How to Start a Hair Salon in Delaware (2026)

Last updated: May 4, 2026

Opening a hair salon in Delaware requires a cosmetology license from the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, which operates under the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation (DPR). Cosmetologists need 1,500 classroom hours (or 3,000 apprenticeship hours). Estheticians need 300 hours; nail technicians need 125 hours. All licenses are issued through the DELPROS online portal. Application fee: $128 for cosmetologist or barber. Salon owners also need a separate Establishment Permit ($128) from the Board before opening. Delaware requires no continuing education for cosmetology license renewal – one of a small number of states with no CE mandate. Critically, Delaware has no general state sales tax, meaning salon services are not subject to sales tax – a straightforward advantage over Maryland (6%), Pennsylvania (6%), and New Jersey (6.625%) across the borders.

Delaware’s salon market skews toward New Castle County, where Wilmington’s professional workforce and Newark’s University of Delaware student and faculty population create solid demand. The Sussex County beach corridor generates strong seasonal business and increasingly year-round demand from retirees settling in communities like Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, and Ocean View. Understanding the state’s three-county geography shapes where to locate a new salon for maximum walk-in and referral traffic.

Delaware Hair Salon License Requirements at a Glance

License Type	Hours Required	Application Fee	Renewal
Cosmetologist	1,500 classroom (or 3,000 apprenticeship)	$128 via DELPROS	Biennial; expires Oct 31 even years
Barber	1,500 classroom (or 3,000 apprenticeship)	$128 via DELPROS	Biennial; expires Oct 31 even years
Esthetician	300 classroom (or 600 apprenticeship)	$101 via DELPROS	Biennial; expires Oct 31 even years
Nail Technician	125 classroom (or 250 apprenticeship)	$103 via DELPROS	Biennial; expires Oct 31 even years
Electrologist	300 classroom (or 600 apprenticeship)	$103 via DELPROS	Biennial; expires Oct 31 even years
Instructor (All Types)	Underlying license + instructor application	$205 via DELPROS	Biennial
Temporary Permit	N/A – while application processes	$40 via DELPROS	Non-renewable
Cosmetology/Barbering Establishment Permit (Salon)	N/A – business permit	$128 via DELPROS	Biennial
Mobile Salon/Shop Permit	N/A	$128 via DELPROS	Biennial
Cosmetology/Barbering School Permit	N/A	$128 via DELPROS	Biennial
Continuing Education	None required	N/A	Delaware has no CE requirement for cosmetology
Delaware Business License	N/A	$75/year at onestop.delaware.gov	Annual; renew by December 31

How to Start a Hair Salon in Delaware (Step by Step)

Step 1: Complete Your Education at a Board-Approved School

Delaware cosmetology licensure requires 1,500 classroom hours at a Board of Cosmetology and Barbering-approved school. An apprenticeship pathway is also available, requiring 3,000 apprenticeship hours under a Delaware-licensed cosmetologist. School-based programs typically take 9-12 months full-time. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and have completed at least the 10th grade (or GED equivalent), verified with transcripts.

For more specialized license types: estheticians complete 300 classroom hours (or 600 apprenticeship); nail technicians complete 125 classroom hours (or 250 apprenticeship); electrologists complete 300 classroom hours (or 600 apprenticeship). Delaware’s nail technician and esthetician hour requirements are significantly lower than many states – nail tech at 125 hours is lower than neighboring Maryland (250 hours) and Pennsylvania (200 hours), which means faster entry to market for those specialties.

Step 2: Pass the PCS Examination

Delaware’s Board of Cosmetology and Barbering uses Professional Credential Services (PCS) as its examination vendor. Applicants must pass both a written theory exam and a practical skills exam, each at a minimum 75% score. Exam fees are paid directly to PCS and vary by license type – check PCS’s current fee schedule before scheduling. Schedule your exam after completing school hours and receiving your school’s certificate of completion. The exam covers state law and regulations as well as technical skills in your specialty area.

Step 3: Apply Through DELPROS

Submit your application through the DELPROS portal. Application fees: cosmetologist or barber $128, esthetician $101, nail technician $103, electrologist $103, instructor (any type) $205. All fees are processed through DELPROS and are non-refundable. Provide proof of education completion, passing exam scores, and Social Security Number. If you are transferring a license from another state, apply as a reciprocity applicant – the board will evaluate your state’s requirements against Delaware’s standards.

