Best States for Barbers 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 barbers.
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 | Georgia | Yes | $30 | $22.90/hr | $100 | 84 |
| 2 | Maryland | Yes | $50 | $22.37/hr | $100 | 84 |
| 3 | Iowa | Yes | $135 | $37.73/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 4 | Indiana | Yes | $84 | $20.96/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 5 | Louisiana | Yes | $72 | $23.96/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 6 | Ohio | Yes | $120 | $22.56/hr | $99 | 79 |
| 7 | Colorado | Yes | $152 | $27.26/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 8 | Missouri | Yes | $158 | $21.34/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 9 | Washington | Yes | $25 | $34.01/hr | $200 | 75 |
| 10 | Virginia | Yes | $277 | $21.52/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 11 | Maine | Yes | $41 | $17.53/hr | $175 | 73 |
| 12 | California | Yes | $125 | $17.59/hr | $70 | 72 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | Yes | $60 | $15.12/hr | $100 | 72 |
| 14 | West Virginia | Yes | $134 | $16.52/hr | $100 | 72 |
| 15 | Florida | Yes | $173 | $22.55/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 16 | New Jersey | Yes | $95 | $23.73/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | Yes | $200 | $20.46/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | Yes | $230 | $49.21/hr | $99 | 69 |
| 19 | Hawaii | Yes | $45 | — | $51 | 69 |
| 20 | Kentucky | Yes | $500 | $23.52/hr | $40 | 68 |
| 21 | Montana | Yes | $129 | — | $35 | 68 |
| 22 | New York | Yes | $75 | $15.41/hr | $200 | 68 |
| 23 | North Dakota | Yes | $100 | $16.40/hr | $135 | 68 |
| 24 | Texas | Yes | $50 | $17.50/hr | $300 | 68 |
| 25 | Arizona | Yes | $300 | $15.79/hr | $50 | 66 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | Yes | $164 | $23.56/hr | $500 | 65 |
| 27 | North Carolina | Yes | $355 | $30.91/hr | $125 | 65 |
| 28 | Idaho | Yes | $60 | — | $100 | 64 |
| 29 | Oregon | Yes | $120 | — | $100 | 64 |
| 30 | Connecticut | Yes | $100 | $17.22/hr | $120 | 63 |
| 31 | Illinois | Yes | $156 | $17.45/hr | $150 | 63 |
| 32 | Michigan | Yes | $247 | $14.13/hr | $50 | 63 |
| 33 | Minnesota | Yes | $160 | $17.91/hr | $155 | 63 |
| 34 | South Carolina | Yes | $175 | $17.93/hr | $110 | 63 |
| 35 | Mississippi | Yes | $100 | $11.59/hr | $50 | 60 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | Yes | $100 | — | $150 | 60 |
| 37 | South Dakota | Yes | $150 | — | $150 | 60 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | Yes | $233 | — | $100 | 59 |
| 39 | Utah | Yes | $230 | $12.16/hr | $54 | 59 |
| 40 | New Mexico | Yes | $325 | — | $50 | 58 |
| 41 | Tennessee | Yes | $200 | $15.01/hr | $300 | 58 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | Yes | $377 | $16.52/hr | $130 | 58 |
| 43 | Alabama | Yes | $255 | $13.39/hr | $200 | 55 |
| 44 | Arkansas | Yes | $125 | $11.88/hr | $50 | 55 |
| 45 | Delaware | Yes | $218 | — | $110 | 55 |
| 46 | Kansas | Yes | $180 | — | $165 | 55 |
| 47 | Nebraska | Yes | $200 | — | $110 | 55 |
| 48 | Vermont | Yes | $160 | — | $125 | 55 |
| 49 | Wyoming | Yes | $200 | — | $102 | 55 |
| 50 | Alaska | Yes | $390 | — | $250 | 50 |
| 51 | Nevada | Yes | $165 | — | $425 | 50 |
▼ 5 Most Challenging States
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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