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Original poster

Baking or eyebrow business?

36 replies

Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 13:16

Hi all

I am currently a SAHM. I ran a baking business for a while but closed it down, due to no particular reason really other than I wanted to explore other options...I am also qualified in doing eyebrows/lashes etc and I'm just wondering which business you think would be a better 'side earner' for a SAHM?

(I do already have insurance for both and would do either option from home)

I'm just wondering which you think would be more popular? Things like iced biscuits/cakes or eyebrow/lash lifts/lash extensions

Thanks

OP posts:
DelilahBucket · 27/04/2023 13:24

In this climate, neither. Baking would probably be the easier option from a work from home situation, assuming you can get the food hygiene certification from the council. You probably have a lot of local competition, I've got 11 within a half mile radius of my home and I live semi-rurally. And that's just those that advertise on Facebook.
House insurance companies/landlords/mortgage companies don't like regular visitors to your home for business purposes, unless you were going to visit your clients or rent business premises for lashes.

Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 13:29

DelilahBucket · 27/04/2023 13:24

In this climate, neither. Baking would probably be the easier option from a work from home situation, assuming you can get the food hygiene certification from the council. You probably have a lot of local competition, I've got 11 within a half mile radius of my home and I live semi-rurally. And that's just those that advertise on Facebook.
House insurance companies/landlords/mortgage companies don't like regular visitors to your home for business purposes, unless you were going to visit your clients or rent business premises for lashes.

I do already have a food hygiene certificate as I said before I previously had a baking business...you're right about the visitors to the home if I did brows etc!

OP posts:
DelilahBucket · 27/04/2023 13:31

You said you had insurance but no mention of the council hygiene rating already being completed.

SingAlongAndItMightJustGetYouThrough · 27/04/2023 13:34

I wouldn't touch either with a barge pole. Are you looking for flexibility? If you're good at cleaning then I'd look at that. Good cleaners round here are in high demand

Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 13:35

SingAlongAndItMightJustGetYouThrough · 27/04/2023 13:34

I wouldn't touch either with a barge pole. Are you looking for flexibility? If you're good at cleaning then I'd look at that. Good cleaners round here are in high demand

I'm just looking for something to fill my spare time ...why wouldn't you touch either?

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CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease · 27/04/2023 13:37

Lashes/brows
It’s always been said that during a recession, lipstick sales go up because woman like a small, relatively inexpensive treat and lashes are not silly expensive (I pay £22 every 3 weeks) plus you only need a few clients as they return consistently to you. Plus, with all the will in the world - I cannot do my own lash extensions. However, I can bake a cake or a biscuit. Homemade cakes are a lot more money, and in the current climate I am more likely to buy one from Tesco if I don’t want to bake myself.

alternatively, advertise both and see which one just grows faster

Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 13:38

CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease · 27/04/2023 13:37

Lashes/brows
It’s always been said that during a recession, lipstick sales go up because woman like a small, relatively inexpensive treat and lashes are not silly expensive (I pay £22 every 3 weeks) plus you only need a few clients as they return consistently to you. Plus, with all the will in the world - I cannot do my own lash extensions. However, I can bake a cake or a biscuit. Homemade cakes are a lot more money, and in the current climate I am more likely to buy one from Tesco if I don’t want to bake myself.

alternatively, advertise both and see which one just grows faster

Very true!! Even as a baker I go to the supermarket to buy birthday cakes for family etc

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gallina · 27/04/2023 13:41

I'd definitely prefer to spend my money on lashes rather than cakes.

And with lash extensions you're more likely to build up regular customers coming back for infills etc

Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 13:41

gallina · 27/04/2023 13:41

I'd definitely prefer to spend my money on lashes rather than cakes.

And with lash extensions you're more likely to build up regular customers coming back for infills etc

Thankyou! Yes you're right about regular clients. I definitely struggled with that with baking

OP posts:
Cotswoldmama · 27/04/2023 13:47

Definitely lashes and brows, I would never buy baked goods as I can do them myself but I definitely couldn't do brows or lashes!

Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 13:51

Cotswoldmama · 27/04/2023 13:47

Definitely lashes and brows, I would never buy baked goods as I can do them myself but I definitely couldn't do brows or lashes!

Thanks! ☺️

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Hazelnuttella · 27/04/2023 13:54

Definitely lashes/ brows. More chance of regular customers.

Can you offer a mobile service instead/ as well as people coming to your house? That would give you more options.

