How to Start a Hair Salon in Hawaii (2026)

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Opening a hair salon in Hawaii requires two layers of licensing from the DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVL): a Beauty Shop (establishment) license for the physical salon, and individual Beauty Operator licenses for every cosmetologist, hairdresser, or esthetician working in the shop. Individual licensees must complete at minimum 1,800 hours of training at a Board-approved beauty school and pass both written and practical exams through Prometric. Licenses expire biennially on December 31 of odd-numbered years. You also need a GET license from the Department of Taxation since all salon services are subject to Hawaii’s General Excise Tax.

Hair Salon Requirements in Hawaii at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
LLC Formation	DCCA BREG	$50	3-5 business days
GET License (Form BB-1)	Hawaii Dept. of Taxation	$20 (one-time)	5-7 days online
Beauty Shop License (Establishment)	DCCA PVL Board of Barbering & Cosmetology	~$176 biennial renewal; contact DCCA for initial fee	4-6 weeks
Beauty Operator License (Individual, per stylist)	DCCA PVL Board of Barbering & Cosmetology	~$165 initial (even-year licensing); renews at ~$146	After completing 1,800-hour training + exams
Beauty School Training (Individual)	Board-approved school	$8,000-$20,000 tuition	12-18 months for 1,800 hours
Cosmetology Exams (Individual)	Prometric	Varies (separate Prometric fee)	Schedule after completing training hours
Workers’ Compensation Insurance	DLIR / Private carrier	Varies	Required before first employee hired

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

Step 1: Form Your Business Entity and Get Your GET License

• LLC Formation: File Articles of Organization at hbe.ehawaii.gov. Fee: $50. Annual report: $15/year.
• EIN: Apply free at irs.gov.
• GET License: File Form BB-1 at Hawaii Tax Online. Fee: $20 one-time. Cosmetology and salon services are subject to GET at 4.5% combined (4.0% state + 0.5% county surcharge in all four counties).

Step 2: Individual Beauty Operator Licensing Requirements

Every person who performs cosmetology services (cutting, coloring, styling, waving, bleaching, or other chemical treatments) in Hawaii must hold an individual license from the DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

• Cosmetologist / Beauty Operator: Requires 1,800 hours of training at a DCCA Board-approved beauty school. Alternatively, 3,600 hours via an approved apprenticeship program (combination of school and apprenticeship is allowed at a 2:1 ratio).
• Hairdresser: Requires a minimum of 1,250 hours of training covering only hairdressing services (a subset of the full Beauty Operator license).
• Esthetician (skin care): Requires 600 hours of training.
• Nail Technician: Requires 350 hours of training.
• Exams: After completing training hours, candidates must pass both written and practical examinations administered by Prometric. Schedule exams at prometric.com (search “Hawaii cosmetology”). Exam fees are paid directly to Prometric.
• Initial license fee (2026 – even year): Approximately $165 total (includes $20 application fee + license fee + Compliance Resolution Fund assessment + pro-rated renewal amount). Exact fee varies by classification and time of year within the renewal cycle.
• Renewal: All individual beauty licenses renew biennially by December 31 of odd-numbered years (next renewal: December 31, 2027). Renewal fee: approximately $146.
• Application forms and instructions available at: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/barber

Step 3: Beauty Shop (Establishment) License

The physical salon itself must hold a Beauty Shop license from the DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, separate from individual operator licenses.

• Qualifying operator: A currently licensed beauty operator in good standing must be designated as the qualifying licensee for the shop. This is typically the salon owner or a lead stylist with an active Beauty Operator license.
• Application form: Form LB-34 (Instructions for Filing – Beauty Shop, New). Available at: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/barber/application_publications
• License fee: Approximately $176 biennial (based on renewal fee schedule). Contact DCCA PVL at (808) 586-3000 or 1-844-808-3222 to confirm the current initial application fee for a new Beauty Shop license.
• Renewal: Beauty Shop licenses renew biennially by December 31 of odd-numbered years (same cycle as individual licenses). Renewal fee: approximately $176 active, $12 inactive.
• Inspection: Before the Beauty Shop license is issued, a DCCA inspector will verify the premises meets physical and sanitation requirements (proper workstations, sanitation equipment, adequate ventilation, etc.).

