How To Start a Mobile Hairdressing Business

Do you work in a salon but feel you’d love to unleash your curl power?! Or have you retired but miss the daily hairdressing salon chatter and gossip? Starting a Mobile Hairdressing Business is easy to set up and is a low cost way to give you the joy and freedom of working for yourself.

1: Pros and Cons
2: Qualifications
3. How much can I earn? And startup costs
4: Choose your business structure and registering your business
5: Create your business plan
6: Research
7. Marketing and Branding
8. Red tape
10. Conclusion

In 2023, the Hairdressing & Beauty Treatment industry market size, measured by revenue, was a whooping £4.4bn. Employing 148,000 people in 37,530 businesses. 

In the UK, 60% of hairdressers are self-employed. As a self-employed hairdresser you can set up a salon in your home or at a business premise. You can also work as a mobile hairdresser, visiting clients in their own home, their place of work, or maybe a retirement home or at fashion shows and weddings. You can even rent a chair or room at a local salon owned by someone else. 

These alternatives provide you the freedom and independence to work to your own schedule and balance your life’s other responsibilities. As a hairdresser or barber, with your scissors and your comb in your bag, you can basically work anywhere in the world!

• Potential Annual Revenue: £20-35,000
• Startup Cost: £500-£1,000
• Time To Revenue: 2-3+ months 
• Annual Market Growth Rate:  %
• Best for: Hard working, trustworthy entrepreneurs with great communication skills!
  

Hairdressing is one of the most sociable jobs in the world. 

You’ll spend all day making clients feel amazing and when it comes to socialising within the industry, there’s no shortage of events either.

Mobile hairdressing is a scalable business too, which means it’s possible to reinvest and expand over time into other related areas of the beauty industry. For example a you could add mobile spray tanning or nails to your business. 

Before you plug in that hairdryer, here are some pros and cons to keep in mind:

7 Great Reasons to Start a Mobile Hairdressing Business

• Recession proof – One of the takeaways from the Covid19 pandemic was that DIY hairdressing can be hilarious! How we missed the pros. 😀
• Flexibility –  Choose when and where you work, allowing for a better work-life balance.
• Low overheads – Compared to renting  business premises. You won’t have to worry about monthly rent, utility bills and other expenses associated with a traditional salon.
• Building personal relationships – You can develop a loyal client base, meeting people in their homes and building rapport is easier than in a busy salon.
• You probably already have many tools of the trade, scissors, brushes, combs, hairdryer, towels etc plus a reliable vehicle and many marketing materials are free to get started.
• Choose your target market and niche – busy professionals, hassled Mums, bridal styling, long hair, afro hair, specialist hair colouring…the list goes on.
• Expansion in men’s grooming –  There’s a whole other largely untapped gender to consider. Men’s grooming services are in currently in demand. Increasingly image conscious blokes, are visiting salons and barbers shops more than ever! 

5 Common Challenges when Starting a Mobile Hairdressing Business

• Driving and time management– You’ll spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Planning your weekly client route is essential to avoid those extra miles. Organisation and punctuality are crucial to keep a great reputation.
• Variable workload – Long tiring days at busy periods, ie Christmas, summer holidays followed by quieter periods 
• Lack of amenities: Unlike a traditional salon, you may lack certain amenities like a reception area or a designated washing station. Finding solutions to provide a comfortable and professional experience for clients is important.
• Client acquisition and marketing: Building a client base can be difficult, especially in the early stages. Developing a strong marketing strategy, using social media and word-of-mouth referrals are essential to attract clients to your mobile hairdressing services.
• Lack of routine: Working as a mobile hairdresser or barber can lack the routine of a traditional salon. Late nights and weekend jobs can be challenging.

From registering your company, establishing your brand to marketing your services, we’ll cover everything you need to know to help you turn your creative, entrepreneurial skills into a successful and busy mobile business.