With convenience at the heart of so many services we book these days, more and more clients are looking for hairdressers that do house calls.
And hey, we get it: A cut and color from the comfort of your own home sounds pretty nice, right?
Clients want convenience, and they want to save time, so thereâs no surprise that a lot of hair stylists are giving up the salon and going mobile.
The perks speak for themselves:
- You have more flexibility with your schedule.
- You get to keep more of your money.
With online scheduling apps like Schedulicity, who give you the tools to go on the road, a mobile hair salon is a win-win for you and your clients!
In this blog, weâll walk you through all the steps you need to take before becoming a mobile hair stylist. Plus, weâll walk you through promoting your new business, too!
Got specific questions? Feel free to jump ahead! đ
- Write Your Mobile Hair Salon Business Plan
- Choose Your Speciality
- Purchase Supplies and Equipment
- Doing Hair From Home Legally â What Do You Need?
- Promote Your Mobile Salon Business
1. Write Your Mobile Salon Business Plan
Before you start any business, you need a plan.
A good salon business plan outlines how you plan to start your business, including solutions your salon will provide clients, market research in your area, financial plans, and more!
This salon business plan checklist will help you get started.
âď¸Cover Page
Your cover page should include the name of your salon business, your name, phone number, email address, and any other contact information.
âď¸Executive Summary
The executive summary is basically an overview of the rest of your business plan. Be concise and to the point and let readers know what key points you plan to cover in the rest of the document.
âď¸Overview
How will your business be structured? How do you plan to make your business successful?
âď¸Market Research
Taking the time to research other salons in your area is a crucial step to developing your strategy.
Pretend youâre a client in your area looking for a hairdresser to do house calls. Where would you look? And what would you look for?
Don’t forget to research other salon websites to learn what others are offering and how much theyâre charging.
âď¸Marketing Plan
Who would you say is your ideal client? How will you get their attention? What marketing channels will you use to drive traffic?
âď¸Operations Plan
Explain what your day-to-day business will look like. What systems will you have in place and what equipment will you use?
Oh and donât forget your online scheduling software! đ
âď¸Financial Plan
Lastly, you need a solid breakdown of your numbers. What are your financial goals? What are your projections for five years from now?
Take the time to lay out startup costs, estimate expenses, and explain how you plan to grow your business.
Bonus: Free Salon Business Plan Templates
What Kind of Money-Maker Are You?
Let’s talk money, honey! Spend it, save it, hustle for it.
Take the Quiz2. Choose Your Specialty
As part of your research before starting your business, you should learn what your focus will be. What’s your specialty? What will make your business stand out from the competition?
Hereâs a short list of possible niches to choose from:
- Coloring only
- Curly hair specialist
- Hair extensions/weaves
- Black hair focus
- Styling for events (weddings, prom)
- Kids haircuts
3. Purchase Supplies & Equipment
When it comes to the supplies and equipment you need as a mobile hair stylist, there will be several upfront costs and ongoing costs to keep in mind.
Some of the basics include:
- Mirrors
- Hair scissors
- Combs/brushes
- Spray bottles
- Blow dryers
- Shampoos/conditioners
- Color mixing bowls
- Gloves
- Curling iron and flat iron
- Broom and pan
- Floor covering
- Travel bags for equipment
Pro Tip: Donât miss our Guide to the Hidden Costs of Opening and Running a Salon to learn more about the cost of supplies and equipment.
4. Doing Hair From Home Legally â What Do You Need?
Making sure your business is legal and insured is a big step. There are several licenses and costs to consider, and youâll also need insurance.
Hereâs what you need to get your business legal and on the road.
Insurance
The exact insurance requirements may vary state to state, but thereâs no doubt youâll need it. And there are at least two types of insurance youâll likely needâŚ
- General Liability Insurance: General Liability covers claims that could come up in your day-to-day operations, such bodily injuries that your business may have caused.
- Business Interruption Insurance: Business Interruption helps cover you for loss of income in the event youâre unable to carry out business as usual due to an unexpected event.
Licenses and Permits
- Register your business name: The Small Business Association (SBA) has the details you need to get your business name registered.
- Get your EIN: Your Employee Identification Number acts as a social security number for your business.
- Secure your business license: Like insurance, each state will have different requirements, so be sure to check your stateâs regulations to receive your business license.
- Get your cosmetology or beautician license: If youâre looking to start your own mobile salon business, you may already have your cosmetology license. But if not, youâll need it, so be sure youâre licensed in each state youâll be working.
5. Promote Your Mobile Salon Business
Now that youâre licensed, insured, and you have your business plan in place, you can start working on your marketing strategy.
There are a ton of marketing strategies out there to explore, but weâll start with the basics.
Build a Website and Portfolio
To start, new clients will need a place to find you. Thatâs where a business website comes in!
If clients in your area do a Google search for hairdressers that do house calls, you want your name to show up right?
Plus, a website is the perfect place to showcase your skills and let clients know what exactly you offer.
Need a hand designing your website? Our pro guide to building a hair stylist website that actually works is a great place to start!
Free Guide: How to Build Local SEO for Your Small Business
SEO doesnât have to be scary. Hereâs an easy, stress-free, no-tech explainer!
Show Me How!Pick an Online Scheduling App
Scheduling apps are convenient for you and for your clients, and a ton of potential clients are booking on online scheduling apps every day, so you need to make sure your business gets in front of them there, too.
There are a lot of scheduling apps to choose from these days â like Schedulicity! â so be sure you do the research to find the one thatâs right for you.
To help, we have a full breakdown of some of the best salon software!
Hone Those Marketing Skills!
A business website and a scheduling app for you and your clients is a great start. Now, youâre ready to really get the word out!
Start by focusing on these three areas:
Social Media
Set up Instagram and Facebook accounts for your new business. And be sure to add a Book Button to your Instagram for clients to easily book with you!
Local Advertising
Craft your own mobile salon business cards to share around town with other local businesses!
Google and Yelp
Google and Yelp are great ways for potential clients to find you as well, so be sure to create a Yelp page and set up your Google Business Listing.
