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How to Start a Holistic or Beauty Business

Posted on 10:00am Wednesday 5th Jan 2022

treatment-room

Have you ever dreamt of starting your own holistic or beauty business but really not sure of what steps you need to take?

First of all, there is no right age nor situation to start your own holistic or beauty business. I have taught students who are young and didn't fit in or enjoy the catty college environment, more mature students who are really unhappy in their job or have been made redundant and want a career change. I have also taught retired students who want to do something constructive to do with their spare time while earning extra income.

In terms of the steps you would need to take, first of all

1. Write a list of what you are bringing to the table as you are your greatest business asset. Think about all the skills, knowledge you have gained from everyday life, education or employment, and your personal attributes. Noone is a blank canvas and we all have skills, knowledge and personal strengths that we can lean upon when setting up and running our own business.

2. Next, set some time aside to create your business vision - where would you like to work? Which treatments would you like to offer? What does your workspace look like in terms of aesthetics and decor? Who are your dream clients? At this stage, just jot down loose ideas so that you can make choices that will lead you in the right direction.

3. Research your training options - what is your budget? Do you want to do a longer course at a slower pace or a fast track course? Do you want to have the community spirit of spending time with other students or do you prefer to do independent home study? Of the training providers you have researched, are the courses accredited? Will they enable you to obtain public liability insurance?

Also, you will need to research the course content as holistic and beauty courses should include much more than just learning how to do the treatment.

As a bare minimum, your holistic or beauty training course should include: Therapist code of conduct, Consultations, Health and Safety, Hygiene Infection Prevention and Control Procedures; anatomy and physiology and common health conditions relating to the treatment you are learning, the treatment procedure and how to provide aftercare advice. It may also include important information relating to business law such as data protection, retail law. If you are based in the UK, you can search the National Occupational Standards database and see the minimum occupational requirements for your chosen subject e.g. massage or facials.

4. Once you have successfully completed your training course, you may want to buy the bare minimals (e.g. therapy couch, couch roll and products) and spend time practicing with family and friends to build up your confidence. That way you can practice all the hygiene, health and safety procedures, consultations, doing the treatments and providing after-care. You can charge a "cheapie" rate to cover the cost of your time and your products. If you do freebies you will reach that awkward point where you have to charge!

5. During the time that you are building up your confidence, you will also want to create your Business Plan. I have a separate post that covers that in a little more detail and a much more in-depth module which you can browse here.

You will also need to

a) Set and finance your start-up budget and buy your insurance, any products, licences, equipment or services that you need to get your business up and running

b) Create a marketing plan and buy any items such as business cards, leaflets etc.

c Set up systems for your appointment bookings, client consultations, payments

d) Register your business and yourself either as a sole trader, partnership or limited company

e) Set up financial systems and procedures

f) Decide on your business name and decide where you are going to work from.

As you can see, there is a lot more to setting up your own holistic or beauty business than would first meet the eye! However, don't let that put you off. In 1996, I started with my Reiki 1 certificate, a therapy couch, couch roll, blankets and my insurance from a spare room at home.

If you are interested in learning more about how I can help you through any of these steps please browse: