Hair Salon Permit Requirements in Des Moines, IA

Complete permit and license guide for starting a hair salon in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.

Verified 2026-09-03 5 stops $300–$1,000 est. 4–10 weeks to obtain all permits and licenses
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Iowa

2 stops

  1. Iowa Barbering & Cosmetology License (each practitioner)

    Everyone who cuts, colors, or styles hair for pay in Iowa must hold a Barbering & Cosmetology license. The former Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences now sits inside the Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) after the 2023 agency consolidation, and barbering and cosmetology have been merged into a single license. Applicants show graduation from a board-approved or nationally accredited program of at least 1,550 hours, or completion of a registered Iowa apprenticeship, and pass the required examinations. Apply online through DIAL's licensing portal.

    Official government source

    $60 application fee, nonrefundable4-8 weeks once DIAL has your application, school transcript, and exam results

  2. Iowa Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Permit

    Required for businesses selling taxable goods or services in Iowa. The state rate is 6%, and local option sales tax of up to 1% may apply. Iowa taxes about 75 enumerated services, so check whether your service is taxable before assuming you need a permit. Register with the Iowa Department of Revenue online.

    Official government source

    Free — no fee to register for a sales tax permitRegister online through GovConnectIowa, the state's tax portal

City of Des Moines / Polk County

2 stops

  1. Iowa DIAL — Cosmetology Establishment License

    Cosmetology salons in Iowa are licensed as establishments by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences, administered by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing after the 2023 consolidation. Apply online for the specific location where you will operate; a change of location cancels the license and requires a new application.

    Official government source

    $80 application fee, nonrefundableSubmit the application no less than 30 days before the anticipated opening day

  2. No Des Moines General Business License Required

    Des Moines has no general or blanket business license, and the Development Services Department does not issue one. The City Clerk's Office licenses only specific regulated activities - alcohol, tobacco, transient merchants, mobile food vendors, peddlers, pawnbrokers, theaters, coin-operated machines, solid waste haulers and similar categories. Most businesses need nothing from the Clerk. What a commercial tenant does need is a Certificate of Occupancy for the space, issued by the Permit and Development Center, and home-based businesses go through home occupation review with Zoning Enforcement.

    Official government source

    Nothing - there is no such license. A commercial Certificate of Occupancy is $51.50Not applicable

Terminus

Open for business — est. $300–$1,000 · 4–10 weeks to obtain all permits and licenses

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Official Sources

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