What does it cost to open a med spa, state by state
The same question, answered for 51 states from each state’s own law. States disagree on this, which is the point — an answer that is right in one is wrong next door. Every entry below is a statute or board rule we verified, most recently Sep 8, 2026.
Facility · part of The Practice Perimeter
Alabama
⛔ ALABAMA PUBLISHES ACTUAL AMOUNTS RATHER THAN A CEILING, SO THIS IS THE PRICE AND NOT A CAP. Fees shall be the following: (a) Written Examination or Reexamination $75 (b) Practical Examination or Reexamination $130 (c) Original License $50 (d) Personal Renewal $100 (e) New Shop $200 (f) Shop Renewal $150 Opening a shop costs $200 and renewing it $150, while the individual practitioner pays $50 to be licensed and $100 to renew — premises and practitioner billed separately, as in most states.
Ala. Admin. Code r. 250-X-2-.01 (⛔ what it costs to open — the Board’s own fee schedule, in dollars) · verified Sep 6, 2026
The full Alabama answer, with the rest of the section →Alaska
⛔ ALASKA PUBLISHES THE COST OF ENTRY AS A FEE RULE, SO THIS IS AN ANSWER RATHER THAN AN ESTIMATE. 12 AAC 02.140. Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. (a) The following fees are established: (1) nonrefundable application fee for (A) initial license, $150 The application fee is charged before any license issues and is not returned if the application fails.
12 AAC 02.140(a)(1)(A) (⛔ what it costs to open — the nonrefundable application fee) · verified Sep 6, 2026
The full Alaska answer, with the rest of the section →Arizona
💰 ARIZONA PUBLISHES ONE SCHEDULE AND IT IS ALL CEILINGS: “THE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH AND COLLECT FEES NOT TO EXCEED THE FOLLOWING”. For a med spa the operative lines are “APPLICATION FOR ESTABLISHMENT LICENSE, INCLUDING CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, $250”, “ESTABLISHMENT LICENSE RENEWAL, $100” and “APPLICATION FOR INITIAL PERSONAL LICENSE, A ONETIME FEE OF $100”, with the personal renewal “$100 TO BE PAID ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS”. Note the two traps priced into the list: a CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP costs the full $250, and moving the business is its own charge — “ESTABLISHMENT LICENSE AFTER A CHANGE OF LOCATION, $150”.
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-507(A)(1), (3), (6), (8), (9) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Arizona answer, with the rest of the section →Arkansas
All fees are nonrefundable upon submission: New establishment or mobile salon $100 one-time fee Renewal of an establishment or mobile salon $50.00 annually Relocation of establishment $50.00 one-time fee Renewal of a cosmetology, manicure, aesthetics, electrology, or instructor license $50.00 biennially
17 CAR § 54-401(b) (Fees for cosmetology) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Arkansas answer, with the rest of the section →California
💰 CALIFORNIA’S FEE SCHEDULE IS PUBLISHED IN DOLLARS WITHOUT DOLLAR SIGNS, AND THE PREMISES ARE THE CHEAP PART. “The following fees (in dollars) shall be charged by the Board”: for “Estheticians”, “Application and examination fee 75”, “Initial license fee 40”, “License renewal fee 50” and “License renewal delinquency fee 25”; for “Establishments”, “Application and initial license fee 50”, “License renewal fee 40” and “License renewal delinquency fee 20”. A mobile unit costs more than a fixed one — “Initial inspection and license fee 100” — because it is inspected.
Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16, § 998(c), (g), (h) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full California answer, with the rest of the section →Colorado
⚠️ COLORADO FIXES NO FEE AMOUNT IN STATUTE — ITS FEES FLOAT TO COVER THE REGULATOR’S COSTS. Section 12-20-105 applies “to all activities of the division and all regulators”, and the mechanism is annual: “The director shall propose, as part of the division’s annual budget request, an adjustment in the amount of each fee that each regulator is authorized by law to collect”, and then “each regulator shall adjust the fees the regulator is authorized by law to collect so that the revenue generated from the fees approximates its direct and indirect costs.” A Colorado operator therefore has no statutory figure to plan against, and the number can move every budget year.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-20-105(1), (2)(a), (2)(b)(I) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Colorado answer, with the rest of the section →Connecticut
On and after July 1, 2020, except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, no person may practice as an esthetician without obtaining a license or temporary permit from the Department of Public Health under this section or section 20-265f. On and after January 1, 2020, each person seeking an initial license as an esthetician shall apply to the department on a form prescribed by the department, accompanied by an application fee of one hundred dollars.
Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-265b(a)-(b) (License or permit as an esthetician — fee) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Connecticut answer, with the rest of the section →Delaware
⛔ DELAWARE DOES NOT PUBLISH A DOLLAR FIGURE, AND THE HONEST ANSWER IS THE MECHANISM RATHER THAN A NUMBER. The amount to be charged for each fee imposed under this chapter shall approximate and reasonably reflect all costs necessary to defray the expenses of the Board, as well as the proportional expenses incurred by the Division of Professional Regulation in its services on behalf of the Board. There shall be a separate fee charged for each service or activity; but no fee shall be charged for an activity not specified in this chapter. The application fee shall not be combined with any other fee or charge. Fees are recomputed each licensure biennium to match the Board’s costs, so an operator budgeting to open should expect a separate charge per service and should read the current biennium’s figure from the Division rather than from the statute.
24 Del. C. § 5110 (⛔ what it costs to open — Delaware sets fees by COST RECOVERY, not by a schedule) · verified Sep 6, 2026
The full Delaware answer, with the rest of the section →District of Columbia
The examination, annual license fees and criminal background check fees for each class of license issued by the Department of Health shall be as follows: COSMETOLOGISTS: Application $65.00; License $110.00 (up to 2 years); Renewal $110.00 (up to 2 years); Renewal (Managers & Instructors) $155.00; Late Renewal Fee $50.00; Reinstated License $110.00 (up to 2 years). BARBERS: Application $65.00; License: (1) Barber $110.00 (up to 2 years) (2) Manager $110.00 (up to 2 years) (3) Instructor $110.00 (up to 2 years) (4) Owner $110.00 (up to 2 years).
17 DCMR § 3500.1 (Licensing Fees — Cosmetologists; Barbers) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full District of Columbia answer, with the rest of the section →Florida
⚠️ AND TAKING ANY MONEY FOR IT TRIGGERS A REGISTRATION MOST PRACTICES DO NOT HOLD. “A practitioner who dispenses medicinal drugs for human consumption FOR FEE OR REMUNERATION OF ANY KIND, WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT, MUST … REGISTER WITH HER OR HIS PROFESSIONAL LICENSING BOARD AS A DISPENSING PRACTITIONER and pay A FEE NOT TO EXCEED $100 at the time of such registration and upon each renewal.” “Indirect” reaches a drug bundled into the price of a treatment package.
Fla. Stat. § 465.0276(2)(a) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Florida answer, with the rest of the section →Georgia
⚠️ GEORGIA PUBLISHES NO FEE AMOUNT IN ITS RULES AT ALL, AND SAYS SO EXPRESSLY. “ALL LICENSE/PERMIT FEES FOR RENEWAL AND REINSTATEMENT SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD PERIODICALLY AS SET FORTH ON A FEE SCHEDULE”, and “THE FEE SCHEDULE IS AVAILABLE FROM THE BOARD OFFICE AND AT THE BOARD’S WEBSITE. FEES MAY BE REVIEWED AND CHANGED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD.” Unlike Minnesota or Arizona, which fix the numbers in law, a Georgia operator has no published legal figure to plan against — and the rule warns of two surcharges without pricing either: the Board “MAY ASSESS A PAPER APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE THAT IS GREATER THAN OR IN ADDITION TO AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FEE”, and “MAY ASSESS A LATE RENEWAL FEE”.
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 240-1-.03(1), (2) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Georgia answer, with the rest of the section →Hawaii
The department’s fee rule sets the license fees for the board of barbering and cosmetology as dollar amounts. Its application fees are listed as Operator or instructor $ 20; Beauty shop $ 50; Beauty school $ 500; Apprentice $ 20.
Haw. Admin. R. § 16-53-14(1) · verified Sep 8, 2026
The full Hawaii answer, with the rest of the section →Idaho
400. FEES. All fees are non-refundable. Annual fees ma y be aggregated for biennial licensure. FEE TYPE AMOUNT (Not to Exceed) ANNUAL RENEWALFEE (Not to Exceed) Individual Original License or Certificate $30 $30 Application $30 Instructor License $35 $35 License/Registration $25 $25 School License $360 $100 Apprentice Registration $30 Endorsement License $45 Reinstatement $35 — the establishment, dealer and facility license or registration is the $25 line, and each figure is stated as an amount NOT TO EXCEED.
