How To Set Up a Successful Mobile Beauty & Massage Business
I’ve been a beauty and massage therapist for over 20 years now. Yes, it’s that long! So I thought I would show anyone who is thinking of starting a mobile beauty business on what to do in a few simple steps. Things that I’ve found helpful along the way and things to avoid.
Making someone look and feel their best is so rewarding, and this is one of the main reasons people choose a career in beauty therapy. Take a look at my other post on Mobile Beauty Versus Salon.
After finishing college, you might want your own salon, but what if this is not a practical option straight away? Not many people have the funds to pay for rent at a salon. Well, one option is that you can set up your own mobile beauty and massage business. It gives you the chance to do your dream job and fit it around your other commitments.
Many clients use a mobile therapist to do their treatments when it’s convenient for them. As a result, clients can have the same choice of treatments in the privacy of their own home as they can have in a salon.
It’s been 24 years since I first qualified as a beauty specialist and massage therapist, and over the last two decades, I’ve managed to turn my hobby into a fully-fledged business.
So how did I do it? I wish I could say it was all smooth sailing, and I had a game plan set in place from day one, but that’s far from the truth.
I started first by offering friends and family treatments to get plenty of practice after finishing college. This is essential as your family doesn’t mind if you’ve made a mistake and you’ll think of things you can improve on for next time.
Then I started to advertise locally and do this alongside my current job. I would advise staying with your current job first as you will not gain lots of customers from day one, so having a job already is ideal as you can do your treatments in the evening or work part-time work around that.
I was made redundant twice within three years of each other, and it was then I started to put all my energy into my beauty and massage business. Nothing like a push to get you started! I did this for a while but never branched out properly as I was used to the regular income from my other job.
My perseverance paid off, and I now have a loyal customer base and work as and when I choose. I know that many of you dream of creating a similar life. And I wanted to make that process a little bit easier by outlining the key steps you need to take to establish a strong business.
This blog post will walk you through everything you need to know about running a successful mobile business, plus I’ve included some FREE templates which you will find helpful.
Get Familiar With The Beauty Industry
The first is to get to know the industry. Subscribing to industry magazines such as Professional Beauty and attending trade shows is as valuable as having colleagues.
There’s an abundance of helpful information on products and services and industry experts on hand to give advice that you can use in your business. I bought my sports massage tools from a trade show, and they were a lot cheaper than you would buy online, so make sure you’ve got some money to spend before you go there.
Practise Your Skills And Promote Yourself
Ask friends and family to be guinea pigs for you in return for before-and-after pictures, which you can use as great content to boost your mobile beauty services on social media. Be careful, though. Some like to take advantage of free or low-cost treatments, so only ask people you can trust. I have a little bank of trustworthy customers that I use to try out new things.
Be Passionate
Making other people feel good about themselves is the best part of the job. Talk to your ideal client base to find out what they want from a beauty experience – from types of treatments and pricing – and then use it in your treatment and marketing materials to give them the service they desire.
How To Start A Mobile Beauty Business
Names for a mobile beauty business
Find a catchy name, something you like (obviously!) and something you will stick with, as nothing is worse when a company keeps changing its name. First, it doesn’t look good, and second, it comes across as they don’t know what they are doing!
There are many different types of beauty businesses, so the name you choose for your business should reflect the type of services you offer. Here are a few ideas to get you started (add your name to it to give it a personal touch:
-The beauty studio
-The makeup bar
-The hair salon
-The nail bar
-The spa
-The skincare clinic
-The beauty boutique
-The beauty store
-The beauty parlour
-The beauty studio
-The beauty centre
-The beauty institute
If you’re really stuck for ideas try Koala Writer AI tool. It’s a game changer to help with your business. I love it!
Which one is best for you?
This depends on what kind of services you offer and the type of business you want to create. If you want a more luxurious feel, something like “The Beauty Studio” or “The Spa” would be a good choice. Something like “The Nail Bar” or “The Beauty Store” would be a better fit if you want a casual vibe. Ultimately, deciding which name best reflects the image you want to create for your business is up to you.
