What I'd Do Differently If I Was Starting My Beauty Business Today
You’ve probably seen the posts:
“Make your first million in 6 months!”
“Scale to 7 figures with this one simple strategy!”
“Scale fast or get left behind!”
Let’s be real ~ who wouldn’t want that?
But here’s the truth most of those posts skip:
While it may sound amazing, it's not possible without a strong foundation and it also comes with issues you may not be equipped to handle if your business doesn’t have the framework to support it. It's not that easy and it may not be what you want for your life and business.
If I was starting my beauty business over again, I’d skip the pressure of ‘scale’ and focus on something no one’s talking about.
I’d start with what matters most:
The boring stuff.
The foundational stuff.
The stuff that makes you sustainable and provides longevity.
It’s not flashy.
It doesn’t look sexy on social.
But it’s what actually makes the business work and achieve long term success.
Here’s what I’d do differently (and what you can do right now):
💭 Design Your Business Around Your Life
Start here - Before branding. Before websites. Before Shopping for all the pretty things.
I’d ask myself:
What do I want my life to look like?
What days do I want to work?
What hours support my energy and my family?
What does success feel and look like to me?
Then I’d build my business around that.
💭 Get Clear on What You Offer
Instead of doing everything for everyone, specialize. Specializing doesn’t limit you — it amplifies you and you become the go-to.
Choose the services you love, excel at them and you’ll love every minute of your day.
Be the:
Waxing queen
Lash artist with the waitlist
Skin expert clients trust with their glow and will travel miles to see
💭 Define Your Ideal Client
Not everyone is your client and that’s a good thing. You are not for everyone and everyone is not for you
When you speak to someone specific, they feel it and you’ll book a clientele more quickly and build better aligned relationships.
Your ideal client may be:
A stay-at-home mom with school aged children who spends her time driving her kids around in her minivan, shops at Walmart for everything and is budget conscious.
A single, high-powered female executive who has disposable income, not a lot of time, drives a Porsche and wants whatever you have to offer and price is not an object.
A university student, who lives on campus, takes the bus everywhere, lives on a budget, but loves all the latest trends in fashion and beauty. She can’t afford it, but wants it anyway.
Knowing your people helps you stop chasing the wrong ones and keeps you aligned with those you want to serve. It’s a win-win for both you and your clients.
💭 Build Your Financial Mastery Early
Learn the language of your numbers, not just what you’re making ~ but where it’s going and how it’s working.
What are the start-up costs? Every last detail, from paperclips to treatment tables.
What will the monthly expenses be?
What are the revenue drivers in my business? What services are making me the most money?
Being financially empowered is a game-changer.
When you understand your money, you make better decisions ~ Period.
💭 Build Systems from the Start
Building structure and systems; from booking to inventory to client follow-ups ~ saves your time, your energy, and your peace.
Automations, policies and workflows ~ make your life easier.
If you’re starting your beauty business (or want a fresh start that feels grounded), this is your permission slip to slow down and do it right.
You don’t need to do it like everyone else.
You don’t need to scale fast ~ you need to scale right. (If you want to scale at all)
You can build a business that feels like freedom ~ not pressure.
I’ve got the roadmap when you’re ready.
Cheering on building a strong foundation,
Michelle 💕
Your Beauty Business Mentor
P.S. If you want to avoid the mistakes most beauty pros make in year one, join me inside Beauty Business Start Up Academy™. I built this for you. Send me an email to learn more [email protected]
