Journey
Start a beauty or aesthetics training business
Learning path for people starting a business that runs courses for beauty therapists and aesthetics practitioners. Decide what you award and which treatments students practise, set up and insure the training room, take on trainers, price and sell courses, and decide whether to offer funded places.
What this journey is for
You need no licence or accreditation to teach beauty courses to adults. This journey takes you through the decisions that shape the business, in order. The guides it points to hold the rules.
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Decide what you will teach and award
Students can leave with your own certificate or with a regulated qualification. Settle this first, because it decides what you can say in your adverts.
Run a school, training or instruction business
Check that private adult training needs no education-specific licence.
Test your business idea
Check there is demand before you invest.
Protect your copyright
Protect your course materials.
Beauty course accreditation and regulated qualifications
Choose between your own certificate and a regulated qualification, and see what you can claim in adverts.
In Northern Ireland, check a qualification on the Register of Regulated Qualifications before you describe it as regulated.
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Decide which treatments students will practise
The treatment you teach decides the licence you need. Follow only the guides for the treatments on your course.
Nails and massage licences from your council
Check the licence route for nail and massage treatments.
Tattoo, piercing and microblading: registration and licensing
Check the registration route for skin-piercing treatments.
Licence rules for Botox and lip fillers
Check the licence and prescribing rules for Botox and fillers.
Train students on live models for beauty treatments
Prescriber, model age and ID checks, and what changes by nation.
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Decide how you will trade
A solo trainer can usually start as a sole trader. A business that plans to take on trainers may prefer a limited company. Settle this before you register.
Sole trader or limited company
Compare sole trader and limited company status, then choose.
Register as self-employed with HMRC
Register if you will trade as a sole trader.
Set up a limited company
Register if you will trade through a company.
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Make the training room safe and insured
A room where students treat live models is a salon-type workplace. Plan fire safety, infection control and insurance before you take bookings.
Renting business premises
Check lease terms before you commit.
Fire safety for business premises
Complete a fire risk assessment.
Set up and run a safe personal services business
Health, safety and infection-control duties for treatment businesses.
Dispose of hazardous waste
Read this if students use needles or other sharps.
Business insurance: what you need
See which cover is compulsory and which is a choice.
Professional indemnity insurance
Cover for claims about your teaching and supervision.
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Take on trainers and look after learner data
Decide whether each trainer is employed or self-employed, because status decides your tax, insurance and pay duties. Learner records, consent forms and photographs are personal data, and some are health data.
Employment status
Work out whether each trainer is an employee, a worker or self-employed.
Register as an employer (PAYE)
How to register with HMRC before you pay an employee.
Employers' liability insurance
Compulsory cover once you employ anyone.
DBS checks for employers
Read this before you take learners aged 16 or 17.
Data protection for businesses
Your duties for learner records, consent forms and photographs.
Register with the ICO
Pay the data protection fee unless exempt.
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Price, sell and take bookings
Most private academies charge VAT on course fees once registered, but some training is exempt. Settle your booking terms before the first booking.
VAT on training course fees
Find out when course fees are exempt and when they carry VAT.
Check if you need to register for VAT
Work out when your turnover means you must register.
How to charge VAT correctly
Apply the right VAT treatment once registered.
Deposits, cancellation fees and no-show charges
Set deposit and cancellation terms that you can enforce.
Marketing and advertising law
Keep your course adverts truthful and compliant.
Write consumer-friendly terms and conditions
Draft clear, fair booking terms.
Step 7 (optional): Offer funded places
Come back to this step if you want learners funded through apprenticeships or Advanced Learner Loans. Funding differs for learners in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Become an apprenticeship training provider
What approved providers must do.