IDAPA 24.28.01.400 (Rules of the Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board — Fees, stated as ceilings) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Idaho answer, with the rest of the section →Illinois
💰 ILLINOIS IS THE CHEAPEST COSMETOLOGY REGISTRATION IN THIS CORPUS, AND ITS RENEWALS ARE PRICED PER YEAR. “The fee for registration of a barber shop or cosmetology, nail technician, hair braiding or esthetics salon (salon) is $40”, renewal “calculated at $20 per year”, and “The fee for changing the name or address of a registered barber shop or salon is $20.” On the individual side, “The fee for a license is $30” with renewal “calculated at the rate of $25 per year”. Let one lapse and restoration is “$50 plus payment of all lapsed renewal fees not to exceed $200.”
68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.100(a), (c) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Illinois answer, with the rest of the section →Indiana
💰 INDIANA CHARGES ONE PRICE FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING, AND THE EXCEPTIONS ARE THE INTERESTING PART. “The board shall charge and collect the following application/issuance fees for licenses”, and the list is flat: “Cosmetologist: 40”, “Esthetician: 40”, “Esthetic salon: 40”, “Cosmetology salon: 40”, “Mobile salon: 40”. Only two rows break the pattern — “Cosmetology school: 400” and “Tanning facility: 200”. A med spa that adds a tanning bed therefore pays five times what its esthetics license costs.
820 IAC 7-1-1 · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Indiana answer, with the rest of the section →Iowa
Barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences license fees. All fees are nonrefundable. 507.5(1) License fee for license to practice barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences, license by endorsement, license by reciprocity, or an instructor’s license is $60. 507.5(2) Biennial license renewal fee for each license for each biennium is $60.
Iowa Admin. Code 481—507.5(1)-(2) (Barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences license fees) · verified Sep 8, 2026
The full Iowa answer, with the rest of the section →Kansas
Unless revoked for cause, all licenses of cosmetologists, cosmetology technicians, estheticians, electrologists and manicurists issued or renewed by the board shall expire on the expiration dates established by rules and regulations adopted by the board under this section. Each such license shall be renewable on a biennial basis upon the filing of a renewal application prior to the expiration of the license, payment of the nonrefundable license renewal fee established under this section and the filing of a successfully completed written renewal examination prescribed by the board under this subsection.
Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-1904(a) · verified Sep 3, 2026
The full Kansas answer, with the rest of the section →Kentucky
⛔ KENTUCKY PUBLISHES THE COST OF ENTRY AS A FEE REGULATION, SO THIS IS THE PRICE RATHER THAN AN ESTIMATE. Section 1. The initial license fees shall be as follows: (3) Esthetician - fifty (50) dollars; and Esthetic salon - $100. On renewal the same two are $100 and $200 respectively. The premises and the practitioner are licensed and priced separately, and the schedule states the practitioner fees IN WORDS and the premises fees in digits within the same section.
201 KAR 12:260 Section 1 (⛔ the esthetic salon fee a new studio actually pays) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Kentucky answer, with the rest of the section →Louisiana
The following fees shall be assessed by the board for each initial certificate of registration and each annual renewal of such certificate: (a) Cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, teacher/instructor, or manager $35.00 (b) Beauty shop or salon, mobile salon, or home care $55.00 (c) Initial inspection fee for salon, mobile salon, or booth rental $50.00 (d) Booth rental permit, special permit, or temporary permit $50.00
La. Rev. Stat. §37:599(A)(2) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Louisiana answer, with the rest of the section →Maine
⛔ MAINE CAPS THE COST OF ENTRY IN STATUTE AND THE CEILING IS LOW. The Director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation within the department may establish by rule fees for purposes authorized under this chapter in amounts that are reasonable and necessary for their respective purposes, except that the fee for licensure of a school may not exceed $500 and the fee for any other purpose may not exceed $100. Every barbering and cosmetology license fee other than a school is capped at $100, with the actual figure set by rule beneath that ceiling — so an operator should treat $100 as the most any single license can cost, not the price.
