How to Start a Holistic or Beauty Business: A Beginner's Guide
Have you ever dreamed of starting your own holistic or beauty business but aren't really sure where to begin?
Perhaps you're thinking about a complete career change, want to work for yourself, or simply want to turn a skill or passion into a small business.
Whatever your age or circumstances, there is no "right" time to start a holistic or beauty business.
Over the years, I've taught students from all sorts of backgrounds. Some have been young people who didn't enjoy the traditional college environment, others have been looking for a complete career change, and I've also taught mature and retired students who wanted to do something enjoyable and productive while earning some extra income.
The important thing is to start where you are and build from there.
Here are some of the key steps I would recommend if you're thinking about starting your own holistic or beauty business.
1. Start With What You Already Have
Before you start thinking about business names, treatment rooms and social media, take some time to think about yourself.
You are your greatest business asset.
Make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience you already have. Think about your previous employment, education, hobbies, life experience and personal strengths.
Are you good with people?
Are you organised?
Do you have good communication skills?
Are you creative?
Are you naturally nurturing and caring?
Perhaps you have previous experience in administration, customer service, retail, teaching, healthcare, sales or another completely different industry.
All of these skills can potentially become valuable assets when you are running your own business.
Nobody is a blank canvas.
You are already bringing something to the table.
2. Create Your Business Vision
Before investing lots of money in equipment and training, spend some time thinking about the type of business you would actually like to create.
Where would you like to work?
Would you like to work from home, rent a treatment room, work from a salon or eventually have your own premises?
Which treatments would you like to offer?
Would you prefer to specialise in holistic therapies, beauty treatments or offer a combination?
Who would you love to work with?
What would your ideal working day look like?
And perhaps most importantly, what do you want your business to give you?
More flexibility?
A better work-life balance?
A change of career?
Extra income?
The opportunity to do something meaningful that you enjoy?
At this stage, you don't need to have all the answers.
Just jot down your ideas and start creating a picture of the direction you would like to take.
Your business can evolve as you gain experience.
3. Research Your Training Carefully
Once you have an idea of the type of business you would like to create, you can start researching your training options.
Consider your budget, how you prefer to learn and how much time you have available.
Would you prefer a longer course at a slower pace, or a fast-track intensive course?
Do you enjoy learning alongside other students or would you prefer independent home study?
Most importantly, don't just look at the price of the course.
Look at what is actually included.
A professional holistic or beauty training course should cover much more than simply learning how to perform a treatment.
Depending on the course, you should be looking for subjects such as:
Therapist code of conduct, client consultations, health and safety, hygiene and infection prevention and control, relevant anatomy and physiology, common health conditions and contraindications, treatment procedures and aftercare advice.
There may also be important business and legal information to consider, such as client records, data protection and retail law.
If you're based in the UK, it can also be useful to look at the National Occupational Standards for your chosen subject so that you can understand the expected professional standards for the treatment you want to offer.
If you want to work professionally, check whether your chosen qualification is accredited and whether it meets the requirements of the insurance provider you intend to use.
4. Practise and Build Your Confidence
Once you've completed your training, you don't necessarily need to go out and spend thousands of pounds setting up a perfect treatment room.
Start with the essentials.
Depending on your chosen treatment, this might include your treatment couch or chair, couch roll, towels, products and basic equipment.
Then practise.
Family and friends can be useful models while you build your confidence and get used to putting everything you've learned into practice.
This is also an opportunity to practise the less glamorous but equally important parts of being a therapist — consultations, hygiene procedures, health and safety, treatment records and aftercare advice.
You could offer treatments at a reduced introductory price that covers your time and product costs.
I actually prefer this approach to giving everything away for free because eventually you need to become comfortable with charging for your skills and your time.
5. Create Your Business Plan
While you're developing your practical skills and confidence, you can start working on your business plan.
You don't need a huge formal document to begin with.
Your business plan should help you think through the practicalities of running your business, including:
Your business idea and vision, your ideal clients, the treatments or services you will offer, your pricing, start-up costs, ongoing expenses, expected income, marketing, your working location and your longer-term goals.
A good business plan isn't something you write once and then put in a drawer.
It can evolve as your business develops.
6. Get Your Business Foundations in Place
There are several practical things you'll need to consider before you start trading.
These may include:
Setting your start-up budget, arranging appropriate insurance, purchasing products and equipment, checking whether you need any licences or permissions, deciding where you will work, choosing your business structure, registering your business where required, setting up financial systems, creating appointment and consultation systems, deciding how you will take payments and creating a simple marketing plan.
You don't necessarily need to do everything at once.
Break it down into manageable steps.
One thing at a time is much less overwhelming than looking at the entire list and thinking, "How on earth am I going to do all of this?"
And Remember...
There is a lot more to starting a holistic or beauty business than simply learning how to perform a treatment.
But please don't let that put you off.
When I started my own business, I certainly didn't have everything figured out.
I started with my Reiki 1 certificate, a therapy couch, couch roll, blankets and insurance, working from a spare room at home.
Over time, I gained more qualifications, more experience and more confidence, and my business evolved along the way.
You don't need to build the finished business on day one.
You just need to take the next step.
If you're thinking about starting your own holistic or beauty business, my accredited training courses are designed to help beginners develop the professional skills and knowledge they need to start working confidently.
I also offer business support and resources to help you develop your business vision, create your business plan and understand the practical side of becoming self-employed.
You can explore my Accredited Holistic and Beauty Training Courses and Business Start-Up resources here at Revive.
Starting your own business can feel daunting, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.
Believe in what you already bring to the table, start small, keep learning and allow your business to grow with you.
Good luck!
Zoe
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