How to Open a Barber School in Florida

Barbers in Florida must be licensed by the Florida Barber's Board. To obtain licensing, applicants must receive a minimum of 1,200 hours of training from a Florida barber school. As long as the state needs barbers, it also needs barber schools. If you enjoy working with hair, performing shaving services and teaching, opening a barber school may be for you--as long as you are willing to put in time and effort. Getting a barber school started requires planning and preparation in order to be successful.

Work with a local real estate agent to find a building for your school. Good agents know the advantages and disadvantages of available properties.

Visit the property to make certain it is easily accessible for your potential students. Make sure there is enough parking for the numbers of students and clients you expect. Consider how close the building is to public transportation, such as bus stops.

Inspect the property to be sure it fulfills the specific needs for your barber school. You will need spaces with sinks for each student station and enough room overall to accommodate the number of students you want to serve.

Reserve your business name and apply for a business license from the Florida Division of Corporations.

Call the planning and zoning department of the city where your school will be located to see if you need to complete additional paperwork or arrange for property inspections for your school.

Complete the barbershop application from the Florida Barber's Board. You will need to answer questions about your facility, such as how many sinks you have and the overall square footage. An inspector from the board will visit within 90 days.

Hire instructors certified by a Florida barbering school. The more experience those instructors have, the more comfortable students will be signing up for the classes your school offers.

Hire support staff. You will need employees to maintain the building and grounds, answer the phones and keep track of student information.

Retain a lawyer and an accountant. If your school is small, you may not need these services full-time, especially when you first open.

Submit an application for accreditation from the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS). Accredited schools may participate in federal aid programs and be listed with the state as approved barbering institutions.

Attend an accreditation workshop from the NACCAS. The NACCAS offers these two-day workshops across the country throughout the year.

Follow the NACCAS procedures for self-study and inspection. Listen carefully to suggestions the visiting consultant gives. You will receive notification regarding accreditation within 45 days of the commission's review board meeting.