Minnesota Laws, Rules, and Salon Business Practices
Who regulates what
Minnesota licenses cosmetology professionals through the Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Licensure is tiered - cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced practice esthetician, nail technician, and eyelash technician - and each tier carries its own training hours and scope. A cosmetologist's scope generally includes esthetic services; an esthetician's does not include hair cutting, styling, or nails. Advanced practice tiers exist for higher-risk services, so confirm which license covers a treatment before you offer it. Training-hour figures and renewal cycles change; verify current numbers on the Board's website rather than relying on memory.
Person and place
Both the practitioner and the establishment must be licensed. Working in an unlicensed salon or with a lapsed individual license is a violation regardless of your skill. Licenses are posted or available for inspection, sanitation rules from the Board's administrative rules apply to every service, and practicing without a license carries legal consequences.
Running the business
Know whether you are an employee or an independent contractor renting a booth, because it affects taxes, insurance, and control over your schedule and pricing. Carry professional liability coverage, keep accurate client and financial records for the required retention period, price services to cover product and time, and make advertising truthful.
Traps: assuming one license covers every service; assuming a salon license covers the people in it; promising outcomes in marketing copy.
Rule of thumb: license the person, license the place, and perform only services your tier, training, and insurance cover.