Setting up mobile business

[xnailsbylisax]

Right please don't jump down my throat saying i am oblivious to what start up costs are. I know how expensive it is to start up any business, i just simply want some advice

I have been qualified for a year & half in nail services & i am 3 months away from completing my Level 2 beauty therapy course. I am starting up my business as a mobile nail technician then once i am qualified in beauty i will add the treatments on.

I have all the kit needed for nail services but my question is: is it possible to start up a successful business from absolutely nothing? I know its goin to be costly in the long run but i literally have no savings, little money coming in, a 4 year old to look after etc. Is it possible to do without savings if i am determined to do it? I'm not takin out no loans/grants as all my kit i have paid for myself but can i really start up on little money coming in but just add bits to my kit/products as i go along?

 

[curlygirl]

Absolutley! and without the option of 'ill just get this too' or 'ill put it on the credit card and pay it back' youll probably find that you have really good discipline! if you can start with what you have , maybe put £5 from every service to one side and at the end of the month see how much you have and buy something else - a new product, more colours- training etc. If you can manage like that without the shadow of any debt hanging over you then you will get so much satisfaction when in a years time you can look back and say 'look what ive done all by myself'! good luck xxx

 

[xnailsbylisax]

Absolutley! and without the option of 'ill just get this too' or 'ill put it on the credit card and pay it back' youll probably find that you have really good discipline! if you can start with what you have , maybe put £5 from every service to one side and at the end of the month see how much you have and buy something else - a new product, more colours- training etc. If you can manage like that without the shadow of any debt hanging over you then you will get so much satisfaction when in a years time you can look back and say 'look what ive done all by myself'! good luck xxx

Thankyou when i speak to people who have set their own business up alot have gone through bank loans/credit cards/payday loans & i really want to steer clear of all those. I paid for all my nail services kit myself but thats all i have at the moment whats full. I have a spray tan machine but no tent, uv lamp but only a few gel colours, all my waxing equipment & consumables but no couch bed.. Everythin had something missing haha.

You're right though. When i look back hopefully i will be successful & i will know i have done it all myself just not sure if it was possible without having x amount of funds/savings x

 

[melissab]

I've done the same thing myself. Everything I've bought and paid for has been with my own money. It does take longer but, as already said, you are more disciplined on what you buy. Every month I put money aside and buy something else that I need. I've made a list and ordered it from need to want and I'm slowly crossing things off. Good luck.

 

[xnailsbylisax]

I've done the same thing myself. Everything I've bought and paid for has been with my own money. It does take longer but, as already said, you are more disciplined on what you buy. Every month I put money aside and buy something else that I need. I've made a list and ordered it from need to want and I'm slowly crossing things off. Good luck.

Ooh i like the idea of the list. See its things like this what i need tips & advice on do you mind me asking do you put away a set percentage of what you earn away every week or do you just put odd amounts away? How does that work when you're self employed because i always thought you had to put all cash into an account?

 

[melissab]

I put all the money I earn away but I'm married and lucky enough my husband is very supportive and pays most of the bills. I do have other income for myself, it's just a bit, that covers my bills with a bit left over to put aside. I have two accounts with my bank to make it easier for me. One is personal and one is for my business so I can keep my income and spending separate. There's a group on Facebook called, professional beauty supplies - for sale/wanted. You may be able to find a few things on there that you need.

 

[chloester]

this is all i was looking for a while ago and i felt everyone had a go at me
the best thing i can advise is keep a spread sheet of customers and how much you are taking and how much profit you are left with and another for what you buy in a month so at the end of the month you can check the two and see where you need to make cuts and where you need to improve helps you keep track of all your money


also i would start taking a note of all your customers and their treatments i recently started keeping a folder full of form i get people to sign before a treatment with a declaration basically covering me when it comes to taking a reaction to a treatment etc

hope this was of some use

 

[facelashbrow]

Theres loads of really useful threads like this so I do find there are less and less replies to these posts because everyone has commented before if that makes sense? If you do a search "starting mobile" and sit with a pen and paper you will find looooooads, I also subscribe on the app to all these kind of threads which is helpful.

Good luck!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[xnailsbylisax]

this is all i was looking for a while ago and i felt everyone had a go at me
the best thing i can advise is keep a spread sheet of customers and how much you are taking and how much profit you are left with and another for what you buy in a month so at the end of the month you can check the two and see where you need to make cuts and where you need to improve helps you keep track of all your money


also i would start taking a note of all your customers and their treatments i recently started keeping a folder full of form i get people to sign before a treatment with a declaration basically covering me when it comes to taking a reaction to a treatment etc

hope this was of some use

I already keep details of all ingoing/outgoing money as i will be doing my own books so i need al that for those. I also have all my clients record cards with their signed consent forms stapled to them & theh are all together in a locked box so i already have all that sorted.

