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We’re sure that many of you have played around with the idea of “being your own boss,” and why wouldn’t you? Freelance is a great way to build your own career at your own pace and, for this reason, it has become increasingly popular over the years.
Many beauty therapists have already or are looking to take the leap from working in a salon to becoming a mobile beautician. While this does mean that you get to be your own boss and choose your own hours, it also means that you are responsible for your security, accounts, and client base.
How To Manage Your Mobile Beauty Business
When you set out to start your mobile beauty business, you'll be thinking about two things: how to manage your clients and how to create a professional presence that will attract new ones.
For that, we have two things that will propel your new business to success.
The first is JENA app. The app is for therapists who want to be their own boss. We took all of our learnings from working in the beauty industry for more than 10 years & speaking to hundreds of therapists and put it into one useful app that will allow therapists to run their business through one app.
Here are a few of the things the app can do:
- Calendar. Get full control of your business. The calendar will allow you to see all your appointments, add new appointments, and appointments from your website will go in automatically.
- Travel time calculation. The app will automatically calculate the travel time needed to get between appointments (no back and forth on Google Maps to see if you can fit someone in!).
- Take payments from clients. Say goodbye to last-minute cancellations. Payment for bookings on the website will be taken automatically, or for WhatsApp bookings you can send your customer a checkout link.
- See earnings stats. You can set a target of how much you want to earn and the app will tell you how close to hitting the target you are.
Set up your own website
The second bit of advice that we have for you is to get a website. This will make you look professional and you'll get clients discovering and booking you.
We provide websites for therapists. We designed and built the website especially for therapists by doing lots of testing and interviews with customers to understand exactly what it is they look for.
You'll get a professional-looking site where you can put your portfolio, reviews, experience, and menu. The best part is that the amount we charge for this complete package is less than what you would usually pay for only a website, or a booking system all by itself.
Sound exciting? Book a free friendly chat with us to see if it's right for you. Head here to book your call.
What are the benefits of becoming a mobile beauty therapist?
Now that you're looking into the world of mobile beauty, you’re probably wondering why it’s better than working in a salon. How does it differ from a position where you have a set amount of hours? Is it even worth going mobile when you already have a stable career?
On-demand services have really escalated in the past 5 years. With companies such as Deliveroo and Uber, most people are now completely used to getting anything they want at any time.
And this is not just the case for food. Busy professionals look forward to being able to get their nails done, or their legs waxed in the comfort of their own home, and more importantly, at a time that suits them best. Not to mention, the low overhead cost that comes with being mobile means that you can launch your business with less financial burden and attract more customers.
Freedom vs. Management
Working in a salon as opposed to doing freelance work is completely different. Most salons tend to have set working hours for all beauty professionals, as well as a set paycheck. By working there, you have to commit to their schedule.
As a self-employed therapist, you can pick and choose your own hours. This means you can work as early or as late as you want to; have more time to spend with your family and friends; and continue building your own career.
Of course, there are some benefits you may have to give up such as pension schemes and paid holiday leave, but the benefits you get from freelancing often outweigh the disadvantages. With lives getting busier - whether that’s because of children or social life - many therapists recognize the importance of the added flexibility and independence.
This also means that you don't have to quit your day job when you first start going mobile. You have the freedom to do mobile beauty on the side - whether that's after or before work, or during weekends. This gives you the opportunity to test out mobile beauty before going all in.
Earning Big
One of the perks of going freelance is that you have the chance to earn double what you would in a traditional salon. As you get to choose your own hours, it’s completely up to you whether you work all day, every day, or part-time. So what's not to love? Earn more money, fit clients into your schedule, and build your own clientele.
This is also a huge perk for many working mums or students, as it allows them to earn some extra income on the side while juggling other commitments!
Variety
One of the benefits that many mobile beauty therapists love is the variety that comes with freelancing. We all know the struggle of having to commute to the same place, working in the same room every day - it can get boring and uninspiring. The joy of freelancing, however, is that you can avoid this completely.
Being a mobile beauty technician means that you get to choose what areas you want to work in - whether you would prefer to work in one district only, or all over the city. You have complete control over how much and where you travel. Not only does this give you the chance to meet lots of different people every day, but it also gives you the opportunity to explore the city of London.
Better yet, you don't ever have to worry about getting lost on the way to a client. With apps like Citymapper and Google Maps, you'll be all set to start your journey traveling around the city.
More Time With Family and Friends
With all the flexibility that you get from becoming a mobile beauty technician, it means that you have the opportunity to spend more time with your family and friends. Being able to choose your own hours allows you to enjoy a better quality of life - whether that’s being able to be at home when your kids are back from school, or being able to go on holiday whenever you feel like it.
What do you need to become a mobile beautician?
Decide What Mobile Beauty Services You Offer
As a mobile beautician, the first thing you need to do is decide what mobile beauty services you will be offering.
These could be:
- Manicures and pedicures
- Hairdressing
- Waxing
- Eyelash extensions
- Spray Tan
- Facials
- Makeup
These all depend on your current qualifications and skill set, so you might only choose to focus on one specific treatment category or do a variety of different services. Remember that this is something that can change further down the line; you can always add more treatments as you go along. In fact, when you’re first starting out, it might be easier to manage while you get used to a different working lifestyle.
Get Your Qualifications Ready
If you’re looking to start a career as a mobile beautician, you should already have, or be planning to earn, beauty qualifications that are recognised across salons.
These vary from country to country. For this post, let's take the United Kingdom as an example.
