There are building and zoning requirements in the city in which your business will be located of which you need to be aware. You need to purchase a business license even if your industry is regulated by the state. For example, Kentucky is a state that licenses massage. Their law reads that Kentucky law “supersede[s] all ordinances or regulations regulating massage therapists in any city, county, urban-county, charter county, or consolidated local government.” However, Kentucky’s state law does not, “affect city, county, urban-county, charter county, or consolidated local government regulations relating to zoning requirements.” This means Kentucky calls most of the shots but the zoning requirements are up to the city, county or whatever may be the local jurisdiction.

In some cases, zoning has special requirements such as the amount of parking spaces you will be required to have. The zoning department should be able to give you all that information or direct you to other departments you may need to visit.

Zoning must provide for massage. In other words, a legitimate business cannot be zoned out of a city. Long ago some cities use to zone you out to the corn field. For example, in the early 80s I spent the whole day exploring great art deco buildings all over Long Beach which were perfect for a massage business. I should have gotten a zoning map first because, as it turned out, the only areas zoned for massage were way on the outskirts of town where there was mostly open fields and the occasional giant building.

From the zoning map and based on parking and any other requirements, you can begin your search for the best location. If there are other massage businesses in the area you’re considering, that is an indication it may be zoned for massage. However, that is not always the case. They may have been grandfathered in because they were already there before the zoning changed or some other requirement made. Or they may have a variance. A variance is an exception and requires a public hearing with city council or other governing body. It is best not to depend on a variance to set up a business as you may not get approval and time is lost.

Also, check with the local tax assessor to see about a local business tax and how much it is. Sometimes it is levied against equipment the business owns. It is usually minor if you don’t have a lot of expensive equipment.