What advice or tip would you offer to someone looking to start their own eyelash extension business?
To help you feel more comfortable in your mission to start an eyelash extension business, we asked entrepreneurs and business leaders this question for their best tips. From mastering your technique to focusing on your online presence, there are several ideas that may help your eyelash business come to fruition.
Here are eight tips for someone looking to start their own eyelash extension business:
- Master Your Technique
- Secure Your Social Media Handles
- Continued Education
- Focus On A Smooth Booking System
- Consider Different Business Structures
- Be Willing To Travel
- Focus On Your Online Presence
- Help Newbies Know What To Expect
Master Your Technique
Before starting your own eyelash business, it is important to ensure you have mastered your technique! As an eyelash extension artist with years of experience, I can tell who has taken the time to really master their craft and who is just starting on their journey. If you are new to the game, working under other artists gives you a great opportunity to hone your skills. Also, ensure that when you do open a business, you will have clients waiting in line to book!
Vanessa Molica, The Lash Professional
Secure Your Social Media Handles
Beauty-related businesses rely heavily on image-focused social media platforms, like Instagram, to build their client list. This is why linking your social media profiles closely to your new eyelash extension business is going to be critical to you getting the word out that you’re open for business. This means that the first step you should take when starting your eyelash extension business is to make sure your intended social media handles are available. I would even suggest doing this before choosing your business’ name or buying the domain for your new website as, that way, you’re not locking yourself into a name that doesn’t match the available profile on Instagram. Given that this is going to be one of the main ways that potential clients find you, it’s important to ensure that your branding is consistent and easily identifiable across all relevant platforms.
Anna Barker, Logical Dollar
Continued Education
Although I do not run an eyelash extension business, I am an account manager for one! Through our time working together, I have learned that the key to having a successful eyelash extension business is continued education. There are always new techniques and trends coming out, and to ensure you are always providing your clients with the best, you need to always seek out new training opportunities.
Nikitha Lokareddy, Markitors
Focus On A Smooth Booking System
In a business as visual as eyelash extensions, make sure to take high-quality photos of the studio, before and after eyelashes of clients, staff both on and off the job, and plenty of testimonials and customer reviews. This should be at the forefront of your booking system and encourage clients to schedule an appointment after viewing your services in action. Focus on engaging new visitors to your page by offering discounts, incentives to existing clients through referral marketing and providing a smooth booking system.
Joe Flanagan, VelvetJobs
Consider Different Business Structures
If you’re looking to open an eyelash extension business, I highly recommend researching all the rules and tax regulations surrounding how you’re planning to run your business. The last thing you’d want to happen is paying more taxes on something you shouldn’t have. For example, I had one client who had her own home business doing eyelashes and nails. She is classified as self-employed, and when tax season rolled around, I was able to help her save hundreds of dollars by showing her the types of things you can write off on such as supplies. If you purchased anything used to generate income through a product or service, you can write it off. If you take your employees out, you can write that off. There are many little things you can save money on if you know how to properly document them on your taxes.
Manny Vetti, Back Taxes Help, LLC
Be Willing To Travel
I recommend offering a delivery service. If people have to come to your location, then this barrier may prevent you from making sales. Instead, be willing to travel to a client’s home or office to do the eyelash extensions. You can charge a little extra for this service, and it will be the most convenient option in town.
Melissa Kelly, Virtual Team Building
Focus On Your Online Presence
In an ever-changing world of technology and access to a mass amount of information right at our fingertips, our future is certainly digital. The same goes for that of a business. The future of successful business lies in digital marketing and online applications. Creating a website is an easy way to help to bolster your credibility. Trust comes from friends, family, and Google, which means that when you need something, you ask friends and family, but ultimately, you end up Googling for it. Searching for “eyelash extensions [local area/near me],” for example, will show some of the larger businesses. If you can build a website and get it to rank at the top of those searches, you’re likely to see rapid growth.
Charlie Worrall, Imaginaire
Help Newbies Know What To Expect
As a person who absolutely loves a beautiful set of eyelash extensions and a small business consultant, I think it is important to help new clients learn what to expect to continue generating new business. Whatever you can do to share videos, photos, drawings, etc., of the process (start to finish) is incredibly helpful. Perhaps on your website or social media page(s), you feature a “New Client Orientation” to share some main points, what to expect, and the steps you go through during the application process. Also, consider providing information about the products/chemicals you use (brand/product names). Providing this information shows that you care deeply about your clients’ experience and want them to be happy, right from the start!
Niki Ramirez, HR Answers
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