Hair salon licenses
in San Jose, 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 Jose, California, with a physical commercial location and W-2 employees. It sells tangible goods and serves customers in person, complying with federal, state, county, and city regulations. 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
- Federal
- United States
- State
- California
- County
- Santa Clara County
- City
- San Jose
Details to confirm before you apply
- Is the salon's trade name different from the owner's legal name?
- What is the current fee for the Fictitious Business Name filing in Santa Clara County?
- Does the specific location already have a valid Certificate of Occupancy?
- What are the current fees for the BBC establishment license and individual practitioner licenses?
- Is the salon planning any tenant improvements that would require a building permit?
- What is the current combined sales tax rate in San Jose?
- 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: Federal employer obligations; Individual salon practitioner licensing; Business personal-property filing or exemption. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 15- 01Board of Barbering and Cosmetology — Establishment LicenseCalifornia Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC), Department of Consumer Affairs · California
Any premises where BBC-regulated services (cosmetology/hair services) are practiced must hold an establishment license.
RequiredBiennial (renew via BreEZe; renewal is instant online, license arrives within 7 business days) - 02San José Business Tax CertificateCity of San José Finance Department · San Jose
Every person or company doing business in San José must register for a Business Tax Certificate within 90 days of starting.
RequiredAnnual — due on the 15th of the month the business started. - 03California Seller's Permit (Sales and Use Tax)California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) · California
The salon sells tangible goods (hair products, retail items) to customers, which are taxable sales in California.
RequiredNone (permit is continuous; file returns and renew as directed by CDTFA) - 04Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
The salon will have W-2 employees, and the IRS requires an EIN for any business that has employees.
RequiredNone (one-time; EINs are permanent) - 05EDD Employer Payroll Tax Registration (UI, ETT, SDI, PIT withholding)California Employment Development Department (EDD) · California
The salon will employ one or more W-2 employees, so it must register for an EDD payroll tax account to report and pay unemployment insurance (UI), employment training tax (ETT), state disability insurance (SDI), and personal income tax (PIT) withholding.
RequiredNone (one-time registration; file quarterly DE 9/DE 9C returns) - 06California New-Hire ReportingCalifornia Employment Development Department (EDD), New Employee Registry · California
Federal law requires all employers to report newly hired and re-hired employees to a state registry; California's registry is run by EDD.
RequiredPer new hire
This example includes 9 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 Jose check?
Our research identifies San José Business Tax Certificate, issued by City of San José Finance Department, as required. Every person or company doing business in San José must register for a Business Tax Certificate within 90 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 Jose?
About $781 in published fixed fees, plus variable fees. 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 California business entity formation or registration (if applicable) (California Secretary of State (SOS)), then California Seller's Permit (Sales and Use Tax) (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)). 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.