Recent findings show a sharp increase in the number of Australian beauty therapists registering as self-employed in the last 12 months.
Data was collated by Australasian digital accounting service, Hnry – a company that provides tax support services to sole traders, contractors and freelancers.
It was found that beauty therapist sign-ups to the platform increased by 236% YOY (2022-23).
Hnry ran a case study with client Elice McPhie – a self-employed Beauty Therapist working out of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. After 16 years of working for a beauty salon, Elice decided to make her dream of starting her own business become a reality and opened Indi + Ivy Skin Co in October 2022.
Hnry says that with two young children, Elice is now benefitting from the flexibility of being her own boss, while pursuing her passion of skin therapy, and would never turn back from self-employment.
The latest figures suggest Elice is one of many in the industry turning to self-employment. It comes in light of additional findings that suggest the Australian beauty market is expected to surpass $AU8 billion in the next five years.
In a secondary case study, Lysa Kiely – a make-up artist and hairdresser based on Phillip Island in Victoria – took herself back to school aged 50 after a successful career in hospitality. Determined to be self-reliant and to tap into her creative side, she studied hair and makeup for the film industry, and six years later now offers everything from bridal to runway beauty styling.
Hnry says being a sole trader has allowed Lysa to build a successful beauty business on her own terms, and carve out a space for herself in her local industry. She’s passionate about encouraging others to embrace independent earning, and says it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
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