For those who are new to the industry, or who just want to brush up on a few new skills, you’re in the right place, as the beauty therapy industry is a stable profession with a constant demand for services. Even with the recession, people like to take care of themselves, so our industry has remained strong and healthy.
What to think about:
Mobility
In the modern age, many clients are now seeking to have services provided in their own homes, so this isn’t just a business where you are stuck having to try to find a job, or hire a room. You can go mobile to test the waters, or convert a room in your home to give a more professional service to your clients. If you stay open to all options, you can provide services in a business premises by renting a room for some days, and do mobile for a couple of others, which is especially helpful for older or infirm clients who might not make it to a salon, but who would still benefit from and would like to have services provided for them. I know an 83-year-old lady, who is and virtually bed bound, but she likes to be pampered with gentle arm and hand massage, and loves a manicure.
Product Sales
Many clients look at the products in salons and then go and buy them online, where they don’t have premises costs, and can bulk buy cheaper. Keep your investment in products low, until you are sure there is a demand for them. It’s very tempting to go for a rep sales pitch, who wants thousands up front for starter packs, but starting off a business in debt might not be the way to go, if you are unsure of your market and whether the clients you draw will purchase them.
Website Promotion
We almost all know that we do need a website presence for the best outcome for our businesses, but they aren’t always easy to do, and if you approach a specialist, they can cost a fortune. There are free options, such as WordPress and Google, which are great to get started off, and allow you to get a foothold on the world-wide web with a little work and attention. With a little investment and research, you can also self-host your own website for a few pounds a year by buying a domain name and a hosting package around £25 a year.
Qualifications
Beauty therapy courses are a great way to get started, and a foothold in the industry. As well as being qualified in the area you have studied, you can choose piece by piece, to add to your skills as your business grows. There are several things you need to take into account. We have a range of courses at Sanctuary Training Academy, that will be widened in 2018, and allow you to practice a variety of treatments and services within the industry on the general public.
Insurance
When you are qualified, you will need insurance to practice. You require public and product liability to protect yourself and your products and equipment. In the rare event that a salon has a flood, fire, or damage, you can go out of business if your stock and equipment are all lost, and you cannot afford to replace them.
Costs
Costs are easy to spiral out of control. If you work mobile, you limit your costs to training, insurance and products to deliver your services, but you are very likely to need a method of transport, you might incur parking charges, and your equipment needs to be light enough for you to move around.
If you rent a room, you have to consider the rent cost and where you keep your products and materials to work with. There may be other charges such as electric, internet and telephone, or possibly even a share of a receptionist if one is available.
It’s very tempting in the beginning, to try to buy everything at once, before you’ve even had one client. Keep a handle on how much you are spending, and try to keep within your budget.
Getting Customers
The internet will refer to this as marketing. It’s good to have an idea of who your customers will be, what they are likely to buy, and what you can afford to provide for them. Be careful with offers and deals, as although they might attract clients initially, those clients may just hop from one business to another, depending on who has the best deal on at the time. Look for where your customers might be, whether it’s on social media, newspapers or local magazines.
Going For It
You’ll never know until you try, right? Once you are qualified, you have a new long-term skill, that you can pick up at any time. Starting a new business is a scary prospect for everyone, but many people do that every day.
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