Barber Shop Permit Requirements in Baton Rouge, LA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. State Barber License (per barber)

   Each barber in Louisiana must hold a barber license issued by the Louisiana State Board of Barber Examiners, which is separate from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology — the cosmetology board's current site (verified August 31, 2026) covers only cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists and instructors, with no barbering licenses, applications or exams. The barber board's former website (labarberboard.org) has lapsed and it is not listed in Louisiana's state agency directory, so no official page could be reached to verify school-hour requirements or exam details. Confirm the current hour requirement, exam and fees with the Louisiana State Board of Barber Examiners directly before relying on the commonly cited 1,500-hour figure.

   Not verifiable: no reachable official Louisiana barber board page publishes a fee schedule, so the '$40-$100 initial' figure is unconfirmed.·Not published in any retrievable official source; the '4-8 weeks' figure has no official basis.

   Not verifiable: no reachable official Louisiana barber board page publishes a fee schedule, so the '$40-$100 initial' figure is unconfirmed.

   Not published in any retrievable official source; the '4-8 weeks' figure has no official basis.

2. Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

   Required for all businesses selling taxable goods or services in Louisiana. The Louisiana state sales tax rate is 5%. Sellers must apply for a sales tax certificate with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Louisiana also has parish- and municipal-level sales taxes collected separately by local collectors, so the combined rate varies by parish and you must register with each applicable local collector in addition to the state.

   Official government source

   No registration fee is published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.·Not published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue; the '1-5 business days' figure has no official source.

   No registration fee is published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

   Not published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue; the '1-5 business days' figure has no official source.

1. Barbershop License — Louisiana state barber licensing board

   Barbershops in Louisiana are licensed separately from cosmetology salons — the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology's own guidance confirms barbers hold their own licenses and may work in a cosmetology salon, but the board does not license barbershops. No reachable official website for a Louisiana barber licensing board could be located in this review, so the licensing body's current name, fee and process must be confirmed directly before relying on any figure. The shop must pass an inspection before a license is issued.

   Unverified. The $60 initial / $60 renewal figure could not be confirmed against any official source and should not be relied on; confirm current shop license and renewal fees with the state barber licensing board.·Not verified. The '3–6 weeks' figure has no official source; licensing follows a premises inspection, so confirm current timing with the board.

   Unverified. The $60 initial / $60 renewal figure could not be confirmed against any official source and should not be relied on; confirm current shop license and renewal fees with the state barber licensing board.

   Not verified. The '3–6 weeks' figure has no official source; licensing follows a premises inspection, so confirm current timing with the board.

2. City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance — Business License

   All businesses in East Baton Rouge Parish must obtain an Occupational License from the Finance Department's Revenue Collection Division (225-389-3084), renewed annually and posted at the place of business. Some businesses additionally need approval from Permits & Inspections and/or the health authority, and a zoning clearance or Certificate of Occupancy carries a separate fee. Certain categories are exempt by ordinance (for example manufacturers except on retail sales, and several enumerated professions).

   Official government source

   A one-time registration fee of $50 if the business opens January 1–June 30 or $25 if it opens July 1–December 31. The annual tax is computed from gross receipts using the classification tables in the Occupational License Tax Ordinance and can exceed $500 for larger businesses — it is not a $50–$500 band.·Apply at least one month before opening. A temporary certificate is mailed after processing; after 30 days of operation you report gross receipts and the permanent license issues. Renewals are due January 1 and delinquent after March 1 (5% penalty per 30 days to a 25% maximum, plus 15% annual interest).

   A one-time registration fee of $50 if the business opens January 1–June 30 or $25 if it opens July 1–December 31. The annual tax is computed from gross receipts using the classification tables in the Occupational License Tax Ordinance and can exceed $500 for larger businesses — it is not a $50–$500 band.

   Apply at least one month before opening. A temporary certificate is mailed after processing; after 30 days of operation you report gross receipts and the permanent license issues. Renewals are due January 1 and delinquent after March 1 (5% penalty per 30 days to a 25% maximum, plus 15% annual interest).

Official Sources

• City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance

Related Guides