Barber and Hairdressing Services

Barber and hairdressing services is a craft trade covering cutting, styling, washing, colouring and care of hair and beards. To obtain it you must prove your professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act and meet the general conditions under Section 6.

Examples of activities

• Cutting, washing and blow-drying women's, men's and children's hair
• Colouring, highlighting, toning and other chemical hair treatments
• Permanent waving and other hair shaping
• Shaving and grooming of beards and moustaches (classic barbershop services)
• Formal and bridal hairstyles, updos and highlights
• Application of hair extensions and thickening
• Advice on hair and scalp care
• Cutting and care of hairpieces and wigs

What this trade is and what it is for

Barber and hairdressing services is a craft trade listed in Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). It entitles you to provide, on a continuous basis and for profit, services in the field of hair and beard care – that is, mainly to cut, wash, style, colour and shape customers' hair and to shave or groom beards.

This is a classic service for the public, provided by hairdressing salons, barbers and modern barbershops. Because it is a craft trade, the Act requires proof of professional qualification – mere notification, as with an unqualified (free) trade, is not enough.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The barber and hairdressing trade covers, for example:

• cutting, washing, blow-drying and shaping of hair (women's, men's, children's),
• colouring, highlighting, toning and permanent waving,
• shaving and grooming of beards, moustaches and sideburns,
• formal, bridal and special-occasion hairstyles,
• hair extensions and thickening, care of wigs and hairpieces,
• advice on hair and scalp care.

What does not belong here: cosmetic services (make-up, skin care) fall under the separate craft trade Cosmetic Services. Manicure, pedicure and nail modelling form the trade Pedicure, Manicure. Tattooing and permanent make-up fall under Provision of Body Services. If you also offer these activities, you need the relevant separate trade licences for them.

Conditions for obtaining the licence under the law

You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity (which may be substituted by court approval) and a clean criminal record. At the same time, there must be no obstacles to operating a trade under Section 8 (for example, a court-imposed ban on activity). The Act requires neither medical fitness nor liability insurance for this trade.

You must also prove your professional qualification. Any of the variants under Section 21 is sufficient:

1. an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field of education (barber, hairdresser),
2. a school-leaving (maturita) certificate in the relevant field of education,
3. a diploma of higher vocational education in the relevant field of education,
4. a university diploma in the relevant area of study programmes,
5. a certificate of recognition of professional qualification under Section 7(5)(b), (c) or (e),
6. a certificate of verification or recognition of a full professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

If you do not have education directly in the field, you can use the alternative qualification under Section 22:

You do not have to hold the professional qualification in person – you can prove it through a responsible representative under Section 11, who guarantees that the professional conditions are met on your behalf. One person may act as a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify the trade step by step

1. Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF). It also serves to register with the tax office, the social security administration and the health insurance company.
2. Submit the notification. In person at any Trade Licensing Office (municipal trade licensing office), through a Czech POINT contact point, or electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal.
3. Provide the documents – see below.
4. Pay the administrative fee of CZK 1,000 (only CZK 800 for electronic submission via rzp.gov.cz).
5. Wait for the entry. The Trade Licensing Office will make the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days of receiving the notification.

The trade licence arises on the date of notification (provided the conditions are met), not only upon entry. You will find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

• a completed URF (trade notification),
• proof of professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving certificate, diploma, retraining, proof of experience, etc.),
• proof of identity,
• for a responsible representative, their documents and declaration (Section 11),
• administrative fee: CZK 1,000 in person / CZK 800 electronically.

The office verifies a clean criminal record itself from the Criminal Records Register; you do not need to supply an extract.

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a hairdressing salon without an apprenticeship certificate?

Yes. If you do not have an apprenticeship certificate in the field, you can use the alternative qualification under Section 22 – for example an accredited retraining course plus 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field without a certificate of education. Alternatively, you can appoint a responsible representative under Section 11.

Is one trade licence enough for both a hairdressing salon and a barbershop?

Yes. Barbering and hairdressing services fall under a single craft trade, so one licence is enough for both cutting hair and shaving beards.

Do I need a health certificate or insurance?

The Trade Licensing Act requires neither medical fitness nor liability insurance for this trade. Hygiene requirements for the premises are, however, governed by other regulations – check them with the relevant regional public health authority.

How long does processing take?

The office makes the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days of notification. The licence, however, arises as early as the date of notification, so you can start trading almost immediately.

Can I also add cosmetics or manicure?

These activities are separate craft trades. If you wish to offer them, register the trade Cosmetic Services or Pedicure, Manicure in addition to barber and hairdressing services.

Sources

• Ministry of Education – database of regulated activities (Barber and Hairdressing Services)
• Trade Licensing Act No. 455/1991 Coll.
• Ministry of Industry and Trade