Have a brand identity. Business cards have been the best promotional tool in the sea of marketing advice. Take them with you everywhere you go and ensure it has all your essential information, including your social media accounts, so clients know exactly how to book with you.
It should include your email address, website and social media handles. Your branding should also be consistent throughout these different platforms.
E.g., website – www.rachelsrecipepantry.com
Email – [email protected]
Facebook – rachelsrecipepantry, Instagram – @rachelsrecipepantry etc.
Don’t forget to do your research and make sure nobody else has the exact name you have chosen.
How To Create A Website And Logo For Your Beauty Business
Once you’re happy with your name and nobody else has got the same, you can start designing your logo. Not everyone has a logo, but I think it makes a good impression.
Your logo should be simple with not too many colours. I would go for three colours maximum. Take your time doing this as you need to be happy with it, just like your name.
Bear in mind the colours you choose should be the same colour scheme for your business cards, leaflets and website. When I designed mine, I didn’t think of this but wish I had.
I bought my logo online years ago, but now there are far better places to get your logo done for FREE or very cheaply.
Canva is a great place to design your logo, business card, leaflets, etc., all in one place and print them for you. With this special link, you’ll get 15% off business cards plus free delivery at the time of writing this post.
Since I started, I’ve gone through a few websites, and the best one to use is WordPress through Bluehost. This is by far the best one out there. You can optimise it how you want, add plugins when you need them and all for £2.21 or $3.95 (cheap as chips!) depending on your location. Plus, you will get a FREE domain.
If you go to How to start a blog instantly, there is a step-by-step guide on setting up your website. Take a look at Why you need a blog for your website. You will find it extremely helpful to get traffic to your website.
There are so many things included in the premium plan for your business it is well worth the money, it’s at a good price and mobile-friendly and most of all, it’s so easy to use. You can also get your domain and email address here, so no need to search different websites. There is also an option for a basic website if you have a small budget. Click on this link to start designing your website.
SEO To My Website
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. Put simply, it’s the set of actions you can take to help your website rank higher in searches on Google and other search engines. These actions include using relevant keywords in your website’s text, giving your web pages a title and description, and much more. Why does this matter? Because showing up higher in search engine results means more people will find your website, learn about your business, buy your products, or use your services.
With more than 1 billion websites online today, the competition on Google and other search engines can be tough. If you want people to find your website, investing some time in your website’s SEO is necessary.
I invested, and 100% recommend Mike Pearson’s Stupid Simple SEO course. It was so easy to understand (which I like), and he does it step by step, and what’s better, you can learn this at your own pace. I can’t stress how important it is to learn SEO. I ignored it for a year, and I wasn’t getting anywhere with my website. As soon as you put SEO into place you will start to see results. This course is quite expensive, so I have done my own SEO course at a fraction of the price if you’re on a budget. It’s called SEO The Right Way or get my e-book HERE.
Index Your website
First and foremost, you need to “index” your website by heading to google.com/webmasters/tools/ submit-URL and submitting your URL. This lets Google know you exist, and hopefully, they will start directing people to your content.
Use Keywords Where Appropriate
When you begin working on your content for your website, think about the words or phrases people might type into Google that could lead them to your website content. For example, if you have a special offer on manicures in your area, you want anyone searching for a “special offer on manicures in your area” to find your post. So “special offer on manicures in (your area)” would therefore become the keywords for that particular content. Avoid using the exact keywords repeatedly, as Google looks down on “keyword stuffing”, so use various search terms.
Title Your Images
Proper image titles and ALT tags (the text that occurs within your website’s HTML code to describe an image) help search engines direct people to your website. I know how tempting it can be to save time and upload your pictures as they appear, but this is ultimately self-sabotage. So always make sure your photos are given clear titles that reference your keywords.
When inserting images on your website, give all of your images proper titles before uploading them; and be sure to fill out every ALT text box (don’t worry, you’ll see this on your WordPress website) when you insert a new image into a post.
Use Meta Descriptions
A META description is a short piece of text (usually around 150 characters) that describes your website. When they include relevant keywords, they help make your content more searchable and act as an advert for your business. Use Koala Writer to help you. It’s like having your own personal assistant next to you.