32 M.R.S. § 14238 (⛔ what it costs to open — a statutory CEILING of $100 for anything but a school) · verified Sep 6, 2026
The full Maine answer, with the rest of the section →Maryland
The Board of Cosmetologists’ published schedule: Fees are set by Law and Regulation and are subject to change with public notice given. All fees are nonrefundable. COSMETOLOGIST LICENSE FEE Type of License Cat Original Renew Late SHOP LIMITED SERVICE 01 $225 $ 56 $ 112 after 45 days $225 SHOP FULL SERVICE 02 $225 $ 56 $ 112 after 45 days $225 SENIOR COSMETOLOGIST 04 $ 28 $ 28 $56 COSMETOLOGIST 08 $ 28 $ 28 $56 LIMITED ESTHETICIAN 15 $ 28 $ 28 $56
Maryland Board of Cosmetologists — Forms and Fees (published schedule under Bus. Occ. & Prof. §5-208(c)) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Maryland answer, with the rest of the section →Massachusetts
⚠️ MASSACHUSETTS PUTS ITS LICENSING FEES OUTSIDE THE LICENSING STATUTE ENTIRELY. “The fees for a license issued by the board, or for any renewal thereof, shall be determined by the secretary of administration and finance under section 3B of chapter 7”, and renewal applications must be “accompanied by payment of a renewal fee, as determined by the secretary of administration and finance under said section 3B of said chapter 7.” The licensing chapter fixes no amount, and the cycle itself is administrative too: “The commissioner of occupational licensure shall determine the renewal cycle and renewal period for all licenses issued by the board.”
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 112, § 87CC · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Massachusetts answer, with the rest of the section →Michigan
💰 MICHIGAN’S FEES ARE IN A SEPARATE ACT FROM ITS LICENSING RULES, AND THEY ARE CHARGED PER YEAR. The State License Fee Act sets “Fees for a person licensed or seeking licensure as a cosmetologist, manicurist, natural hair culturist, esthetician, electrologist, or instructor or a person licensed or seeking licensure to operate a cosmetology establishment or school of cosmetology”. Under “Application processing fees” a cosmetology establishment is 25.00 and an esthetician 15.00 through September 30, 2027 (falling to 10.00 after). Under “License fees, per year” an establishment is 25.00 and an esthetician 24.00 through the same date (falling to 12.00). ⚠️ NOTE THE SCHEDULED STEP-DOWN — the statute already carries the post-2027 numbers, so a figure quoted today has an expiry date written into it.
Mich. Comp. Laws § 338.2225(a), (c) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Michigan answer, with the rest of the section →Minnesota
💰 MINNESOTA PUBLISHES THE ACTUAL NUMBERS, AND THEY RUN ON A THREE-YEAR CYCLE. The statutory schedule sets “$350 INITIAL SALON LICENSE, DIVIDED AS FOLLOWS: (I) $250 FOR EACH INITIAL LICENSE; AND (II) $100 FOR EACH INITIAL LICENSE APPLICATION FEE” and “$195 INITIAL PRACTITIONER, MANAGER, OR INSTRUCTOR LICENSE”, with renewals at “$225 RENEWAL OF SALON LICENSE” and “$115 RENEWAL OF PRACTITIONER LICENSE”. These are cosmetology licenses — the medical side of a med spa is licensed separately and is not in this schedule.
Minn. Stat. § 155A.25, subd. 1a(b) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Minnesota answer, with the rest of the section →Mississippi
The cosmetology board’s fee rule sets its license fees in dollars: A. Practitioner license/renewal $50.00; G. Salon/barber shop application and initial inspection $85.00; I. Salon/barber shop renewal $60.00.
Miss. Admin. Code Title 30, Part 2101, Rule 5.20 · verified Sep 8, 2026
The full Mississippi answer, with the rest of the section →Missouri
⛔ MISSOURI PUBLISHES THE ACTUAL AMOUNTS IN THE BOARD’S FEE RULE, SO THIS IS A PRICE AND NOT A CEILING. (C) Cosmetology Establishments (up to and including three (3) operators) 1. Application/License (Full Service and Rental Station) $100 Opening a cosmetology establishment of up to three operators costs $100, with renewal at $75 and reinstatement at $105. Note the bracket: the $100 figure is scoped to establishments of three operators or fewer.
