Getting Started as a Mobile Beauty Professional

The beauty industry has become very flexible over the years. Now more than ever, individuals are opening up their own beauty businesses. So long the days of having to work from bottom-up at a salon. Now you can open your own studio, start a home-based business, rent a chair, or go mobile.

More consumers are striving for convenience, which can be seen with restaurant and grocery delivery services. Delivery of services has been rapidly growing and this may be expected in the beauty industry as well. Becoming a mobile beauty professional is now becoming a common choice because of the flexibility and minimal startup costs. You won’t have to worry about paying for rent or giving up a part of your home to create a studio. It allows you to bring your services directly to your client’s homes, special events, offices, or photoshoots.

From the client’s point of view, it’s a convenient way to receive beauty treatments. It’s no longer confined to only weddings, special events, or photoshoots. Offering mobile beauty services is becoming more popular. They are perfect for busy professionals, stay-at-home mothers, or anyone who simply enjoys getting pampered from the comfort of their own home.

Providing mobile services can open your business up to a wider demographic. Your area of service will depend on how far you’re willing to travel. However when you have a physical location, clients will have that say. They will ask themselves how far they are willing to travel for service. As mentioned before, many clients will look for convenience. This is especially true if you have clients that rely on public transportation.

Before You Start

If you’re looking to get started as a mobile beauty professional, it’s important to start preparing yourself before you open for business. Determine what needs to get done and how much time and money you will need.

Certification and License

As with any beauty professional, regardless of if you are mobile or not, you will need to get certified. You should research to see what the requirements are of becoming a technician in your region. This also includes having the proper licenses and registering your business name to operate legally as a business owner and collect taxes. If you need to, consult with your local government and a lawyer to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Insurance

Accidents can happen anytime. Beauty professionals carry a lot of responsibility and should be protected by insurance. Do your research on various insurance providers and examine the coverage you’ll need. As a mobile beauty professional, you should also speak with your auto insurance provider to make any adjustments to your policy since you will be on the road more.

Reliable Transportation

With that being said, you should have your own vehicle to get you to your client’s location. It would be very difficult to rely on public transportation, especially during rush hour, harsh weather conditions, or for longer trips. If you are thinking of ride-sharing, your travel expenses may rack up. Do the calculations to see what would be most feasible for you. Getting your own vehicle may be a better long-term option financially and reliability.

When you start as a mobile beauty professional, start tracking your miles. This is very important when it comes to tax time as you will need a record of your trips. Starting this right from the beginning will allow you to build the habit and get into a routine.

Creating Your Service Menu

Determine what services you want to offer and consider the necessary equipment you will need to carry. You will need to find portable options as you will be going from location to location. For example, many laser hair removal or microdermabrasion machines may be too large and expensive to carry around. When starting, focus on a few basic services before expanding. This will give you time to improve your craft, build your portfolio, and grow your clientele.

Your Equipment and Supplies

Start purchasing your equipment and supplies. Figure out what you will need to perform your services. If you’re a makeup artist, you will need a variety of beauty products and colors to create different looks for your clients. If you’re a spray tan artist, start searching for your popup tent, spray tan formulas, and machine. Your educator should go over all the necessary equipment you need.

Since you will be on the go, consider what you will carry your equipment and supplies in. This will help with moving your equipment and supplies in and out of your car or around your work location. Options include using a rolling shopper cart, luggage, cargo tote, or duffle bag. All the better if it has wheels–your back will thank you later.

Pricing Your Services

You will need to consider your costs when pricing your services. This includes the cost of your time, expertise, supplies used, and your travel. Your prices should reflect the experience your clients will be receiving. Your prices should be higher than regular in-studio services because you are offering luxury, convenient experiences for your clients.

Start by calculating how much your hourly service rate would normally be. This will depend on your experience and level of expertise. If you’re a new artist, consider offering introductory pricing to start building your portfolio and skills. Next, think of how far you’re willing to travel for a client and the cost per mile. Combine the two to find a price that you will be comfortable with. Don’t worry, you can always raise your price as your business grows.

Start Organizing Your Business

Having an organized, seamless process will be very important as a mobile beauty professional. You will always be on the go and since you may not have a set office space, you will need a digital solution to organize your schedule, client notes, and forms. Starting this right from the beginning will allow you to start your business on the right foot.

Jupiter is a great option for mobile beauty professionals, offering the flexibility and full control of your business. It’s an all-in-one business software solution that allows beauty professionals to streamline their business, save time, and increase their income potential. Wherever you are, everything you need is in the palm of your hands.

Going Paperless

Keeping stacks of client files and forms can get messy, especially when you’re on the move. With Jupiter, you will never have to worry about paperwork again. Forms can be sent to clients before you arrive and if any edits need to be made at the appointment, that can be done right on your phone.

Each client gets their own file with their personal information, appointment history, forms, image gallery, and notes. Want to note down what products, formula, or colors you used? Simply record everything in your client’s file along with the before and after photos. You don’t have to worry about losing your files or searching for old paperwork ever again.

Seamless Booking Process

Don’t waste time manually looking through your work schedule and booking in clients. Jupiter allows for a seamless booking process where clients can see your availability, book appointments, enter their address, pay the deposit, and fill out your intake form. Everything is done for you so you can focus on your mobile beauty services.

As a mobile beauty professional, it’s important to have booking controls. You can pre-approve bookings in Jupiter by only allowing clients in your files to book. Since you will be entering your client’s homes, you need to feel safe and comfortable as a professional. Pre-approving clients will also ensure appointments aren’t booked out of your service area.

You will need to add breaks between your appointments to ensure you have enough time going from one location to another. It also gives you extra time to clean up, in case an appointment goes longer than expected, or if you need a personal break. Jupiter will automatically add these breaks in between your appointments for you.

Another method to ensure you have enough time between appointments is by setting your availability so appointments only start at a certain time. For example, you can accept appointments at 10 AM, 1 PM, and 4 PM. Jupiter will only show those options to your clients, giving you more structure to your day.

Always Know Where To Go

Plan your travel by viewing your schedule ahead of time. If you click on any appointment on your calendar in Jupiter, you will see the address and the service details. There is also an option for you to view your client’s file and have a read through all the notes. You will always know where to go, the important details, and what to expect at your next appointment. It’s your mobile companion.

Enabling the Delivery of Beauty Services

We spoke with Veronica Shih, the Owner of BeautyDel, a beauty business providing a wide array of salon-quality services delivered right to your location. BeautyDel’s core values include passion, excellence, and loyalty. She works with a team of beauty professionals who are genuinely passionate about what they do and are willing to learn and improve their skills continually.

Before starting BeautyDel, Veronica specialized in marketing and finance. She has always loved anything that had to do with beauty, hence she wanted to find a way to combine her passion with her business knowledge. “A few years ago, I realized that there was a way to increase convenience and efficiency by integrating technology and enabling the delivery of beauty services directly to the client,” she says.

Veronica believes in the importance of beauty professionals getting paid well and having extra flexibility with their work schedules. Becoming a mobile beauty professional allows individuals to unlock their income potentials with a schedule that suits them. “Mobile beauty services are definitely on the rise. We are creating a new approach to beauty” she says. “We are increasing convenience while empowering women to pursue their passions confidently. I believe that more and more beauty professionals will start seeing the benefits of going mobile.”

For new and upcoming mobile beauty professionals, Veronica suggests taking advantage of all the resources available and finding a supportive community. If you need help getting your business organized, try Jupiter out free for 14 days. Not sure if Jupiter is right for you? Speak to a member of our team and we’ll be happy to walk you through the feature ourselves.