To be a fully qualified therapist, you need to have an NVQ level 2 diploma and 3, but many salons will let you continue studying for level 3 while you’re gaining hands-on experience.
It's often recommended to get some experience working in a salon before jumping into the mobile beauty therapist lifestyle, as this will provide you with skills and knowledge that are vital for a beauty therapist career.
Once you have your basic qualifications, you can take additional training, for example with Elleebana, Vita Liberata, and CND so you can upskill, widen your treatments, and reach more customers.
Beauty Schools in London:
- Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTAC)
- Comité International d’Esthétique et de Cosmétologie (CIDESCO)
Get Insurance
Before you begin your career as a mobile beautician, you will need to get insurance so that you’re covered under all and any circumstances. Many salons and mobile beauty apps require you to have insurance before allowing you to work there, so it’s super important that you get this out of the way.
Using the United Kingdom again as an example for this post:
The most important policy you will need to invest in is Public Liability Insurance. This will protect you if a customer should suffer an injury caused by you, but not related to a treatment. It also covers any damage to the client’s property (e.g. destroying a table with acetone).
Another key must-have insurance is Beauty Treatment Risk Liability Insurance. This insurance policy will protect you from any unfortunate events that were caused directly by a treatment; for example, a skin reaction. If something like this happened, any legal fees and compensation given to the client would be covered.
With so many JENA customers in the UK, we get often asked for a recommendation. We know it can be confusing for new freelance beauty technicians, so we also do our best to help. Currently, we highly recommend Professional Beauty Direct - they offer a package deal from £39.50 and are super helpful for those starting out.
How do you start your mobile beautician business?
So, you've decided that you like the idea of going mobile and want to start your mobile beauty career. But, how?
There are two ways to become a mobile beauty therapist. Either, you can set up your own business; this means creating a business plan, a website, and a brand that people know of. It also means that you have to promote your business and services, and retain customers. This can sometimes sound intimidating for many therapists, which is why a lot of companies have created the technology to offer you a platform where you can work as a mobile beauty therapist freelance.
How JENA can help you launch your mobile beauty therapist lifestyle
We built JENA because we saw beauty professionals struggling with the same problems. Endless back-and-forth messaging with clients. Trying to maintain a professional image without tech skills. Working late into the night managing bookings instead of spending time with family.
The first thing JENA does is create a beautiful website for your business. You don’t need any tech skills - just add your photos, services, and prices. Your site will look premium and professional, helping you attract and retain the clients you want.
Next, JENA handles all your bookings automatically. Your clients can book appointments 24/7 through your website. No more late-night WhatsApp messages or back-and-forth scheduling. The system sends automatic confirmations and reminders, dramatically reducing no-shows.
JENA also keeps all your client information secure and organized. Health forms, consultation records, booking history - everything in one place, accessible whenever you need it. And unlike other booking systems, we never display your business next to competitors or charge you hidden fees for new clients.
Here’s what Lauren, one of our users, has to say: “JENA works out better for me because I know where I stand with money. I’ve got my evenings back, and my clients love how easy it is to book.”
Now you can get back your evenings, look more professional, and focus more on what matters most: your clients.
How do you promote your mobile beauty business?
Launching a mobile beauty business is an increasingly popular way to reach a new and bigger audience, however it’s important that you invest some time in promoting yourself and your business.
Here’s how the best mobile beauticians using JENA are promoting their business:
Word of mouth
Once you start working as a mobile beauty therapist, you’ll find that word of mouth can be just as effective as any other marketing in reaching new customers. Ask family and friends if they can introduce your business to their friends and family, and see if any of them are interested in your beauty services.
As soon as you start having a loyal customer base who love your services, you can offer them incentives if they refer your treatments to a friend. This is a really effective way of gaining new customers, while also giving back to your loyal clients.
Get on Social Media
These days, you’d be silly not to use social media for your new business. Setting up a business account on Instagram and Facebook and consistently posting is key. Use these platforms not only to post about the services and prices you offer, but also to give top tips and advice for customers. Social media is a great way to help your followers and customers get to know you better and appreciate your skills - and it’s free!
Also, don’t forget to post photos of the treatments you offer with relevant hashtags so that you’re able to attract new followers! Having a strong online presence will help customers feel confident that you can provide a high-quality service.
Create a Website
Creating a website is another great way to promote your mobile beauty business. This is one of the first places that potential customers will go to find out more about the services you offer. Having a website will make you look like a pro and attract new clients to you.
At JENA, we can create a professional-looking website for you that you can promote on social media and other places. We created the website template by interviewing lots of beauty customers to understand what it is that they need to see on a website before they feel comfortable booking. Sound interesting? Find more information here.
Once you've designed your website, all you need to do is consistently post. Add a price list, talk about the treatments you provide - any useful information will help customers trust you.
Beauty freelancing may not have been your go-to option before, but it should be. While working in a salon may feel more stable, going freelance gives you the chance to grow in a career that you’re passionate about while balancing other commitments. At JENA, our focus is on our mobile beauticians - we want to make you feel empowered by giving you a platform where you can become your own boss and get the freedom you deserve.
So, are you ready to make the change? If you want to know more about the mobile beauty therapist lifestyle at JENA, you can check out how our platform works and what it can mean for your career here. If you would prefer to speak to us, you can book a free 15-minute consultation here. This is a friendly chat, not a sales call, where we can discuss where you are at with your business, where you want to get to, and if we can help you with your goals.
Good luck out there!
