How to Start a Body Waxing Salon

Start a body waxing salon by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Body Waxing Salon
2. Form your Body Waxing Salon into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Body Waxing Salon for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Body Waxing Salon
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Body Waxing Salon
7. Get Body Waxing Salon Insurance
8. Define your Body Waxing Salon Brand
9. Create your Body Waxing Salon Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your body waxing salon. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Body Waxing Salon Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a body waxing salon?

This business requires a facility for body hair removal, body hair removal equipment and supplies, employees, insurance, a table, chairs, a receptionist's desk, marketing, and a website. Though the owner can serve as the body hair removal specialist, receptionist, and marketing professional at the business' launch, additional employees will be necessary as the business grows. Plan on spending several thousand dollars on body hair removal equipment, supplies, table(s), and chairs. The office will likely run $500 to $1,000 or more in monthly rent.

What are the ongoing expenses for a body waxing salon?

This type of business requires employees, marketing, insurance, office supplies, body hair removal equipment/waxing products, a space to operate and utilities including a high-speed internet connection. Body hair removal specialists typically earn between $10 and $20 per hour. A receptionist will earn between $8 and $15 per hour. Marketing and accounting professionals will command a yearly salary of $30,000 to $50,000. Budget at least $200 per month for insurance, office supplies and utilities. Plan on spending between $600 and $1,000 or more to rent an office/body hair removal space.

Who is the target market?

In general, teenagers and those in their twenties or thirties are most interested in body hair removal. Most customers will need periodic waxings, so you will likely have many return customers.

How does a body waxing salon make money?

This business makes money by charging customers for sessions in which body hair is removed.

How much can you charge customers?

A full body wax typically costs between $50 and $100. The waxing of eyebrows usually runs between $10 and $20. Waxing the upper lip costs between $5 and $10. A Brazilian wax of the lower body runs $30 to $45.

How much profit can a body waxing salon make?

This type of business can generate a yearly profit of $50,000 or more. Set up shop in an area with plenty of young people, market the business in a strategic manner and you might make six figures per year or more.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Offer a wide variety of services. Waxing services should extend to the eyebrows, lips, underarms, chest, back and beyond. You can also provide beauty salon services, spa services, massages, pedicures and manicures.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your body waxing salon is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a body waxing business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

In addition, certain local licensing or regulatory requirements may apply. For more information about local licenses and permits:

• Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office.
• Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources.

Liability Waiver

It is advisable to provide clients with informed consent agreements to decrease legal liability and encourage transparency.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is ideal for an individual who is looking for a way to make money while improving the well-being, confidence, and beauty of others.

What happens during a typical day at a body waxing salon?

Body waxing salons provide hair removal services throughout the day. Employees schedule body hair removal sessions, remove body hair from patients, clean the facility, and interact with customers. The owner and/or manager of the body waxing salon oversees employees, delegates work, handles marketing duties, and researches new body hair removal equipment and supplies.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful body waxing salon?

An individual who has a background providing aesthetician services, running a business or operating laser-based equipment will likely thrive in this rapidly growing niche. The entrepreneur should have excellent people skills, be detail oriented and precise. He or she should also be comfortable removing hair from highly sensitive areas of the body.

What is the growth potential for a body waxing salon?

This business is growing quite rapidly. According to IBIS World, the body hair removal industry revenue was nearly $600 million in 2015. This organization projects a three percent annual industry growth rate. Plenty of people are on the prowl for a body waxing service that removes hair from all over the face and body. This spiking interest in body hair removal creates the potential for rapid expansion. It might even be possible to expand to a second location and eventually set up body waxing salons across the state or region.