If you have dreams of becoming a professional MUA and launching your very own makeup business, then you’ve come to the right place! Chances are, you’ve already completed your professional training at a reputable makeup school, or are currently in the process of completing your course. (And if you aren’t? That’s the very first – and most important – place to start!)
Once you’ve earned your certification, your next goal is likely to start your very own business. This, of course, is an awesome idea. After all, who doesn’t dream of being their own boss? The thing is, starting a makeup business isn’t the kind of decision you should leap right into. It requires time, careful planning, and serious contemplation.
Logically, before you start any sort of business, you should begin by figuring out what you want to call it. For some, this can be a bit tricky. But with our handy tips, it doesn’t have to be! Let’s take a look at the basic essentials you need to consider when it comes to choosing a name for your makeup business.
In order to know what you want your business to be called, you need to have a thorough understanding of what you want your business to be about. Take the time to really sit down and think about what you want your brand to be. Here are a few helpful questions to consider:
- Do you specialize in any particular areas of makeup artistry (i.e. bridal, editorial, airbrush, SFX, etc.)?
- Are your services catered to a specific demographic, or are they suitable for all ages, genders, etc.?
- Do you intend to offer any additional services, such as: makeup lessons, hair or fashion styling, henna, writing for beauty blogs, etc.?
- Do you have a unique niche that can help set you apart from the competition?
- What is the overall mission of your business?
- What do you want your company values to be?
Think about some of the makeup artists you really admire. Does anything automatically come to mind as soon as you think of them – such as a color, a sound, a feeling, etc.? What would you consider their brand to be? How do they achieve this? Is there anything they could be doing differently?
Now turn the spotlight back to your own makeup business. Ideally, how will you want the world to see you and your business? Are there certain emotions, colors, images, etc. that you’d like to be associated with your brand? If so, you might be able to work that into the name of your makeup business!
Create a Short List
Inspiration can be found everywhere, so don’t rush yourself to try and think up a business name at the drop of a hat. Instead, give yourself some time to look around, get inspired, and let the creative wheels turn in your head.
Once some promising ideas start to come to you, write them down! As the list grows, you can always go back, revise it, and narrow things back down. Once you’ve finalized your short list, rank the names in order of most to least favorite.
The exciting thing about getting to pick your own business name is that you can get as creative as you want! So, don’t hesitate to explore the furthest corners of your imagination. Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:
- Proper names
- (Simple!) word games
- Words in other languages
- Synonyms
- Clichés or popular phrases
- Puns
- Names from books, mythology, or other works of fiction
5 Rules for Naming Your Makeup Business
There are plenty of ways for a business name to miss the mark, so it’s important that you do your research.
Consider some of the most memorable business names you’ve come across throughout your life. What makes them stand out to you? Why do you like them so much? Does it appeal to the targeted audience? If so, how does it achieve that?
Here are 5 rules you should absolutely abide by when naming your own business:
1 – Be original, but be relevant.
The name of your makeup business shouldn’t be a carbon copy of some other business name. At the same time, it should be able to convey to potential clients a sense of what your business does/provides.
On that note, try to avoid business names like, “Makeup by [Insert Name]”. There are far too many MUAs with that sort of name. This can easily make it difficult for your business to really shine amongst its competitors.
2 – Be mindful of the spelling.
If your business name contains a commonly misspelled word, you’re increasing your chances of potential clients struggling to find you (especially online). Similarly, consider the scope of your makeup business as a whole.
Who is your target demographic? Do you intend to remain local, or do you want your business to go global? The wording you choose in your name has an impact on these factors.
3 – Don’t overcomplicate things.
Keep it simple! Short and snappy business names are easy to remember and fun to say. Longer business names can be a mouthful, and are likelier to be forgotten. This is definitely not the impact you want your business to make!
4 – Make it internet-friendly.
The ideal scenario here is that your website can read as “www.YourBusinessName.com”. If another makeup business has already registered that domain name, you’ll need to consider alternate routes. If your business name isn’t already a registered web domain, jump on that opportunity immediately!
5 – Register your name.
On that note, it’s critical that as soon as you’ve decided on the name of your makeup business (and it isn’t already registered with another company), you get it legally registered. That way, you own it. No one can take it from you!
Yes, there will be paperwork involved, but trust me, it’ll be worth it in the long run. Plus, you’ll also eliminate the chance of accidentally using someone else’s legally-owned business name (which can make for a potentially sticky situation down the road).
When it comes to starting up your own makeup business, choosing a strong, memorable name that properly reflects your brand is an essential step towards success. So, what are you waiting for? Start brainstorming!
