Let's be honest.

You're talented. Your lashes are beautiful. But you're charging $80, working from a spare bedroom, and wondering if this can ever be more than "something on the side."

It can. Here's exactly how.

The Six-Figure Math

Before we talk strategy, let's talk numbers.

$100,000 ÷ 12 months = $8,333/month

Sounds like a lot. Let's break it down further.

Scenario A: Volume Model

20 clients/week
Average ticket: $100
Weekly revenue: $2,000
Monthly revenue: $8,000
Annual: $96,000

Scenario B: Premium Model

12 clients/week
Average ticket: $175
Weekly revenue: $2,100
Monthly revenue: $8,400
Annual: $100,800

Scenario C: Hybrid Model

15 clients/week
Average ticket: $140
Weekly revenue: $2,100
Monthly revenue: $8,400
Annual: $100,800

Notice something? You don't need 100 clients a week. You need the RIGHT number of clients at the RIGHT price.

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-6)

Get Legal

No more "I'll deal with it later."

Minimum requirements:

Business license ($50-200)
Esthetician or cosmetology license (required in most states)
Liability insurance ($200-400/year)

Strongly recommended:

LLC formation ($100-500)
Separate business bank account
Basic bookkeeping system (Wave is free)

Set Up Properly

Home studio rules:

Dedicated space (not your living room couch)
Proper lighting (ring light minimum)
Clean, professional environment
Client-only entrance if possible

Studio rental:

Many salons rent suites for $400-800/month
Usually includes utilities and waiting area
More professional appearance = higher prices

Pricing Reality Check

If you're charging under $100 for a full set, you're leaving money on the table.

Starting prices (major metro areas):

Classic full set: $120-150
Hybrid full set: $150-180
Volume full set: $180-250
Fills (2-3 week): 50-60% of full set price

Smaller markets: Reduce by 15-25%, but don't race to the bottom.

Phase 2: Growth (Months 6-18)

The Client Acquisition Formula

Instagram is not optional. 80% of lash clients find their artist on Instagram.

Posting strategy:

4-5 posts per week minimum
Mix of: close-up lash shots, before/afters, client selfies, your face/personality
Stories daily (behind-the-scenes, day-in-the-life)
Reels 2-3x per week (tutorials, transformations)

What actually converts:

Before/after posts (35% higher engagement)
Client testimonial screenshots
"New client special" offers (limited time only)
Transformation reels with trending audio

Retention > Acquisition

The math:

New client acquisition cost: $20-50
Existing client rebooking cost: ~$0
Lifetime value of loyal client (2 years): $2,000-4,000

How to retain:

Pre-book fills before they leave ("Want to grab your spot for 3 weeks?")
Birthday discounts/freebies
Loyalty program (10th fill free or 15% off)
Personal touch (remember details about their life)

Build Your Waitlist

Once you're consistently booked, create scarcity:

"I'm currently booking 3 weeks out. Want me to add you to my waitlist for cancellations?"

A waitlist means:

No-shows hurt less (someone else wants that slot)
Perceived value increases (she must be good if there's a wait)
You can raise prices without losing clients

Phase 3: Scale (Months 18-36)

Raise Your Prices

When to raise:

You're booked 3+ weeks out consistently
You have a waitlist
You haven't raised in 6+ months

How to raise:

10-15% increases maximum at once
Notify existing clients 3-4 weeks in advance
"Beginning [date], my prices will be..." (no explanation needed)
Honor old prices for appointments already booked

Add Revenue Streams

Lash lifts and tints:

Lower time commitment (45-60 min vs 2 hours)
Appeals to different clients
Good "gateway" service to extensions

Brow services:

Natural add-on to lash appointments
Lamination, tinting, waxing
Additional $30-75 per client

Retail:

Aftercare products (serums, cleansers)
40-60% margins
Clients need them anyway

Consider Going Mobile

Some lash artists charge $50-100 premium for mobile services.

Appeals to busy professionals
No studio overhead
Gas and time are your costs

The Operations That Support Six Figures

Time Management

If you take 3 hours for a full set, you'll never hit six figures.

Work on speed without sacrificing quality:

Time yourself on each service
Identify where you're slow
Practice that specific step
Goal: 2 hours for volume full set, 1.5 for classic

Booking Systems

Stop using DMs for bookings. You're losing clients.

A proper booking system:

Shows real-time availability
Takes deposits automatically
Sends reminders (reduces no-shows by 40%+)
Processes payments

No-Show Policy

Protect your income:

$25-50 deposit required to book
24-hour cancellation policy
No-show = forfeit deposit + banned from online booking

The Mindset Shift

You're Not "Just" a Lash Tech

You're a small business owner who happens to do lashes.

That means:

Track your finances (quarterly at minimum)
Pay yourself a real salary
Save for taxes (25-30% of profit)
Invest in education

Charge What You're Worth

"But my friends expect a discount..."

Your friends can support your business by paying your prices or referring people who will.

"But the girl across town charges less..."

She's also burning out and probably not paying taxes.

"But I'm still learning..."

You're learning on their face, which costs you time and product. That has value.

Your 12-Month Action Plan

Months 1-3: Get legal, set up properly, price correctly, post consistently

Months 4-6: Fill your books, collect reviews, build Instagram following

Months 7-9: Create waitlist, raise prices 10%, add brow services

Months 10-12: Raise prices again, systematize operations, hire assistant or add retail

This Is a Real Career

Six figures as a lash artist isn't a fantasy. It's math plus systems plus consistency.

You have the skills. Now build the business.

👉 Vinci 26 helps lash artists manage bookings, deposits, and client relationships—without giving a cut to platforms that don't care about your business.

Build something that's truly yours.

From Side Hustle to Six Figures: The Lash Artist Business Blueprint