How much does it cost to open a nail salon in Missouri?

$9,375 in state fees the agencies state, across 5 of the 9 licenses, permits and registrations; 1 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.

What the state publishes for a nail salon in Missouri

Drafted from the agencies’ own pages; some rows still wait to be confirmed. Open the official page before you pay anything.

Stated state fees
$9,375initial fees across 5 of 9 items
Free items
1no fee as the agency publishes it
Set elsewhere
3by the city, the county or a provider
Items in all
9in 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.

  1. Set up the business

    ItemAgencyFee
    Articles of organization (LLC); no annual reportMissouri Secretary of StatePremium only
    Fictitious name registration (DBA)Missouri Secretary of StatePremium only
    Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue ServiceFree
  2. Register for tax

    ItemAgencyFee
    Missouri tax registration: retail sales tax license, employer withholding, and the sales tax bondMissouri Department of RevenuePremium only
    City or county business licenseYour city clerk or finance departmentPremium only
  3. Approve the space

    ItemAgencyFee
    Zoning approval and certificate of occupancyYour city or county planningPremium only
  4. Get the permits for your kind of business

    ItemAgencyFee
    Establishment licenseMissouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber ExaminersPremium only
    Licensed cosmetologists, barbers, manicurists and estheticiansMissouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber ExaminersPremium only
  5. Before the first hire

    ItemAgencyFee
    Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensationMissouri Department of Labor and Industrial RelationsPremium only

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

Secretary of State corporations FAQ and form LLC-1 (fee schedule); Small Business Startup Guide; RSMo 417.200 to 417.230; Secretary of State fictitious name registration (form Corp. 56) and schedule of fees; IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue business registration pages (form 2643, MyTax Missouri); 12 CSR 10-104.020 (sales and use tax bonds); RSMo 144.087; Kansas City business license FAQ (forms RD-105 and RD-103); City of St. Louis graduated business license fee schedule; Secretary of State Small Business Startup Guide; Secretary of State Small Business Startup Guide (local requirements); city and county building and zoning ordinances; 20 CSR 2085-3.010 (fees); Board establishment registration application (form MO 375-0387, cosmetology, barber and crossover); RSMo Chapter 328 (barbers) and Chapter 329 (cosmetology); 20 CSR 2085 Board rules; Division of Employment Security tax rates page (2026 new employer rates and taxable wage base); Division of Workers’ Compensation employer insurance page. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.

Questions about the cost.