Eventually, during our lives, almost all of us dream about leaving our day jobs and starting something of our own. The feeling of being your own boss and managing your own time and finances, haven’t you ever wanted that? Starting a business is a journey with lots of ups and downs. And it is up to you to make excellent choices and invest your enthusiasm and effort into something that will eventually grow and prosper.

Microblading is among these businesses that are relatively easy to launch and can grow rapidly. The return on investment here is quite promising as well. Both pros in the beauty industry and newbies have managed to build prosperous brands and earn a considerable profit in recent years. So why not you?

Starting your own microblading business has both its advantages and hardships. With this guide, we will tell you more about the first and help you overcome the latter. Good luck!

What is a Microblading Business

Microblading is a semi-permanent way of tattooing brows – saving hours of time from penciling and picking eyebrows for you. It is not a tattoo though; the tool has tiny needles that can draw hair-like lines with pigment deposited under your skin and these delicate lines give a look of natural eyebrow hair. The result is perfect-looking brows that always look the same and need no further care.

So why not become a microblading artist yourself and make your peers look gorgeous while earning a profit?

Is Microblading a Profitable Business?

The quick answer is yes! Microblading, as a business, is quite profitable. Just consider basic economics, there is a significant gap between the demand for microblading and the supply. So the price for a procedure grows and with its increasing popularity, there are always customers for you.

Although starting any new profession and business involves some initial startup funding from you, microblading is among those that require a relatively small amount, and the pay-off time is short.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Microblading Business?

What makes microblading an excellent investment is its low startup costs. It will cost you somewhere around $1600 – $3000 to take professional courses live or online. The cost of renting a chair in a salon or opening one yourself varies vastly from place to place. But, compared to other businesses, it is much cheaper as well. Finally, the set of tools for starters that you need will not cost you more than a couple of hundred dollars either.

How Much Money Can You Make Doing Microblading?

Established microblading artists can make a considerable amount of money. Although the prices vary, customers would usually pay somewhere around $300 and $900 for a microblading procedure.

As a beginner who just started gaining experience and clientele, your earning will be lower than that. However, with more knowledge, better practice, and well-done marketing, you can reach the prices mentioned above with relative ease.

Let’s do some basic calculations. Considering that an average session takes 2 hours. If you work part-time with two clients per day and 5 days a week, you can make between $3000 and $9000 each week before taxes. Earning six figures is not as unreal as you thought it would be, right?

Things You Need Before Starting

Before going forward with our step-by-step guide, let’s go over several valuable pieces of advice compiled both by us and professionals who are already in this business.

So what should you consider before starting a microblading business?

Tools

You can get a starters’ kit for microblading for a couple of hundred dollars, as mentioned before. However, if you want to go for professional tools, especially the high-quality ones, be ready to pay several thousand dollars. The tools you need are:

• The microblading machine itself
• Blades
• Measuring calipers
• Universal holders
• A pigment mixer machine
• Pigment rings
• Scissors & tweezers

Supplies

Performing a microblading procedure will involve buying supplies as well. The prices of these supplies, as with the tools, vary greatly depending on the quality and sophistication. The principal supplies you need are:

• Pigments
• Tubes
• Marking pens
• Hygiene products
• Gloves
• Numbing cream

Furniture

Some states have specific and strict requirements when it comes to furniture in a microblading salon. There are specialized chairs and other pieces of furniture designed to ensure your customers’ safety during the procedure. So you need to consider buying it as well to comply with your state regulations.

Location

With beauty salons, location is probably among the primary factors attracting customers. But before renting that nice location you have found, pay attention to your state’s requirements regarding zoning and placement, as microblading is a regulated activity in many states.

Online Presence

Research and evidence show that the most effective way to attract customers in the beauty industry is via online channels such as Pinterest, Instagram, and websites. You can put information about your services, location, success stories from customers or their testimonials, and before/after photos. You can have a Q&A, answering questions that worry your customers the most. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools for marketing, website builders, and DIY design tools you can take advantage of to generate leads and bring more customers to your doorsteps.

Tips From Other Business Owners

We have compiled a list of opinions and tips from people who have started and are currently running a microblading business. In particular, their advice is to: 

• Offer referral bonuses to your existing customers, such as discounts on a lash lift.
• Constantly work on self-improvement, practice daily, and research new products and methods.
• Do not take all the clients that call you. Do not forget that you are a human being that needs rest and a fresh mind to deliver your best.
• Take advantage of online booking to save time on administrative work.
• Pre-draw the brows with removable ink and get the client’s approval before applying the semi-permanent pigment.
• Learn about human face construction and color theory to offer the best shape and color to each customer individually.

How to Start Your Microblading Business: Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Get Certified

Success in microblading is mainly based on your skills and knowledge. The best way to learn this craft is to take quality courses from professionals in the field. There, you will learn about the theory of microblading, which tools and pigments to use, how to decide on colors and how to match it for specific skin colors and face shapes. You will learn about the safety and health rules to make sure that both your customers and your state regulators are happy with your craft.

You can choose between live and online courses. Live courses last only several days and you get your certification immediately. Online courses last longer. However, you can learn at your own pace. Whichever option you choose, most courses will provide you with a starter kit in the end.

Step 2: Obtain a License

Most states will require you to have a professional license before starting a microblading business. Usually, the base for obtaining the license is your certification from the training company or licensed individual. Some states will ask for additional training and certification on health and safety, such as bloodborne pathogen or first-aid training. Sometimes, the state might also require you to work as an apprentice of a certified microblading artist for some time before operating on your own.

Step 3: Set Up Your Workspace

We discussed what you will need for a complete workspace to do microblading. Let’s quickly summarize them:

• Location: At home, renting a chair in a salon, or opening a salon yourself. In some states, the sanitary review service will visit you before the state allows starting the work.
• Furniture: Specialized furniture with safety and regulatory compliance in mind.
• Tools and Supplies: From starter kits for a couple of hundred dollars to professional sets for several thousand.

Step 4: Decide on Your Pricing

How much should you charge your customers? Setting the best price can seem challenging at first, but you can answer these questions for easier decision-making:

• Do you have any competitors nearby?
• What are the prices of your competitors?
• Where did you learn Microblading? Some institutions are well known and can boost your brand with their certificate only.

Step 5: Start Marketing Your Services

You can use all the possible marketing channels to get everyone to know about your business and services. Friends, family, Instagram page, your website, etc. Good marketing is key to your success. So make sure you shine both online and offline.

Keep in mind that each happy customer of yours is a very effective marketer too. Their eyebrows will serve as an advertisement for you.

Can You Do Microblading from Home?

If your state allows it, then yes. Marketing can be done online and via word-to-mouth. You can set up your equipment and furniture in a dedicated room in your house and invite your customers home. This way, you will also save significantly on the initial investment as there will be no need in renting a space.

You do not need to worry if your customers will be ok with visiting your home instead of a salon, as it is not a factor for most of them. What they care about the most is the quality of your work and your pricing.