The Complete Checklist for Starting a Beauty Salon in Australia

Australia's beauty industry is worth over $22 billion. With the right preparation, your salon can claim its share. This comprehensive checklist covers everything from qualifications to the marketing that fills your appointment book.

Phase 1: Qualifications & Registration

Industry Qualifications

✓ Hair - Certificate III in Hairdressing (minimum for stylists)
✓ Beauty therapy - Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy
✓ Nail technician - Certificate III in Nail Technology
✓ Massage - Certificate IV or Diploma (for insurance and fund rebates)
✓ Skin treatments - Additional certifications for laser, injectables, etc.

Business Registration

✓ ABN registration - Free at abr.gov.au
✓ Business name - Register through ASIC
✓ GST registration - Required if turnover exceeds $75,000
✓ Local council registration - Beauty premises often need health registration
✓ Skin penetration license - Required in NSW for tattooing, piercing, some treatments

Phase 2: Location & Fit-out

Location Considerations

✓ High foot traffic - Shopping strips, centres, near cafes
✓ Parking - Suburban locations need accessible parking
✓ Competition analysis - What's missing in your area?
✓ Demographics - Match services to local income/age profiles
✓ Visibility - Street frontage for brand awareness

Fit-out Requirements

✓ Plumbing - Hair basins, treatment room sinks
✓ Electrical - Adequate power points, appropriate lighting
✓ Ventilation - Essential for chemical treatments
✓ Storage - Product display, back of house supplies
✓ Accessibility - Disability access compliance

Phase 3: Equipment & Supplies

✓ Styling chairs - Quality chairs last 10+ years
✓ Wash basins - Comfortable, ergonomic design
✓ Treatment beds - Electric for adjustability
✓ Tools - Hair tools, beauty equipment, sterilization
✓ Initial product stock - Retail and professional lines
✓ Reception area - Comfortable waiting, retail display

Phase 4: Systems & Software

The Booking Problem

Phone tag kills salon businesses. Clients want to book at 10pm, not during your busy hours. Online booking isn't optional anymore - it's expected.

✓ Salon software - Timely, Fresha, Shortcuts, Kitomba
✓ Online booking - 24/7 booking essential (see our booking solution)
✓ Point of sale - Integrated with booking software
✓ Payment processing - EFTPOS, Afterpay, Zip
✓ Accounting - Xero or MYOB with bank feeds
✓ SMS reminders - Reduce no-shows by 50%+

Phase 5: Insurance & Compliance

✓ Public liability - $10-20 million coverage
✓ Professional indemnity - For treatment-related claims
✓ Product liability - If selling retail products
✓ Workers compensation - If employing staff
✓ Contents insurance - Equipment, stock, fit-out

Phase 6: Staffing

✓ Qualified staff - Verify certificates and experience
✓ Apprentices - Consider training future talent
✓ Employment contracts - Hair and Beauty Award rates
✓ Commission structures - If applicable
✓ Continuing education - Keep skills current

Phase 7: Marketing & Online Presence

Essential Digital Setup

✓ Google Business Profile - THE most important listing for local discovery
✓ Instagram - Visual showcase of your work (before/after photos)
✓ Facebook - Community engagement, events, specials
✓ Website - Services, pricing, online booking (see our hosting)
✓ Review management - Actively request and respond to reviews (see our review management)

Salon Marketing Essentials

✓ Before/after portfolio - Get client permission, showcase transformations
✓ Referral program - Reward clients who bring friends
✓ Email marketing - Birthday offers, rebooking reminders
✓ Local partnerships - Cross-promote with nearby businesses
✓ Grand opening event - Mini treatments, champagne, social buzz

Get More Clients While You Style

We help salons across Australia build their online presence. From Google visibility to review automation - we handle the digital marketing so you can focus on clients.

Get a Free Visibility Audit

Estimated Startup Costs

Category	Cost Range (AUD)
Lease deposit & legal	$10,000 - $30,000
Fit-out (4 chair salon)	$50,000 - $150,000
Equipment & furniture	$20,000 - $60,000
Initial stock	$5,000 - $15,000
Marketing launch	$5,000 - $15,000
Working capital (3 months)	$20,000 - $50,000
Total Estimated	$110,000 - $320,000