Here’s an example of what a META text looks like when it shows up on Google:
Page Titles
Your page title should be clear and concise, with a focus on your page’s keywords. A clear title helps potential site visitors decide whether or not to visit your site. Adding a unique meta title for each page helps both site visitors and search engines differentiate between the pages of your site.
TIPS FOR WRITING EFFECTIVE SEO PAGE TITLES
- Each page title should be unique, with concise information on what the page is about.
- Include a target keyword for that page of your site.
- Add your business or site name.
- Include the location of your business in your homepage title; this will help Google know to display your site to searchers in your area.
- The length of your page title should be 55-70 characters.
- Use the pipe sign ‘|’ to distinguish different parts of your title.
If you own a local business, we recommend using the following format for your Meta Title:
Keyword | Location | Brand Name
E.g., Nature Photography | Seattle | Daniel Forest
If you do not have a local business, use the following format:
Keyword | Brand Name
E.g., Nature Photography | Daniel Forest
Insurance for Beauty Business
I’ve had professional membership with the Federation Of Holistic Therapists from the UK since I virtually left college. You might think, do I need this! It’s an extra expense, but it is worth having as they give good advice and support, which you need to be self-employed and working on your own. Search Google for Professional membership for your country.
Apart from having a Professional membership, you will need professional indemnity insurance. You can get 10% OFF from Policy Bee in the UK.
COMBINED MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, PUBLIC AND PRODUCTS INSURANCE FOR THERAPISTS
This type of policy covers you for liability claims from your clients or other third parties for accidental death, bodily injury, illness, or accidental property damage resulting from your business activity.
LIABILITY CAN ARISE FROM:
- Negligence or a breach of a duty of care
- Products sold or supplied
- Breach of confidentiality
- Libel or slander
- Website or email infringement
THE POLICY…
- It covers you whether you work at home, at a client’s home, or a clinic or salon
- Covers you for practising case studies when studying for additional therapy qualifications (that we have agreed and accepted), as directed by your course tutor
- Cover can include indemnity for many beauty or fitness treatments not readily available elsewhere.
- Available levels of indemnity – £1million (for Students), £2million (for Associates), £3million or £6million (for Members) per annum.
Equipment For A Mobile Beauty Therapist
Ok, you’ve now got your insurance. You can start practising, but you can’t practice if you haven’t got the right equipment.
CAR SIZE
Depending on what you’re specialising in, for example, beauty, this doesn’t take up much space in your car. Still, you will need a vehicle big enough to carry your massage bed if you’re doing beauty and massage—ideally, a five-door vehicle. If your boot isn’t big enough, at least you will be able to get it on the back seat quickly instead of a three-door car!
BAGS & TROLLEYS
Most people these days have a gel manicure instead of a classic manicure, so I have a trolley like the one below for all the gel polishes, led lamp and manicure tools. The gel polishes have their own compartment on top, so they are easy to get to when your client chooses a colour. I find with the trolley they keep your things more in order as opposed to a bag.
For classic manicures and pedicures, I have one bag for both. Make sure it’s sturdy but not too heavy a bag as you don’t want everything flopping around everywhere. Obviously, with pedicures, you will have to carry the bowl separately.
TOWELS
Towels are bulky, and you need an extra bag too, but it’s more things to carry! With COIVID-19, I now ask my clients to provide their own towels.
Oh, I wished I had done this years ago!! No more washing towels. It saves time and one less thing to carry. Woohoo!! Just remember to remind them to provide towels before each appointment. They don’t mind at all.
Check out my other post 5 Best Massage Tools To Use For A Therapist.
How To Market Your Beauty & Massage Business
FLYERS
When I first started, I distributed cards/flyers in my local area. Yes, it’s a bit time-consuming, but they are handy to have when you’re out and about in housing estates. You can push a few through peoples letterbox’s when you’ve done a treatment at someone’s house. I have had regular customers from this, plus the elderly don’t use the internet to look for things; they prefer something in their hand to look at.
I purchased my cards from Canva and still do as they are good quality products and at great prices. There is always an offer.
