Starting a new business in skincare consulting can be a very profitable venture. However, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get started. In this article, we’ll teach you how to start a skincare consulting business from scratch in 6 easy steps!
We’ll also provide tips on how to market your new company, the type of certification training you should get, and more.
So, if you’re ready to start helping clients to get their skin looking and feeling its best, keep reading!
How Much Money Do You Need to Start a Consulting Business?
Okay, first thing’s first: you need to have of how much money you’ll need to build a skincare consulting business. The price of getting your business off the ground can vary, depending on a bunch of factors – such as the size of your company and the services you want to offer. However, generally speaking, you’ll need to invest in some basic start-up fees, such as:
- A computer or laptop
- A printer
- Telephone line and headset
- Business cards
- Professional business website
Usually, it’s recommended that you save up at least $15,000-$20,000 before starting operations and opening your business up to the public. However, this number may be higher or lower, depending on how big you want your company to be (or if there are any legal restrictions in your area).
In a recent blog post published by Shopify, it was stated that in an entrepreneur’s first year of business, they’re likely to spend an average of approximately $40,000. It’s worth keeping in mind that many of Shopify’s customers are business owners selling and shipping physical products from an online store. This means that some of the data within this article may not necessarily apply to a skincare consulting business owner.
Still, the data they provide is definitely worth the read, in our opinion!
Also, you may want to consider purchasing business management software that can help you streamline the process. Ultimately, how much you end up spending on start-up costs will largely depend on YOUR specific needs and personal budget.
Is Skincare Business Profitable?
Next, you probably want to know if your investment will be worth it. So, can you make good money as a skincare consulting expert?
The answer is YES!
Here are the average annual salaries for skincare consultants, based on a few example countries:
- United States: Between approx. $26,000 USD to $58,500 USD per year. (Source: ZipRecruiter)
- Canada: Between approx. $22,000 CAD to $49,000 CAD per year. (Source: Glassdoor)
- United Kingdom: Between approx. £16,000 GBP to £72,000 GBP per year. (Source: Glassdoor)
- New Zealand: Between approx. $45,000 AUD to $50,000 AUD per year for a beauty consultant. (Source: SalaryBand)
Just keep in mind that these are merely averages and estimates, based on what other people have earned over time. You may end up making less or more than them, depending how savvy of a marketer you are and whether or not there’s high demand for services like yours within your area (and beyond).
In fact, if you play your cards right early on in this business venture, you could be pulling in a hefty profit by the end of your first year!
What Does a Skincare Consultant Do Day-to-Day?
Now that we’ve covered some of the basics, let’s move on to what a skincare consultant actually does on a daily basis. As a professional skincare consultant, you can expect to be responsible for a variety of tasks and duties, such as:
- Meeting with clients one-on-one, in order to assess their skin type and needs;
- Developing custom skincare regimens for each client;
- Providing accurate product recommendations;
- Educating clients about best practices for taking care of their skin;
- Answering any questions or concerns that clients may have about their skin;
- Managing online reviews and providing customer support via social media, email, phone calls, etc.;
- Maintaining accurate records of client interactions and product recommendations;
- And more!
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into being a successful skincare consultant. However, if you have the passion and drive to help people look and feel their best, then this career path will be PERFECT for you!
How Do I Become a Skincare Consultant?
Starting a skincare consulting business with no prior experience can be a daunting task, but it’s not impossible! In fact, many successful entrepreneurs began in the beauty industry by starting small and gradually building their business over time.
The BEST way for you to start your journey is to take an online course that specializes in skincare consulting. This kind of program will teach you everything from skincare basics, to products/tools/treatments, to pairing proper skincare routines with makeup, and SO much more. They can also help you get started by providing tips on effective marketing strategies and launching a thriving business.
Furthermore, completing an accredited online course will also arm you with a reputable certification that you can add to your resume! We’ll talk more about the type of online skincare consultant training you should get a little later on in this article…
How Much Should I Charge for Skincare Consulting Services?
There are many factors that go into pricing your consultant services. Some of the questions we recommend asking yourself include, but aren’t limited to:
- How long have you been in business?
