Giving a percentage of what you earn is also not ideal for the opposite reason: the more you earn, the more you have to give away! And running a hairdressing business from your home would mean that your clients will have to make all the way to the residential areas to find you.<\/p>\n Not to mention the conflicts that often arise between the salon owners and hairdressers. I\u2019ve heard so many stories of the owners playing around with renting rules and charges, and, believe me, this does not make a hairdresser\u2019s life any easier.<\/p>\n Is there a solution to all of that? I think so!<\/p>\n If your have a car, are self-motivated, and want to be your own boss, you can always consider becoming a mobile hairdresser.<\/p>\n What is mobile hairdresser, you ask?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s very simple. Instead of your clients coming to you, you will go to them<\/em>.<\/p>\n Yes, you will need some portable equipment, you will have to drive distances to reach your clients, and you will have to be careful of other people\u2019s private property, but you will also be completely free of any rents, and you won\u2019t have anyone else setting up the rules but you.<\/p>\n Sounds good? I personally think it\u2019s a great idea.<\/p>\n I am actually very excited to write this article, because as a member of our modern fast-paced society (yes, I am always too tired to go to places), and as a client of so many hairdressers, having someone come to my house to do my hair sounds like a revolutionary idea!<\/p>\n Good question, I\u2019m glad you asked.<\/p>\n If you decided to become a mobile hairdresser you probably have a good reason to do so. As suggested above, most people decide to start their own business because they want to be their own boss and have more freedom.<\/p>\n But starting a business is not going to be easy as you probably already know.<\/p>\n Long working hours, happy and unhappy customers, lack of motivation at times, and lack of customers are just a small portion of problems you\u2019re going to face throughout the business establishment period (but isn\u2019t it what a hairdresser deals with every day, anyway?\u2026).<\/p>\n But if these words didn\u2019t scare you off, let\u2019s continue. There are a bunch of things you need to consider, so read the following carefully.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll start with the most boring-but-need-to-get-done stuff, of course: the legal requirements.<\/p>\n 1. Hairdresser education<\/strong>. You can either attend a college<\/a> and gain a level in hairdressing or become a salon apprentice<\/a> and learn there. Remember, mobile hairdressers with education are trusted more.<\/p>\n 2. Register your business<\/strong>. It\u2019s completely up to you what business structure you choose e.g. sole trader, partnership or Limited. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. If you don\u2019t have enough knowledge about the differences then you might want to seek legal advice<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3. Obtain insurance<\/strong>. You should get your business insured because as a mobile hairdresser you are likely to meet a variety of clients. They might complain you knocking some glass sculpture off their table (I know they should probably thank you for that, but\u2026) or maybe something more serious such as burns from straighteners.<\/p>\n Your insurance<\/a> is going to protect you from these scenarios.<\/p>\n Ok, so we got these down. Wasn\u2019t so bad, was it? Now let\u2019s move on to some more fun and practical stuff.<\/p>\n 1. Write a business plan<\/a>. <\/strong>Yes, I know what you\u2019re thinking: how is this in any way FUN? Well, it can be fun because you\u2019re putting your dreams down on the paper.<\/p>\n Also, it is extremely important to analyse your competitors, to understand your business vision and to create a marketing plan. And there are plenty of tips<\/a> on writing a business plan on the Internet.<\/p>\n 2. Consider your company\u2019s branding. <\/strong>Now that is fun! Create a company logo<\/a> and put it on your car, print business cards, and a hairdressing apron. A logo helps you advertise your business. Also, your logo should match your mobile hairdressing website where all your services and prices are outlined.<\/p>\n 3. Sign up for online invoicing software.<\/strong> As a client I can tell you that receiving an invoice from a service provider makes me trust them way more. And as a human I know how annoying it is to do paperwork, so really, find a software<\/a> that you will want to come back to: it will save you time, and will actually let you enjoy the office work.<\/p>\n As a mobile hairdresser you\u2019ll have to be responsible for running a successful business and doing great haircuts to satisfy your customers. If you manage both things, well, you\u2019re going to have a successful business and a great cash flow!<\/p>\n 4. Buy tools. <\/strong>As a mobile hairdresser you\u2019ll need to commute a lot. Therefore your hairdressing tools shouldn\u2019t take too much space and be too heavy.