If you need to work before your full license processes, apply for a Temporary Permit ($40). The Temporary Permit allows you to work under your license type while the Board reviews your full application. Do not practice without either the temporary permit or the full license – the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering meets monthly (last Monday) to review complete applications.

Step 4: Obtain a Salon Establishment Permit

Operating a salon in Delaware requires a Cosmetology/Barbering Establishment or Shop Permit from the Board, separate from any individual cosmetology license. The establishment permit fee is $128. Apply through DELPROS. A pre-opening inspection of the salon space is typically required – the Board verifies that the physical space meets sanitation, equipment, and safety standards before issuing the permit. Plan for 4-8 weeks from application to permit issuance.

The salon permit and the individual license are both required to be active before you open. A licensed cosmetologist cannot legally operate a salon under their individual license alone – the establishment permit is mandatory. This distinction catches some new salon owners off guard who assume their personal license covers the business. Both must be maintained and renewed on the same biennial cycle (October 31 of even years). If you operate as a mobile salon – visiting clients at locations other than a fixed address – you need a separate Mobile Salon/Shop Permit ($128).

Step 5: Understand Delaware’s No-Sales-Tax Advantage

Delaware has no general state or local sales tax. Salon services – haircuts, color treatments, facials, manicures, waxing – are not subject to state sales tax in Delaware. This simplifies your point-of-sale setup, eliminates the need to collect and remit state sales tax, and allows transparent pricing without tax add-ons. Across the border in Maryland, salon services are subject to 6% sales tax. In New Jersey, personal service businesses must collect 6.625% sales tax. Delaware salon owners compete on a level playing field without this tax dimension.

Delaware does impose a Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) on business revenues. Salon revenues fall under the personal services GRT category at approximately 0.3983% with a $100,000 monthly exclusion. A salon generating $400,000 in annual revenue ($33,333/month) stays entirely under the monthly exclusion and owes $0 in GRT. A high-volume salon generating $200,000/month would owe GRT on $100,000 at 0.3983%, or about $398/month. Register at grossreceiptstax.delaware.gov. Phone: (302) 577-8780.

Step 6: Form Your Business and Get the Delaware Business License

File an LLC Certificate of Formation with the Division of Corporations for $110. Pay the flat $300 LLC franchise tax annually by June 1. Every Delaware business must obtain a Delaware Business License from the Division of Revenue for $75/year at onestop.delaware.gov – this is a separate requirement from the salon establishment permit. If you operate under a trade name different from your LLC’s legal name, register a DBA for $25 at onestop.delaware.gov (statewide online process since February 2, 2026).

Step 7: Handle Payroll and Insurance Compliance

Salon employees fall under NCCI workers’ compensation code 9586. Workers’ comp is required at one employee. Delaware has no state WC fund – purchase from a licensed private insurer. General liability insurance ($1 million per occurrence) and professional liability insurance for cosmetology services are strongly recommended. If you have 10 or more employees, the Healthy Delaware Families Act PFML contribution of 0.8% of wages applies. Benefits became available January 1, 2026. Unemployment insurance: new employers pay 1.0% on the first $14,500 of wages (2026 taxable wage base). Minimum wage: $15.00/hour. Report new hires within 20 days.

Many Delaware salons use booth rental or commission models. Properly classifying salon professionals as employees vs. independent contractors matters significantly – Delaware’s right-to-control test and IRS guidelines govern this distinction. Booth renters who are genuinely independent (set their own hours, use their own supplies, pay their own expenses) may qualify as contractors, but misclassification audits by the Division of Labor are real. Consult a Delaware employment attorney if your compensation structure is ambiguous.

Step 8: Plan Your Delaware Location

Delaware’s salon market is geographically concentrated. New Castle County holds the most clients. Wilmington’s city neighborhoods and the suburban Ring (Pike Creek, Hockessin, Greenville, Brandywine Hundred) support both neighborhood and destination salons. Newark’s University of Delaware campus area generates student clientele with different price sensitivity and service preferences than Wilmington’s professional market. The Route 40 and Route 1 commercial corridors from Glasgow to Middletown are high-growth residential areas with salon demand outpacing supply as development accelerates.

