Whether you’ve been in the game a while and want to start venturing off on your own through mobile barbering, or you’re just starting in the industry looking to stand on your own two feet – barbering on the go has a lot to offer.
Barbering has always been a great industry to get into. You’ll get to meet clients from all walks of life, express your skill and creativity, make people look and feel fresh, and most importantly – you get to do what you’re passionate about every day.
In recent years, mobile barbering has become increasingly popular – and for good reason. The opportunities are endless. You become your own boss, work when you want, with who you want – and where you want.
But to be able to pull off a strong career in the mobile barbering industry, you need the grit, the dedication, and the determination to keep going when you’re starting off. When all the responsibilities land on your shoulders, it may feel overwhelming.
At Salons Direct, we pride ourselves on offering the best to professionals. We’re here to offer some advice to help you navigate this career path. So what are the most important factors to consider when you’re barbering on the go? Read on to find out…
Your craft will require graft
Starting any business is hard work. It’ll require patience, determination, time, and the belief that you can do it. It may feel like you live and breathe your new barbering business for a while, but hard work pays off.
We’re here to tell you that it won’t feel like that forever, it’s all part of the process – so just enjoy the ride. Once you’re established and have built up a name for yourself, you’ll find that things feel as though they’re falling into place.
Just remember if it was easy – everyone would do it. When the pressure starts building up, just remember why you started. You don’t have a team to fall back on, but that’s okay. Trust in your ability and yourself, and you won’t go wrong.
Be your own boss
Being your own boss comes with many responsibilities, both positive and negative. Some barbers will thrive from the get-go, while others may miss the guidance and structure they had from having someone to turn to.
A pro tip is to treat yourself how you would treat an employee. Would you come down like a ton of bricks on someone who gave 100% every day? Probably not. Treat yourself with the same respect and compassion. Stop and pat yourself on the back now and then and appreciate the work you put in.
Being your own boss is all about finding a balance and discipline. You’re in control of your decisions, so make every step you take count. And know when to take a break, as the last thing you want to do is burn out.
Organisation and time management
Following on from being your own boss – organisation and time management are essential to operate successfully as a barber on the go. Plan your schedule weeks or even months in advance.
Give yourself enough time to get to and from destinations. Invest in an appointment book and keep to a schedule. Discipline yourself at the start, and you’ll be able to do it in your sleep further down the line.
Ongoing contracts
If you love the flexibility of being a self-employed barber on the go, but also need a little extra security – consider looking out for ongoing contracts.
Ongoing contracts won’t require your services all the time, so you won’t have to commit as you would if you were working in-house. The perk to an ongoing contract is that you can organise your time around it when it’s coming up – and then you’re guaranteed a stream of consistent income.
There are tons of places that need service contracts. Try looking around your local area for places such as residential homes, hospitals, or care facilities that’ll require a mobile professional to come in. There’s no harm in reaching out and offering your services.
Self promote
When you don’t have a brand or an established name that you work under, it falls on you to get your name out there. It doesn’t matter how good your skillset is – if no one knows about what you do, it’ll likely be an uphill battle to get your feet off the ground. Lucky for you, there are many platforms you can use to self-promote these days.
Take pride in your work – share pictures on business socials, and encourage your clients to share. We also recommend checking out our article on SEO and getting your business to the top of Google. It’ll provide you with helpful tips that’ll help you in the long run. You can read it here.
If you don’t believe in your work, why should anyone else? Be your own biggest fan, and the rest will follow.
Set firm boundaries
We know you’ll be eager to get your stamp out on the world, but remember to set firm boundaries.
Let’s say someone gets in touch with you about a cut, but they’re way out of where it makes sense for you to get to without going into a loss.
Set boundaries on where you’ll travel to. Make sure that it’s worth your while, and it’s maintainable for you. As a barber on the go, you’ll need to step in and say to yourself when the job is too far away or when you’ll be at a loss.
Choose your tools carefully
You need your equipment to be top-notch so that you can create the best for your clients. You could be the most talented barber in the world, but if your equipment isn’t up to scratch – it’ll reflect in the work that you do.
Invest in your tools and equipment. You’ll need them for every job you do, and they’ll help you to establish a stellar reputation in the long run.
At Salons Direct we offer the highest quality barbering equipment. If you invest in great quality gear, it will last you much longer and save you money – as you won’t have to worry about replacing anything prematurely.
