Make money as a mobile hairdresser

Kamal Khurana 17th Sep 2014 2 Comments

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Mobile hairdressing is great for anyone who is an experienced hairdresser.

If you’re thinking about become a mobile hairdresser read our guide below on how to get started.

• What is a mobile hairdresser? 
• Getting started 
• What qualifications will I need? 
• How much should I charge? 
• Donna Grant founder of mobile hair and make-up business Beauty Angels

 

What is a mobile hairdresser?

A mobile hairdresser is someone who offers salon services such as;

• Blowdry
• Haircut
• Hairstyling
• Dye and highlights
• Extensions

…at the client’s home.

Mobile hairdressers provide regular services to their busy clients who are often working parents or busy business people. But remember, anyone could want a mobile hairdresser, as it’s all dependent on need. Mobile hairdressers are usually fully trained hairdressers who have a flexible schedule. These hairdressers can charge what they want for their services. So it could be a great money maker, if you’re fully trained and have time to spare.

 

 

Getting started

If you want to train be a mobile hairdresser you will need to follow the latest beauty trends, so you can give your client’s up-to-date fashion advice. You’ll also need to have a friendly, bubbly personality. Being sociable and having a good rapport with your clients is essential. You will also need …

• an organised approach, as you will have to book appointments and turn up on time at a variety of different locations.
• Customer service and ‘people’ skills will also be important to enable you to talk to customers and find out what type of hair treatment they want.
• You also need to be physically fit, this can be a tiring job and you should be prepared to be on your feet all day.

The easiest way to find clients when you’re starting out is word of mouth. Let family and friends though about the services that you’re offering and that you’re available. Then, ask them to recommend you to their friends too. This will help to get the word spreading.

You might want to offer a family and friends discount as well. This will help to encourage them to spread the positive word of mouth you’ll need. You may even want to create business cards or leaflets to pass on to any new clients.

Also don’t forget that you will need to register with HMRC to let them know that you are self employed. You will have to submit   the details of your earnings through the self assessment process.

 

 

What qualifications will I need?

As with most jobs in the beauty industry you’ll need some qualifications. Having a professional certificate will make your clients trust you. When starting out as a mobile hairdresser you should ensure that you have the appropriate qualifications before practising any treatments. Here are a few course available…

West Thames College London

West Thames College London offer full time, part time, or day hairdressing courses and apprenticeships in hairdressing. Students will train in professional salons, have access to top products and take part in industry events. For more information on the types of courses and their fees, click here.

Toni & Guy beginner’s cut and colour course

This is a globally recognised course, where, on completion, students will get an NVQ in hairdressing. Two types of courses are offered an 18-week programme for £8,085 or a 30-week course for £13,000. To find out where your local course is and the next start date, click here.

The London Hair Academy –

The London Hair Academy offers a wide range of courses at beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. To see their full list of application days and open events, view all the info here.

 

 

How much should I charge?

Your fees will depend on the services you offer and your location.

When you’re starting out, find  out what other hairdressers in your area are charging for their services. Then, you should charge the same (or slightly less) to win over some customers. Outside of London, you could charge roughly £25-£30 for a cut, wash, blow-dry. However, prices will be higher in more affluent areas. Remember, though, as your business starts to grow you can increase your prices.

Offering discounts for multiple services such as a cut and colour is a good idea to boost your earnings too.

Make sure you create a leaflet with all the services you offer and the prices you charge. This is a great way to market and promote yourself. Don’t forget to add all your contact details too, you’ll want to be reached by all your eager clients.

 

 

Case study: Donna Grant self-employed mobile beauty and hairdresser

 

Donna Grant is the founder and creative director of mobile hair and make-up business Beauty Angels. We chatted to her about the ins and outs of running a mobile beauty business.

Tell us about your business. 

“Beauty Angels was established in 2003. We specialise in hair and make-up for brides as well as TV, commercial and fashion shoots. I also work as a part-time make-up lecturer and trainer.”

Why did you choose to start a mobile business? 

“Ultimately, it was my desire for professional freedom. I’ve always been passionate about hair and make-up. This led me to study fashion design for hair and make-up at the London College of Fashion. Afterwards, I worked in different sales and marketing roles, but always dreamt of running my own business. Nine years ago, with support from friends and family, I took the plunge.”

What were the main challenges when starting out? 

“Starting your own business is like taking a step into the unknown. No matter how much advice and support you get, there are lots of areas where you have to learn as you go along. Keeping on top of finances is really difficult for anyone starting out in business, particularly if they are on the road a lot so stay on top of incoming and outgoing payments.”

Do you have any advice or recommendations for other mobile business owners? 

“Make the most of any free support you can get and be as open-minded as possible when it comes to new opportunities and inspiration. Do not be afraid to seek advice. I have benefitted from advice from a dedicated small business coach, who advised me on some of the essentials in starting up my own business. My small business advisor was allocated by the Job Centre and he was fantastic, as were the friends and family who pitched in to help me keep my start-up costs down. 

“You also need to learn to keep your business head on at all times. Working in the hair and beauty industry you develop a real rapport with clients: it’s a very personal service. However, sometimes the payment side of things can feel awkward and it’s tempting to compromise on price.

What are your plans for the future? 

“Now that we’ve found our feet with the financial side, we’ve been working with our accountant to look at ways to build not only profitability but also the brand as a whole. I think there’s a lot of potential in the mobile business model, so I’m exploring franchise and training options.”

For more top tips on starting a mobile business click here.

 

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