Get licensed before you get a location
Before you can legally operate, every practicing cosmetologist or hair designer in the salon — including the owner, if they'll be doing hair — needs a current Georgia license, and the salon itself needs a separate salon/shop license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. Both individual and salon licenses are handled through the state's GOALS online licensing portal.
A salon/shop license is separate from an individual stylist's license. You need both before opening, even if you're the only person working there.
Choose your business structure and register
Most independent salons register as an LLC through the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division. This is also when you'll want to decide how you're structuring your team — see the next section.
Booth rental vs. commission vs. employees
This decision shapes almost everything else about how you run the salon:
- Booth/chair rental — stylists pay you rent and keep their own service revenue. Less management overhead, but less control over pricing and client experience.
- Commission — stylists earn a percentage of what they bring in; you set pricing and standards. The Commission Calculator helps you model this split.
- Employees — full control and consistency, but you take on payroll, payroll taxes, and Georgia Department of Labor employer registration.
Budgeting for your first year
Beyond rent and buildout, plan for: styling stations and equipment, retail and backbar product inventory, a booking/POS system, insurance, and a cash cushion for the slow ramp-up most new salons experience in their first 3–6 months.
Use the Revenue Goal Calculator to work backward from your target monthly revenue to how many client visits you actually need per day — it makes staffing and chair-count decisions much more concrete.
Software and systems from day one
Even a one-chair salon benefits from real booking software instead of a paper book or DMs — it reduces no-shows, makes rebooking automatic, and looks more professional to new clients. Browse the software directory for booking and payments options built for salons.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a single chair inside another salon to start? Yes — many stylists start this way. You'll still need your own individual license, and the salon itself needs its own salon/shop license.
How long does licensing take? Timelines vary by application volume and whether documentation is complete on the first submission — check current processing times on the official board site rather than assuming a fixed number of weeks.
