Taxes for estheticians · suite renters · home studios

Taxes for estheticians, handled by text.

Text every facial, every wax, every back-bar order. Toozi finds the write-offs, tells you what to set aside, and e-files your return.

Rather start it yourself? Text (844) 482-4881

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  • Cancel by text
  • IRS e-file authorized
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Hey! Text me a client, a supply order, or a tax question. I'll handle it.

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Write-offs

What estheticians can write off

If you rent a room or suite, work from home, or get a 1099 from a spa, these come off your income before tax is figured. Commission and W-2 estheticians: see the FAQ, the rules are different.

Your room

  • Suite or treatment room rentEvery payment, including the weeks you're booked light.
  • Booking and payment appsVagaro, GlossGenius, Square, Mindbody, plus card processing fees.
  • Liability insuranceProfessional liability matters more with peels and devices.
  • Home treatment roomIf it's used regularly and only for clients, a share of rent or mortgage, utilities and insurance.

Equipment

  • Facial bed, steamer, mag lampSmall items come off right away. A big purchase can too, under the de minimis rule.
  • High-frequency, microcurrent, LED devicesPlus replacement parts and service.
  • Wax warmers and stoolsEverything that furnishes the room.

Back bar and supplies

  • Back-bar productCleansers, peels, masks, serums you use on clients.
  • Wax, strips, sticks, glovesDisposables and PPE.
  • Linens and laundrySheets, towels, headbands, and keeping them clean.
  • Retail you resellThe cost of skincare you sell to clients.

License and learning

  • Esthetician license and renewalState board fees, plus any business license.
  • Advanced trainingPeels, lash lift, brow, dermaplaning courses that build on your license.

Phone, car and getting clients

  • Phone and dataThe business share: client texts, booking, Instagram.
  • Business milesSupply runs and trainings, at the 2026 IRS rate per mile or actual costs.
  • Ads, photos, websiteAnything you pay to book new clients.

Usually doesn't count

  • Your own facials and skincare
  • Street clothes (scrubs used only for work are fine)
  • Driving from home to the spa you work at every day
  • A home room that doubles as a guest room
What to set aside

How much to set aside for taxes

If you rent a room or work for yourself, nobody withholds. Put in a normal week and see roughly what to move to savings each week.

$191to set aside each week you work
20%of every dollar of profit
$2,290roughly, each quarterly payment
Services + tips (48 weeks)$63,360
Rent (52 weeks) and supplies−$18,500
Profit you pay tax on$44,860
Self-employment tax$6,338
Federal income tax$2,823
Set aside for the year$9,161

A rough estimate, not a promise: 2026 federal rates, single filer, standard deduction, no other income, credits or QBI deduction. Every write-off you log lowers the profit line, and the set-aside with it.

More detail: the booth renter take-home calculator and the quarterly tax estimator.

Text Toozi your income

Text it. Toozi keeps the number.

Every payment you text gets its own set-aside. Every write-off lowers it. No spreadsheet.

dermaplane + peel for Ana $165 card
$165 logged. Set aside about $40 of it for taxes. This week so far: $1,180.
hard wax and strips $72
Logged to Supplies. That lowers what you owe by roughly $22.
what do i owe this quarter
Roughly $2,300 due Jan 15. You've set aside $1,650. I'll text you the week before.
  • 14 days free
  • No card to start
  • Cancel by text
  • IRS e-file authorized
From our TikTok

The 30-second version

Short tax breakdowns for estheticians. Watch them on @toozitaxapp.

TikTok breakdown

Esthetician commission after product costs: what you really make

  1. $100 facial at 40% commission
  2. On full price: $40
  3. After a $15 product fee: $34 (40% × $85)
  4. − $6 every facial
  5. × 80 facials = − $480 a month
  6. Ask: how is my commission calculated? Get it in writing.

If you are on commission you are a W-2 employee, so the product fee is not a write-off for you. It just shrinks the check.

TikTok breakdown

Booth rent vs W-2 spa job: which pays more after taxes?

  1. W-2 spa job: the spa pays half your Social Security and Medicare
  2. Booth rent: you pay both halves (about 15.3% self-employment tax) plus rent and supplies
  3. Booth: income − rent − supplies − 25 to 30% set aside
  4. Compare that to your W-2 take-home, plus benefits like PTO and insurance

Run your own numbers in the calculator above before you sign a booth lease.

TikTok breakdown

Can estheticians work from home? HOA rules, licensing and taxes

  1. 1 · Your HOA or lease: many ban client traffic at home
  2. 2 · Your city: you may need a home occupation permit
  3. 3 · Your state board: many require a licensed space, even at home
  4. Taxes: a room used only for business may qualify for the home office deduction

Text Toozi the room size and your rent or mortgage, utilities and insurance. It works out the home office share.

or text(844) 482-4881