20 CSR 2085-3.010(2)(C) (⛔ what it costs to open — the cosmetology establishment license, in dollars) · verified Sep 6, 2026
The full Missouri answer, with the rest of the section →Montana
The Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists sets its license fees in a rule, in dollars. (1) Original and renewal license to practice barbering, barbering nonchemical, cosmetology, electrology, esthetics, and manicuring $100. (2) Original and renewal teacher license $115. (3) Original and renewal school license $220. (4) Additional courses within a cosmetology school $70. (5) School/course inspection $200. (6) Original and renewal salon or shop license $125. (7) Salon or shop inspection $150. (8) Original and renewal booth rental license $95.
Mont. Admin. R. 24.121.401(1)-(8) · verified Sep 8, 2026
The full Montana answer, with the rest of the section →Nebraska
⛔ NEBRASKA SETS THE COST OF ENTRY BY RULE, NOT BY STATUTE, SO THIS IS THE PRICE AND § 38-155 IS ONLY THE AUTHORITY. 001. SCOPE AND AUTHORITY . These regulations establish fees related to the credentialing of individuals and businesses under the Uniform Credentialing Act (UCA), Nebraska Revised Statutes (Neb. Rev. Stat.) §§ 38-101 to 38-1,142. 002. CREDENTIALING FEES . Credentials are renewed biennially unless otherwise noted. The schedule sets Esthetics Salon $150 $150 $50 for re-inspection if required, and Esthetician $95 $118. The premises and the practitioner are licensed separately and priced separately: an esthetics salon pays $150 to open and $150 on each biennial renewal, and an esthetician working in it pays $95 then $118.
Neb. Admin. Code tit. 172, ch. 2, § 002 (⛔ the fee schedule a new esthetics salon actually pays) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Nebraska answer, with the rest of the section →Nevada
The fee for issuance of a license for a cosmetological establishment is: (a) For 2 years, $200. (b) For 4 years, $400. The fee for the initial inspection is $15. If an additional inspection is necessary, the fee is $25.
Nev. Rev. Stat. §644A.600(3)-(4) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Nevada answer, with the rest of the section →New Hampshire
The application processing and licensing fees found in Table 1002.7, below, shall apply to the professions regulated by the board of barbering, cosmetology, and esthetics under RSA 313-A: Barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, or master barber personal license application processing and licensing: Initial, renewal, or reinstatement after expiration of license 2 years $55; Shop license application processing and licensing: Initial, renewal, or reinstatement after expiration of license 2 years $110; School license application processing and licensing: Initial, renewal, or reinstatement after expiration of license 2 years $346.
N.H. Code Admin. R. Plc 1002.07 and Table 1002.7 (Application Processing and Licensing Fees — Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full New Hampshire answer, with the rest of the section →New Jersey
💰 NEW JERSEY PRORATES THE FIRST LICENSE BY WHERE YOU LAND IN THE RENEWAL CYCLE, WHICH IS UNUSUAL AND WORTH TIMING. “The following fees will be charged by the Board”: “Shop license application fee (includes shop inspection fee) 150.00”, then “Initial license fee (shop) i. If paid during the first year of a renewal cycle 200.00 ii. If paid during the second year of a renewal cycle 100.00”, and “Biennial license renewal (shop) 200.00”. The individual side runs “Biennial license renewal (individual) $ 90.00” with the same first-year / second-year split on the initial fee. Opening in the second year of the cycle halves the initial license fee.
N.J.A.C. 13:28-5.1(a) · verified Sep 2, 2026 · read at Cornell Legal Information Institute
The full New Jersey answer, with the rest of the section →New Mexico
⛔ NEW MEXICO PUBLISHES THE COST OF ENTRY AS A FEE RULE, SO THIS IS THE PRICE RATHER THAN AN ESTIMATE. 16.34.14.8 FEES: The board or department, where applicable, may charge the following fees: A. Enterprise or establishment license (original): $200.00 B. Enterprise or establishment license (renewal): $50.00. A School license (original and renewal) is $500.00. Part 14 exists to set fees; the civil penalties in Part 15 are a different instrument and are not what it costs to open.