- What are your qualifications as a skincare consultant?
- How much real-world experience do you currently have?
- How many clients do you have at the moment?
- Do you also want to offer clients makeup services as well?
- Can you pair the two services together, offer a bundled price, etc.?
- Are you planning to launch your business with a team, or solo?
- If the former, how experienced are your staff members/team members when it comes to skincare consulting and other beauty services?
- Do you want to specialize in a niche, such as correcting acne, treatments for sensitive skin, etc.?
- How much time does each client take up per month or year?
- How profitable is the skincare industry within your particular area right now?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you can better determine how much money it would cost you to run your company over a set period of time (e.g. the first year, years 2-5, etc.). This article by The Balance Small Business provides even more info on properly pricing your services, which you should definitely read!
Alright, now that we have some of the most popular FAQs answered, let’s look at the 6 steps involved in building a skincare consulting business from scratch!
Step One: Get Trained and Certified as a Skincare Consultant!
Skincare Consultant vs. Cosmetologist
The first thing you need to know is that a skincare consultant is NOT the same as a cosmetologist. To become a cosmetologist, you’ll need to get a different kind of schooling and get licensed in order to work. This is because as a cosmetologist, in addition to giving skin advice, you’ll also perform a variety of chemical treatments/procedures.
As a skincare expert, you will not perform chemical treatments. Rather, your job will be focused specifically on assessing clients’ skin and then providing product and/or treatment recommendations. This way, you can help your customers successfully address and correct the issue(s) at hand.
Recommended Skincare Training for Consultants
Furthermore, the education and qualifications required to work as a skincare consultant are a lot more lax. This is because technically, skincare consulting isn’t a regulated field. That said, this does NOT mean you can simply skip professional training.
If anything, we’d argue that getting professionally educated and certified is the single BEST way to become a skincare consultant and achieve real, long-term success!
When it comes to obtaining a solid skincare education, there’s no better option than to enroll in an accredited, internationally-recognized school! QC Makeup Academy, for instance, offers a self-paced, online Skincare Course that you can complete in as little as 2-6 months!
The beauty of this course is that it isn’t only geared towards those already working within the industry, who are looking to upskill or add additional services to their company. Rather, they’ve been carefully crafted for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business and break out into the skincare industry, too.
This means that regardless of your skill level or past experience, you’ll absolutely benefit from the knowledge and expertise offered in QC’s Skincare Course! Not to mention, once you’ve completed this program, you’ll become a globally-recognized International Skincare Consulting Professional (ISCP) and have a certification to add to your resume as well.
How awesome is that?
Talk about starting your career off on the best foot possible!
Want to learn even more about QC Makeup Academy’s wildly popular Skincare Course? Check out our full course page here!
Step Two: Figure Out What You Want Your Business to Look Like!
Now that you’ve got your education under your belt, it’s time to start thinking about what you want your business to actually look like. For instance, how will you structure it? How much money are you willing to invest in getting it started up and running smoothly (as well as how long)? Do you eventually want to hire on fellow team members/staff, etc.?
Now is also a great time for some honest self-reflection! So, ask yourself:
- What kind of skincare consulting services do I want to provide to my clients?
- How flexible am I when it comes to working evenings and weekends?
- Do I have enough money saved up to get this business started, as well as support myself while I’m in the beginning stages?
- How much money do I need/want to make?
- How many hours am I willing to work per week, month, or year?
- Do I want to provide additional beauty services as well, such as makeup?
- What are my short-term and long-term goals for my skincare consulting business (i.e., what do you want it to look like a few years down the road)?
Your Business Name and Brand
During this step, you’ll also want to start thinking up some ideas for your business’s name! This can be fun and stressful at the same time, so don’t worry if you’re struggling at first to come up with one. One potential option is to try out an online business name generator. There are plenty of good ones out there that, if nothing else, can help you get the creative gears turning!
(Also, once you’ve chosen your company name, don’t forget to get it legally registered. This way, no one else can take it from you!)
