Get help starting your lash business

Do your research! Before you buy supplies, promote your business, or take your first client, there are a couple things you need to do to get started.

• Check out your area to see who you can attract as clients. Don’t assume you know who lives in your area. Be alert to see who lives and works in your area. Is it young mothers? Is it middle-aged women? Are there a lot of teenagers? These people will be your clients, so you want to know who you are going to be delivering your product to.

• Get to know all the local salons and at-home businesses in your area that do lashes. Have a look at their menus to see what they offer and how much they charge. You may even want to visit some of them as a client to see how they treat their customers, etc. This is very valuable information. 

• Figure out your price. How much will it cost you to do a set of lashes? This may be a lot of math, however, a rough guideline to use is your cost for a standard set of classic lashes ($12 to $18) plus the cost of things like your rent, power, phone, your wages, etc. Based on your costs and what other salons and home-based salons charge, decide how much you are going to charge per set. 

Think professionally. If you want to be taken seriously it’s important to project a professional image. 

• Decide on a name for your business.  It’s a good idea to name your business so that it’s easy for people to know what you do just from seeing the name. For example, if you’re operating a lash business, a name like “Lash Beauty” is probably a better name than “Happy Salon.”

• Set up a professional email address.  Depending on your ideal client base, using your personal email address may not be appropriate, so go to Gmail (free) or a domain host (the cost depends on the domain) to get a new one just for your business. You may also want to create a business social media account to promote your business. It’s fine to also let people know about your business on your personal social media, but keep in mind that your customers will also see your personal information.

• Get the necessary permits. You may need licenses or permits from your city or state to legally run a lash business, and almost all types of businesses are required to have a Federal employer identification number (EIN), also called a tax identification number. Note: your business may also need to get a similar tax identification number from your state's department of revenue or taxation. Exactly what permits or licensing you need depends on where your business will be located. 

Think about location. A lash business can be run from home, which can be very cost-effective. If you decide to run your lash business from home, it’s still important to put some thought into creating a professional space. 

• Create a professional-looking space. Second-hand shops and thrift shops are great places to get furniture that will make your home space look more like an actual salon. And don’t forget the room that you will use as a waiting room. Little touches like paintings and flowers can really complete the look here. Consider offering complimentary tea/cookies to your clients as they wait as well.

• Rent space in an existing lash bar. If you don’t want to operate your lash business out of your home, but don’t want to take the plunge yet into leasing your own space, another option is to rent a chair in an existing lash bar.

• Spread the word! Marketing, including word-of-mouth, is something any business needs to be successful. There are several ways to market your lash business without spending a lot of money.

• Focus on friends and family as clients. This is a great way to gain experience and perfect your skill while also building up your confidence. Friends and family can be your best support or word-of-mouth marketing. People are much more likely to support the businesses of people they know.

• Use social media. Lash businesses have the most success with Instagram and Facebook. The key is posting pictures of your work; before and after photos are very helpful.

• Ask for reviews. One of the most important things you can do is get online reviews. Research has found that online reviews can increase sales by as much as 270 percent. Whenever your customer tells you how much they love their lashes, ask them to write a review!

What can help you be 5X more successful?

Working with a mentor can make you 5 times more likely to succeed! Entrepreneurs who work with a mentor can help you get started and help you grow. They have experience in business and can help connect you with information and contacts and avoid obstacles. Best of all, a mentor believes in you and your dream and will listen to any ideas or concerns you have. 

Entrepreneurs with mentors are 5X more likely to launch, grow, and stay in business.