Treatment room in the home

When you have a treatment room in your home, Would you need a seperate entrance and powder room? Also would you have products on hand for purchase? If you went with a product line that the client could order from on her own,(via catalog) Do you think they would order or procrastinate about the order. I have not yet done a treatment room from home It does sound appealing. I am still looking for a job in the field it's been a challenge.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kathy Waskow on October 19, 2011 at 4:31am

I am sure that every state is different about what regulations there are. Yes here in Vermont you do need all of the things that you asked about. Also, clients will ask what you recommend, having products on hand in my opinion is extremely important.

Permalink Reply by Cheryl Bruss on October 23, 2011 at 11:01pm

Thanks Kathy, I will check with my state on all of that . Also I'm sure every state is different about going home to home as in a traveling spa? Any thought on that?

Permalink Reply by 0hmwr2j8mqp5v on October 24, 2011 at 8:11pm

Go for it! I have been working out of my home for over ten years and my clients love it! Especially men....who would NEVER go to an open spa or skincare clinic....but they come here! And I love it! When clients are not here, I can eat a healthy lunch, throw in laundry, etc. The one problem is advertising in a public type of forum. You are opening up your home...and safety needs to be a huge consideration. A local newspaper ran an ad free of charge years ago about my business and I gained wonderful faithful clients. Remember....you sell yourself....and people come back because of YOU! And of course, start small with an inventory of basic products and you can increase your inventory as finances permits....Retail brings in a great amount of income....and yes....people want to walk out of the door with the product in hand....because YOU have created the excitement about how wonderful their skin is going to be. When I got out of school in 99, I worked for a spa for about a month at $8/hour. I said to myself....this is insane. I can do this out of the master bedroom of my home..and I have to admit that it was much trial and error...but that is how we learn. Check with your state board as far as regulations...make sure you tell them you are an esty and not a cosmetologist. My state does not permit hair dressers to work out of their homes. Hope this gives you food for thought...

Permalink Reply by Sandee Regier on October 28, 2011 at 3:54pm

Hi Cheryl -

I agree with the others that you will need to review requirements by your state licensing board. If there are no requirements I might add a thought here. My ideal would be a totally separate "cubby" like a mother-in-law unit or something like that for the business because it retains the atmosphere of a business separate from a home, the odors from cooking those brussel spouts last night are not your challenge today, and if family and friends arrive at home when not expected you do not have interuptions, pets are happier too! I've had all this you must know...but, if you do not have that choice, I would recommend a separate entrance. Which I did have put in the side of my house. It was awesome to see that go it...never would have thought it possible, but I am not the contractor! and yes, a half bath at least is good that is dedicated to clients, mine doubles as their changing room also, that way I can move around the studio and finish up things while they are changing. If you did not want to maintain a retail inventory the least I would recommend in this day is to have a tester unit on hand, build it yourself if the company doesn't supply (minimally containing the basic products if you can't afford the serum, masques, etc) and a convenient order blank with on-line ordering capabilty and a quick response to their orders. Do a very thorough prescription (with feeling and testing) during appointments and follow-up. That may work if it doesn't you can alway grow the inventory as you can with the initial clients seeking your recommendations and returning for products. If you haven't started yet, I can't recommend enough that you write down your plan before you start and visualize the path you are on. This, I have found, is one thing that has made all the difference, plus these forums (which I never had the benefit of in 1985).

Permalink Reply by felicia medlock blair on November 2, 2011 at 12:50pm

If live in FL, you have to have a seperate entrance from the main living quarters and it has to have seperate a restroom. It cannot be in a bedroom for example unless it has a door to the outside an a permanent wall between the rest of the house. Also don't forget to check with your town commercial zone regulating. Some neighborhoods don't allow homebased businesses.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Johnston on November 8, 2011 at 7:14pm

Luckily for convenient access to running water and for licensing reasons my studio is on the main floor situated in what was once an office/bedroom with en suite. In a perfect world I would have a separate entrance and waiting area for my home esthetic salon, but the world is not perfect nor is my house so I welcome my client at the door and have them sit in the waiting area/living room if I'm still busy with another client. Most of my skin care products I retail are exclusive to professionals but a couple products can be ordered online. I sell them for the same retail price so it would actually be cheaper and more convenient for the client to buy through me than pay for shipping costs and wait for its arrival online.