<\/p>\n At the beginning buy only the most essential equipment that you can\u2019t work without. Also, it\u2019s a good idea to buy a big calendar where you\u2019re going to keep track of your clients\u2019 appointments.<\/p>\n At this point I think it is important to talk about your clientele. The disadvantage of not working in a hair salon is that the salon does a huge part of advertising and attracting new clients<\/a>.<\/p>\n Being a one-man band means that the responsibility of finding new customers falls\u00a0on your shoulders.<\/p>\n Building a clientele is especially difficult at the beginning because no one except your family and friends knows about your new business.<\/p>\n But do not fret! The good news is, I am writing this to help you set up your own business, so I came up with a list of ideas on how you can attract new long-term clientele.<\/p>\n Of course, your most loyal clientele will be your friends and family, so make sure they start spreading the word.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t be afraid to ask your clients to recommend you to others<\/a>: I\u2019ve been asked hundreds of times to recommend people on Facebook, and I\u2019m always happy to do that. If you make people happy, they are more than willing\u00a0to help your business thrive!<\/p>\n When I search for a new hairdresser, I get very frustrated when I\u2019m not able to see at least a couple of examples of his or her work. It\u2019s not to check the quality of cuts, I\u2019m curious to see if our personal tastes match. Also, I want to know what kind of hair product brands do they use (especially for hair dyes).<\/p>\n A portfolio<\/a> is a great way to advertise yourself: hand it out to your current clients who will spread the word, publish it online, give it away on the street, etc. And watch how clientele increases \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n Leverage social media accounts<\/a> (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram) and share hair-related content to create a community that may become your customer base in the long-term.<\/p>\n I once had a hairdresser who shared some really cool information about the local events, and I absolutely adored her for that (and for the haircuts, too)!<\/p>\n Building a website doesn\u2019t require you to know about programming nowadays. There are website builder tools<\/a> that do everything for you. You just need to select the appropriate design and enter information about your services.<\/p>\n The website helps your clients to see what are the available services and you will appear on search engines, so it\u2019s really worth investing some time into.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s not forget the power of \u2018traditional\u2019 advertising. Newspapers, and local bullet-boards are a great way to tell the local community about yourself.<\/p>\n I would even go on the streets and hand out some leaflets<\/a>, printed portfolios, or at least business\u00a0cards<\/a>.<\/p>\n So many times I had random hairdressers approach me in a supermarket, telling me they\u2019re new to town and handing me their business\u00a0cards. And although I haven\u2019t used their services, I always check them online.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not too fussed about your car\u2019s appearance, get your logo and the phone number on the sides of your car<\/a>. Make sure you emphasise that you\u2019re not just any regular hairdresser \u2014 you\u2019re the mobile hairdresser!<\/p>\n As I just mentioned: go out there and talk to people! Let them know about you.<\/p>\n Even if they don\u2019t seem interested, maybe they will tell their friends about you: a lady who doesn\u2019t want to leave the house because she\u2019s taking care of a baby, or a family member with a disability, who would happily use your services? You never know!<\/p>\n You know what I\u2019m crazy in love with? With CosmetologistLife\u2019s suggestion<\/a> on how to introduce yourself to strangers (aka new clients) using your portfolio. The scenario should go like this:<\/p>\n “I’d love to do your hair! I was seeing a soft fringe around your face to frame your beautiful eyes.”<\/p>\n “Oh really, I don’t know if that’s right for me”<\/p>\n “Well, here, let me show you real quick what I was thinking.”<\/p>\n BAM…out comes the Ipad!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is simply brilliant. Not only you advertise yourself and your previous work, you also show your new client he or she needs you.<\/p>\n Oh, and make sure you check out the other 7 Creative Clientele Building Ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that beside these suggestions, you should set a good example by having your own hair always looking great and trendy.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re looking great, providing the best haircuts and treating customers nicely you\u2019re likely to succeed and get loads of word-of-mouth marketing about your great mobile hairdresser business.<\/p>\n Ok, so let\u2019s say you have already established your new mobile hairdressing business. By now, you are already in love with the freedom, job dynamic, and the challenges.