How to Start a Waxing Business in 2024
Kirstyn Porter
Whether your motivation is to take the next step in your esthetics career, or you’re ready to do things your way and on your own time... this is a big decision!
There are many things to consider when deciding to go solo and start your own waxing business, and we want to help you succeed!
Nova Wax creator, Liz Lugo, began her waxing journey at a large waxing chain and after 3 years, moved on to start her own business.
“I always knew I wanted to work for a franchise. I didn’t know the first thing about opening a business and I had no interest in figuring that out - I wanted to focus on my craft & nothing else!”
Table of Contents
Esthetician School to Waxing Business
Most standard esthetician programs teach more technical topics such as hair cycles and the anatomy and physiology of the various skin types. These programs are usually designed to prepare you to pass your state board exams, and that’s it.
You can take additional courses for certifications in waxing; however, most estheticians gain their initial experience by working hands-on with real clients.
“My waxing career started at European Wax Center and it was a great experience! I went into that position knowing I needed proper training, as school solely prepared me for the state board exam."
"You don’t get real experience until you are working in the field. I was taught how to wax by following a specific pattern, I learned that customer service is an essential part of our job and how to professionally speak to and handle clients. I also learned about sales, product ingredients, how to educate clients on their skin, and how to sanitize/clean your area while maximizing your time.”
If you’re in a position now where you are considering branching out on your own after working for a chain or for someone else - here are some things you need to consider before taking the plunge to start your own esthetician business.
READ: How to Become an Esthetician
Jobs after Esthetician School
There’s one central question that crosses everyone’s mind after graduating which is, “Do you really need to work at a waxing chain before starting your own waxing business?” The answer is really dependent on a few things!
If you’ve taken advantage of additional training, certifications, and practiced waxing ‘till your skin falls off - you could start your own business right off the bat or work alongside one or two other esthies in a shared space instead of going to a large chain.
On the other hand, if you really want to gain solid hands-on experience in addition to other skills like customer service and sales, working at a chain can provide you with a wealth of knowledge that will give you a solid foundation to branch out on your own when the time comes.
It may not be ideal to work for someone else when you are starting out, but setting goals and a timeline for yourself will help you stay motivated.
By setting goals for yourself, you ensure that you do not become complacent in your current position and that you are constantly working towards the next step.
“Initially, I never had plans to open my own business. I was so happy to have found my calling with waxing and esthetics that the thought of being able to do something I love every single day was enough for me. I started working at EWC and my goal going in was to absorb as much information as I could! I worked hard to build my books and get to a point where I had solid clientele and was fully booked!
"Once I achieved that goal (which took me about a year and a half - this location was a SUPER slow location) my next plan of action was to become a faster waxer so that I could see more clients and make more money. Part of the job was also sales and becoming familiar with the products and the ingredients within them. I studied every product we sold and eventually got comfortable with selling to my clients.”
READ: How Much Does Waxing Cost?
Timing and Starting a Waxing Business
Timing is truly up to you and the goals you have set for yourself. Once you have checked all the boxes and achieved everything you set your sights on, you can begin to strategize the next step of going solo.
Taking the leap of faith and venturing out on your own can be scary, but it will be incredibly rewarding in the long run if you plan and execute everything as best you can.
“After three years at European Wax Center, I had reached the point in my career where I knew this was it! There was no more room for growth, there was no more opportunity to make more money, and I was no longer okay with having to ask permission for time off and always having management control everything I do.
"I realized it was time for me to move on when I was no longer happy or excited about going to work. I needed more of a challenge, I wanted to make more money, I wanted to create my own schedule, and I wanted to have my own clients. I knew I could only do this if I went into business for myself.”
READ: Our Creator's StoryPlanning When Starting a Waxing Business
While making the decision to go out on your own is a “leap of faith” - please, do not LEAP into it. You may feel ready to branch out on your own, but sometimes the planning process will uncover that you may need a bit more time before you’re ready - and that is okay!
Finances are HUGE and your first year of business may not be profitable at all - some can afford to take that risk due to savings, but others cannot. If you envision what you’ll need and visually plan it out, you will be able to see if you are financially and emotionally ready to take concrete steps.
If you are not quite there yet, you will at least be able to know how much you will need to save and what you need to accomplish to feel truly confident in starting your own business.
Waxing Business Finances
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Location: Create a budget to determine your start-up costs before you research location options. This will prevent you from scouring the web for the best studio in the best location that comes with a high price tag. Your first studio most likely will not be your forever studio! As you grow your business and clientele you will most likely grow into a new space that will be your “dream studio,” so do not stress yourself out with trying to find the perfect studio right off the bat. Once you know what your basic operational costs are, you will be able to create a realistic budget for your location.
The nicest studio in the world does not mean a thing if you do not have the proper equipment, certifications, and supplies. If you do want to have a nicer studio, planning your basic costs will help you with saving for it! You’ll have an idea of how much you need to put aside to get that dream studio once all the important details are covered first. Remember, rent is a cost that is FIXED and does not change whether you have a busy month or a slow month.
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Inventory: Order only what you need, and add a little extra. When ordering your products, like wax - be careful to not over or under-order. This is something you can start on before you even begin planning your solo endeavor. Pay attention to how much wax you use per service and take notes! Experiment with your application and ensure you are maximizing your wax - are you using too much wax? Are your strips thicker than they need to be? Are you not using enough wax the first time around so you end up wasting more wax and time having to go over the same area more than once?
Once you have an idea of how much wax you use, you will have a solid idea of how much you need to order per month. A two month supply is a good amount to have on hand to ensure that you will never run out of wax. Having an extra month on hand protects you in case your wax supplier runs into shipping delays or you get a sudden boom in business (yay!).
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Organization: Create a separate account for taxes and fees! Determine what permit, licensing, and insurance requirements are necessary for your state, city, and/or county. Ensure your area will be state-board approved so you can avoid fees or fines down the road. Research taxes - you may find that it is much less of a headache to hire someone to assist you with this than trying to do it all on your own. When starting out, any small fine or fee can really set you back so always ensure your legal bases are covered.
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Profitability: Determine what your target profit is, and have that as a priority. Most people calculate “profit” as whatever is left over after you subtract your expenses from your revenue. While that is technically a correct equation, it is not as beneficial to you. The whole point of starting your own business is to make money for yourself - so do not lose sight of that when you start calculating your finances. If you put yourself first, i.e your profit, you will have a better gauge of how much you will need for expenses. If you calculate your revenue and subtract what your ideal profit is, that magic number is what you need to have set aside for expenses.This ensures that YOU are taken care of first, and everything extra can wait. Fancy decor and a high-tech spa bed can definitely wait. When you know what your “bare minimum” expenses are AFTER you have determined what you need for yourself, it will be much more profitable for you in the end.
- Investment: Put money back into the business as you grow. Your equipment may need an upgrade in the future, or you may choose to invest in better-quality products and supplies for your salon. Maybe you will get to the point where you can add some nice furniture and decor to your studio to make it more aesthetically pleasing.
Find Your Waxing Business Niche
It may seem attractive to offer a multitude of services at your salon, in addition to waxing, to maximize your revenue, however, do not overwhelm yourself right off the bat with a crazy service menu. Not only will it be incredibly expensive to purchase all the necessary supplies and equipment for multiple different services, but it will be difficult to keep up with all the options.
What sticks with clients is becoming the best at what you do in your area. If your passion is brow waxing, for example - stick to that and own it! Work hard to perfect your technique and build your clientele in that area. Your niche customers will value your expertise in your waxing business.
When you build a solid group of repeat customers, they will completely trust you. Once you have that solid base, ask your clients for feedback on additional services and products they are looking for so you know where exactly to expand (if that is what you want to do!).
Once you become the best at whatever your niche is, your clientele will grow and your waxing business will grow from that.
Quality Products in a Waxing Business
It's important to buy quality products when starting a waxing business. There are numerous options on the market to choose from, so select the waxing products that best suit your preferences and waxing style.
