Beauty business ideas you can start for up to £20,000
20 ideas
This page brings together 20 beauty business ideas with startup costs up to £20,000. They suit qualified therapists, hairdressers and technicians who want to work for themselves, as well as people willing to train first.
Home-based facial and skin treatment room
Offer facials and skin treatments from a dedicated treatment room at home, building up regular clients by appointment.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Foot massage studio
Open a small, calm foot massage studio where clients book sessions or drop in.
- £4k-15k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Skin treatment studio at home or in a rented room
Offer facials, peels and skin-boosting treatments from a home studio or a rented room, building up a loyal client base.
- £3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Hot stone treatment room
Rent a treatment room or small unit and offer hot stone massage by appointment.
- £2k-10k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Home hairdressing studio
Turn a spare room or garden cabin into a small private studio and welcome regular clients by appointment.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- From home
Teeth whitening in a rented room
For registered dental professionals: offer dentist-prescribed whitening from a rented room in a salon or clinic.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Rented treatment room aesthetics studio
Rent a room in a salon or a small unit and run a full-time facial, waxing and tanning practice.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Hair removal studio in a rented room
Rent a treatment room or small unit and offer waxing, threading and similar services full time.
- £2k-10k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Home permanent make-up studio
Offer semi-permanent brows, lips and eyeliner from a dedicated treatment room at home.
- £2k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home hair studio
Turn a spare room or garden outbuilding into a small, appointment-only hair studio.
- £1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- From home
Beauty therapist in a rented room
Rent a room or chair in an established salon, or open a small studio of your own.
- £2.5k-12k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Lash studio in a rented room
Run a lash studio from a rented room or small unit and build a loyal client base.
- £2.5k-10k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Permanent make-up studio in a rented room
Rent a treatment room or small unit and run a full-time permanent make-up practice with regular clients.
- £4k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Piercer renting a room in a studio
Rent a room or chair in a salon or tattoo studio and run your own piercing clients with lower costs.
- £2.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Private hair system fitting studio
Fit, cut and maintain custom hair systems for people with hair loss in a calm, private room.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Short beauty courses from a home studio
Teach small groups one-day or weekend nail, lash or makeup courses if you already work in the trade.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Weekend and evening barber courses
Teach short beginner and upskilling barber courses in rented or shared space, alongside your own barbering work.
- £1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Home-based electrolysis studio
Offer permanent hair removal appointments from a dedicated treatment room at home.
- £2.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- From home
Electrolysis clinic in a rented room
Rent a treatment room in a salon or clinic and build a full-time electrolysis client base.
- £3.5k-10k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Foot spa studio or treatment room
Run a small foot spa from a rented room or unit, offering soaks, scrubs and massage by appointment.
- £2.5k-10k
- Part-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Some, like a home hairdressing studio or a home-based electrolysis studio, keep overheads low by using your own space. Others, such as a lash studio in a rented room or a beauty therapist in a rented room, put you in a shared setting with passing trade. Before choosing, think about which treatments you are already qualified to offer, whether you need extra training or insurance, and how many clients you would need each week to cover costs. Check what your local council expects for premises and treatments, then compare ideas by start-up cost and the space you have.
Questions
Do I need qualifications to start a beauty business in the UK?
It depends on the treatment. Some, like electrolysis or permanent make-up, are usually expected to come with proper training, and insurers often ask for certificates. Check your insurer's requirements and any council rules before you take bookings.
Can I run a beauty business from home?
Many people do, but check a few things first: your mortgage or tenancy terms, whether you need planning permission, and what your local council requires for treatments. Also confirm your insurance covers clients visiting your home.
Is renting a room better than working from home?
Renting a room can bring walk-in clients and a more professional setting, but adds a regular cost. Working from home keeps overheads down. Compare rent against the clients you would realistically need, and check the rental agreement and insurance terms.