Starting mobile business-help!!

[wendy217]

Hi everyone
I'm new to the boards and have read a few relevant posts on starting up a mobile business. The main concern for me is finding and building a client base. How does everyone else go about advertising and generating business from the beginning?
Also is mobile spray tanning a viable option? From talking to other salon therapists it seems that the most popular treatments are manicures, pedicures and waxing. I think I need to get some more nail training as I'm level 3 qualified but only the bog standard nail stuff (although I prefer facials and massage and the treatments you can reaaly get stuck into, but I assume they are less popular and i will need to be really good at my bread and butter teatments).
Any advice on starting up will be gratefully received.

Thanks
Wendy

 

[nixnewcastle]

Hi wendy, congratulations first of all on considering going self employed
I was mobile to start with and heres the things I wish i had done from day one:
* get a free website so you can update is as and when you need to with special offers and you wont have to pay someone to do it (money is tight when you first start out)
* get some flyers made up professionally and designed, i did this when i got my beauty room and did leaflet drops on a sunday with them as your leaflet isn't competeing to be seen with all the other mail that comes through the door (I found flyers worked better for me than a 3 fold price list) I used Bimbo design for my flyers and design work and i couldn't have been happier with the price and her design work. She's called Lynsey and i cant recommend her enough. Also put these into as many places as possible and offer the person who is displaying them for you something as a thank you (this goes a long way!)
* call business link and have a meeting with one of their staff (they're lovely and give some fab advice)
* before you buy anything see what funding is available (i wasn't fortunate enough to get any funding but it depends on your circumstances)
*decide exactly what treatments you are going to offer and make sure your comfortable doing them (i didn't do mens massage with me being mobile unless i knew them)

Thats all i can think of off the top of my head.
PM me if you want to chat through anything, know how hard it is starting out