16.34.14.8 NMAC (⛔ the establishment fee a new studio actually pays) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full New Mexico answer, with the rest of the section →New York
💰 NEW YORK’S BUSINESS LICENSE IS CHEAP, AND THE STATUTE SAYS SO IN WORDS. “THE FEE FOR AN APPEARANCE ENHANCEMENT BUSINESS LICENSE SHALL BE SIXTY DOLLARS INITIALLY AND SIXTY DOLLARS FOR EACH RENEWAL THEREOF”, and the individual practitioner license — “NAIL SPECIALTY, WAXING, NATURAL HAIR STYLING, ESTHETICS OR COSMETOLOGY” — is “FORTY DOLLARS INITIALLY AND FOR EACH RENEWAL THEREOF THE FEE SHALL BE FORTY DOLLARS”. These are the cosmetology-side costs only; nothing here licenses the medical services a med spa sells.
N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 409(1), (2) · verified Sep 2, 2026 · read at Public.Law — New York Consolidated Laws
The full New York answer, with the rest of the section →North Carolina
💰 NORTH CAROLINA’S COSMETIC ART FEES ARE LOW AND STATUTORY. The Board may charge application fees of “INSPECTION OF A NEWLY ESTABLISHED COSMETIC ART SHOP $25.00” and “RECIPROCITY APPLICANT UNDER G.S. 88B-13 $15.00”, and license fees including “ESTHETICIAN $10.00 PER YEAR” and “COSMETOLOGIST $39.00 EVERY 3 YEARS”. The Board may also charge “THE ACTUAL COST OF PREPARATION, ADMINISTRATION, AND GRADING OF EXAMINATIONS … IN ADDITION TO ITS OTHER FEES”, so the examination cost is not fixed by the statute.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 88B-20(a), (b), (c) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full North Carolina answer, with the rest of the section →North Dakota
⛔ NORTH DAKOTA CAPS THE COST OF ENTRY IN STATUTE RATHER THAN SETTING IT, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT ANSWER AND HAS TO BE READ AS ONE. Fees to be paid by applicants as required under this chapter may not exceed the following amounts: a. Fees: MAXIMUM FEE: (1) Establishment, original license $150.00 (2) Establishment, annual renewal $100.00 per year These are ceilings the board may not exceed, not the amounts actually charged — the board sets the real figure beneath them by rule, so an operator should treat $150.00 as the most an establishment license can cost, not the price.
N.D. Cent. Code § 43-11-28(2) (⛔ what it costs to open — statutory MAXIMUM fees, not set prices) · verified Sep 6, 2026
The full North Dakota answer, with the rest of the section →Ohio
💰 OHIO SETS ITS COSMETOLOGY FEES AS CEILINGS, NOT FIXED PRICES. The board “SHALL CHARGE AND COLLECT THE FOLLOWING NONREFUNDABLE FEES”, each written as a maximum: “FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A NEW SALON LICENSE OR THE CHANGE OF NAME OR OWNERSHIP OF A SALON LICENSE … NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS”; “FOR THE RENEWAL OF A SALON LICENSE … NOT MORE THAN NINETY DOLLARS”; “FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE BY EXAMINATION … NOT MORE THAN SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS”; and “FOR INITIAL APPLICATION TO TAKE AN EXAMINATION … NOT MORE THAN FORTY DOLLARS”. A change of OWNERSHIP is priced the same as a new salon license — buying an existing spa is not the cheaper paperwork it looks like.
Ohio Rev. Code § 4713.10(A)(2), (5), (9), (10) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Ohio answer, with the rest of the section →Oklahoma
⛔ OKLAHOMA PUBLISHES THE WHOLE COST OF ENTRY AS A STATUTORY FEE SCHEDULE, SO THIS IS AN ANSWER RATHER THAN AN ESTIMATE. SECTION 199.14 FEES A. The following fees shall be charged by the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering: The schedule that follows sets a Cosmetology establishment license at $120.00 biennially and $90.00 on biennial renewal, a Cosmetic Studio license at the same $120.00 and $90.00, and the individual Facial/Esthetics operator license at $80.00 biennially. Premises and practitioner are billed separately, so a single-operator studio pays both.
Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 199.14(A) (⛔ the fee schedule a new med spa actually pays) · verified Sep 6, 2026
The full Oklahoma answer, with the rest of the section →Oregon
Fees established by the Office, in consultation with the Board, are as follows: (a) Application: (A) Practitioner certificate: $30 per field of practice. (E) Facility license: $140. (c) Original issuance of authorization to practice: (A) Practitioner certificate: $35 for two years. (E) Facility license: $155 for one year.