Here are some professional pieces of equipment that we think are essential:
Andis Slimline Pro GTX Cordless Trimmer
Ultra-lightweight and ergonomic professional trimmer. This sleek trimmer is perfect for outlining, dry shaving, and designing killer finishes for your clients. Key benefits include:
- 2 hours run time on a single charge.
- 4 attachment combs included.
- Comfort edge has a wide GTX blade with the option to be zero gapped.
- Stand included.
- Sleek design.
- Travel anywhere – power adapter for UK, EU, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina.
- Blade brush included.
- Powerful lithium-ion power battery.
- Perfect for various styles – dry shaving, outlining, and designs.
Wahl 5 Star Detailer Trimmer with Extra Wide Blade
The Wahl 5 Star Detailer Trimmer with Extra Wide Blade is a hard piece of professional equipment to beat.
When you’re using this trimmer, you can expect your accuracy and detailing to be on point – perfect for tight corner work around the ears, along with creating interesting pattern detail for your clients.
Key benefits include:
- Extra level of detail and accuracy in your work.
- Extra-wide blade.
- Professional design.
- Perfect for tight corner work.
- Unmatched precision.
- Extras included – oil and a cleaning brush.
- Cutting guide combs of different lengths included.
- Suitable for pattern work.
Gama iQ Perfetto Hairdryer
The Game iQ Perfetto Hairdryer is perfect for mobile barbers – It features an ultra-lightweight design, along with being the most powerful and high-performing professional hairdryer in the game right now.
Key benefits to investing in the Gama iQ Perfetto Hairdryer as a part of your professional equipment include:
- 200W of power.
- Lightest professional hairdryer ever – only 294g.
- Ergonomic design to prevent long-term muscle damage to arms and shoulders.
- Intelligent brushless motor included.
- Equipped with Oxy Active technology, it acts as a powerful antibacterial.
- Its innovative micro-filter prevents dirt particles from entering the motor.
- Auto-Clean technology rotates the motor turbine in the opposite direction, allowing deep cleaning of the filter by expelling any particles.
- Venturi Effect multiplies the airflow delivered by the motor – without using extra power.
- Memory Function technology – allows memorising the speed and the temperature among the 12 available configurations.
- Fully equipped digital interface.
- The 3-meter cable facilitates the work of professional styling.
Wahl Tool Carry Bag
The Wahl Tool Carry Bag is a stylish, hard-wearing professional bag that’s designed for storing all your barber equipment in one place.
Key features include:
- Hardwearing design.
- Professional appearance.
- 2 deep storage compartments included.
- Suitable for larger professional equipment such as hairdryers.
- Extra compartments to store accessories.
- Pockets that are compatible with clippers and trimmers.
- Zipped compartments included.
- Adjustable shoulder strap.
- Strong and sturdy carry handle.
- Various colours available.
Wahl Ultimate Case
The Wahl Ultimate Case is the ultimate professional storage case, specially designed to ensure that your professional barbering equipment stays safe and neatly organised. Key benefits to the Wahl Ultimate Case include:
- Designed for safe storage.
- Sturdy design.
- Storage compartments and pockets inside.
- Removable compartments included.
- Dual lock system and padded lining to ensure safety.
- Stylish faux leather finish.
- The featured metal nameplate can be customised for you.
The Head Job Barbers Tool Roll
If you’re looking for a less bulky alternative to a bag or a case, the Head Job Barbers Tool Roll has you covered.
The Head Job Barbers Tool Roll is lightweight, featuring various pockets, compartments, and slots that are specially designed for storing away professional equipment – such as clippers, trimmers, scissors, and combs. This stylish tool roll features a leather effect and is available in various colours, such as brown and charcoal.
Made For The Blade Clipper Spray
This fantastic 5 in 1 spray is the most effective clipper spray available on the professional market. Made For The Blade Clipper Spray allows professionals to keep their tools lasting longer.
The Made For The Blade Clipper Spray works to sterilise, lubricate, clean, cool, and also maintain your professional clippers – boosting the life cycle of your equipment.
We hope you’ve found this article on how to be a mobile barber useful. If you’re interested in upgrading your equipment, check out our full selection at Salons Direct today.
Shop barber supplies and equipment at Salons Direct now.
Don’t forget to check out our blog to discover more barbering tips and other articles on the Salons Direct blog…
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