Own Business

[nikki21]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me where I'm going wrong? At the moment I am working full time in an office but trying to build my mobile beauty business up around working full time. I've been doing this for about a year now and its still very very slow. Is anyone in the same position and how long does it take you to build up business. My plan is to eventually go part-time somewhere and do my beauty the rest of the time,but at the mo I just don't have enough clients. Thought it would have happened by now!!
Thanks:cry:

 

[persianista]

It is far more difficult to lauch a business part time in the service sector. A lot of people want daytime/ morning apps. If you are limited to evenings and weekends, you limit when people can book. Most salons now are open 6 days and a few late nights, its what clients expect

 

[nikki21]

Thanks for your reply. I would have thought that people would prefer evening and weekend apts? Do you work mobile or have your own salon? And would you say you are most busiest in mornings and daytime rather than evenings and weekends?:lol:

 

[jotommo]

hi i am a mobile hairdresser and when i decided to go mobile from working full time in a salon, i dropped my days at the salon down to three full days, thrs, fri sat, and worked mobile the rest, (tues, wed thurs evening, friday morning)
i also did my level 3 on a monday at college and worked obile after that.
it took prob 6 months to have enough to give the shop work up. but now i love it, i work tues to sat now and alot want daytime apps...
i work prob 3 evenings and manage to always get home before 8,
it is hard work (esp as i have a 3 year old son too) but if this is your dream go for it.
good luck xx

 

[nikki21]

Hi,
Thanks thats really good to know. You sound like your working really hard but if you enjoy it, it does'nt matter. This is def what I want to do but unfortunatley I can't drop a few days as I have a mortgage and bills etc to pay so it a vicious circle!:green:

 

[ADiva1]

How about compressing your full time hours. If you really want to be in the industry you will have to make some sacrifices!:hug:

 

[persianista]

I have salons, and find that clients want appointments when it suits them, not us.
I currently work 6 days and 4 late nights (am short staffed).

 

[skymark]

I know that its always difficult when making the transition from working full time.

Unfortunately if this is something that you want to make into a profitable business it will need a lot more hours putting into it.

Some people do just work a few hours a week in this industry to make a few extra pennies to supplement their income, but if you want to make it into a business you will need to make a few leaps of faith along the way, and giving up guranteed work hours to devote to your business is one of them.

I know that it is always easier said than done as we all have bills that still need to be paid each month, but this need to make the business pay the bills is often the thing that drives people once they have made the leap.

This site and its old threads offer a wealth of information and peoples own experiences of getting things off the ground. How people have grown their client bases, mistakes they have made and what things have worked.
Try searching all the things you are finding difficult and 'm sur you'll find threads where people have been wondering the same.

 

[jotommo]

Some people do just work a few hours a week in this industry to make a few extra pennies to supplement their income, but if you want to make it into a business you will need to make a few leaps of faith along the way, and giving up guranteed work hours to devote to your business is one of them.

I know that it is always easier said than done as we all have bills that still need to be paid each month, but this need to make the business pay the bills is often the thing that drives people once they have made the leap.




100% agree... i also have a morgage and bills, if you could maybe have one day off for now and the mobile money you make that day will make up the day from your usual job?!?
then go from there dropping hours to do your mobile.
it is really really hard but so worth it if that's what you want to do,
nothing drives me more than knowing if i don't get the clients in, my bills won't get paid!!
xx

 

[nikki21]

Hi,
Yes thats good advise thanks. I know it is hard but worth it in the end. You definetley get more job satisfaction from working for yourself than for someone else and you don't mind putting in the hours. Its just very hard to get it started.
Thanks for all your advice.

 

[kylieb]

The beauty front is a little slow at the mo, in this area anyway. I am both quite dead in the spa and mobile.
I used to do mobile full time but when times are quiet then you are not getting paid!! So i am now doing 30 hours at a spa because its guaranteed money.
I find friday's quite popular for mobile clients and any evening in the week.
If you are really serious about it then it's just how you get yourself out there and heard of. In the first year or even few years (with clients) you really dont earn a lot as it all goes back into your business.
Good luck hun. You can make it work if you want it xxx

 

[Lemmonie]

Hi. Im in the same position as you althogh i only work part time during the day and when im not in the office i am looking after my 2 and 3 year olds!

I open my home salon at 7pm each evening except saturdays (husband and wife time)

I am booked every evening with at least one if not two clients and book about 2-3 weeks in advance.

Dont be put off that clients all want day time appointments. In fact if i went "full time" with my salon i would struggle to get clients in.

Good luck. For what its worth my most effective form of advertising was leaflet drops locally and yell.com.

Good luck

 

[Creative Cal]

Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Creative Cal]

hi love. i am in exactly the same position as you. i work full time 830 til 530 and do my beauty on top of this. i have no choice as i am trying to buy a house at the moment and won't get a mortgage approved if i leave my job. so i feel your pain! all i would suggest is just keep positive and keep going. take advantage of paid holidays from your job and use these days to do extra training or promotion of your beauty business. it has been a bit quiet recently in almost every business i imagine but party reason is almost here and people who work full time like us will need evening appointments to get ready for all their work do s. perhaps do a special offer for local businesses, you could send out letters saying discounts for group booking for all their staff who want a treatment for christmas party or something x x
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[nikki21]

Hi, thanks guys for all your comments. Yes we are trying to get a mortgage at the mo so its very difficult as Im not really enjoying my full time office job and would love to get out of there! Iv just heard that a salon near me have vacancies for therapists so gonna put application in and see if they want someone for 30 hours so I can have one day doing my own beauty until it builds up. You know when you want it all to happen straightaway-I'm sooooo impatient!! X