<\/p>\n But a big part of a haircut success depends on whether a customer was feeling comfortable and happy with the overall service she or he received.<\/p>\n I\u2019m talking about building your clients\u2019 loyalty<\/em>.<\/p>\n Maintaining clients is not only easier and more cost-effective than finding new ones, it can actually help you attract new people.<\/p>\n Think about it, would you rather go to a hairdresser whose clients never come back, or to a hairdresser who has the same customers for 5 or 10 years? Obviously, anyone would choose the latter one.<\/p>\n Yes, you already make your customer happy by offering to come to their house, office or any other desired place, but that\u2019s not enough to make them feel extra special<\/em>. And extra special is what you want to offer.<\/p>\n Although some of the following suggestions are kind-of common sense, I\u2019d still like go through these six tips for mobile hairdressers, so please bear with me.<\/p>\n I know, it\u2019s kind-of obvious, but sometimes hairdressers forget about the importance of listening and responding to their client<\/a>. Your customers may not tell you how exactly they want their hair to look, but by listening you should be able to make the right decisions and satisfy your clients’ wishes.<\/p>\n Always carry some hair styling magazines<\/a> with you: it\u2019s a given in salons, but since you\u2019re driving around doing peoples\u2019 haircuts, it\u2019s always advisable to think about such details beforehand.<\/p>\n Most people like to have one reliable hairdresser. Usually it takes time to find a good one but once they\u2019ve found him or her, they stick with the person (hmm I guess I haven\u2019t found mine yet).<\/p>\n But your customers want to feel appreciated for being loyal<\/a>, therefore, you should offer them special discounts from time to time, or even organise an event dedicated to the long-term clients.<\/p>\n I know, not everyone has a great memory, I am terrible with names myself\u2026 But you really should make an effort to not only remember their names, but also hobbies, jobs, marital status, holidays, and so on (if they mentioned anything in the past). By remembering such information you make them feel that you care about them.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not convinced, read Dale Carnegie\u2019s \u201cHow to Win Friends and Influence People<\/a>\u201d, this book will blow your mind.<\/p>\n Your customers are likely to tell you things that you might not like or agree with. However, sometimes you just need to shut up and not confront them. I\u2019m not saying that you have to agree with their attitude towards various things but you should respect and tolerate their opinion.<\/p>\n![\"Freelancing](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/freelancing_in_hairdressing_mobile.jpg?resize=690%2C388&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"become-a-mobile-hairdresser\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/become-a-mobile-hairdresser.jpg?resize=690%2C461&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nHow to Become a Mobile Hairdresser?<\/h2>\n
Legal Requirements:<\/h3>\n
Practical Suggestions:<\/h3>\n
![\"Create](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/business_plan_for_mobile_hairdressers.jpg?resize=690%2C408&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"To](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/mobile_hairdressing_small_business_tools_equipment.jpg?resize=690%2C477&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Building your clientele<\/h2>\n
![\"Mobile](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/mobile_hairdresser_events.jpg?resize=690%2C460&ssl=1\")
<\/a>1. Word-of-mouth<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Portfolio<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/get_portfolio_mobile_haridressing_business.jpeg?resize=690%2C460&ssl=1\")
<\/a>3. Online advertising<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Off-line advertising<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Start](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/start_small_mobile_hairdressing_barber_business.jpg?resize=690%2C492&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\n5. Direct advertising<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Once the business is established\u2026<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. Pay attention to clients’ needs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Mobile](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mobile_hairdresser_freelancing_children.jpg?resize=690%2C460&ssl=1\")
<\/a>2. Appreciate loyal customers<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Remember your clients<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Respect<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Show gratitude<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Busy](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/busy_people_need_mobile_hair_stylist_small_business.jpg?resize=690%2C460&ssl=1\")
<\/a>