I know exactly what you mean about feeling like people jump at you. Thats exactly the reason why i put that in my 1st sentence lol x

 

[xnailsbylisax]

Theres loads of really useful threads like this so I do find there are less and less replies to these posts because everyone has commented before if that makes sense? If you do a search "starting mobile" and sit with a pen and paper you will find looooooads, I also subscribe on the app to all these kind of threads which is helpful.

Good luck!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using SalonGeek mobile app

I have seeb alot of startin up threads but none specifically aime at starting ip with no money. Alot mention about savings etc so i wanted to speak to people what had started up from virtuay nothing

 

[facelashbrow]

Theyre older as they are so frequent but do exist... this is how I learnt, I didnt have start up funds either.

If you have your kit then you can invest in marketing etc as you begin earning, the promote thread has loads of free ideas to bring in custom. The very basics are kit and either transport/ place to perform treatments so if you have them then you're away. Hope it goes well!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[facelashbrow]

Also write a list of everything you need for your business (kit + any other business related expense), and add to them as you earn. Highlight the minimum that you need to go to work tomorrow and if you have this then you're all set x

Sent from my GT-I9505 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[curlygirl]

even now i still have a wish list! So maybe if you have a nail kit, getting a lamp will be at the top of your list as you already have a few gel colours so once you have a lamp instantly you can add new services and increase your profits- especially with holiday coming gel nails and toes will be a big earner! Think logically and plan - special offer 'Two for tuesdays' ( hands and feet) are really good, loyalty cards, recommend a friend- oh and get networking! By attending local networking meeting ive met people who are prepared to treatment swap in return for leaflets- free promotion at their events etc so well worth it! Get to the local school before they break up and give out leaflets for 'summer holiday' and 'back to school' discounts too - and also get an ad in your local shop window- youd be suprised how much you can get from them for very little per week! ket - if youre good at nails why not run a promotion for 'wedding nails' different designs etc- these are big where i am at the moment x

 

[xnailsbylisax]

Theyre older as they are so frequent but do exist... this is how I learnt, I didnt have start up funds either.

If you have your kit then you can invest in marketing etc as you begin earning, the promote thread has loads of free ideas to bring in custom. The very basics are kit and either transport/ place to perform treatments so if you have them then you're away. Hope it goes well!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using SalonGeek mobile app

Thanks hun. Got my kit for nails & i have my car for transport (even though its on its last legs ha) so think i will just plug that & save some money out of what i make. I'm desperate to get carl from verve to design my price lists but not sure if i should wait until i am qualified in beauty for them to be done

 

[xnailsbylisax]

even now i still have a wish list! So maybe if you have a nail kit, getting a lamp will be at the top of your list as you already have a few gel colours so once you have a lamp instantly you can add new services and increase your profits- especially with holiday coming gel nails and toes will be a big earner! Think logically and plan - special offer 'Two for tuesdays' ( hands and feet) are really good, loyalty cards, recommend a friend- oh and get networking! By attending local networking meeting ive met people who are prepared to treatment swap in return for leaflets- free promotion at their events etc so well worth it! Get to the local school before they break up and give out leaflets for 'summer holiday' and 'back to school' discounts too - and also get an ad in your local shop window- youd be suprised how much you can get from them for very little per week! ket - if youre good at nails why not run a promotion for 'wedding nails' different designs etc- these are big where i am at the moment x

I ready have 2 lamps i must've forgot to add that in. I'm not really confident with gels at moment but suppose i could practise then build up. There's so much to think about it lol i'm gonna make a list

 

[louisekjh]

This is so positive to hear!

I have not even begun my training yet (hoping to do spray tanning and body wraps in the next few weeks) but like you I have no savings.

Since Xmas I have managed to save £350 which is for my spray tanning stat up and once I've started I'm going to put away my earnings to save up for the next course/kit.

I'm quite lucky that my partner works and we don't rely on a wage from me so what I earn can go straight back into training.

Good luck!

 

[xnailsbylisax]

This is so positive to hear!

I have not even begun my training yet (hoping to do spray tanning and body wraps in the next few weeks) but like you I have no savings.

Since Xmas I have managed to save £350 which is for my spray tanning stat up and once I've started I'm going to put away my earnings to save up for the next course/kit.

I'm quite lucky that my partner works and we don't rely on a wage from me so what I earn can go straight back into training.

Good luck!

Thankyou i am determined to do it even though i live off very little money so usually anything spare from bills goes on food or shopping and clothes or days out with my son. I mau have to cut back on a few things in order to set up but once i am successful i will have more money to do things with my son anyway so all positive