A mobile salon turns any location into a beauty hotspot.

These businesses on wheels let you bring clients convenient beauty and wellness services – and become your own boss while you’re at it. Whether you're just starting out or want to add on-the-go services to your brick-and-mortar shop, going mobile is an exciting way to put your brand on the map. 

Get rolling with these six mobile salon ideas for your services, decor, and marketing.

What Is a Mobile Salon?

A mobile salon brings beauty services directly to clients. You can either outfit a truck or van with salon equipment or use it simply as transportation for home visits. This lets you offer a full range of salon services right at clients’ doorsteps – anything from hairdressing to makeup to nail services.

For example, you can travel to a bride's wedding venue as a mobile hairdresser to do the bridal party's hair and makeup. You could also visit clients at their workplaces for quick haircuts, manicures, or skin treatments over lunch breaks. 

This flexibility lets you meet people where they're at. Because they don’t have to come to you, you cater to customers with busy schedules or who find traditional salon settings challenging for reasons like mobility and privacy. And this setup is perfect for business owners who love a little day-to-day variety.

If you don’t also have a brick-and-mortar location, starting a mobile salon saves you money on rent and utilities. While you still have to pay for things like styling products, bleach, and hair color, you can invest funds into equipping the perfect converted van or saving for high-end supplies. 

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6 Mobile Salon Ideas

Take your beauty business on the road with these six ideas for mobile salons. Get off the ground and set yourself apart from the competition.

1. Offer a Limited Menu of Fast Services 

People go to mobile salons because they love speed and convenience – so give it to them. Offer a curated selection of services to busy clients who need quick hair solutions without the time commitment of a complete salon visit. Focus on fast, efficient services, like express blowouts, bang trims, and simple styles like twists and ponytails. 

Keeping it simple attracts many clients, from professionals preparing for meetings to guests getting ready for special events. It also streamlines operations so you only need basic supplies, like a powerful blow dryer and scissors. You save time and money at the same time. 

2. Focus on Eco-Conscious Beauty Practices

Stand out from the competition with eco-conscious beauty practices. Use cruelty-free, vegan products to appeal to environmentally conscious clients and position your brand as ethical and responsible. You can even outfit the mobile salon with earthy decor to match.

For example, offering hair treatments with organic products can highlight your company's commitment to the environment and attract clients who share your values. 

3. Serve Group Events With a Mobile Spa  

Take a mobile spa to events like bachelorette parties, birthdays, or corporate retreats. This is an exciting way to cater to a niche market – group events – with services like facials, manicures, and massages. It's an excellent way to increase revenue because serving groups means booking several clients simultaneously. 

4. Save Space With Portable Mobile Salon Furniture 

If hair is your business, mobile hair salon interior space is limited. To make the most of it, choose furniture and equipment designed for small spaces, like portable styling chairs and simple stools. Prices vary for this type of furniture, with stools as low as $28 and premium barber chairs at $700 or more. The best choice for you depends on your budget and space.

Investing in compact, versatile equipment helps you provide high-quality services without making clients feel like they’re walking into a closet. It’s key to everyone’s comfort.

5. Market Your Mobile Salon Effectively 

A mobile hair salon or spa isn’t an ice cream truck. You can’t drive around expecting people to come to you. You need to make your business easy to find in other ways – and that means marketing your business.

Start with a website. You can showcase your services, testimonials, and booking options for potential and current clients so people find you and make appointments. GlossGenius's Custom Website Builder makes creating a professional mobile beauty, wellness, or hair salon website easy. With pre-built templates, all you have to do is plug in your info.

Don’t stop there. GlossGenius's Marketing features let you send unlimited email campaigns (with no extra fees) and mass text messages to clients based on visit history, appointments, and product purchases. Emails and text messages are a great way to engage with your customer base, let them know about upcoming discounts or events, or wish them a happy birthday. 

6. Manage Booking With Salon Software 

Booking for brick-and-mortar salons is already tricky. It gets harder when you have to manage appointments on the go, plus travel details and information about what products you need and when. 

GlossGenius' has a mobile app so you can manage appointments without a computer. Our Online Booking lets your clients easily schedule appointments for your mobile beauty salon and add details about where they are and what they need. They don’t have to sign up or download an app, making the process even more seamless.Plus, custom cancellation policies and automated appointment reminders help you grow your business by preventing no-shows and cancellations – roadblocks that hit even harder when you’re mobile. 

Sign up for a 14-day free trial with GlossGenius!

5 Mobile Salon Requirements  

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Starting any business has legal implications, but there are a few more when you also have to register a vehicle. Here’s what to know:

1. Business Registration 

Register your mobile salon with your state. Requirements and fees vary according to where you live, but in most cases, you can fill out an online form with your business name, contact information, and other necessary details. This step is critical because it legally establishes your small business so you can operate without a hitch. 

Costs for registration vary according to your state and what business structure you choose, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $100 and $300 for a small business. 

2. Vehicle

If you run your mobile salon or barbershop out of a vehicle, choose a used van or pre-built option – doing it yourself takes more time and money than it seems. Prices for pre-built mobile salons and barber vans can range from $13,000 to over $100,000, depending on the build and what’s inside.

Make a list of all of your must-haves and start searching. For example, if you’re styling hair, you might need a working sink or two. Or, if you’re doing nails, you might choose a van with lots of windows and ventilation to let those pesky polish fumes escape.

3. Transportation License

You don’t need a special license to drive a van. But if you decide on a bigger vehicle, like a Class A RV (which is around 25–45 feet long), you may need to take an RV safety course or get a commercial driver's license (CDL). 

To obtain a CDL, research your state's requirements. These typically include the following: 

• Online or in-person application
• Medical forms
• Road test
• Vehicle inspection 
• Fee ($30–75+) 

4. Cosmetologist License

If you don’t already have one, get a license to conduct the services you plan on providing. A cosmetology license lets you legally offer hair and skincare services, and regulations vary depending on where you live. 

In most states, you must have your high school degree or GED, complete a training program at an accredited training school, pass an exam, and be of the minimum age. Expect to pay $5,000–20,000 in tuition, and licensing costs vary. 

5. Insurance 

Professional and general liability salon insurance protects your business from risks like client injuries, loss of personal information, and property damage. For example, if a client slips and falls in your mobile salon or if you accidentally compromise a client's financial details, having insurance covers any legal fees or damages that occur. 

Costs vary according to where you live, which company you choose, and which plan you select. 

How Much Do Mobile Salons Make on Average?

Running a mobile salon offers more flexibility and lower overhead costs than traditional salons – which puts more money in your pocket. 

According to ZipRecruiter, mobile hair stylists earn $21 per hour on average. This wage can go as high as $33 depending on your skill level and experience. But keep in mind that this average is based on individual hair stylists, not salon owners or people giving other treatments. When you have control over what you do and what you charge, you can earn more.

Empower Your Mobile Salon Services With GlossGenius 

As the mobile beauty salon industry thrives, there's never been a better time to embrace this business model. Mobile salons are flexible and convenient – a hit with clients who prefer unrestricted beauty and wellness services that work with their busy lifestyles.  

With a mobile salon, you need a software that can be as flexible as possible while you’re on the go. GlossGenius is here to help. GlossGenius is a salon app with everything you need to manage and scale your company. Our all-in-one platform includes features to help you rock Client Management, including Client Notifications so they never forget an appointment. Plus, our Point-of-Sale (POS) systems work from anywhere so you can accept payments straight from the mobile salon chair.

Sign up for a 14-day free trial with GlossGenius!

Start your free 14-day trial with GlossGenius today and get on the road.