exceeds £90,000.
- Booking, payments and a simple website to get found locally.
Beauty business requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Needed? |
|---|---|
| Beauty / hairdressing licence | ❌ Not required for general treatments |
| Council skin-piercing registration | ✅ If you do piercing, microblading, electrolysis, tattooing |
| Cosmetic injectables rules (Botox/fillers) | ✅ If you offer injectables (POM + under-18 ban + incoming licensing) |
| HMRC registration | ✅ Sole trader or limited company |
| Treatment liability insurance | ⚠️ Effectively essential |
| Employers' liability insurance | ✅ Legal if you employ anyone |
| ICO data-protection fee | ✅ Most salons (you hold client data) |
| Music licence | ⚪ If you play music |
| VAT registration | ✅ Once turnover > £90,000 |
Start your beauty business the easy way
Hair, mobile, salon or aesthetics clinic — the rules change depending on exactly what you do. Spark builds your exact beauty setup checklist, points you to the right council registration and the official cosmetic rules, and (as the new aesthetics licensing lands) keeps you licence-ready. It's free.
Build my free checklist →FAQ
Do beauticians need a licence in the UK? Not for general hair and beauty. But skin piercing, microblading, electrolysis and tattooing need council registration, and injectables have their own legal rules.
Can I run a mobile or home beauty business? Yes — same rules apply. If you do registrable skin-piercing treatments, you still register yourself and a base premises with the council.
Is it illegal to give under-18s Botox or fillers? Yes — it's a criminal offence in England, even with parental consent.
When do I register for VAT? Once turnover passes £90,000 in any 12-month period.
Last reviewed 2026. The England cosmetic-procedures licensing scheme is still being introduced — confirm current rules on GOV.UK before acting.