Verify licenses, assess artist dependency, and protect your investment before acquiring a permanent makeup business.
Find Microblading & PMU Studio Acquisition TargetsMicroblading and PMU studios trade at 2x–3.5x SDE, but value depends heavily on staff independence, licensing compliance, and client retention. Thorough due diligence uncovers whether revenue survives the seller's departure.
Confirm reported earnings are accurate, recurring, and not artificially concentrated in the outgoing owner's personal production.
Request accrual-based P&L statements, tax returns, and bank statements for three full years. Reconcile booking platform revenue against reported figures.
Break down gross revenue by artist. If the owner generates over 50% of studio revenue, post-acquisition earnings are at significant risk.
Touch-up appointments every 12–18 months drive recurring revenue. Confirm rebooking rates exceed 60% as a baseline indicator of client loyalty.
PMU studios carry meaningful regulatory exposure. Validate all permits, certifications, and health department records before proceeding.
Obtain copies of every artist's current state PMU or cosmetology license and OSHA-compliant bloodborne pathogen certification. Verify no lapses or violations.
Request the last three health department inspection reports. Any unresolved citations, sterilization violations, or permit holds are deal-level concerns.
Confirm the studio lease has at least 24 months remaining, includes an assignment clause, and that leasehold improvements transfer cleanly with the sale.
Intangible assets — reputation, social following, and client goodwill — drive PMU studio value. Validate their transferability before closing.
Audit Google reviews, Yelp ratings, and Instagram follower counts. Confirm social accounts are branded to the studio, not the seller's personal profile.
Confirm all client records are documented in a transferable platform such as Vagaro or Mindbody. A database existing only on the owner's phone is a red flag.
Negotiate a 6–12 month seller employment or training agreement and a geographic non-compete to protect client relationships during the ownership handoff.
Most PMU studios sell at 2x–3.5x SDE. Studios with trained staff, strong rebooking rates, and low owner dependency command the higher end of that range.
Yes. PMU studios are SBA 7(a) eligible. Expect to inject 10–20% equity. Sellers often carry a small subordinated note to bridge any financing gap.
Client attrition is the top post-close risk. Mitigate it with a seller transition agreement, warm client introductions, and retaining at least one familiar staff artist.
Correlate follower count with actual booked appointments and new client acquisition sources. Engagement rates and DM-to-booking conversion matter more than raw follower numbers.
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