Setting Up Your Business

You might be thinking, "Set up my business??? I'm not a business owner, I'm an artist!"

Well here are the hard facts:

• 50% of all salon workers are self-employed
• 90% of all entertainment hair and makeup artists are sub-contract workers
• If you are a sub-contractor the goverment veiws you as an independent business owner, aka a sole proprietorship of your own business

Pearls of Wisdom:

Learn to run your freelance business like a real business

• It will save you time
• It will save you money
• It will get your career going in the right direction a lot faster
• People you work for will respect you a lot more for your professionalism

So what does running your freelance makeup/ hair career like a business mean???

• It means you understand what the different business structures are such as a sole proprietorship, an LLC or Limited Liability Company, and a Corporation
• You have a solid career plan with both long term and short term goals
• You have a plan for self-promotion
• You have budget for networking and marketing yourself so you don't debt finance your career
• You understand what the going rate is for a hair/makeup artist in your area and you negotiate accordingly
• You have money budgeted each month for inventory or replenishing your kit
• Your business finances are seperate from your personal (including your credit cards-have seperate business credit cards)
• You always get a signed deal memo before you start a job
• You know what the labor laws are governing your area
• You always invoice on promptly after a job along with a necessary tax form such as a W9

Steps for Starting You Business:



Start your career plan by clicking here
Set up federal tax ID

Small Business Loan Resources

Note:

• Some cities may require you to obtain a business license or local tax number so be sure to do your homework for that area.
• You are required by law to publish your DBA in a local paper for 40 days in order to make your DBA legal.