The agencies state $2,552 in initial fees across 5 of the 8 items; 3 are free. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a nail salon in Illinois?
$2,552 in state fees the agencies state, across 5 of the 8 licenses, permits and registrations; 3 are free. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a nail salon in Illinois
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 17, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $2,552initial fees across 5 of 8 items
- Free items
- 3no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 0by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 8in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Articles of organization (LLC) or an assumed business name Illinois Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Illinois business registration (Form REG-1) for sales tax Illinois Department of Revenue Free Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Certificate of occupancy or occupancy approval Your city or county building department Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Salon or shop registration Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Premium only Licensed cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians and nail technicians Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Premium only City business license Your city Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account (Form REG-UI-1) Illinois Department of Employment Security Free
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Illinois Secretary of State LLC pages; Form LLC-1.20; Cook County Clerk assumed business name page; IRS EIN page; Illinois Department of Revenue business registration page; City of Chicago Department of Buildings certificates of occupancy page and 2025 permit fee tables; IDFPR salon and shop registration instruction sheet and qualifications for licensure (April 2025); IDFPR barber, cosmetology, esthetics, hair braiding and nail technology page; City of Chicago business licensing pages and January 2026 fee update; IDES new employer page. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.