How to open a hair salon in 2026: from a license (živnostenského úřadu) to sanitary requirements

Sooner or later, every beauty master thinks about opening a hair salon or their own beauty cabinet. Such a prospect really has many advantages: space for creativity and development, recognition, personal clients, and an independent schedule. However, the reality for masters in the Czech Republic may turn out to be somewhat more complicated than their expectations.

So today, I will help figure out how to open a cosmetology center or a hair salon. I will talk about licenses, proper preparation of the premises (kolaudace salonu), and other important points – honestly and to the point.

Business registration: OSVČ kadeřník or a company

So, your own salon! Before starting an independent path in the beauty industry, it is worth deciding what type of registration you need.

1. OSVČ kadeřník (entrepreneur cosmetologist)

Such registration is necessary if you plan to work independently or maintain a small studio. Usually, no problems arise at the registration stage, and the whole process takes 1–2 days.

2. S.R.O. (company)

S.R.O. is registered for larger salons where several masters work. Expect that registration of such a business is more complicated and takes longer. Usually, to arrange everything correctly, it takes 1–3 weeks.

How to register OSVČ: Step-by-step instruction

To register OSVČ quickly and without problems, it is important to clearly understand what exactly to do and in what sequence:

Step 1: Obtain qualification

In most cases, it is better to start by obtaining a diploma. If you do not have such an opportunity or want to skip this step, you can appoint a guarantor (odpovědný zástupce). This is a person with the necessary qualifications who officially takes responsibility for the professional activity of the salon.

Step 2: Register business activity (živnost) at the licensing office (živnostenský úřad)

To register a živnost, it is usually enough to have a passport (residence permit) and a document confirming the relevant qualification. The whole process takes no more than 1 day, and the cost of such a service is 1,000 Kč one-time.

Step 3: Obtain IČO

As soon as you register your activity, you will be assigned an IČO. If necessary, you can easily find it in the živnostenský rejstřík or in the state register of entrepreneurs online.

Step 4: Register with zdravotní pojišťovna (health insurance)

After registering živnost, the entrepreneur’s data are usually automatically transferred to your zdravotní pojišťovna. In this case, you do not need to submit a separate application; it is enough to start paying monthly insurance contributions. For entrepreneurs, the minimum payment is approximately 2,968 Kč per month.

Step 5: Register with ČSSZ (pension insurance)

You also need to notify ČSSZ (Czech Social Security Administration) about the start of entrepreneurial activity. For this, a document called oznámení o zahájení samostatné výdělečné činnosti is submitted. After registration, it is necessary to pay monthly contributions (3,852 Kč per month).

Step 6: Register with finanční úřad (annual declaration)

When opening živnost, you need to register with the financial office as a taxpayer. This can be done through Jednotný registrační formulář at the živnostenském úřadě, online through datovou schránku, or directly at the tax office branch. After registration, the entrepreneur is obliged to submit a tax declaration once a year, which indicates income and expenses for the previous calendar year.

What licenses (živnosti) are required to open a beauty salon

In the Czech Republic, in the beauty sphere, there are two main categories of entrepreneurial activity.

Craft business activity (remeslná živnost)

It includes:

• Holíčství, kadeřnictví (haircuts, coloring, styling, etc.);
• Pedikúra, manikúra (classic and electric manicure, pedicure, nail extensions, gel-polish coating);
• Kosmetické služby (cosmetology care procedures, cleanings, masks, facial massage, etc.);
• Masérské, rekondiční a regenerační služby (professional massage and spa care).

All these services require professional qualifications. Note that if you plan to provide different types of services, you can register several živnosti. To register a živnost, you need to pay 1,000 Kč.

Free (unregulated) business activity (volná živnost)

Usually used for:

• Velkoobchod a maloobchod (sale of cosmetics or professional care products);
• Pronájem a správa nemovitostí (renting workplaces to masters).

To engage in such activity, you do not need special education, diplomas, or certificates.

Premises for a salon: why proper commissioning of the premises (kolaudace salonu) is so important

When choosing premises for a salon, most people first of all pay attention to its location and design, yet often forget to check the legal status of the premises. This is where the biggest problems arise.

Kolaudace salonu is an official confirmation from the construction authority (stavební úřad) that the premises are allowed to be used for your business. In other words, the state checks whether the premises meet technical, safety, and sanitary requirements for providing services. Without the appropriate permit (kolaudační souhlas), it is impossible to open a salon legally.

