Independent Contracting as an Hair Stylist
Being your own boss can be extremely freeing and lead to immense career and life potentials that you didn’t have access to before. However, if you don’t know what you’re doing or overlook the basics of business, you will go down, very hard, and very fast; but that’s why we’re here to help you avoid that! In this article, we’re going to go over some of the basics of independent contracting; what it is and how to do it.
What is Independent Contracting?
Independent contracting as a hair stylist is a pretty simple concept. You’re not an employee, but you’re not exactly on your own, either. You work in a building that is not yours, you simply rent out space in an existing salon/spa to call your own. This is called renting a booth, chair, or room. You pay rent to your landlord but you most likely will not be responsible for mowing, snow removal, cleaning the rest of the salon/spa, etc. If you decide to work in an existing location with a good reputation, clients will come to you and you will have an easier time building a solid cliente.
Salary/Pay/Expenses
Rather than be paid by the hour as you would as an employee, what you make per client is what you make, period. You can still make commissions if you sell a product to your client that they normally wouldn’t have access to. Additionally, you still collect all of your tips. However, you can take a hit to your salary if you’re not careful. As an independent contractor, you are responsible for all of the materials you use; you have to buy your own supply. On top of that, rent can end up being pretty expensive. It’s important to be aware and track your expenses as an independent contractor. Before making any definite decisions on your location, always check out all of your options to determine factors like price, location, reputability, and so on. Another expense you could have is marketing and advertising. It is true that clients will come to you if your location has a good reputation, but nobody knows who you are and people will want someone trusted and well-reviewed.
Building Clientele
Building a large, loyal clientele should be one of your biggest concerns when you’re just starting out as an independent contractor. Always focus on being a good listener and giving your clients the best possible treatment that you can possibly offer. If people like you, they will come to you. Clients are often very loyal to the services they use so the impression you leave with them is as important as the quality of their hair. Business cards, social media posts, and/or word of mouth are great ways to get your name out there.
