How do I start a skincare business?
Ever wondered how to begin your career in skincare?
We explore what you need to do to succeed in this popular and rewarding industry.
Follow our step-by-step guide to get started doing a job that you love.
1.Get educated
First things first, you will be required to complete an accredited, industry-recognised course to gain the qualifications that you need to provide skincare services to clients. An accredited course will also allow you to get insurance and start work immediately.
Our courses are designed to help you start a career in beauty and skincare, giving you the vital skills and confidence that you need to be successful. What’s more, our skincare therapist course comes with the medical-grade equipment that you will need to provide the services once qualified.
2. Gain experience
There are several ways that you can gain practical experience in the beauty industry.
Start by visiting local salons or contact them directly to ask about any experience that they offer. Some larger salons offer on-the-job training opportunities called apprenticeships where you can gain experience in a customer environment whilst studying for your qualification in your spare time.
If you’ve already got qualifications, make sure you update your CV so the salon manager can see that you are trained and passionate about working in skincare and beauty. Discuss what experience you’d like to get from working in a salon so you can be given tasks based on your interests and career ambitions.
Don’t be put off if a salon doesn’t offer you any experience work because not all of them do. Simply try another salon near you. You may find that you have more chance of being given seasonal work during peak times such as Christmas. It’s not unusual for you to be asked to complete tasks such as greeting clients, checking stock levels and tidying areas after treatments, however you will still be gaining valuable salon experience and observing skin specialists that have been doing the job for a while.
Once qualified, you could also gain experience by offering your skincare services to family and friends so you can practice your new skills.
3. Decide where you want to work
There are two main places of work for people who are trained in the skincare profession.
A beauty salon – being employed in a salon can provide many benefits including financial security, paid holiday and a pension. Busy salons will also provide lots of opportunities to grow your skills and work your way to becoming the Salon Manager.
From home - if you decide to run your own skincare business, it’s important to learn about how to set up, run and promote your business. Important skills include:
Business administration and management skills - you’ll need to be able to complete the required paperwork to maintain your company. It’s also important that you’re aware of the health and safety regulations and ensure that you have the correct insurance in place if you decide to become self-employed. As your business grows, you’ll also need to learn how to write a business plan that outlines your goals and how you will achieve them.
Marketing and promotion – knowing who your target audience is will help you identify potential customers and how to target them.
Financial planning – running payroll, forecasting investments and profits will become part of the monthly running of your own skincare business, so it’s important to know how to do it correctly.
Social media and building an online presence – social media can be a powerful advertising tool for skincare specialists. Learning how to reach your target audience on the major platforms and creating a user-friendly website is a key part of building your brand.
4. Grow your client base
Now you’re qualified and have some experience under your belt, it’s time to start finding long-term clients. On average, women spend £1,000 per month on hair, beauty, nails and aesthetic treatment, making it a huge market to tap into. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Start a blog – posting blogs on your website and social media platforms is a great way to connect with your customers and position yourself as an expert in your field by offering advice. This is a great way to convince new clients to use your services and it will also help improve your Google rankings, which is another way to find new customers.
Run a competition – to boost your brand’s exposure, hosting a competition on your social media pages will increase engagement and attract new potential customers to your page.
Share customer reviews – each time you get a review from a satisfied customer, post it everywhere online so other people can see it. A large majority of customers in the beauty industry will come from recommendations made by other people.
Offer discounts or loyalty schemes – a good way to add new clients to your books is to provide something that your competitors don’t. This could be a discount on last minute bookings or a free treatment after several visits to your salon.
5. Choose your areas of specialism
A career in skincare can open many different avenues, depending on your skills and interests. Whether you want to focus on makeup and become a makeup artist or continue offering skincare advice and become a dermatologist, there are several career paths to consider.
Many qualified skincare specialists even go on to develop and launch their own skincare range.
6. Continually learn new skills
The skincare industry is ever-changing, which means there are always new skills, products and techniques to learn about. The most successful skincare professionals are always on top of the latest trends and offer them to their clients before their competitors. Regular refresher courses are a good way to find out about new techniques and benefits that you can pass on to your customers.
Starting a career in skincare
Beginning a new career can be daunting. The skincare industry is growing at a rapid pace, making it an exciting time to be part of the growth.
Start your dream skincare business with a fully accredited, industry-recognised qualification. Book your place today on our skincare training courses