Beauty Therapists - have you always been self employed?

[ADiva1]

Hi to all you hard working Therapists!:hug:

Just need to pick your brains about work issues.

Have you ever worked for an employer i.e. in a salon, or did you just set up your own business straight after you trained?

Or do you still work in a salon for an employer?

Would love to hear from you, thanks!:lol:

 

[pure]

I became self employed as soon as I qualified. Mainly for 2 reasons.

1. I have to work around my children, which means part time with some evenings. No employer would want me!!:lol:

2. Between having the children and then working with my husband in his business it's been many years since I had an employer and I think I'm too bossy and independent to have someone else tell me what to do anymore!!:lol:

 

[ADiva1]

I became self employed as soon as I qualified. Mainly for 2 reasons.

1. I have to work around my children, which means part time with some evenings. No employer would want me!!:lol:

2. Between having the children and then working with my husband in his business it's been many years since I had an employer and I think I'm too bossy and independent to have someone else tell me what to do anymore!!:lol:

Thanks hun. I'm finding it very hard to cope with point 2 that you mentioned above! I am employed - mainly for the back to back appointment experience. XX

 

[Shellie xx]

I worked for a salon for 4 years before I became self employed. Even though at the time I was forever moaning about working there, looking back it gave me loads of confidence and such great training. The girls were fun to work with too! Having said that, I would NEVER like to work for anyone ever again, I love being self employed too much! xx

 

[pure]

Thanks hun. I'm finding it very hard to cope with point 2 that you mentioned above! I am employed - mainly for the back to back appointment experience. XX

Are you not coping with having a boss?
I can understand that.:lol:

I love being the one who makes the decisions. And the only one I have to worry about too. Although I am working pretty much back to back too jut recently. Not that I'm complaining though because it might be quiet next month. :Scared:

 

[THERAPY]

I worked mobile for a while, then worked in a salon for about 6 months.
I always wanted to work for myself while I was training so I knew that I would eventually.
The salon was great and gave me experience with clients and being in a salon environment so it was worth it.
I've been self employed for 8 months now and I love it and would never want to go back to being employed by anyone. x

 

[DEBI-DEE]

I was employed for 7 years before i decided to work for myself. My salon experience was invaluable and i worked with some fantastic people. I also love working for myself as its flexible and pays really well, i can work as little or as much as i like. (im a bit of a workaholic so its usually the latter):lol:

 

[ADiva1]

I worked mobile for a while, then worked in a salon for about 6 months.
I always wanted to work for myself while I was training so I knew that I would eventually.
The salon was great and gave me experience with clients and being in a salon environment so it was worth it.
I've been self employed for 8 months now and I love it and would never want to go back to being employed by anyone. x

Thanks for responding:hug:
I know what you mean about the salon experience. It does help alot.
Guess its all about planning when to go on your own really!

 

[alpina]

I started off with very different intentions than what I have now. I started doing work experience at one of my towns best day spas, while I was still studying for my certificate 3 in beauty. I didn't do many treatments on clients, but it was a fabulous experience. The training I got there was fantastic, but sadly when I qualified to work on the public there were no positions available at that spa.

I left that salon with a great reference and started work in another salon a few days later. I always wanted to work for myself, but had every intention of working for someone else for quite a few years first to gain experience.

Things weren't as I expected in the new salon, hygiene was poor, etc, and I wasn't happy there. About two weeks after I started my boss told me the salon had been on the market for a while and was now sold so I would only be needed for another month. The contract fell through so I stayed for two more more months until it did sell.

I was so disappointed to out of work so soon, and didn't want to go through all the trouble of job hunting again, and being the new girl again. I decided to open up my home salon then.

I opened about a month later and have never been happier. It's been hard, starting with no clients and little salon experience, but things are improving all the time. I really enjoy the freedom to make my own choices (and mistakes), and I can see that my little salon will be quite successful one day (hopefully soon).

Sorry for the lecture, I didn't mean to type so much.:o

 

[bombini]

I was employed to start with and also had work experience placements in salons whilst at college.

My personal opinion is that is more beneficial to have worked in a salon/spa before going it alone so that you have experience of working back to back appointments and also due to the amount of training you will (or should) have. Also the amount of tips & techniques you learn from other therapists help you to progress as a therapist.

It's also a huge advantage if you have a client base that will follow you should you leave.

I was thinking today actually how hard it is to build a business and what I am going to do when ive had my baby, im not sure if I will be able to carry on and I really don't think I could pack up and start all over again it is such hard work !!!

I would definetly consider being employed again but it would have to be a senior position

At the end of the day if your motivated enough anything is possible ! x

 

[redsadie]

Hiya

I am self employed and have been since being made redundant. I always planned to be SE but just not quite so soon!

I think I have the best of both worlds as I have a room at the back of a busy hair salon, so I get to be SE but have the benefit of being surrounded by a salon environment and although I have a limited client base atm, I pick up hair clients who want things doing beauty wise :green:. I counted them up the other day and I have 30 clients in my folder, not bad for 2.5 days a week do you think?!

xx

 

[Martin Duffy]

I worked employed after college for 5 years and then spent the last 6 years working self-employed. The employed salons I worked in helped me to get experience in a salon, and gave me ideas as to what I would & wouldn't do in my own. However, I could never go back to employed work, I hate being told what to do, especially when it involves cutting corners to help a salon owner make more money!

 

[hippy-chick]

Since I started in this career, I have been self employed, I've worked freelance in every place that I've worked at. I enjoyed the fact that I flitted in and out of different venues without getting too involved.

I have also taught freelance for a few colleges alongside this.

I have been self employed for the past 6 years fitting it in around my son, and the past 2 years I've rented a room in my own right. I now rent 2 rooms and have about 300 clients.

I could NEVER go back to being employed. I HATE being told what to do, I really can't do that again.

I probably work triple the amount that I would if I was employed, but its all for me, not for someone else.

Come September, I will be opening the training room to work alongside my therapies.

 

[Princessstacie]

I became self employed almost straight after qualifying, i have a young daughter to work around and i heard that the money is rubbish in our area if you work in a salon. I have the best of both worlds now, i can work when i want and reep all of the benefits. I also working for a salon self employed on a 60/40 basis and the owner is brilliant. If i dont have a client i dont have to be there (although i do stay to try and build up my client base). I dont have to answer to her etc. She says as long as she gets her 40% commssion she is happy! hth x x x x x

 

[ADiva1]

Thank you all so much for sharing all of your personal experiences with me!
As someone said, if you are motivated, good things will happen!