How Much Is a Medical Spa License? Costs & More

If you're looking to open a medical spa, you're probably wondering: how much does a medical spa license cost? The quick answer is that license fees usually start at around $300, but your total startup costs can run much higher once you add in other requirements. There isn't a single price tag, since every state has its own licensing rules, business requirements, and oversight.

Portrait helps you with licensing, business setup, branding, and anything else you need to get started. We've supported over 800 clinics with compliance, and we know the ins and outs of getting licensed the right way.

How Much Is a Medical Spa License? Key Factors

Licenses depend on your state, your credentials, and the treatments you plan to offer. Usually, you'll need business registrations, medical oversight agreements, and detailed documentation right from the start. Always get all federal, state, and local licenses in place before serving clients.

• Business license fees: California and Florida charge about $300 or more for application and processing. Texas and Illinois usually range from $150 to $250.
• Liability insurance: usually $2,000 to $5,000 per year.
• Permits and certifications: Health department, staff credentials, and facility licenses increase your setup costs.
• Training: a cosmetic injectables course may cost $1,549. A full aesthetic medicine certificate program could be $5,999.
• Total initial licensing fees: can range from $500 to $5,000 depending on your location and setup.

State Variations and Regulatory Hurdles

Med spas fall under medical practice laws, which vary a lot from one state to the next. States decide who can own a med spa, who can do which procedures, what kind of doctor supervision is needed, and exactly which license you need. Don't assume what works in one state will work in another.

Some places let only licensed physicians own a med spa. Others let non-physicians own the business, but only licensed healthcare professionals may perform medical procedures. Most med spa rules come from state agencies like the medical board, nursing board, or pharmacy board. These groups decide who can perform certain procedures and what type of doctor supervision is required.

Regulations often change. In 2025, lots of states updated licensing requirements and supervision rules. Always have a plan to keep track of new laws.

Professional Credentials and Partnerships

You'll need physician oversight to run a medical spa. Most states treat aesthetic procedures like medical acts, so doctors must supervise, either directly or indirectly. The supervising doctor can't just put their name on paperwork and disappear. They need to know the treatments, be active in your business, and be legally responsible for anyone they supervise.

Every med spa needs a medical director. They're in charge of protocols, hands-on supervision, patient selection, adverse event management, and maintaining safety and quality. Medical director fees usually fall between $1,500 and $5,000 per month, or $18,000 to $60,000 annually. Some pay a flat monthly fee; others pay a percentage of revenue for supervised procedures.

Portrait has a network of licensed and experienced medical directors who know regulatory and aesthetic medical standards. We help connect you with the right medical expert to keep your business in line and provide safe care.

Breaking Down the Costs

You need to budget beyond license fees. It's smart to include legal consultation to set up your business structure and meet state rules. Business formation packages usually cost from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on how complex your situation is. Many clinics spend $18,000 to $30,000 each year if they use attorneys for ongoing legal needs.

• Insurance for a solo nurse injector: usually $800 to $1,500 per year.
• Insurance for a startup med spa with 2-4 staff: about $2,000 to $3,500 per year.
• Full-service spas with lasers, IV therapy, and six-plus staff: expect $4,000 to $7,500 or more per year.

Timing also affects your budget.

• Business licenses usually take 2-6 weeks.
• Healthcare facility licenses usually take 3-6 months.
• DEA registration for prescription drugs takes about 4-6 weeks.

Any delay can push back your opening and delay your cash flow. Skip a compliance step, and you risk getting shut down, fined, or even prosecuted.

HIPAA violations can cost more than $2 million per year. Operating without supervision or breaking medical practice acts can cause business closure and license loss for everyone involved.

Ensuring Compliance for the Long Term

Getting a license isn't a one-time job. You need to stay compliant, pass routine inspections, renew licenses, and watch regulatory changes closely. Renewal costs usually run $2,000 to $5,000 each year, based on your state and spa size.

• Certifications: renew every year or two. Ongoing education is a must per state boards.
• Medical directors: must keep up with their own medical board's continuing education standards.

Medical spa regulation always changes. You can't "set it and forget it." Schedule regular risk reviews, update policies, assign a compliance officer, and use compliance software so updates and documentation are always in order.

Missing a requirement can shut down your med spa permanently and damage your reputation.

Leveraging Portrait for Licensing Success

Portrait is an all-in-one compliance partner that's simple to use. You'll get easy-to-understand software, business help, and clear pricing in one place. We help you with licensing, setup, branding, and more, so it's easy to open and you can focus on your clients.

• Compliance support: medical director matching, Good Faith Estimates, supervision documentation, malpractice coverage, and more.
• Access our compliance hub for up-to-date guidance, documentation tips, and safety standards.
• Over 800 spas and clinics have stayed compliant with us.

We're experts at helping med spas and wellness clinics manage regulations so you don't get lost in paperwork or miss rule changes.

• The PC Membership gives you access to licensed medical directors, detailed resources, and a secure messaging app for HIPAA compliance.
• We offer medical director matching, training, and malpractice support for new clinics.
• Our Launch Package is $2,499. The Core Platform is free for your first year with unlimited patients. If you have fewer than 50 patients, the no-cost tier comes with strong HIPAA security and compliance tools.

Additional Considerations: How Much Is a Medical Spa License?

When you ask how much is a medical spa license, you're really asking how much it costs to set up your business structure, carry the right insurance, get medical supervision, and keep up with compliance. You have to follow every federal, state, and local law—not just for opening, but to stay in business.

Get expert help. You'll want to talk to a healthcare attorney to figure out your state's requirements. Always get legal advice for licensing and compliance.

Total startup costs can vary a ton. Most medical spa startups spend anywhere from $250,000 to over $1 million based on location and equipment. Licensing and compliance are only part of that, but they're make-or-break. If you don't get them right, you could lose your whole investment.

The right help and tools will keep your costs under control. Portrait saves you from expensive mistakes, helps you with documentation, and keeps you on track as the rules change—so the business side doesn't get in the way.

Moving Forward on Your Licensing Journey

Opening a med spa mixes medicine and business. You have to follow medical practice laws, ownership rules, and federal standards. Compliance isn't optional—it's required to operate.

The cost of a med spa license depends on your state, business setup, and chosen services. It covers application fees, medical director costs, insurance, legal help, and ongoing renewals. Each state has its own pricing and timelines.

But you don't have to do it by yourself. Over 1,000 clinics trust Portrait as their software for growth. We'll help with licensing, setup, and compliance so you can launch faster and focus on great care.

Want to start? Connect with Portrait's team to make licensing simple, match with a qualified medical director, and build a solid compliance foundation. Check out our launch services or see our compliance solutions for help from planning to opening and beyond.