SingAlongAndItMightJustGetYouThrough · 27/04/2023 13:54

The reason I wouldn't touch either is baking - well, I'm just never sure of the cleanliness of a home kitchen and I can buy them from a bakery.

Beauty treatments - you can get "qualifications" anywhere and I prefer to trust a salon. I don't know how qualified you are or where you are buying your products and materials. There has been a surge in allergies due to the amount of home gel kits being used. It's a real problem.

Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 13:55

Hazelnuttella · 27/04/2023 13:54

Definitely lashes/ brows. More chance of regular customers.

Can you offer a mobile service instead/ as well as people coming to your house? That would give you more options.

I could do yes!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 13:55

SingAlongAndItMightJustGetYouThrough · 27/04/2023 13:54

The reason I wouldn't touch either is baking - well, I'm just never sure of the cleanliness of a home kitchen and I can buy them from a bakery.

Beauty treatments - you can get "qualifications" anywhere and I prefer to trust a salon. I don't know how qualified you are or where you are buying your products and materials. There has been a surge in allergies due to the amount of home gel kits being used. It's a real problem.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Favouritefruits · 27/04/2023 13:57

I agree with @SingAlongAndItMightJustGetYouThrough the cleaning route….

KM91 · 27/04/2023 13:58

100% lashes and brows! I’m going to be a SAHM and already looking at training in some beauty treatments (used to work in this area years ago too) to work out of a converted outbuilding of ours. I live in the Cotswolds and demand is extremely high….especially at what I would call odd times.

I have my eyelashes done every 3 weeks and the lady who does mine operates around her sons’ school schedule usually with a few hours some evenings if she feels like it/she has a few clients requesting an evening and she will do some weekend slots for regular customers if they are struggling to get in.

Lots of baking delivery/cake makers around my hometown, due to cost of ingredients I just don’t think they can price competitively with supermarkets now which is unfortunate and few have stopped doing it because it’s just not viable at least at this moment in time.

good luck! X

tatteddear · 27/04/2023 13:58

Both? Or if not lashes and brows x

ehb102 · 27/04/2023 14:01

Beauty, simply because the majority of people don't want to pay for ingredients plus labour. Unless you make very unusual or custom products and send them through the post, I'd stay away from baking. Beauty work the client has an experience of the time it takes so perceives it to be of value.

Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 14:03

KM91 · 27/04/2023 13:58

100% lashes and brows! I’m going to be a SAHM and already looking at training in some beauty treatments (used to work in this area years ago too) to work out of a converted outbuilding of ours. I live in the Cotswolds and demand is extremely high….especially at what I would call odd times.

I have my eyelashes done every 3 weeks and the lady who does mine operates around her sons’ school schedule usually with a few hours some evenings if she feels like it/she has a few clients requesting an evening and she will do some weekend slots for regular customers if they are struggling to get in.

Lots of baking delivery/cake makers around my hometown, due to cost of ingredients I just don’t think they can price competitively with supermarkets now which is unfortunate and few have stopped doing it because it’s just not viable at least at this moment in time.

good luck! X

Thankyou! ☺️ and congrats on being a SAHM! I love it x

OP posts:
Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 14:04

ehb102 · 27/04/2023 14:01

Beauty, simply because the majority of people don't want to pay for ingredients plus labour. Unless you make very unusual or custom products and send them through the post, I'd stay away from baking. Beauty work the client has an experience of the time it takes so perceives it to be of value.

Thanks so much!x

OP posts:
HaggisBurger · 27/04/2023 14:06

Defo lashes and brows. If you can build a good instagram page and make it look professional (and be good at it if course!) you will have a good business.

I much prefer to go to someone who just does lashes or just does nails - specialists rather than general beauty salon.

Pahpahpotato · 27/04/2023 14:06

Definitely lashes and brows. If you’re good, you’ll have a regular income from clients coming every three weeks or so rather than lots of as-and-when types for cakes.

Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 14:07

HaggisBurger · 27/04/2023 14:06

Defo lashes and brows. If you can build a good instagram page and make it look professional (and be good at it if course!) you will have a good business.

I much prefer to go to someone who just does lashes or just does nails - specialists rather than general beauty salon.

Thanks! ☺️x

OP posts:
Original poster
Lotusflower92 · 27/04/2023 14:07

Pahpahpotato · 27/04/2023 14:06

Definitely lashes and brows. If you’re good, you’ll have a regular income from clients coming every three weeks or so rather than lots of as-and-when types for cakes.

Thankyou ☺️x

OP posts: