Rented room or small studio for skin and body treatments

Local residents, workers nearby and regular clients wanting a professional space, plus gift voucher buyers.

Treatment fees, add-ons, retail skincare sales, vouchers and packages. A rented room keeps fixed costs lower than a full salon lease, but rent has to be covered every week.

• Beauty therapy qualification and some experience
• Customer service and rebooking regulars
• Basic bookkeeping and stock management
• Marketing through social media and local networking

• Lease or room rental terms, including notice periods and who is responsible for fit-out and repairs
• Council or state registration and hygiene rules for beauty premises, so check with your local council
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance, plus workers compensation if you hire staff
• GST registration once your turnover reaches the threshold
• Quiet weeks can still leave you with rent to pay, so keep some cash reserve
• Regulated treatments such as injectables need medical practitioners and are outside this idea

Estimates suggest startup costs typically sit around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on whether you rent a room in an existing salon or lease a small studio, and on your fit-out and equipment. Treat it as a guide only.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $14,000, depending on your client base, your services and how well you rebook regulars. Rent still has to be paid in quiet weeks, so keep a cash reserve. Time starts from about 25 hours a week.

Check lease or room rental terms, including notice periods and who pays for fit-out and repairs. Also check council or state registration and hygiene rules for beauty premises, insurance (including workers compensation if you hire), and GST registration once you reach the threshold.