Best States for Skin Care Specialists to Start a Home Business
We ranked all 51 states based on licensing requirements, earning potential, LLC costs, and tax burden. Here are the best (and worst) states for skin care specialists.
0 states don't require a license · National median: N/A · Updated 2025
▲ Top 5 Best States
Full Ranking: All 51 States
| # | State | License | Fee | Median Wage | LLC Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | Yes | $118 | $21.34/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 2 | Georgia | Yes | $139 | $20.36/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 3 | Indiana | Yes | $88 | $21.11/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 4 | Louisiana | Yes | $100 | $19.88/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 5 | Maryland | Yes | $104 | $22.32/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 6 | Ohio | Yes | $120 | $20.03/hr | $99 | 79 |
| 7 | Oregon | Yes | $90 | $25.00/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 8 | Arizona | Yes | $247 | $22.38/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 9 | Colorado | Yes | $152 | $24.17/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 10 | Michigan | Yes | $230 | $22.41/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 11 | Mississippi | Yes | $245 | $20.20/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 12 | Missouri | Yes | $168 | $23.75/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 13 | Montana | Yes | $230 | $19.05/hr | $35 | 78 |
| 14 | Florida | Yes | $75 | $18.30/hr | $125 | 75 |
| 15 | Nebraska | Yes | $83 | $25.00/hr | $110 | 75 |
| 16 | New York | Yes | $70 | $22.00/hr | $200 | 75 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | Yes | $103 | $21.12/hr | $125 | 75 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | Yes | $100 | $18.42/hr | $150 | 75 |
| 19 | Wyoming | Yes | $123 | $22.56/hr | $102 | 75 |
| 20 | Idaho | Yes | $214 | $19.82/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | Yes | $174 | $21.24/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 22 | Utah | Yes | $234 | $21.62/hr | $54 | 74 |
| 23 | West Virginia | Yes | $221 | $18.15/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 24 | California | Yes | $115 | $17.50/hr | $70 | 72 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | Yes | $60 | $17.46/hr | $100 | 72 |
| 26 | Arkansas | Yes | $110 | $17.91/hr | $50 | 71 |
| 27 | New Mexico | Yes | $225 | $17.31/hr | $50 | 71 |
| 28 | Connecticut | Yes | $100 | $21.86/hr | $120 | 70 |
| 29 | Delaware | Yes | $276 | $22.74/hr | $110 | 70 |
| 30 | Illinois | Yes | $157 | $18.55/hr | $150 | 70 |
| 31 | Maine | Yes | $231 | $35.34/hr | $175 | 70 |
| 32 | New Jersey | Yes | $95 | $22.18/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 33 | North Carolina | Yes | $193 | $22.17/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 34 | North Dakota | Yes | $165 | $25.25/hr | $135 | 70 |
| 35 | Vermont | Yes | $285 | $29.36/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | Yes | $175 | $26.44/hr | $99 | 69 |
| 37 | South Carolina | Yes | $100 | $17.22/hr | $110 | 68 |
| 38 | South Dakota | Yes | $100 | $15.35/hr | $150 | 68 |
| 39 | Alaska | Yes | $390 | $18.96/hr | $250 | 65 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | Yes | $218 | $21.93/hr | $500 | 65 |
| 41 | Nevada | Yes | $195 | $19.57/hr | $425 | 65 |
| 42 | Texas | Yes | $172 | $20.64/hr | $300 | 65 |
| 43 | Alabama | Yes | $255 | $17.17/hr | $200 | 63 |
| 44 | Kansas | Yes | $195 | $17.42/hr | $165 | 63 |
| 45 | Kentucky | Yes | $200 | $12.67/hr | $40 | 63 |
| 46 | Minnesota | Yes | $285 | $17.02/hr | $155 | 63 |
| 47 | Virginia | Yes | $353 | $17.24/hr | $100 | 62 |
| 48 | Washington | Yes | $319 | $31.19/hr | $200 | 60 |
| 49 | Hawaii | Yes | $182 | — | $51 | 59 |
| 50 | Tennessee | Yes | $200 | $17.35/hr | $300 | 58 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | Yes | $383 | $14.37/hr | $130 | 50 |
▼ 5 Most Challenging States
Wisconsin
Fee: $383$14.37/hr50
Tennessee
Fee: $200$17.35/hr58
Hawaii
Fee: $18259
Washington
Fee: $319$31.19/hr60
Virginia
Fee: $353$17.24/hr62
How We Scored Each State
Each state starts with a base score of 50, then we add or subtract points based on:
- No license required: +20 points (biggest single factor — lower barriers to entry)
- License fee: −10 for fees over $500, −5 for over $300, +10 for under $50
- Wages above national median: Up to +15 points for states paying 20%+ above national median
- LLC formation cost: +8 for states under $50, −5 for states over $300
- No sales tax on services: +5 points
Data sources: Institute for Justice License to Work 3 (licensing), BLS OEWS May 2024 (wages), state Secretary of State offices (LLC costs). This ranking reflects factors relevant to home-based operators — commercial location costs, local zoning, and cost of living are not included.
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