Every beauty pro has a different vision of their dream salon. It’s this individuality and uniqueness that makes the beauty industry so exciting and vibrant, and your vision is an integral piece of the beautiful tapestry of cosmetologists around the country (and the world).

For many beauty pros, starting a home beauty salon checks a lot of boxes. There are distinct advantages to this approach, and the appeal is clear. From the comfort and convenience to the reduced overhead, starting a home beauty business is a great idea–all you need is a little guidance to get going!

Building a Successful Home Beauty Business

Home in on Your Specialties

While you do not have to limit yourself to a specific niche, homing in on your specialties will help you in many ways as you start your home beauty salon. There will be opportunities to further refine your services and add new ones as you see fit, but taking some time to determine your areas of focus before you kickstart your home beauty biz is a useful exercise that can help you with the following.

• Determine the equipment, tools, and supplies you will need to best serve your clients.

• Identify your target audience and begin to market to them.

• Do market research to evaluate the demand for your planned services and the competition you will face.

• Establish pricing that is in line with others in your area.

Secure Cosmetology Liability Insurance

Beauty pro insurance is an absolute must for any salon, including those based in your home. There are inherent risks associated with cosmetology, including accidents totally unrelated to your work (such as slip-and-fall accidents). Protecting yourself and your business from the repercussions of unfortunate events is essential.

Cosmetology insurance should include–at a minimum–general liability insurance and professional liability insurance. These cover accidents directly related to your work, such as accidentally catching someone’s ear with your clippers, as well as slip-and-fall types of accidents.

Be sure to invest in cosmetology insurance that is comprehensive. Shop around, compare plans from reputable providers, and choose the one that best fits your needs. When in doubt, talk to an expert to help you determine what your business requires and which policy fits your unique situation.

Develop Your Brand

To differentiate your home beauty salon from other cosmetologists in the area, you will need to have a clear understanding of what makes you different. By developing a brand that is specific to you and resonates with your target audience, you set your salon apart from others and up for success.

From your logos and color schemes to the decor in your home salon to the way you communicate with people on social media, every aspect of your business and how you interact with the world plays into strong branding.

Assess your personality, who your audience needs you to be, the environment into which you want to welcome them when they visit your home salon, and more. Then, put it all together and work to refine it as your brand grows and evolves. In time, your brand will become a recognizable representation of your business and all that it stands for.

Ensure Your Salon is Legal

Every state and region has rules and regulations that apply to cosmetologists, businesses, and working out of your home. Before you officially open for business (or pour too much time, effort, and money into it), make absolutely certain that you are complying with the requirements your locality has in place. When in doubt, work with a local legal expert to navigate the laws and ensure everything about your home salon is legal.

Streamline the Client Experience

Hosting clients at your home does not reduce the expectation of professionalism. You still need to provide your customers with a positive, streamlined experience that matches or exceeds the service they would receive from a more traditional salon.

To ensure your clients experience smooth booking, scheduling, payment, and more, it is important to have your systems in place before opening to the public. Invest in the right software and hardware, have your accounting figured out, and be prepared to adjust as you are sure to learn by doing along the way.

Market, Market, Market

Opening a new business is challenging. It takes hard work, strategy, and a whole bunch of perseverance. To ensure your at-home salon thrives, you need to attract and retain clients, which means you need an effective marketing strategy. To get you started, here are some excellent marketing ideas to try.

• Build your digital brand and establish an online presence via a website, social media, and more.

• List your business on online directories, such as Google My Business and Yelp.

• Offer special introductory pricing and specials to attract first-time customers.

• Start a referral and rewards program to boost word-of-mouth advertising and customer loyalty.

• Get involved in the local community, including small business groups and local events.

More than ever, making connections with your current customers and dream clients is essential. Get involved in your community, become a recognizable name in the industry, and engage with your people in real, authentic ways–both in person and through social media.

It is also essential to stay informed. As Bill 354 begins changing the beauty industry in Georgia, staying in the know is key. Be sure to subscribe to Beauty Insurance Plus to remain up to date on the latest beauty pro news and trends. Our blog is also packed with practical tips, tricks, and insights to help your beauty biz reach its full potential.