Start a Practice
Aesthetic Practice Startup Checklist
A structured walkthrough of the decisions and documents licensed medical providers may need to address before opening an aesthetic practice. This checklist is educational and is not legal, regulatory, or medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-04
License and Scope
- Confirm your professional license is active and in good standing.
- Review your state's scope-of-practice rules for the treatments you plan to offer.
- Verify whether your license permits the specific products and procedures you intend to provide.
- Check whether delegation, supervision, or collaboration is required for your license type.
- Confirm prescriptive authority rules if you plan to prescribe or order products.
Entity and Ownership
- Consult an attorney about practice ownership rules in your state, including any corporate-practice-of-medicine restrictions.
- Choose a business structure and register the entity if permitted.
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) if applicable.
- Open a business bank account.
- Verify whether a medical entity or MSO structure is needed for your ownership model.
Medical Oversight
- Determine whether a medical director or supervising physician is required for your license and services.
- Identify the level of oversight required (delegation, supervision, collaboration, or independent).
- Draft or review a medical director agreement if applicable.
- Confirm the medical director's availability for protocols, chart review, and emergencies.
- Verify the medical director's eligibility under your state's rules.
Legal and Insurance Review
- Obtain professional liability (malpractice) insurance covering aesthetic procedures.
- Obtain general business liability insurance.
- Review any required workers' compensation coverage if you will have employees.
- Consult an attorney for state-specific practice-ownership and scope questions.
- Review lease or sublease agreements for the practice location.
Policies and Protocols
- Draft treatment protocols for each procedure you plan to offer.
- Establish written policies for patient screening and contraindications.
- Create an emergency-response plan and anaphylaxis kit.
- Document infection-control procedures.
- Establish a chart-review schedule with your medical director if applicable.
Good Faith Exam Workflow
- Determine whether a Good Faith Exam is required before treatment in your state.
- Define who may perform the Good Faith Exam and in what setting.
- Establish documentation requirements for the exam.
- Determine whether telehealth Good Faith Exams are permitted and under what conditions.
- Create a workflow for repeat treatments and follow-up exams.
Patient Documentation
- Select a documentation system (EMR or paper charts) that supports treatment notes, consent, and photos.
- Create consent forms for each treatment type.
- Establish a medical-record retention policy per your state's requirements.
- Implement a privacy and HIPAA compliance plan.
- Create a patient intake and medical-history form.
Technology
- Evaluate an aesthetic EMR for charting, photos, product tracking, and scheduling.
- Verify the EMR supports lot and product tracking.
- Confirm access controls and user permissions for staff.
- Set up secure patient communication channels.
- Test backup and data-recovery procedures.
Medication and Supply Handling
- Establish a sourcing plan for prescription products from licensed pharmacies or suppliers.
- Create a protocol for product storage, expiration tracking, and lot documentation.
- Verify compounding pharmacy compliance if using compounded products.
- Establish a controlled-substance protocol if applicable.
- Document a waste-disposal procedure.
Emergency Planning
- Stock an emergency kit appropriate for the treatments you offer.
- Train staff on emergency response and anaphylaxis management.
- Post emergency contact numbers and the nearest emergency facility.
- Establish a transfer protocol for emergencies.
- Document an adverse-event reporting procedure.
Facility or Mobile Setup
- Verify the practice location meets any state facility requirements.
- Confirm zoning and lease compliance for the location.
- If operating a mobile practice, verify state rules for mobile or in-home treatments.
- Ensure the treatment room meets hygiene and equipment standards.
- Install locked storage for medications and supplies.
Pricing
- Research market pricing for the treatments you plan to offer.
- Set a pricing structure that covers costs, overhead, and a sustainable margin.
- Establish policies for deposits, cancellations, and refunds.
- Document pricing transparency for patients.
- Review pricing periodically against costs and market conditions.
Patient Communication
- Create pre-treatment instructions for each procedure.
- Establish post-treatment follow-up protocols.
- Set up a patient communication channel for questions and concerns.
- Document an adverse-event follow-up procedure.
- Create a patient satisfaction or feedback process.
Marketing
- Verify that advertising claims comply with state board rules and truth-in-advertising laws.
- Avoid implying medical guarantees or guaranteed results.
- Confirm before-and-after photo consent and HIPAA compliance.
- Establish a Google Business Profile if applicable.
- Review social media content for compliance with professional-board rules.
Launch Review
- Conduct a final review of all policies, protocols, and consent forms with your attorney.
- Confirm all licenses, insurance, and agreements are in place.
- Test the documentation system end-to-end with a mock patient.
- Verify staff training is complete for all procedures and emergencies.
- Schedule a post-launch compliance review within the first 90 days.
Your Next Step
Ready to take the next step?
Use this checklist alongside the relevant NOVI support options. Requirements vary by state, license and practice structure — confirm specifics with qualified guidance.
NOVI resources are provided for general educational purposes and are not legal, medical, tax, financial, licensing, or regulatory advice. Requirements may vary by state, provider credentials, practice structure, and services offered. Current requirements should be confirmed with qualified professionals and official regulatory sources.