Or. Admin. R. 817-040-0003(2)(a), (c) (Fees) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Oregon answer, with the rest of the section →Pennsylvania
💰 PENNSYLVANIA’S COSMETOLOGY FEES ARE PUBLISHED AS A TWO-COLUMN TABLE — “EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 5, 2022” and “EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024” — so the second figure in each row is the one now charged. On initial application the rows read “Esthetician $25 $26” and “Cosmetology salon or limited practice salon $135 $142”; on biennial renewal, “Esthetician $82 $97” and “Cosmetology salon or limited practice salon $129 $144”. Changing the salon is charged separately: “Change in cosmetology salon or limited practice salon (inspection required) $100 $105”.
49 Pa. Code § 7.2(a), (b), (c) · verified Sep 2, 2026 · read at Cornell Legal Information Institute
The full Pennsylvania answer, with the rest of the section →Rhode Island
Fees payable to the department shall be as follows: Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(a) Renewal application $25.00; Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-11[c] Application fee $25.00; Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-15 Shop license: initial $170.00 Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-15 Shop license: renewal $170.00.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-54 (Fees payable to the department of health — barbers/hairdressers, shop license) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Rhode Island answer, with the rest of the section →South Carolina
The Board of Cosmetology’s published fee schedule: License Type Examination Endorsement Renewal Reinstatement Registered Cosmetologist $45 $60 $52 $152 Nail Technician $45 $60 $52 $152 Esthetician $45 $60 $52 $152 License Type Initial Application Fee Renewal Fee Reinstatement Fee Salon $100 $72 #122 Booth Renter $100 $72 #122 School $300 $122 $172 Initial applications and reinstatements applications require an inspection.
South Carolina Board of Cosmetology — Fees (LLR published schedule) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full South Carolina answer, with the rest of the section →South Dakota
⛔ SOUTH DAKOTA WRITES ITS FEES IN WORDS RATHER THAN FIGURES, WHICH IS WHY A SEARCH FOR DOLLAR SIGNS FINDS NOTHING AND THE SCHEDULE LOOKS ABSENT. (12) Salon or booth initial license fee, seventy-five dollars ; (13) Salon or booth license renewal fee, fifty-five dollars Opening a salon or booth costs seventy-five dollars and renewing it fifty-five — the premises charge, separate from the practitioner’s own license.
S.D. Admin. R. 20:42:03:03(12)-(13) (⛔ what it costs to open — the salon license, in the Commission’s own rule) · verified Sep 6, 2026
The full South Dakota answer, with the rest of the section →Tennessee
Any medical spa offering cosmetic medical services in Tennessee MUST REGISTER with the Board of Medical Examiners, before operation or within sixty calendar days of the rule taking effect. Registration is by application to Board staff with a non-refundable Medical Spa Registration Fee.
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0880-02-.24(1) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Tennessee answer, with the rest of the section →Texas
💰 TEXAS PRICES THE PREMISES BY TYPE, AND LATE RENEWAL IS THE EXPENSIVE PART. TDLR publishes “Initial Application Fees” of “$50 for Practitioners (Class A Barbers, Cosmetology Operators & Specialty license holders)”, “$70 for Mini-Establishments” and “$78 for Barbering & Cosmetology (“Full-Service”) Establishment, Mobile & Specialty Establishments”. Practitioner renewal runs “$50 for On-time Renewals”, “$75 for Late Renewals (expired less than 18 months)”.
TDLR Barbering and Cosmetology — Fee Changes Effective 09/01/2023 (accessed 2 September 2026) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Texas answer, with the rest of the section →Utah
The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing’s fee schedule (initial application, then renewal): Esthetician N/A $60.00 $52.00 Esthetician Esthetician Apprentice $20.00 $20.00 Esthetician Esthetician Instructor $60.00 N/A Esthetician Esthetician School $110.00 $110.00 Esthetician Basic Esthetics Permit $60.00 $52.00 Esthetician Master Esthetician $85.00 $68.00; Cosmetology N/A $60.00 $52.00
Utah DOPL Fee Schedule — Esthetician; Master Esthetician; Cosmetology (published schedule) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Utah answer, with the rest of the section →Vermont
Unless otherwise provided by law, the following fees shall apply to all professions regulated by the Director in consultation with advisor appointees under Title 26: Application for licensure or certification, $115.00, except application for: (A) Barbering or cosmetology schools and shops, $355.00. (L) Barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians, and estheticians, $120.00.
