Hair salon licenses
in San Francisco, California
Start with the main licenses and permits below. For a checklist based on your own business, tell us what you’re opening and how it will operate.
Researched Sep 2026
About this example
The business is a hair salon located in San Francisco, California, that will operate from a physical commercial location and employ W-2 staff while selling retail hair products. The salon must comply with federal, state, county, and city licensing requirements, including those specific to the cosmetology industry. Legal structure and tax classification are not specified; entity-specific filings and taxes apply only when their conditions are met.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
Details to confirm before you apply
- What is the current FBN filing fee?
- Does the specific address's zoning permit a salon outright?
- Will the salon's operations trigger a Fire Department operational permit?
- What is the initial establishment license fee from the BBC?
- Are any tenant improvements required for the salon space?
- What specific licenses do staff need based on the services offered?
- Will the business operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or corporation, and what federal tax classification and California income will apply?
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: Individual salon practitioner licensing; Business personal-property filing or exemption. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 17- 01Establishment license (hair salon)California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC), Department of Consumer Affairs · California
Any premises where cosmetology services are practiced for compensation must hold a BBC establishment license.
RequiredNot published - 02San Francisco Business Registration (business registration certificate)Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector (TTX), City and County of San Francisco · San Francisco
Every person engaging in business in San Francisco must register within 15 days of starting.
RequiredAnnual — renew by the last day of February - 03Seller's permit (sales and use tax)California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) · California
The salon sells tangible personal property (retail hair products, etc.) at a physical California location, which is ordinarily subject to sales tax.
RequiredPermit remains valid while actively in business; sales tax returns are filed on a schedule set by CDTFA (often quarterly). - 04Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
The salon will hire W-2 employees; the IRS requires an EIN to hire employees and to file employment and excise tax returns.
RequiredNone (one-time number) - 05Federal employment tax obligations (income tax withholding, FICA, FUTA)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
The salon will have W-2 employees, so it must withhold and remit federal income tax and FICA and pay federal unemployment (FUTA) tax.
RequiredQuarterly and annual filings - 06EDD payroll tax account (UI, ETT, SDI, PIT withholding)California Employment Development Department (EDD) · California
The salon will employ one or more W-2 employees in California.
RequiredNone (account stays open); quarterly payroll tax returns (DE 9/DE 9C) and deposits
This example includes 11 other potential requirements. A report based on your business explains which apply, how to file, published fees and timing, and what to complete first.
Make the checklist yours
Your location, activities, and business structure can change the list. Get a free preview for your business, then decide whether to unlock the full report for $49.
Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should a hair salon in San Francisco check?
Our research identifies San Francisco Business Registration (business registration certificate), issued by Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector (TTX), City and County of San Francisco, as required. Every person engaging in business in San Francisco must register within 15 days of starting. Check the other city permits in this guide and confirm the requirements for your premises and activities.
How much do licenses and permits cost for a hair salon in San Francisco?
Most fees vary by item; see report. Several items have fees that depend on your entity type, square footage, or payroll, so the full report lists each fee as the agency publishes it.
What should I do first?
Review Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then Federal employment tax obligations (income tax withholding, FICA, FUTA) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then California business entity formation or registration (if applicable) (California Secretary of State (SOS)). Confirm each item's applicability and prerequisites before applying; the report provides a suggested order for the full checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research summary of public requirements published by government agencies, each linked to its official page. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.
Related guides
Researched from official government sources on September 2, 2026 for a typical hair salon. Requirements change and depend on your facts; this page is not legal advice. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.