I would like feed back on, when your done your schooling and taken state board is it best to start at a salon or go independent?

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I think it's best to start in a larger spa or salon, with a lead esthetician who can train you thoroughly on the product line & protocols. It's such a good way to get your feet wet and get paid while you receive free education. It also prepares you to go independent. You can learn a lot about retaining clients, effective marketing, and all sorts of things that you would learn by trial and error on your own.

there is no way I could have done this alone the first time. I just started my own business in a salon. I am renting a room so all the profit is mine. 100%. I don't pay anything else, no water, no electricity, just the rent. Tho right after school, I was hired at a medspa and I'm glad I did it that way. I was able to save all my pennies and buy equipment little by little, now with just a little cash I'm able to go solo. I'm still at the medspa just less hours.

I have to disagree! If I could go back and do it all OVER again, I would have gone straight out on my own.  I have lost clientele so much changing places and I think I would have preferred to NOT have to deal with some of the crazy landlord/owner issues. I wish I would have done this years ago! It would have changed my life so much!!!

Usually, but not always, I think new grads - Estheticians and Massage Therapists both - think that they are more talented than they are.

As a mature women I have had many spa services, and there is nothing that I hate more than paying for a service only to have the service provider lack the skills and knowledge to perform the service to my expectations.

Working FOR someone can give a person some much needed experience and hopefully some additional training through the facility. They can also learn about running a business by watching owner/s and experiencing someone else's biz, without taking the risks with their own biz.

Education and knowledge comes with time, as long as you take advantage of those opportunities AND take the time to keep learning and educate yourself in ingredient and equipment knowledge.

I agree this is USUALLY the case. Unless you ended up like me and had a salon owner who wouldn't even wear a bra, let alone give me any education. I did it all on my own for myself and not only did she reap the rewards, but she then hired someone who she trained and gave whatever she wanted. Very frustrating! OF course, I was older when I went to school.  in my 30's and knew what I wanted. So That may have made a difference.

yeah I agree. I learned so much by working at two different medspas, and saw what NOT to do in the administration department. I also learned so much about that part of the business that it's the hardest of all, tedious and time consuming and how important advertising and marketing it is for this type of career.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO WALK INTO A SPA OR SALON AND START WORKING RIGHT AWAY, & SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS.  I RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIND THE BUSIEST PLACE, CLOSE TO HOME  AND GET IN WITH THEM.  I WORKED FOR ALOT OF PLACES BEFORE OPENING MY OWN PLACE, SOME WERE BUSY, SOME WERE NOT. I LEARNED SOMETHING FROM EVERY PLACE I WORKED & IT WAS ALL HELPFUL . NOW AFTER OPENING MY OWN ROOM I AM NOT THAT BUSY.  IT TAKES ALOT MORE THAN YOU THINK TO OPEN UP YOUR OWN PLACE.  JUST BE ETHICAL AND ASK GOD TO BLESS WHATEVER DECISION YOU MAKE. IT WILL WORK OUT, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A VERY COMPETITIVE BUSINESS.  GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS.  DEBB

Agree Debb!!! It can take some time! Hang in there!

I started out on my own and failed miserably because I did think I was more talented than I was. Then I got hooked up into a commission position where I was given free training and took every learning opportunity to grow that I could. Now I'm out on my own and looking back I could not imagine doing this when I was new. Being in a spa that fed me clients allowed me to focus on developing my skills in the treatment room but now that they're like second nature I can take on the task of developing my business skills as an independent estie.

I agree with most of the comments.  I worked in a full service resort spa.  It was newly renovated and beautiful. However, I tried in so many ways to bring in clients with not much success.  I feel the administration and marketing were not doing their job.  I also did not really receive any training, therefore I polished my skills that I learned in Esthetic school. I am considering going solo, but I do know it takes knowledge in all areas of the esthetic industry as well as the business field.  It feels good to imagine a successful practice, but in order to manifest it, do your research demographically, design a business plan and decide what your "focus" will be.

The bay area is VERY competitive. The high end spas want you to have 2 or more years experience or be dual certified to be considered.  I have learned a lot working for others but the biggest pay off is to work for yourself. I am working PT at a spa and PT at my own room. I think's it's the best of both worlds starting off. 

I think this is a very personal decision, based on your own experience (both esthetics and business in general).  I think if you are young and it is one of your first jobs, then learning at a spa from other more experienced professionals is better.  I started my esthetics career in my 40's after having worked in the "real world" for almost 20 years.  My experience was advertising and marketing, so I feel very fortunate that I have a good handle on that aspect of running a business and also a lot of experience working directly with clients explaining treatment options and managing their expectations.  I know a lot of good estys that had their own business and were great estys but terrible business people who also didn't know a thing about marketing.  If you are going to go out on your own, then make sure you understand all aspects of running, managing and promoting a business - as well as being an outstanding esthetician - and you will be fine.  Otherwise, go with a spa first!  I will also say that I rent space within an existing salon.  I was VERY selective on where I chose to work because I needed that professionalism and business ethics to exist where I was located, even if I was not directly tied to that business. I've been there 5 years and it has been wonderful - the salon owner is very supportive and a good business woman so we compliment each other's businesses very well.  Good luck!

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