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State sources last reviewed: November 2, 2026Starting a Beauty Business in Texas
Texas runs beauty licensing through a single regulator, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), under one code chapter that covers hair, barbering, esthetics, nails and lashes together. That makes Texas the cleanest state in the country to open in, once you know the order the pieces go in.
Texas beauty licensing at a glance
TDLR's Barbering and Cosmetology program operates under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603, which consolidated barbering and cosmetology into one program in 2021. Every practitioner license below is issued by TDLR, and every salon, shop and suite-style business also needs its own establishment license from the same agency.
| Practitioner license | Training hours | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology Operator | 1,000 hours | Hair services and the full cosmetology scope |
| Class A Barber | 1,000 hours | Barbering services |
| Esthetician | 750 hours | Facials and skincare services |
| Manicurist / Esthetician | 800 hours | Combined nail and skincare license |
| Manicurist | 600 hours | Nail services |
| Eyelash Extension Specialist | 320 hours | Lash extension services |
| Hair Weaving Specialist | 300 hours | Weaving and extension services |
Hours from TDLR's published curriculum requirements. Practitioner licenses run on two-year terms. Confirm the current fee and exam schedule on TDLR's Barbering and Cosmetology pages before you apply, since fees and continuing-education rules change.
What every Texas beauty business needs, whatever the type
| Requirement | Agency | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Practitioner licenses | TDLR | Every person performing services must hold their own license. The owner does not need one. |
| Establishment license | TDLR | Full-Service and Specialty establishments renew at $78; the Mini-Establishment license, the suite model, is $70. Tied to the owner and the address; inspections apply. |
| LLC or other entity | Secretary of State | LLC Certificate of Formation (Form 205) filing fee is $300. Texas has no general state business license and no annual report for LLCs. |
| DBA / assumed name | Secretary of State or your county clerk | Filing entities file Form 503 ($25) with the Secretary of State. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file at the county clerk in each county where they operate. |
| EIN | IRS | Free from the IRS. Never pay a third party for one. |
| Sales tax permit | Comptroller | Permit is free. Beauty services are generally not taxable in Texas; retail product sales are. State rate 6.25% plus up to 2% local, 8.25% maximum. |
| Franchise tax | Comptroller | No tax due under the $2,650,000 threshold, but below-threshold businesses must still file a Public Information Report (Form 05-102) or Ownership Information Report (Form 05-167) by May 15. |
| Employer setup | Texas Workforce Commission | Unemployment tax on a $9,000 wage base at a 2.7% new-employer rate; report new hires within 20 days. Texas minimum wage is $7.25. |
| Workers' compensation decision | Texas Department of Insurance, DWC | Texas is the one state where private employers may opt out. Non-subscribers must file Form DWC-005, post notices, and give up common-law defenses, so decide deliberately. |
Texas guides by business type
How to start a hair salon in Texas
The full walkthrough: operator licensing, the establishment license, LLC and county DBA rules, the services-vs-retail tax split, costs and a renewal calendar.
Barbershop in Texas
The Class A Barber license, shop establishment rules, and how the 2021 consolidation changed barbering in Texas.
Nail salon in Texas
Manicurist and combined licenses, sanitation rules and establishment requirements for nail businesses.
Lash studio in Texas
The 320-hour Eyelash Extension Specialist license, one of the clearest dedicated lash licenses in the country.
Esthetics studio in Texas
The 750-hour esthetician license, plus where Texas draws the line between skincare and medical services.
Salon suite in Texas
The TDLR Mini-Establishment license ($70) is the legal foundation of the Texas salon suite model. Here is how it works.
Official Texas resources
| Agency | What you use it for |
|---|---|
| TDLR, Barbering and Cosmetology | Practitioner and establishment licensing, exams, renewals, inspections |
| Secretary of State, Corporations Section | LLC formation, assumed name certificates for filing entities |
| Texas Comptroller, Taxpayer Resources | Sales tax permits, franchise tax filings and reports |
| Texas Workforce Commission | Employer registration, unemployment tax, new-hire reporting |
| TDI, Division of Workers' Compensation | Coverage decisions and non-subscriber filings |
A note on medical services: Texas has no med spa license. Nonsurgical cosmetic medical procedures are the practice of medicine under state rules and require physician delegation and oversight, which is a different legal world from TDLR licensing. Our esthetics guide explains where that boundary sits; we do not publish med spa setup guides.