So you graduated from an esthetician or cosmetology school…Congrats! What comes next? The first, and arguably most important, step in starting your own beauty business is getting the correct licensing. The state board test for cosmetology, barbering, or esthetics is a mandatory test one must take in order to get their license. It follows basic curriculum and safety procedures, as well as cleaning and sanitizing measures. Passing this test is the first step towards becoming an independent beauty business. Personally, I scheduled my test as soon as possible after I graduated. It’s recommended to schedule it a few weeks to months after graduating in order to give yourself time to prepare. I felt prepared and ready coming out of school but everyone’s experiences are different. The nearest test was still a few weeks away giving me plenty of time to review. 

Studying comes down to a person’s personal preference. Throughout school, I’ve been someone who enjoys a good study session. I also have a mom who’s been a teacher and I’ve learned lots of study habits from her. People learn primarily in three ways, visual, auditory, or hands-on. Visual learners need to see the material to fully understand it, auditory learners can understand just by hearing information, and hands on needs a physical element to fully experience and understand a concept. The beauty industry is incredible because it combines all three tactics to help students absorb a lot of information in a short amount of time. Personally, I’m a visual learner, so apps like Quizlet helped me the most. Being able to write down concepts and repeatedly see them through flashcards and games allowed me to remember concepts quickly. For auditory learners, an app called Speechify is very helpful as it copies text and reads it aloud. I also have seen people just record videos or audio clips of themselves reading their notes and listen back to them while doing everyday things, the way one would with an audiobook. For hands-on learning, the best study tactic is to be deeply involved in tasks while in school. Volunteer to clean, do laundry, give treatments, or any other way that you can practice procedures that might appear on the test. For those who benefit from multiple types of studying download the Esthetician Exam App. There are similar programs for cosmetology and barbering. This app will give you practice questions very similar to the actual test. Most offer a paid tutoring service or paid question service. I only used this service the week leading up to my test but it proved to be very helpful as I completed and passed the test in about 20-30 minutes.

Now you are licensed and hopefully were aware that they take a picture of you directly after you take your test, a fact I did not know and therefore did not do my makeup or prepare at all. (Please don’t look up my picture thank you) The next steps can go in a few different directions. Preparing to open a studio? Time to get an establishment license. Joining an already established center but as a solo practitioner? Time to get a business license. Planning on using a certain brand’s techniques or procedures? Time to get a specialty license within that brand. More than anything it’s time to make a decision on where you want your business to go. Finding a location, a niche, and a basic clientele are all things to consider before you take the next steps for your licensing requirements.

Here is something they don’t emphasize enough in school… You cannot legally operate anything without an establishment license. So finding your spot is more important than ever. Depending on your state a source of running water, for example a sink, is required in the room you wish to practice in. This is true for California where I currently practice. A lot of states, California included, have set up salons you can rent rooms in such as Sola Salons. Even for these established businesses you will need your own establishment license. An establishment license legalizes your business in the state board’s eyes, allowing for assessments and resources from the state board as well as providing details on how many employees work in said space and allowing for easier tax purposes. Without an establishment fee, you will not be able to pass state board regulations and will be fined anywhere from 100 to 1000 dollars depending on the state. Securing this license is a must for opening a business. 

So now you are licensed AND recognized by the state board, it’s time to get a business license. Business licenses are regulated by the county and state you are in. For California unincorporated areas of the county do not require a business license. I’m located in Aptos CA under Santa Cruz County, which is an unincorporated town that does not need a business license to operate. However, I do sell products along with offering services so other permits are required. Permits are the next step and covered in my next post! To get a business license or check your county go to your state’s portal or use a site such as LegalZoom to be guided through the entire process. Most outside sites will require a fee or subscription but personally, as someone with very little experience, I found these sites to be helpful and worth the money. You can also secure your LLC and business name through resources such as these. 

The next step comes down to branding. You’ve got a license, a space, and are recognized as a business, how will you stock your backbar? Choosing a product line is an entirely different process altogether. I cover my thought process in my upcoming post Talk Backbar To Me, but for now let’s discuss licensing within a brand. I knew out of school I wanted to work with acne clients. I’m someone who’s struggled with acne and the insecurity it brings for years so I knew I wanted to be an acne specialist. I’ve seen wonderful results from the brand Face Reality and became a licensed acne specialist through their program. Other licenses people from my class of estheticians have gotten include dermaplaning, chemical peels through one specific brand, oncologist specialist in the field of esthetics, lash technician, brow and lash tinting technician, specialist in Korean lash lifting, and medical esthetician. Most of these licenses and certifications can be earned through specific brands, but medical estheticians often require more schooling and an RN certification. 

To recap, we had these four steps to cover; state board licensing, establishment licensing, business licensing, and additional brand-related licensing. Congratulations! You are one step closer to becoming a business owner. This process can take a long time but it is so worth it. These are the foundations you will build a successful business upon. It’s important to remember to really take your time and do your own research in each of these fields of licensing. There are so many more resources like this one out in the world, but if you like this style of blog be sure to subscribe for future posts outlining your personalized beauty business plan in detail! Happy business planning lovelies.