Permanent makeup has become an incredibly lucrative branch of the beauty industry. Over the past few years, doing permanent makeup, especially microblading, has been a hugely popular profession.
The demand for microblading is increasing, so if you’re considering becoming your own boss, a microblading business is a great option. But to make your journey as stress-free as possible, a good business plan is a must.
PMUHub gives you a detailed overview of how to start a microblading business which you can use as a preliminary microblading business plan and adapt along the way.
What Is Microblading?
Microblading is a permanent makeup treatment for eyebrows that gives the look of fuller, trendy arches. It is done by depositing pigments into the skin to recreate the look of naturally voluminous brows.
The microblading artist uses manual blades to draw thin, hair-like strokes between the natural hairs, creating the perfect arch.
For a detailed description of the treatment, check out our Ultimate Guide to Microblading.
Image source: Instagram @phibrows_by_ana
Is Microblading a Good Business?
Yes, a microblading business can be a highly profitable career.
From a business point of view, what makes microblading such a good career opportunity is the fact that the demand still exceeds the supply, so with a good business plan and a lot of hard work, each new artist can succeed.
The good thing is that anyone can become a microblading artist, regardless of current profession or previous education.
Starting any business from scratch requires an initial investment, but with microblading, it is relatively small and it pays off. It implies paying for a quality training course at a certified academy or trainer.
An average price of a live training course is around $3000. There are also online courses priced at much less.
With the current price of a microblading session at anywhere from $200 to $1000+ ($600 being the average microblading price), this investment can be reimbursed quickly.
How to Start a Microblading Business
Once you’ve decided microblading is your dream career, you may be wondering how to start a microblading business. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Certification
The most important part of the whole process is learning the skill well.
The only way to do this is to take a quality course, where you will learn all about microblading, the tools, pigments, color theory, mapping, keeping your clients and yourself safe, but also get the opportunity to train on props and even models.
Live courses usually take several days, and you get your certificate of attendance immediately, but in most cases, you keep practicing online until you obtain your certificate of completion. Most courses include a starter kit with basic equipment.
Online training takes a bit more time, but it allows you to determine your pace and offers constant supervision and support from the trainer.
Extra Tip
Throughout the process of starting your microblading business, you should practice your skill as much as possible. Until you get licensed and start working on clients, you can practice on props, so you are extra prepared to give your first official client flawless brows!
Step 2: Licensing
In most states, you need to obtain a professional license from a board or institution in charge in order to legally practice microblading.
The one universal condition when you are looking for how to start a microblading business is a certificate of completion from a registered trainer or academy, but the process varies.
Depending on the rules and regulations in your state or country, there may be some additional certificated you’ll need to obtain, like first-aid training or bloodborne pathogen training.
Some states require working as an apprentice to an already licensed artist for a while.
You can check the licensing requirements in your state here.
Step 3: Setting Up Shop
In order to start working, you need to set up your workspace.
Choose a location carefully. Consider your options; you can rent a space, or even turn a room in your house into a salon. Decorate your salon to make your clients feel relaxed and comfortable, and obtain quality tools and equipment.
The basic equipment includes a bed, good lighting, disposable supplies, as well as a range of pigments. You will also need a stash of PMU aftercare products to give your clients after a procedure.
Your workspace must always be clean and your equipment sterile. In some states, your salon may have to pass a sanitary inspection in order for you to obtain your license.
Here’s a few articles that will help you with equipment shopping:
Extra Tip
You will need to get insurance and protect your business from liability claims and property damage. Better safe than sorry!
Step 4: Determine Your Price
If you’re brand new to the industry, you’ll probably have to start off charging less than you’d like to, since you haven’t gained much experience yet. You can gradually increase your prices as your work starts getting recognized.
This article will help you set a price for your first clients.
If you’ve already worked at someone else’s salon but you’re just now starting a microblading business, consider these factors:
Are there other microblading salons in your town/area?
If there are few licensed microblading artists working in your area, your skill is automatically more valuable. If the competition is strong, your prices should be lower than your competitors’ in the beginning – raise them as you’re building your reputation.
How much do they charge?
If you charge significantly more than your competition, chances are you’ll lose some potential customers to cheaper artists. If you charge significantly less, potential clients might get suspicious and doubt your expertise.
Where did you get your training?
Some microblading academies are already established franchises and potential clients often choose artists with their certification. So as we’ve already mentioned, investing in quality training pays off.
Step 5: Marketing
Getting clients is the basis of a successful business and marketing is the only way to do it if you’re just starting a microblading business.
The first step is setting up a professional website that clearly states all the information clients need. Invest in an attractive website that will show the identity of your brand.
You should also start social media pages for your business and stay consistently active on them. This means posting pictures of your work (before & after photos that are not over-edited are very important), advertising specials, posting announcements, and being available for any questions.
Gaining followers means building clientele!
Image source: Instagram @master_shayli
Step 6: Start Building Your Reputation
As soon as you start working, keep in mind that each pair of brows is an advertisement. Take advantage of every opportunity to show your client you know your craft, but pay attention to every aspect of your business, especially client relations.
Recommendations are a great way to obtain new clients, and you can think about introducing a referral program to encourage that.
Building your image as a professional, trustworthy and friendly expert enables you to gradually expand, increase your prices, and thrive!
How Much Can You Make Doing Microblading?
The average price of a microblading session, which lasts about an hour and a half, is around $600. So you could potentially make a 4-figure income in a single day.
What makes microblading so popular is the fact that it gives natural results which fade over time. This means satisfied clients come back for touch ups, which increases your microblading income.
Although annual touch ups cost less than the initial treatment (around 60% of the initial price), they also take less time and are done at regular intervals. So each client is a potential regular.
Extra Tip
Microblading is a good starting point, but there are many other PMU treatments you can be trained for! Mastering new PMU techniques is a foolproof way to increases your income.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to start your own business, microblading is a great option, as it involves relatively little investment. In return, you’ll be making a profit in no time, all the while working in a fun, dynamic environment and unleashing your creativity!
Cover image source: Freepik
