Let’s look at the nuts and bolts of what is required to run a successful professional freelance service: you need to be a qualified and experienced hairdresser, understand simple bookkeeping, have enough clients and be able to earn extra money.
The easy bit is being a competent and qualified hairdresser, but how do you ensure clients take you seriously and view your hairdressing service as a professional business. It starts at the very beginning: how you present yourself, how you behave and the message you convey.
Next thing we need is clients – where do they come from? Finding clients can be a real challenge, but it’s not impossible! To increase your customer base, you can encourage those you already have to recommend a friend and reward them both with a treat – a complimentary gift or a product sample, for example. To gain clients, thoughts tend to go straight to social media, but nothing works better than word of mouth – i.e. one client recommending another. This is also great as it means you will gain the type of clients you are looking for. Remember, your greatest advertising is your work itself; as soon as your client leaves your chair, they are a walking advert for your business!
Next, how do you create appeal for your business? Freelancers don’t have a shop window to entice people in, and impressions are made in a moment. You’ll want to list the services you provide, especially if you are a bleach specialist or do bridal hair, for example. Keeping an up-to-date price list clear and visible for clients to see also helps manage their expectation for each appointment, whether they’re coming for the ‘full works’ or just looking for a trim. Highlighting your qualifications and insurance coverage is another key factor, this not only instils confidence but also reinforces your professionalism. Finally, establishing clear terms of business and a cancellation policy sets the framework for a smooth client experience.
Moving onto social media. In today’s digital age, leveraging social media platforms like Instagram is indispensable for promoting your business as a freelance hairdresser. Your Instagram profile serves as your virtual shop window, offering potential clients a glimpse into your expertise and style.
To make the most impact, focus on capturing clean, high-quality images that showcase your hair creations without distractions. Keep backgrounds clutter-free, ensuring the spotlight remains on your work. Invest in good lighting and framing to highlight the intricacies of your hairstyles and colours. Consistency is key; maintain a cohesive aesthetic and posting schedule to keep followers engaged. Don’t forget to engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages. Lastly, utilise hashtags strategically to expand your reach and attract potential clients searching for hair inspiration. With dedication and a keen eye for presentation, social media can become your most powerful tool for growing your freelance hairdressing business.
We can tend to run away from retailing, but this is another very important part of your business that must not be forgotten. You want your clients to use the best products on their hair to keep it in the best condition possible, so who better to advise and sell to them exactly what they need than their professional hairdresser. Freelancing is a one-to-one service, and we are with our clients because they have invited us to do their hair – it’s the perfect situation to discuss their hair, its problems and the solutions we can offer!
Retailing is also very profitable and very often overlooked. Let’s say each item only has £3 profit, for example, if you sell 10x products a week for 46 weeks a year, you could earn an extra £1380. Now that is worth having!
Now, onto understanding tax. Your personal tax allowance is £12,570. This means that until you have a profit of over £12,570, you have no tax liability. Whilst this depends on your circumstances (which we will dive deeper into in future articles), in general terms this is correct. With this in mind, obtaining the correct level of Public Liability Insurance is crucial – you need to understand the cover it gives you and the skin testing policy that is compatible with the way you work.
Keep an eye out for my next article as we will look at the correct level of insurance you should have…
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