13 Beauty business ideas you can start from home

Got a passion for anything hair, makeup, and skincare-related? Now might be a good time to monetise your interest in beauty. The industry generates billions of dollars in sales and has proven its resilience, making it promising for budding entrepreneurs and freelancers.  

Need some help on how you can make money in the beauty industry? Check out Airtasker’s guide on beauty business ideas that don’t require licences, certifications, or studying, so you can start them anytime! 

Business ideas for beauty enthusiasts

Do you live, eat, and breathe beauty? Keep scrolling to find out how you can start a beauty business. 

1. Beauty product reseller

Notice how the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk lipstick is always out of stock at your local Selfridges? Buy them in bulk from a different location and resell them to your neighbours, friends, and family—with a bit of markup for your time and effort! Or, partner with a local beauty brand and offer to do “beauty selling parties” so you can get their products into the hands of new customers.

2. Freelance makeup artist

Got a large makeup stash? Help people look their best during special occasions as a makeup artist! Practice on your friends and family to learn how to handle different face shapes, skin tones, and textures. This will help you match products to various clients while on the job.

3. Beauty freelance writer

A beauty job that doesn’t require a licence, just a way with words. Beauty brands like Jo Malone and Charlotte Tilbury and digital publications like Cosmopolitan, ELLE, and Vogue might need contributing writers for articles, website product descriptions, email newsletters, and more. 

Or you can join freelancing platforms, like Upwork or Airtasker, to connect with individuals who need your beauty writing skills.

4. Freelance social media manager 

Are you a beauty enthusiast with digital prowess? Startup beauty brands need to make a lot of noise on social media to raise awareness and inspire new customers to try the products out. That’s where social media managers come in! They craft relevant copy, ideate exciting posts and videos, and sometimes star in a brand’s IG Reels and Tiktok videos.

5. Beauty content creator

If you love creating beauty tutorials, taking aesthetic photos of your skincare stash, or posting bite-sized beauty content, try your hand at creating content on YouTube, Instagram, or Tiktok. If you post quality content regularly, you can gradually grow your followers and attract various brands’ attention. Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags and tag the brands for maximum exposure! 

Beauty business ideas for estheticians

As a beautician, you know everything there is to know about skin and caring for it. Not into the idea of working for a clinic or spa? That’s cool, because Airtasker has ideas on how to make extra money as an esthetician. 

6. Online beauty advisor

One of the easiest esthetic businesses to start at home! Online skin consultations—or “teleconsultations”—have become a go-to for clients who want expert skin advice without going out. You can teach customers about their skin and the right products that will work for them via Zoom.

7. At-home wax esthetician

DIY beauty treatments, like waxing legs and underarms, can be risky at home. That’s why a side gig as a wax esthetician is very important. You know how to handle hot and cold wax, and can safely get rid of a client’s unwanted hair in a painless manner.

8. Facialist

Are you an expert in unclogging pores, removing blackheads, and making skin look smooth and glowing? Make extra cash by offering home facials! Whether one has an important event coming up or the other wants a skin refresh, they’ll know who to call.

9. Lash and eyebrow esthetician

Lash extensions and microbladed brows are perfect for those who don’t have enough time to do their makeup and want to look put together quickly. This beauty business idea will fly as an at-home lash, and eyebrow services will save customers time and money from driving or commuting to a specific location.

Beauty business ideas for cosmetologists

Hair and nails are your passion, and you know how to make anyone feel their most fabulous selves. Try one of these business ideas if you want to earn more money as a cosmetologist.

10. Beauty teacher

Want to impart knowledge from your years of experience in the industry? A beauty teacher or professor is a great way to earn extra money. You won’t have to teach a class daily so that you can balance this with your other beauty side hustles or full-time job.

11. Beauty podcaster

If you’re more confident behind a camera than in front, you can be a podcaster! Remember to make your episodes run under an appropriate time—podcast lengths depend on the content, but you can start at 15-20 minutes per episode. 

12. At-home hairstylist

Who needs to go to a salon when people can call you? Home haircuts, colouring, and hair styling will be easier since clients will be in a comfortable space and can communicate their ideas with you.

13. Nail artist

Love making unique nail designs? You’ll make a great nail artist! Help your clients achieve their nail art dreams—whether that’s the glazed doughnut look, an embellished french manicure, or bright swirls—with a bit of swoosh, wipe, and dab of your nail polish.

Consider one of these side hustles to earn extra money

As with any side hustle, you’ll first have to consider what beauty business you’re mainly interested in and how much time you can spare from your full-time job. When you’ve done that, you can check Airtasker to find your next beauty task. They have a variety of jobs you can choose from, so you’ll never get bored!