Vt. Stat. tit. 3, §125(b)(2)(A), (L) (Office of Professional Regulation — fees) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Vermont answer, with the rest of the section →Virginia
💰 VIRGINIA’S ESTHETICS FEES ARE FLAT, NONREFUNDABLE, AND DOUBLE IF YOU LET THE LICENSE LAPSE. “All fees are nonrefundable and will not be prorated.” For “Individuals”, Application $120, Renewal $120, and Reinstatement $240 — the schedule spells out that this “includes $120 renewal fee and $120 reinstatement fee”. For “Spas” the premises license is Application $220, Renewal $220, Reinstatement $440. Letting either lapse costs exactly twice the renewal, which is the cheapest avoidable expense in this corpus.
18VAC41-70-120 · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Virginia answer, with the rest of the section →Washington
💰 WASHINGTON’S LICENSING AGENCY PUBLISHES ITS FEES AS A TABLE, AND THE PREMISES COST MORE THAN THE PERSON. Under “Professional license fees” the columns are Get a license / Reciprocity / Renew / Late renewal, and the rows read “Esthetician $35 $60 $66 $131” and “Master esthetics $35 $60 $66 $131” — identical for both tiers. The premises row is “Salon/Shop $121 N/A $121 $181”, with “Personal Service $121 N/A $121 $181” for work done at a client’s location. Late renewal roughly doubles each figure.
Washington State Department of Licensing — Fees: Cosmetologists (accessed 2 September 2026) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Washington answer, with the rest of the section →West Virginia
This legislative rule establishes the various fees that are to be submitted to the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists by students, instructors, and owners and operators of schools of barbering and cosmetology and owners of barber, cosmetology, nail technology, hair styling, waxing, and aesthetic salons. 2.13 Salon or school opening inspection fee $50.00; 2.15 Initial license fee for cosmetology, barber, nail technology, hair styling, waxing, and aesthetic salon $40.00 2.16 Annual renewal fee for cosmetology, barber, nail technology, hair styling, waxing, and aesthetic salon $40.00.
W. Va. Code R. § 3-6-1.1, § 3-6-2.13, .15-.16 (Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists — Schedule of Fees, eff. May 22, 2025) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full West Virginia answer, with the rest of the section →Wisconsin
💰 WISCONSIN’S RENEWAL FEES ARE THE LOWEST IN THIS CORPUS, AND THE LATE PENALTY IS MORE THAN TRIPLE THE FEE. The Department’s schedule of “Renewal Dates and Fees” has columns “Renewal Date”, “*Renewal Fee” and “With Late Fee”, and the three rows a med spa needs are identical: “Aesthetician 03/31/odd year $11 $36”, “Aesthetics Establishment 03/31/odd year $11 $36” and “Aesthetics School 03/31/odd year $11 $36”. Note the common renewal date — every aesthetics credential in the state expires on the same day of the same odd year, so a lapse hits the practitioner and the premises at once.
Wisconsin DSPS — Renewal Dates and Fees (Health, Business, and Unarmed Combat Sports) (accessed 2 September 2026) · verified Sep 2, 2026
The full Wisconsin answer, with the rest of the section →Wyoming
The Board has established the following schedule of non-refundable fees: (a) Hands on practical examination fee $50.00 (b) Personal license fee to include: Cosmetologist, Nail Technician, Esthetician, Hairstylist, and Instructors $ 48.00 per year (c) Independent contractor license $ 75.00 per year (d) Salon license $ 75.00 per year (e) Salon application fee $225.00 (f) Salon relocation fee $225.00
Wyo. Bd. of Cosmetology Rules ch. 13 § 1(a)-(f) (Fees; ref. 033.0001.13.01182024) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The full Wyoming answer, with the rest of the section →Which states this covers
51 of the 51 states for which we publish statute-cited rules. That is not every state, and nothing above should be read as describing one that is not listed — the answer genuinely differs, so a neighbouring state is not a guide. We monitor all 50 state legislatures plus the FDA and the Federal Register daily; the cited rule set is narrower than the monitoring and is growing on its own timetable.
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MedSpaRadar is regulatory monitoring and reference, not legal, medical, or compliance advice. Verify against the linked primary source and consult qualified counsel before acting — rules change and turn on your specific facts. Legislative data via LegiScan (CC BY 4.0).