Step 4: Physical Salon Requirements

Your salon must meet DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology physical standards:

• Clean, well-lit, properly ventilated space with adequate workstations
• Sanitation equipment: disinfectant solutions, covered waste containers, sterilization supplies
• Separate storage for clean and used tools
• Handwashing sink with hot and cold running water accessible to operators
• No animals permitted on premises (except service animals)

Hawaii’s tropical climate creates unique sanitation considerations – proper ventilation and humidity control are important for both compliance and client comfort.

Step 5: Get Insurance and Register as Employer

• Workers’ Compensation: Required as soon as you hire your first employee (Hawaii’s 1-employee threshold). Purchase from a Hawaii-licensed carrier. Contact DLIR DCD: labor.hawaii.gov/dcd.
• General Liability Insurance: While not required by the Board, general liability coverage ($1M per occurrence) protects against slip-and-fall, chemical burn, or property damage claims common in salon environments.
• UI Tax Registration: Register with DLIR within 20 days of first hire. New employer rate: 2.40% on first $64,500/employee/year (2026, Schedule C).

Cost to Start a Hair Salon in Hawaii

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC formation	$50	DCCA BREG
GET license	$20	One-time; Form BB-1
Beauty Shop (establishment) license	~$176/biennial	DCCA PVL; contact for initial application fee
Individual Beauty Operator license (per stylist)	~$165 initial	Plus separate Prometric exam fee; renews ~$146 biennially
Beauty school tuition (if needed)	$8,000-$20,000	1,800-hour program; varies by school
Salon build-out / equipment	$15,000-$60,000+	Styling chairs, mirrors, shampoo bowls, lighting, flooring; Hawaii construction costs are high
First/last month rent + deposit (Honolulu)	$4,000-$15,000+	Hawaii commercial lease rates among highest in US
General liability insurance (annual)	$800-$2,500/yr	Salon-specific policy; varies by size and revenue

Estimated total startup cost: $30,000 – $100,000+ (facility and equipment dominate; operator licensing is relatively affordable)

Related Hawaii Business Guides

• How to Start a Cleaning Service in Hawaii
• How to Start a Daycare in Hawaii
• How to Become a Private Investigator in Hawaii

← Back to all Hawaii business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What licenses do I need to open a hair salon in Hawaii?

You need two types of DCCA PVL licenses: (1) a Beauty Shop license (establishment license) for the physical salon location, and (2) individual Beauty Operator licenses for each cosmetologist, hairdresser, or esthetician working in the shop. Both are issued by the DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Additionally, you need a GET license from the Department of Taxation ($20 one-time fee). Board info: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/barber.

How many training hours are required for a cosmetology license in Hawaii?

A full Beauty Operator (Cosmetologist) license requires 1,800 hours of training at a DCCA Board-approved beauty school, or 3,600 hours via an approved apprenticeship (combination allowed at 2:1 ratio). Specific classifications require fewer hours: Hairdresser (1,250 hours), Esthetician (600 hours), Nail Technician (350 hours). After completing training hours, candidates must pass written and practical exams through Prometric.

When do Hawaii cosmetology licenses expire?

All individual beauty operator licenses and Beauty Shop (establishment) licenses expire on December 31 of odd-numbered years. The next renewal deadline is December 31, 2027. Renewal fees: approximately $146 for individual Beauty Operator licenses (active status) and approximately $176 for Beauty Shop establishment licenses (active status). Late restoration fees are significantly higher ($276+ for reactivation within 3 years of expiration).

Does GET apply to hair salon services in Hawaii?

Yes. All cosmetology and hair salon services are subject to Hawaii’s General Excise Tax at the combined rate of 4.5% (4.0% state + 0.5% county surcharge in all four counties). Register for your GET license via Form BB-1 at Hawaii Tax Online before opening ($20 one-time fee).

Can I hire independent contractor stylists for my Hawaii salon?

Many salon owners use booth rental or independent contractor arrangements with licensed stylists. Under Hawaii law, contractors are not employees and do not trigger workers’ compensation or UI registration requirements – but only if the arrangement meets Hawaii’s standards for independent contractor status (control over when/how work is done, multiple clients, use of own tools, etc.). Misclassifying employees as contractors can result in penalties. The Hawaii DLIR can assist with classification determinations. Each booth-renting stylist still needs their own individual Beauty Operator license from DCCA PVL.