The Sussex County beach corridor is the highest-revenue per appointment market, particularly in summer. Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, and Bethany Beach serve vacationing clients from DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia who often pay premium prices and tip generously. Year-round retiree growth in Ocean View, Millsboro, and Millville creates stable recurring revenue. The challenge: commercial lease rates near the beach are high and the labor market for licensed cosmetologists is tighter outside of Wilmington. Many Sussex County salon owners have waitlists for their stations. Kent County‘s Dover market serves state government workers, military families from Dover AFB, and a smaller but consistent residential base.

Delaware Salon License Renewal: No CE Required

Delaware cosmetology licenses expire on October 31 of even years (2024, 2026, 2028, etc.) and renew every two years. Unlike neighboring Maryland (which requires 6 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle effective January 1, 2026) and New Jersey (which requires CE), Delaware currently requires no continuing education for cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nail technology, or electrology license renewal. The Board sends renewal notices by email; keep your contact information current in DELPROS. Late renewals (after October 31) incur a fee equal to 50% of the renewal amount and you may not practice between expiration and renewal. Late renewals can be submitted up to five years after expiration before the license is considered permanently lapsed.

Cost to Start a Hair Salon in Delaware

Cost Item	Amount	Notes
Cosmetology school (1,500 hours)	$8,000-$20,000 typical	Varies by school; financial aid available
PCS exam fees	~$225 combined written and practical	Paid directly to PCS; verify current fees
Cosmetology license application	$128 (cosmetologist/barber)	Via DELPROS; non-refundable
Salon Establishment Permit	$128	Separate from individual license; via DELPROS
LLC Certificate of Formation	$110	One-time; Division of Corporations
Annual LLC Franchise Tax	$300	Annual by June 1
Delaware Business License	$75/year	Renewal December 31 annually
Salon build-out, equipment, supplies	$15,000-$75,000+	Highly variable; booths, chairs, wash stations, products
General and Professional Liability Insurance	$500-$2,000/year	NCCI code 9586 for WC

Related Delaware Business Guides

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours do I need to get a cosmetology license in Delaware?

Delaware requires 1,500 classroom hours at a Board-approved cosmetology school, or 3,000 apprenticeship hours as an alternative. You must be at least 16 years old and have completed at least the 10th grade. Full-time school typically takes 9-12 months. Estheticians need 300 hours; nail technicians need 125 hours – among the lower requirements in the mid-Atlantic region.

What exam does Delaware use for cosmetology licensing?

Delaware’s Board of Cosmetology and Barbering uses Professional Credential Services (PCS) as its exam vendor. Applicants must pass both a written theory exam and a practical skills exam at a minimum 75% score on each. Exam fees are paid directly to PCS. Schedule after completing school hours and receiving your completion certificate.

Does Delaware require continuing education to renew a cosmetology license?

No. Delaware currently requires no continuing education for cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nail technology, or electrology license renewal. Licenses renew biennially and expire October 31 of even years. The Board sends renewal notices by email through DELPROS – keep your contact information current.

Do I need a separate salon permit in addition to my cosmetology license?

Yes. Operating a salon requires a separate Cosmetology/Barbering Establishment or Shop Permit ($128) from the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, in addition to any individual license. The establishment permit is required for every salon location and must be current and posted in the salon. Apply through DELPROS. Both permits renew biennially on October 31 of even years.

Are salon services taxable in Delaware?

No. Delaware has no general state or local sales tax, so haircuts, color, facials, manicures, and other salon services are not subject to sales tax. Delaware’s Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) applies to salon revenue at approximately 0.3983%, but the $100,000 monthly exclusion means most salons owe nothing in GRT. This is a significant pricing advantage over neighboring Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, which all tax salon services.

Can I operate a booth rental salon in Delaware?

Yes, but the legal structure requires care. Each renting stylist must hold their own active Delaware cosmetology license. Booth renters who are genuinely independent contractors (set their own schedule, use their own supplies, have their own clients) may not need to be on payroll. However, misclassification audits occur – consult a Delaware employment attorney if your booth rental structure is ambiguous. The salon must have an active Establishment Permit regardless of whether stylists are employees or independent contractors.