Lastly, you’ll also want to figure out your brand. How do you want people to perceive your business? Do you have any colors you’d like associated with it? What kind of vibe(s) are you going for (i.e., fun, elegant, modern, etc.)?
We recommend doing research and figuring out what would work well with your target audience! The key is to find something that you feel comfortable with, while also allowing you to stand out from the crowd.
Step Three: Come Up With a Plan for Your Skincare Consulting Business!
Okay, so by this stage, you’ve got your education under your belt. You’ve decided what kind of business you want to start up, and you’ve figured out how it’ll be branded…
Now it’s time for step three: putting your business plan together!
A solid business plan will help you outline all of the important details about your company. It’ll include what services you’ll offer, how you’ll market yourself, and what your expenses and revenue will be. Moreover, it’ll also help you determine who your target audience is.
Think of your business plan as a roadmap. When done properly, it can help you figure out what your next steps should be as you go forward. Plus, banks and other financial institutions typically require a business plan from anyone looking to take out a loan for their business. As such, you can also think of it as the blueprints for your company, too!
If you’ve never written a business plan before, there are lots of great online resources (such as this one) that can help you out.
Step Four: Build Your Skincare Consulting Business Website and Social Media Presence!
Once you’ve completed step three, it’s time to start building your website and social media presence! This is where you’ll be able to showcase all of your amazing work for the world to see. Plus, it’ll give potential clients a little taste of what they can expect from you.
If you’ve never built a professional website before, or run social media channels for a business, we have some EXCELLENT tips in this blog article that can help get you started!
Just remember: the key is to make sure that both your website and social media accounts are up-to-date at all times. Also, they should always reflect the brand that you worked so hard on in the last step.
Step Five: Establish How You’ll Get Clients and Market Your Skincare Consulting Business!
Next, it’s time to think about how you’ll actually get customers. How will people know that you’re a skincare consultant – and even more importantly, that they should hire YOU for their next big shindig? Furthermore, what kind of marketing materials will you need to create (like a website, business cards, online ad marketing, social media profiles, etc.)? How often will you need to update these things?
One great way to kick off this step is by creating a list of potential referral partners or affiliates. Do some research and compile a list of photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, and other beauty service providers in your area that might be interested in working together. You can also meet with these businesses in-person to discuss how you can help each other out!
Online marketing will also be your very best friend when it comes to getting your name out there. After all, that’s the whole point of a website and social media presence in the first place!
Establishing a budget for your marketing efforts is always a smart idea. You can start by asking yourself how often you’ll be able to put money towards advertising. From there, you can then answer these questions:
- How much do you have available each month, as well as each quarter?
- How can this set amount of money be used to help get people interested in what you’re offering?
- What do you know about SEO (Search Engine Optimization)? Are you willing to learn about it, and put in the efforts needed to maintain high-ranking SEO for your company?
- What kind(s) of online marketing are you interested in utilizing? (E.g. paid ads on Google, paid ads on social media, email campaigns, monthly newsletters, etc.)
Perhaps you’ll even want to consider a marketing budget at the start of each new year. This way, you always have time to plan ahead!
Step Six: Start Networking and Getting Real-World Experience as a Skincare Consultant!
Last but certainly not least, it’s time to start networking and getting hands-on experience in the real world. One major way you can do this is by lending your skincare services to people you know, as we mentioned earlier.
Another idea, if you’re already, say, a working makeup artist, is to provide complimentary skincare services to existing clients as a sort of trial run. This way, you can gauge their response and feedback, as well as make any necessary adjustments to your game plan, before you start charging for these particular services.
By networking, you can also create professional connections with others in the beauty industry who may be able to recommend your business to their existing roster of clientele.
Regardless of how you choose to go about this last step, one thing is for certain: the more in-field experience you’re willing to get, and the more proactive efforts you’re willing to make, the more successful you’ll ultimately be!
Conclusion
We hope this article has been helpful, and has outlined how YOU can start a skincare consulting business from scratch. Just remember to be patient, do your research, and above all else, have fun.
After all, as the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. But so long as you follow our 6-step process, you’ll be seeing success in no time. Thanks so much for reading!
