Home-Based beauty supplies to salons

Independent salons, mobile beauty therapists, nail and lash technicians, day spas and small boutiques.

You earn the margin between your wholesale buying price and the trade price you charge, often with repeat orders from regular customers.

• Knowing beauty products and what salons use
• Selling and relationship building
• Stock tracking and ordering
• Basic bookkeeping

• Cosmetics must meet Australian rules on ingredients and labelling, so check the requirements with the regulator (AICIS and the ACCC) and ask your suppliers for documentation
• Some products, such as those making therapeutic claims, may be regulated differently, so check before you promote them
• Running a business from home may need council approval, so check with your local council
• Product liability insurance, and check storage conditions such as heat and expiry dates
• Cash tied up in stock, so start small and avoid slow-moving lines
• GST registration is required once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how much stock you buy and which brands you carry. These are estimates, so consider starting small to avoid cash tied up in slow-moving lines.

Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many salons and therapists you supply and your product range. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Check Australian ingredient and labelling requirements with AICIS and the ACCC, and ask suppliers for documentation. Check how products making therapeutic claims are regulated, council approval for a home business, product liability insurance, storage conditions, and GST registration.