Beauty business ideas with a startup budget over $20,000
20 ideas
A budget above $20,000 opens up beauty businesses that need a physical space, specialist equipment, or a trained team. This page covers 20 ideas, including a neighborhood hair salon with a small team, a laser hair removal treatment suite, and a full-service med spa clinic.
Walk-in eyebrow bar with a small team
Open a small storefront or mall kiosk offering quick brow services and hire licensed technicians as you grow.
- $25k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighborhood hair salon with a small team
Lease a small storefront and build a salon with a few stylists serving your local community.
- $25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Your own neighborhood barber shop
Lease a small storefront, set up a few chairs and build a local shop with a team of barbers.
- $15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighborhood nail salon
Open a small storefront salon with several stations and walk-in and booked clients.
- $15k-75k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small neighborhood beauty salon
Open a small salon with a few stations and offer hair, nails or skin care to your local area.
- $15k-75k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small nail or skin care training school
Run a small state-approved school that trains students for a nail technician or esthetician license.
- $40k-200k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small barber school
Run a small, state-approved school that teaches students to cut hair and groom beards so they can sit for their barber license.
- $40k-200k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Solo med spa treatment suite
Rent a small suite and offer injectables and skin treatments under a medical director, as a licensed nurse or clinician.
- $15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Full-service med spa clinic
Open a small clinic with several treatment rooms, a medical director and a team offering skin and body treatments.
- $80k-350k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighborhood day spa with a few treatment rooms
Open a small spa with 2 to 4 treatment rooms offering massages, facials and body treatments by appointment.
- $40k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Solo spa studio in a rented salon suite
Run a one-room spa from a rented suite, offering facials, massage or body treatments with a lower start-up cost.
- $8k-30k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Permanent makeup studio with your own space
Lease a small studio and run your own cosmetic tattoo clinic, with room to add artists or related services.
- $10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Foot massage studio
Open a small, calm studio offering foot and lower-leg massages by the session to walk-in and booked clients.
- $15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small facial spa with a few treatment rooms
Open a small storefront spa with two or three rooms and a small team of estheticians.
- $25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Tanning salon with sunbeds and spray tans
Open a small storefront salon offering sunbed and spray tan sessions by appointment.
- $25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Laser hair removal in your own treatment suite
Rent a private suite and offer laser hair removal packages to clients who want longer-lasting results.
- $25k-80k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Laser hair removal from a rented spa room
Already licensed? Rent a room or days at an existing spa or salon and treat laser clients there.
- $15k-60k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Foot soak and relaxation studio
Run a small studio where walk-in and booked clients soak their feet and unwind.
- $8k-35k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Laser tattoo removal studio
Run a small private studio that fades or removes unwanted tattoos with laser sessions.
- $50k-200k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Body piercing studio
Open a clean, licensed studio for ear and body piercings, with quality jewelry sold alongside.
- $15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
They suit people who want to build a lasting local business rather than start with a chair or a mobile kit. Before you commit, look at your lease terms, build-out and equipment costs, and how many months of rent and wages you can cover while clients find you. Check which state licenses, inspections, and supervision rules apply to the services you plan to offer, since these vary by state and by treatment.
Questions
What should I budget for beyond equipment in a beauty business?
Plan for the lease deposit, build-out or fit-out, insurance, licensing fees, initial stock, and several months of rent and wages before income steadies. Ask suppliers and landlords for written quotes so your startup figure reflects real local costs.
Do I need a license to open a salon, spa, or med spa?
Usually some form of license is involved, but the details vary by state and service. Check with your state cosmetology or barber board, health department, and local authorities. Medical treatments may also require a licensed clinician or supervising physician.
Should I rent a treatment suite or lease a whole space?
Renting a suite can lower upfront costs and risk, while leasing a whole space gives you more control and room to grow. Compare lease length, who pays for build-out, and whether your income plan works if hiring takes longer than expected.