What purpose of premises is suitable

The most convenient option, which will save you a lot of time, is when the documents already indicate an activity related to the service sphere. For example:

• Provozovna služeb – premises for providing services;
• Nebytový prostor – služby – non-residential premises for services;
• Kadeřnictví / kosmetický salon – hair salon or cosmetology salon;
• Obchod a služby – commercial premises for trade and services.

In this case, opening a salon will be much easier, because the purpose of the premises already corresponds to your type of activity.

Options that may create a problem

The status of some types of premises usually does not suit a beauty salon. For example:

• Byt – apartment;
• Sklad – warehouse;
• Kancelář – office.

However, in most cases, such premises can still be used. If, for one reason or another, you rent such premises, it is necessary to make a change of purpose of the premises through the construction authority.

During this procedure, the authorities check whether the premises can meet the requirements for a beauty salon (ventilation, water, sanitary conditions, safety, etc.). Such a procedure is quite long and may take from 2 to 8 weeks.

Attention! The change of purpose of the premises must be made by its owner, not the tenant.

What may happen if you ignore kolaudace

Opening a salon without proper kolaudace is a big risk for your business and reputation. The most common consequences:

• Prohibition of the salon’s work by the sanitary service;
• A fine of up to 500,000 Kč;
• Forced closure of the salon.

Therefore, before signing the lease agreement, it is worth asking the owner a very simple but important question:

“Má prostor kolaudační souhlas pro provoz kadeřnictví nebo kosmetického salonu?”
(Does the premises have a permit for use as a hair salon or cosmetology salon?)

Registration of the establishment (provozovna)

After renting the premises, it must be officially registered as an establishment (provozovna) at the živnostenský úřad. During registration, it is necessary to indicate the address of the premises, provide the lease agreement, and the entrepreneur’s data. Usually, this procedure takes from one to three days.

Hygienic standards for a cosmetology salon

Another important stage of opening a salon is compliance with hygienic standards (hygienické normy pro kosmetický salon). Before starting work, it is necessary to send a notification about the start of activity (oznámení o zahájení činnosti) to the regional sanitary service (krajská hygienická stanice).

After some time, an inspector may visit your salon to check whether the premises and equipment meet sanitary and hygienic requirements.

Main requirements for premises

• The premises must have a sink with hot and cold water, as well as a separate sink for washing instruments;
• Your salon must have a toilet (if there is only one toilet in the building that several salons or offices have access to – this is also an acceptable option);
• The premises must have functioning ventilation;
• Walls and floors must be washable and resistant to the use of disinfectants;
• You need to determine and equip separate places for storing clean and used instruments in advance;
• Sanitary kits, disinfectants, gloves, and disposable materials must be available to comply with hygienic standards.

Additional requirements depending on specialization

Internal salon regulations (Provozní řád)

Provozní řád kadeřnictví vzor (sample internal salon regulations) is a document that the sanitary service usually checks before the salon starts operating. It defines the rules of the internal organization of the salon’s work, in particular, how the premises and instruments are disinfected, how the workspace is cleaned, how instruments are sterilized, and how clean and used materials are stored.

How long does it take to open a salon?

On average, if the premises do not require renovation, opening a salon takes approximately 2–6 weeks. If renovation or change of purpose of the premises is required, the whole process may extend for several months.

Renting workplaces to masters

Today, many studios work according to the coworking-beauty model. Such a format allows masters to unite, share clients, and work side by side without renting their own salon completely.

In this scheme, each master has their own OSVČ and independently registers their živnost, while the studio officially rents them a workplace. To legally provide workplaces to masters, the owner of the studio or salon needs to have živnost pro nájem a správu nemovitostí.

Why many masters choose ready provozovna

One’s own salon is not only about freedom and independence, but also about responsibility, constant inspections, and control. That is why many masters in the Czech Republic prefer to work in an establishment that has the necessary permits, meets all hygienic requirements, and has a provozní řád and official registration.

For such a format of work, all you need is to have OSVČ, register activity, and start working with clients – without renovation, inspections, and fines. This is exactly how the Yara Space studio works. We provide ready workplaces for masters where they can focus on work and clients.

Attention: The information is of a recommendatory nature and is not a legal consultation. We do not bear responsibility for its use.