How to Start a Body Waxing Salon

A body waxing salon business provides body hair removal services. Though women tend to patronize these salons most frequently, body waxing is quickly going mainstream for all genders.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

 Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

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:

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.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your body waxing salon is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your body waxing salon were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

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!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

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.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

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:

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

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.

Find out what types of insurance your Body Waxing Salon needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Body Waxing Salon.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a body waxing salon

Promote the business online and through local media channels. Key in on creating captivating and helpful content optimized for search engines. Make use of pay-per-click marketing as well as social media marketing. It will also help to advertise the business in areas frequented by young adults such as local universities, shopping centers and restaurants.

How to keep customers coming back

Promote the business online and through local media channels. Key in on creating captivating and helpful content optimized for search engines. Make use of pay-per-click marketing as well as social media marketing. It will also help to advertise the business in areas frequented by young adults such as local universities, shopping centers, and restaurants.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

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.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

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.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a body waxing salon?

Market the business toward those who are most likely to be interested in body hair removal. Furthermore, the business owner should research body hair removal equipment in-depth to pinpoint technologies that reduce the amount of pain endured by the patient when the hair is removed and provide lasting results. Establish relationships with waxing supplies wholesalers to get the best deals on products like soft wax, hard wax, gloves, waxing strips, lotions, powders, etc.

How and when to build a team

The quality of the salon’s body waxing services is of the utmost importance. Your business should provide body hair removal services that last for weeks, if not months. Furthermore, the body hair removal process should be as painless as possible. Your body hair removal specialists must be friendly with clients from the moment they walk in the door to the moment they leave. Customer comfort during the body hair removal process is important as this is somewhat of an inherently awkward service. Keep your clients comfortable, provide lasting results and they will recommend your business to friends, co-workers and others.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading