With so many options and avenues to consider, the beauty industry can offer a lucrative career path for savvy entrepreneurs. If you have the skills to back it up, you can transform your beauty business ideas into a sustainable, profitable company. 

If it’s been your dream to start a beauty industry business, we’re here to help make it come true. This article will not only explore a few different types of beauty business ideas, but discuss the state of the beauty industry, as well as several tips to keep in mind before you decide to pursue your new venture. 

The State of the Beauty Industry

Beauty industry businesses are having a moment. With an expected revenue of over $646 billion for 2024 and a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3% between now and 2028, it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. And that’s not even including professional services. 

Beauty services alone have their own expected CAGR of 6.3% over the next 4 years, bringing the expected market revenue to nearly $292 billion by 2028. Fueled by factors like the rise of influencers, e-commerce, inclusive beauty services, advancements in technology, and non-invasive procedures (as well as better hygiene and safety standards), the beauty industry remains a strong contender for opportunity and innovation. 

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4 Beauty Business Ideas to Start Your Business

There is no shortage of ways to turn your beauty business ideas into a profitable endeavor. Here, we provide a few examples for how to make the most out of your beauty skills and turn them into a thriving business. 

1. Specialized services

Specialized services can help you target a specific clientele and provide curated experiences. Here are some examples of some specialized services to consider for your next beauty business venture:

Go mobile

Take your services outside of the salon or spa with mobile beauty services. While it lacks the convenience of a stocked office, it gives you the chance to expand the range of your services while also delivering to clients who may not have the opportunity to visit your business otherwise (such as busy parents or disabled clients). 

Work special events

For a hair and makeup business idea, you can try offering these services for weddings and special events. Whether you’re servicing an entire bridal party, a prom group, a graduation, or any other type of event, make yourself a one-stop-shop for your clients’ cosmetic and skincare needs on their big day. 

Offer niche services

Niche services like brow bars, intricate nail art, or even LED light therapy is a great beauty and skincare business idea that can boost your profits. Not every salon offers these types of specialization, so becoming a provider of hard-to-find services can help you stand out in the competition. 

Cater to a specific demographic

Are you really good at pageant makeup? Do you excel at beautifying damaged skin? Do you have a knack for making over elderly clients? A specific demo can help you target your services to those who may struggle to find the right beauty services for their needs. 

Sign up with GlossGenius to gain access to our bespoke features for Makeup Artists. 

2. Beauty product sales

If you prefer sales over service, there are a few ways you can turn your love of products into a marketable business. 

Develop an organic skincare line

Over the years, consumers have become more cognizant of the ingredients in their beauty and skincare products. Organic products that are handmade with safe materials, or manufactured in an eco-friendly manner are in high-demand for health-conscious folks looking to keep their ingredients clean. 

Curate monthly beauty product boxes

If you don’t have the budget to source materials for your own organic line but still want to get customers the best in skincare or makeup, you can start a monthly subscription box and curate products for interested parties. Evaluate the price of the materials (and shipping) against the cost of your box, design it with your own branding, and deliver it to your loyal subscribers. 

Become a dropshipper

Dropshipping beauty products can be a simpler way for entrepreneurs to get into the sales game without investing as much overhead. Dropshipping can make for a lucrative skincare business idea as there is no need for a warehouse or inventory storage. 

Essentially, you become the middleman between consumers and their desired products. Whether it’s under-eye patches, Korean skincare, sleeping masks, makeup organizers, or even eyebrow gel, there are a number of different products you can help provide to customers. 

Open a beauty vending machine

Vending machines are a quick and convenient way to deliver products to customers with minimal management. You can find these machines at busy, public places like malls or airports, and you can stock them with any products you like. Invest in high-tech features like card readers, digital menus, and restock reminders to make it easy to service and manage your inventory. 

3. Traditional business environments

Don’t be discouraged by the buzz of online stores and e-commerce – traditional business environments are still out there thriving! In fact, there are a number of brick-and-mortar beauty business ideas that can help you increase your revenue. 

Open a nail salon 

A nail salon lets you provide a variety of nail services, including manicures, pedicures, and intricate nail art designs to a diverse range of clients. Offer gel manis, foot scrubs, hand masks, or other extra services to create a full-service treatment experience. 

Click here to find out how GlossGenius can make the perfect partner for your Nail Artist business.

Offer traditional barbering services

Fancy yourself a hair wiz for men? You might want to consider opening a barbershop. At a barbershop, you can offer an array of services such as haircuts, shaves, and trims for beards, eyebrows, and mustaches – even hot towel treatments. You can also offer more specialized hair barbering services like trendy fades or buzz designs. 

Sign up with GlossGenius to see how we can take your barber business to the next level.

Specialize in lashes and brows

Some salons specialize in niche services like brow lamination or eyelash extensions, tints, and lifts. These trendy services can be a great addition to your skill set, while also helping to increase your profits. 

GlossGenius can help Lash Techs manage bookings and payments. Click here to find out more!

Establish an esthetician clinic

If you’re interested in the science behind the beauty (and you’ve got the right license), you may want to look into opening an esthetician clinic. As an esthetician, you can provide services like waxing, laser hair removal, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and more. 

4. Beauty business coaching

Beauty coaching is a way for experts to train aspiring beauty business moguls on everything beauty – from makeup techniques, to skincare routines, to the best tools to use. And there’s a few different ways you can offer these services. 

Create a blog

Create a paid blog for subscribers, offering helpful tips regarding skincare and makeup. Send it as a newsletter, set up a password protected site, or establish a Patreon to deliver tailored tips to your loyal audience. 

Use media 

Consider creating a social media page dedicated to sharing photos, videos, and captions regarding your beauty and wellness specialties. You might also consider starting a podcast to discuss relevant topics and interview knowledgeable guests relating to beauty services, career tips, or other relevant insider information. 

Offer private consultations

Conduct private consultations to your clients either online over video chat or in-person. Here, you can directly answer any questions about makeup and skincare, provide bespoke advice, and have one-on-one time with those who are looking for the most tailor-made experience their money can buy. 

Provide group classes

To reach a wider range of clientele, you can offer group beauty coaching classes either in-person or online. Similar to private consultations, group beauty coaching classes can be a more affordable option for clients, especially those who run their own beauty business and are looking to train their staff without breaking the bank. 

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4 Tips You Should Consider When Starting a Beauty Business

The beauty business can be a challenging field, but we’ve put together the following list of tips to help you navigate your way through it. 

1. Research the beauty industry

Before you jump headfirst into your skincare or makeup business idea, make sure you thoroughly understand the market you’re entering. Look up the current trends, statistics, and challenges within the beauty industry so you know what you’re getting into. Explore the competition and analyze the market opportunity to avoid any surprises (financial or otherwise) later. 

2. Review your skill set

Look, we think you’re amazing and that you can do anything, but if you’re easily grossed out by body hair, you probably shouldn’t pursue a career in waxing. Lean into what you have the talent for, and more importantly, what you’re ultimately the most passionate about. 

3. Create a business plan

A comprehensive business plan is essential to the success of your business. A business plan outlines your business goals, market analysis, marketing strategies, financial projections, and other key details, serving as a roadmap that guides you through the process of starting, running, and growing your own beauty business. 

4. Check your local regulations

Ensure you comply with all local regulations and obtain the required licenses and permits to legally operate your beauty business. These laws vary by state, so carefully check your region’s rules and license requirements to avoid paying fines – or worse – losing your business. 

Start Your Beauty Journey With GlossGenius

The ever-growing state of the beauty industry means there’s plenty of opportunity to turn your beauty business ideas into sustainable revenue. However, just because something is a good idea in theory, doesn’t mean it’ll be an automatic success in practice. Before you invest in equipment, locations, or products, do your research to ensure you understand your target market and the demand of services you want to provide. 

GlossGenius is here to help you seamlessly run your business. Our all-in-one software can boost your growth and make it easy to take care of your daily operations. Fill your schedule with our Online Booking features, track your numbers with Finances and Point of Sale, get the funding you need with Loans, or use our Reports & Analytics and Marketing features to analyze your business practices. 

Click here to get started with GlossGenius today and try 14 days free!