#PBLive: how to launch a successful mobile beauty business
Are you thinking about launching a mobile or home-based beauty business but don’t know where to start? Running your own business can seem like a daunting task but it is much more doable when you have the right information.
Professional Beauty North speaker Kerry Beavis is owner of home-based salon The Revive Company in Wixams and an award-winning beauty pro, taking home Professional Beauty’s Therapist of the Year Award in 2016.
She gives us the lowdown on how to successfully launch a mobile or home-based beauty business.
What’s the key to launching a successful mobile or home-based beauty business?
“If you’re going mobile then the key thing you need to know is who your ideal client is and you need to know this inside-out. You have to understand everything about your ideal client base because if you don’t know who you’re serving then you have no idea who to target in your marketing or in the treatments you’re giving. It’s really paramount you know this first.”
How much investment should you make in branding?
“To be successful and seen as professional then you need a strong brand behind you. It’s all about how you’re presenting yourself and your business. For example, is your business going to be premium or more affordable? You have to think of yourself as more than just a mobile therapist, you have to think of yourself as a business if you’re going to grow and succeed.”
What’s the most challenging part of being mobile?
“Being mobile can definitely be lonely so it’s really important to find some kind of support network, whether it’s other therapists, business owners or entrepreneurs that have the same values and work ethic as you. You don’t want to surround yourself with people who are grumping about it all the time and saying, ‘oh, well, this is a hard life’. You want to mix with people who are going to help push you in the right direction.
“Also, because you’re solo and wearing so many hats – marketing, financial, PR – you can end up procrastinating on tasks because you don’t know what to do or where to start. It’s a shame because no one teaches you this stuff when you’re training so you can end up feeling really overwhelmed. These are five tasks you can outsource to free up some of your time.”
What’s the best thing about being your own boss?
“The best thing is that you are your own boss, it’s brilliant. I couldn’t have it any other way now. It is your business and your rules, so if you want Mondays off you have Mondays off. It’s so nice to have that flexibility around your life and it’s such a nice feeling when you’re doing well to know that you’ve done it yourself. It’s really rewarding, plus you get more money.”
Is safety an issue when you’re mobile/home-based?
“When working from home you should always vet clients on the phone before you see them and you might want to start by seeing people recommended to you by friends and other clients. I can understand why you might feel unsafe at first but hand on heart I’ve never had an issue. If you think someone is a bit strange then don’t book them in, trust your gut feeling. At any point you can say no if you don’t feel safe.”
Why do you think Professional Beauty North is a must attend show for mobile beauty therapists?
“It’s just fab. It’s nice to see other therapists and start to build a rapport with people, plus it’s great to see all the brands. When you work on your own you can think that these brands are almost untouchable, it can be a bit scary, so it’s nice to meet the face behind the businesses at the show. You also learn so much – the seminars at the show are fab and such good value. You can have two-days of great education.”