When establishing or running a business in the beauty industry, it’s important to ensure you’re compliant with the relevant laws. Our legal team specialises in helping small businesses with all their legal needs, from contracts to intellectual property protection and privacy. Get in touch today!
To establish a beauty business in the UK, you will need to prepare and register a variety of legal documents. Key requirements include:
- Registering your business name with Companies House (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house).
- Obtaining Employers' Liability Insurance and business insurance (e.g. public liability, professional indemnity).
- Securing Local Authority approval (if operating from a commercial premise) and a lease agreement (if renting premises).
- Having Health and safety policies and procedures in place, in compliance with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines (https://www.hse.gov.uk/).
- Complying with privacy and data protection policies and procedures, in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (https://ico.org.uk/).
- Registering for a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number and, if applicable, for Value Added Tax (VAT) with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs).
- Applying for the relevant licence (depending on the nature of beauty services you're providing), which may involve contacting your local council (https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council).
Yes, in some cases, you will need a licence to run your beauty business in the UK. The type of licence required depends on your location within the UK and the specific beauty services you wish to offer.
For example, the following beauty professions typically require a licence:
- Cosmetologist
- Esthetician
- Nail technician
- Barber
- Massage therapist
To find out more about the specific licensing requirements for beauty professionals in the UK, you can visit the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy website or contact your local council for guidance tailored to your area.
