Has the dream of owning your salon been in the back of your mind, but you are confused as to how to make this a reality? If this sounds like something you relate to, you’re at the right place! A makeup artist business can be a steady, profitable endeavour, but opening one demands strong business plans and cut-throat preparation.

Fortunately, to help you start a salon business that hit the ground running, we have put together a comprehensive guide that answers two key questions – how to set up a makeup business and how to grow your makeup artist business. So, let’s get started without further ado.

How to Start a Hair and Makeup Business? Step-By-Step Guide

Check out the given steps to start off your makeup artist business on the right foot.

Create a Business Plan

Writing a makeup artist business plan is the first step to laying the groundwork for a successful salon. It gives you clear objectives, outlines how to achieve those objectives, and provides you with a clear idea of how to be successful.

You must start by extensively researching the existing salon market in your area, including how vast it is, whether it’s thriving and the trends too. Second to that, develop a business plan with a focus on the company description, industry analysis, geographic analysis, executive summary, management strategy, and financial plan.

Register your Business

Unfortunately, running a business means having to deal with loads of paperwork. Even so, note that laws and regulations vary by state and what kind of salon you are opening. You might also have to trademark your salon name to prevent people from copying the creative name you as an owner have thought of.

Depending on the business area, you will need a GST number, a trade license from a municipal corporation, and a professional tax license.

Pick the Right Spot

The location of your beauty salon can make or break your business. Make sure to select an area where the foot traffic is high and visibility around your business too. You will also have to ensure that people have easy access to the salon – don’t select those where parking is a hassle.

Not to mention,it is important for you to evaluate the size and interior of the space to decide if it’s best suitable for your salon.

Develop a Salon Concept

Even if you have the best location, you need to lure customers in and make them desire your services – for this developing a concept for your salon is essential.

Think about the interior design of your makeup artist business, decor elements, and colour combination, or you can even come up with a specific theme like vintage and classic with dusty colours or fun and electric with vibrant hues. You can search for makeup studio ideas to get some inspiration.

Order Salon Equipment and Hire Staff

Salon equipment is expensive, so it’s best that in starting phase, you are smart about what you are bringing in.

Start with listing out everything you might need absolutely with what you desire. Focus on purchasing those items that are necessary as per the services you provide. Make sure that the decisions you make are based on your budget and your financial plan. Don’t forget to get a phone line – prospective clients will definitely be ringing before hopping into your store.

Next, hire trained and expert personnel considering how many staff members you will need to run the salon. Don’t forget; their communication skills should be great to support long-term relationships with clients – as the salon business requires more than often loyal clients.

Outline Services and Offerings

As a freelance makeup artist, you must be evidently familiar with the services and offerings of a beauty salon. As such, you must focus on defining your services as it’s vital for how to start a hair and makeup business.

Your descriptions must be clear and concise to convince your customers to give you a try! Now that you are clear on how to start a successful makeup business, you can move forward with learning about promoting your makeup artist business. Marketing is critical to drive awareness around your business, bringing in more clients and fostering a loyal client base.

How to Promote your Makeup Business?

No matter how great of a salon shop you have opened, it won’t make a difference if people do not know about its existence – you will not find the clients you need to succeed.

So, here’re some of the best marketing ideas to apply to promote your makeup business!

• List yourself in online directories: With people searching online for every little thing, it’s a good idea to list your business on sites such as Google My Business to show up on online searches.
• Manage Online Reviews: Consumers more often trust online reviews and ratings to vet local salons. Encourage your customers to leave online reviews and keep track of them.
• Offer referral discounts: If an existing customer refers another client to your salon, you must reward the recruiter with some sort of discount offer. This will certainly encourage mouth-of-word marketing, that’s important for offline businesses.
• Develop loyalty incentives: Just bringing new clients is not enough; you need to nurture and retain customers. Give them a little something special to keep them coming back – perhaps discounts, packages, punch cards, etc.
• Tap into digital marketing: Salon businesses can focus on digital marketing, precisely website and social media, to enhance awareness and engagement. With a website, customers can scan through your services and prices as well as you can learn about offers. Social media, on the other side, can provide a clear picture of your beauty salon. You can include behind-the-scenes content such as before and after shots of makeup or hairstyle.

Wrapping it Up

Starting your own makeup artist business is a tough endeavour yet filled with excitement and successful turnouts. If you, as a freelance makeup artist or freelance hair stylist, decide to take the next step, it’s important to start with research and move on to the planning and organising stage before eventually cutting the ribbon of your salon.

That said, this business is for those who are extremely skilled in applying makeup and understands beauty trends.

If you wish to acquire these skills or furnish your existing abilities, choose Diploma in Makeup and Hairstyle Artistry from the JD Institute of Fashion Technology. The course introduces relevant knowledge of makeup artistry that dominates film, print, weddings, and other forms of media. It also trains students in advanced techniques and tools of makeup and hairstyle.