Beauty business ideas with start-up costs over £20,000
18 ideas
These 18 beauty business ideas need serious capital, usually because of premises, fit-out, equipment or training. They suit people who already have experience in the industry, or who can hire skilled staff, and want to build something more substantial than a mobile or home-based service.
Small skin clinic with rented treatment rooms
Run a small clinic from rented premises, offering facials and skin treatments to a growing base of regular clients.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
High street eyebrow bar
Open a small walk-in brow bar offering threading, tinting and shaping with a few treatment chairs.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small aesthetics clinic with a treatment menu
Open a small clinic offering skin and body treatments, with qualified practitioners and a prescriber on your team.
- £20k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small high street nail salon
Rent a small unit and run a nail bar with walk-ins, bookings and one or more nail technicians.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Tanning studio with spray booth
Rent a small unit or salon room and offer booked spray tans, and sunbeds if you choose.
- £8k-40k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small laser hair removal clinic
Open a small high-street or unit clinic with one or two machines and treatment rooms.
- £20k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small neighbourhood hair salon
Open a small salon with a few chairs and build a loyal local client base.
- £10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Your own barber shop
Open a small high street barber shop with a few chairs and a loyal local following.
- £8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small facial studio
Rent a small unit or room and run a dedicated facial studio with regular clients.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small high street beauty salon
Rent a small unit or treatment rooms and offer hair, nail, skin and beauty services to walk-in and regular clients.
- £8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small neighbourhood day spa
Rent a small unit or rooms and offer massages, facials and body treatments to local clients for a few relaxing hours.
- £10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small private piercing studio
Open a clean, appointment-led studio offering ear and body piercing with quality jewellery.
- £8k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Waxing salon on a high street
Open a small waxing salon with treatment rooms and take walk-ins and regular bookings.
- £6k-30k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small beauty training academy
Run a training room offering nails, lashes, hair or makeup courses, with accredited qualifications as you grow.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Barber training academy
Run a small training academy with a practice floor, teaching new barbers to cut, fade and shave to a professional standard.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Ear piercing studio in a small unit or shop
Open a small, clean piercing studio with walk-ins, appointments and a jewellery display.
- £8k-30k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Laser tattoo removal from a rented room
Rent a treatment room in a salon or clinic and treat clients by appointment, one session at a time.
- £20k-60k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Own tattoo removal clinic
Open a small dedicated clinic offering laser tattoo removal full time, with your own bookings and branding.
- £20k-45k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Examples include a small neighbourhood hair salon, your own barber shop and a small beauty training academy. Before committing, work out your monthly overheads, especially rent and insurance, and how many bookings you need to cover them. Check what qualifications, licences and insurance your chosen treatments require, and what your local council expects. Renting a treatment room or running a smaller first site can lower the risk while you test demand in your area.
Questions
Why do beauty businesses cost over £20,000 to start?
The biggest costs are usually premises, fit-out, professional equipment, stock and insurance. Treatments such as laser or skin work may also need training and specialist machines. Get several quotes and keep a cash reserve for the first few months.
Do I need qualifications or a licence to open a beauty business in the UK?
It depends on the treatment and your local council. Piercing, tattooing-related services and some advanced skin or laser treatments may need registration, training or specific insurance. Check with your council and insurer before buying equipment or signing a lease.
Should I rent a treatment room or lease my own premises?
Renting a room costs less upfront and lets you test demand, while your own premises give more control over branding and hours. Compare lease length, rent reviews, business rates and fit-out costs, and ask a solicitor to review any lease before signing.