When designing your flyers, make sure it is clear, and not too much information. Simple is better! Maybe add a promotion like 20% off your first treatment. People love a discount! If you do put prices on your flyers, make sure you state the date. For example 2024 Prices, so if they come across your brochure a year later, they can expect your prices may have increased.
TOP TIP
You can go to Canva, where you can personally design your template for FREE. They are good for uploading notices on social media. I am on there at least once a week designing stuff.
LOCAL MAGAZINE
This is definitely worth your while. As I said before, people still like to look through a magazine, and it’s easy to go back to the magazine and find you if they’ve spotted you the first time they looked.
If it’s your first time advertising in a magazine and you’re a new business, make sure you state this when enquiring about prices to advertise, as they usually give you a discount.
When I first advertised it was just an ‘Adline’ for £5, what a bargain! And it’s still the same price. So you don’t have to have a big picture, just a few keywords stating what you do, and that’s sufficient.
E.g., Mobile Beauty & Massage Therapist delivering treatments in the comfort of your own home. And then add your telephone number and website if you have one. I got lots of customers and plenty of regulars out of it.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Most people are familiar with Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, so make sure you add your business pages to your account. The key to getting custom through social media is regular content. So post something at least once a week.
You can also place an advert at a low cost to get more followers, but make sure you have the location set to your local area, not halfway across the world, to keep your advertising costs low.
The top of getting followers is to follow people and businesses in your local area, and they usually follow back. Do this regularly and interact with people as it gets your name out there, plus even more followers, and don’t forget to #hashtag after a posting as it drives more people to your account.
GOOGLE & BING
Yes, your business definitely needs to be on Google. Everyone uses Google, but what about Bing? I hear you say.
Well, that’s what I thought when I asked my son to find my business on his mobile phone, and he couldn’t find me!! I was like, you what! He couldn’t find me because the default search engine on his phone was Bing. So make sure you’re on there too. You will learn how to get FREE traffic through my SEO course >> SEO The Right Way
GOOGLE BUSINESS PAGE
Engage with customers on Google for FREE. With a Google My Business Account, you get more than a business listing. Your free Business Profile lets you easily connect with customers across Google Search and Maps.
You can post photos and offers to your profile to show what makes your business unique and give customers reasons to choose you every time.
How Much Should A Beauty & Massage Therapist Charge?
HOW MUCH DO I CHARGE?
Basically, you need to do your research. See what other businesses are charging, but don’t forget you’re a mobile business, so you must consider fuel costs and timings between clients.
Don’t be too cheap, as it can come across as a bit desperate. My advice is to keep your prices the same as the top salons in your high street.
You can always have a weekly or monthly special deal on one of your treatments to keep people interested. See what treatments they are offering too. You might offer something they don’t, so you could charge anything you want and don’t do any special deals on this.
WHEN IS BEST TO INCREASE MY PRICES?
Annually, usually at the start of your financial year. I made the mistake of only increasing my prices every 2 or 3 years and increasing the price by £5 or more, but this is a significant increase for some people, so now I stick to yearly and increase by at least £2.00, customers won’t mind then.
WHAT’S THE BEST PAYMENT METHOD?
When I started, I was paid in cash and cheques. Cheques are a bit dated now, so I don’t accept them anymore, plus it’s more trips to the bank. I still accept cash. The older generation like to pay this way and I don’t mind, as cash in your purse is always handy!
But more and more people are going cashless, so now I accept a bank transfer or pay via my website. If they pay by bank transfer, you can see the payment more or less straight away in your account. Ideally, it’s best to have a separate bank account for your business, so it’s easier to keep track of your finances and, therefore, make your tax return at the end of the year.
For tips on using Quickbooks for the first time, check out my Quickbooks post HERE
How To Register A Beauty Business
Yes, you will need to register as a sole trader. Don’t worry. It is straightforward. Keep your sales and expenses in good order, and you can’t go wrong.
WHEN YOU NEED TO SET UP AS A SOLE TRADER
You need to set up as a sole trader if any of the following apply (UK):
- you earned more than £1,000 from self-employment during the financial year.
