Career change - beauty industry

Sandtree

ushjr said:

I know nothing about the beauty industry but I would have thought that you'd need industry experience before setting up your own business. I know a few sole traders but to my knowledge they all started off working for someone else before going alone.

I do think the "beauty industry" is a bit like putting lipstick on a pig... its not glamorous work for the 95% and if you end up making NMW you aren't doing too bad.

Not big on beauty myself but have known one or two who do it as a sideline and its always been the same story... start out doing friends and family for free... friends of friends start asking and a few turn into paying customers then through word of mouth the client base grows. The challenge is to get them to pay and become regulars as too many think you did it for free when you were honing your skills and so should still do so now.

Most have been travelling beauticians though and so avoid the issue of having commercial premises but can spend 45 minutes between each client travelling which effectively halves the income. 

Brie

My concern about the botox side of it is it sounds from recent news reports that it will become more regulated due to the "almost" medical processes.  No point in paying big bucks and lots of interest if you are not going to be able to use that training.

Edi81

After watching the BBC Three documentary about the lack of regulation in the industry there is no way anyone other than a doctor or nurse would be putting fillers or Botox in me! 

ssparks2003

You are by you own admission earning good money and a twice a year bonus, but you need to take a loan out for the course. You are going to take a significant cut in salary for quite a while changing career. 

Perhaps build up a buffer fund before you think of taking a step because you will have potential issues in paying debts back if you have not managed to save something substantial of the current wage.

MalMonroe

A distant cousin of mine recently set up her own small beauty therapy business. I know that she started off by taking beauty therapy courses, nails, make up, waxing, stuff like that and took it all very seriously and ended up with lots of certificates (but from what authentic learning establishments, I'm not quite sure). Last year she did some botox training and is now (according to some beauty establishment not many people have heard of) a qualified and registered botox therapist,with needles! I know she has done some really intensive training and takes her craft very seriously indeed but am not sure whether or not the institutions she has 'graduated' from are legitimate or recognised.

It is worrying because she has NO medical training whatsoever and as other people are saying, botox injected incorrectly or in the wrong place is very dangerous indeed. And as Edi81 says, there is no regulation. It's scary.

My cousin's beauty business, in a small town in the south of England, is doing a roaring trade. I fear for her clients because nobody really knows about the long term effects of botox. Some of the short term effects are horrendous enough. People with lips as fat as chips - no thanks! And the thought of non-medically qualified people sticking needles into other people just makes my bones turn to jelly!  I would never become a customer of my cousin because I don't trust the training she's had - even though all the certificates are hung on the wall of her small business premises. She does have to pay for her premises, too, btw and she is now registered self-employed, with all that entails. If you did work from your spare room, though, you'd have to register as self employed.

Having said all that, I really do not think it's a bad idea to want to change career paths. Isn't there anything else you fancy studying without having to jab needles in people? There are loads of courses you could take - and you may be able to get a student loan as well. 

Marcon

MalMonroe said:

Having said all that, I really do not think it's a bad idea to want to change career paths. Isn't there anything else you fancy studying without having to jab needles in people? There are loads of courses you could take - and you may be able to get a student loan as well. 

Agree entirely. If OP is indeed 'creative', botox and fillers aren't (or shouldn't!) give much scope for creativity...

kimwp

Marcon said:

MalMonroe said:

Having said all that, I really do not think it's a bad idea to want to change career paths. Isn't there anything else you fancy studying without having to jab needles in people? There are loads of courses you could take - and you may be able to get a student loan as well. 

Agree entirely. If OP is indeed 'creative', botox and fillers aren't (or shouldn't!) give much scope for creativity...

Not unless the clients are wanting a Picasso look 😁. 

Savesmartsunday

Marcon said:

Daisy2521 said:

Hi guys,

I currently work in the finance industry, I earn a good wage and receive a bonus twice per year.

I have never been interested in “finance”, I was just lucky and it kind of fell into place.

I am a very creative person and love all things beauty, fashion, DIY, crafts etc. And have been longing to start my own business for such a long time.

I would absolutely love to start in the beauty industry in aesthetics such as Fillers, Botox and eyelash extensions etc.

The question isn't meant discourteously, but why haven't you done so before? What steps have you taken to ensure that when you take the plunge (and good luck when you do!), you are up to speed on all the things you will need to know about running your own business? A background in the finance industry is a great help, but there's plenty more to learn.

Daisy2521 said:

As I am not a medical professional the course would cost me £5000.

I am thinking of taking the plunge, taking out a loan and doing the course. I could work from my spare room in the evenings and weekends and if it took off I could go full time.

How much practical experience, in a recognised salon or other bona fide establishment, will you get during the course? Not many people will want to toddle along to someone's spare room to have their fillers done by someone with no track record and no training/experience history.

Daisy2521 said:

Is there profit in this industry and would it be worth me taking the course?

I would love to hear what you think and especially peoples experience who are in the industry or made huge career changes from a stable well paid job?

Thank you so much

There's only profit to be made if you have the right contacts and those contacts produce paying clients. What marketing will you do? Where will your clients come from?

Asking if it's 'worth taking the course' won't get you any meaningful answers because nobody knows what the course is, what it covers, how it fits with your view of yourself as a 'creative' person. Have you ever worked in the beauty industry at all - even as (say) a Saturday girl in Boots in your teens, or similar?

None of the above is meant to deter you; just get you thinking about whether your ideas are realistic, or just a bit of wishful thinking. Drawing up a business plan now would be no bad start - and I wish you well!

Lots of women pay beauticians for injectables. A lady I saw offers it…. It’s a joke industry 

Savesmartsunday

Diamandis said:

Finding insurance that will cover you when you're not a doctor or nurse will be very difficult and expensive. Jumping straight to botox seems like a big leap. I agree that nails, eyelashes, eyebrows etc might be a better place to start. 

She wouldn’t be able to get the injectables easily