When I started my beauty business, I had no idea that it would take off the way that it did. I was working a full-time job as an emergency management project coordinator and doing my side hustle on evenings and weekends.
But after one particularly busy season, I decided to take the plunge and go full-time with my beauty business. That was the best decision I ever made. In my first year working for myself, I more than doubled my income and finally reached the six-figure mark.
Here's how I did it.
1. Create a Niche Market
When you're first starting out, it can be tempting to try to be everything to everyone. But in reality, that's not possible—nor is it sustainable in the long run. Instead, focus on creating a niche market for your products or services.
This will help you better understand your target customer and what they're looking for. Plus, it will make it easier to create marketing materials that resonate with your ideal customer. For me, my niche market is busy women who want to look good but don't have a lot of time (or money) to spend on their appearance.
By focusing on this group of people, I've been able to create a successful business that caters specifically to their needs.
2. Build a Strong Online Presence
In today's day and age, it's absolutely essential to have a strong online presence if you want to be successful in business. That means having an engaging website, active social media channels, and positive customer reviews.
All of these things will help you attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back for more. If you're not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources available (including this blog post!) that can help you get started building your online presence.
3. Offer Unique Services
One of the best ways to stand out from the competition is to offer unique services that they don't offer. This could be anything from mobile services to special event packages. Whatever you do, make sure it's something that will appeal to your target market and that you're passionate about offering.
For me, one of my most popular services is the Hyaluron Pen. This service is popular because it's non-invasive, doesn't involve needles, and is essentially pain-free (which is something they value highly).
4. Stay Organized
When you're running your own business, there's no one else around to pick up the slack when things get overwhelming—so it's important to stay organized from the very beginning. That means keeping track of your inventory, scheduling appointments in advance, and staying on top of your finances.
There are lots of great tools available (like QuickBooks or Google Calendar) that can help you stay organized and on top of everything so you can focus on running your business instead of being bogged down by paperwork or feeling like everything is spiraling out of control.
Starting your own business can be a daunting task—but if you go into it with a clear plan and vision, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience (not to mention profitable!). If you're thinking about taking the plunge into entrepreneurship, keep these tips in mind—they helped me go from 9-5 worker bee to six-figure boss lady in just one year!