- You need to prove you’re self-employed. For example, to claim Tax-Free Childcare,
- you want to make voluntary Class 2 National Insurance payments to help you qualify for benefits
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
You’ll need to:
- keep records of your business’s sales and expenses
- send a Self Assessment tax return every year
- Pay Income Tax on your profits and Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance – use HMRC’s calculator to help you budget for this.
You’ll need to apply for a National Insurance number to set up a business if you’re moving to the UK.
NAMING YOUR BUSINESS
You can trade under your personal name, or you can choose another name for your business. You must include your name and business name (if you have one) on official paperwork, for example, invoices and letters.
BUSINESS NAMES
Sole trader names must not: include ‘limited’, ‘Ltd’, ‘limited liability partnership’, ‘LLP’, ‘public limited company or ‘plc’, be offensive or be the same as an existing trademark.
Unless you get permission, your name cannot contain a ‘sensitive’ word or expression or suggest a connection with government or local authorities.
FILE YOUR SELF ASSESSMENT TAX RETURN ONLINE
You can file your Self Assessment tax return online if you:
- are self-employed
- are not self-employed, but you still send a tax return, for example, because you receive income from renting out a property
YOU CAN ALSO USE THE ONLINE SERVICE TO:
- View returns you’ve made before
- check your details
- print your tax calculation
THE BEST ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE TO USE FOR SELF-EMPLOYED
The best accounting software to use is Quickbooks, so simple to use, cheap and the best thing to keep track of your finances. Plus, you can take payments and direct debits if you need to. You can send invoices or send receipts to people if they need them.
How To Be An Organised Therapist
DIARY
One thing for sure is that you need to be organised. You could go for the calendar on your phone, but then the battery might get low or not work altogether! So it would help if you had a good organiser.
A proper organiser such as a Filofax is much better, plus you can store your cash in there when they pay you. It has compartments for your business cards and gift vouchers and treatment cards.
I use the A5 zip-up version, so you don’t risk things dropping out, plus I added a zip-up pouch for the cash. Yes, it’s another thing to carry around, but it’s very useful. They are very hard-wearing. I’ve had my latest one for about ten years now, and it still looks new, so worth the investment.
STOCK
Make sure you have plenty of backup stock. The things I use most are bedroll, massage oil and nail supplies, so I make sure I’ve got plenty to go at to keep me going for the year.
The best places to buy your supplies are:
Bed Roll – Amazon
LED Nail Lamp – Amazon
Extension Lead – Amazon
Massage Oil – Ancient Wisdom Cheapest around, and they ship worldwide.
Shellac Gel Polish – eBAY NailsUK. Delivery is quick, and they are reliable!
MANAGING TREATMENTS AT PEOPLE’S HOMES
If you’re doing nail treatments, ideally, you need to be at their dining table. Most people have a table, but make sure you find out before you arrive.
Make sure you place a waterproof mat on their table before starting, as you don’t want to mark or stain it. Also, make sure there is a handy plug socket nearby for your LED lamp etc. If not, use your extension lead which should be kept in your car boot at all times. You never know when you might need it!
For your massage treatments, you need enough room to move around the bed. Most places I’ve been to have been ok. Just an odd occasion, I’ve had to squeeze into a tight space. Make sure you put your bags etc., under the bed so everything is out of the way.
Pedicures – Most people have chairs you can use. I do find if you’re on the same level chair, you are ok. If not, it can be pretty tricky. Sometimes I’ve opted for a cushion and sit on the floor.
After each treatment, there is always plenty of rubbish to dispose of. You can either ask to use your customer’s bin or bring your own disposable bag and put it in the bin when you get home.
And this is where I leave you. I genuinely hope that the advice has been of value and leads you to great success. If you’d like to share updates on your progress, please get in touch.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME
You can follow my blogging journey at cosmictouchblog.com, and if you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at…
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @cosmictouchblog (I’ll give you a follow back!) just let me know that you’ve read this page 😉
Facebook: https://facebook.com/cosmictouchblog
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/cosmictouchblog
And just one more thing, make time for yourself. Treat yourself to a massage. Every therapist needs a therapist!
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