8 Things to Know Before Starting your own Skin Treatments Business
By Dr Tim Pearce, MBChB BSc (Hons) MRCGP
- You need to some basic business infrastructure before you start.
- Register as self employed
- Get insurance quotes and be ready to initiate insurance before your first booking
- Get a business bank account
- Be prepared- Your first client may want any of the treatments you offer
- have the required equipment available
- ensure the necessary supplies are already in stock
- Set up your patient admin before your first client arrives
- Including clinical records, consultation and consent system
- This could be paper or computer based
- Plan for problems
- Make sure you are equipped in knowledge, equipment and training to manage any problems that occur after the treatment
- Even the best get side effects, and it’s no good just knowing how to inject botox or filler, you must also know what to do when it’s not right
- Choose a specialist cosmetic treatment training course like those at SkinViva Training that teach you this.
- When you set your prices, don’t be too focused on being cheap
- The cheapest prices in town get a lot of people talking, but what people really want is value
- Be valuable through being quality driven and you will not have to be the cheapest in town to get customers
- Be prepared to re-invest the money you earn.
- Those who see their gross profit as their new hourly wage will not flourish in the industry
- It’s expensive getting new clients and looking after the old ones, but you get back out what you put in
- Be prepared to invest time, as well as money to get established
- Clinical time is the most valuable part of your business, but all the other stuff needs to be done to make it happen.
- You only get paid for the clinical time when the rest is running well.
- This is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, and the market is huge!
- Don’t be frightened by competition, be good at what you do and you will be successful
Dr Tim Pearce MB ChB BSc (Hons) MRCGP
Clinical Director
As Clinical Director of both SkinViva Training and SkinViva Ltd, Dr Tim Pearce is a fully-qualified and experienced doctor specialising in non-surgical aesthetic rejuvenation. He has over 5 years’ experience in cosmetic medicine and has performed thousands of treatments.
Since the launch of SkinViva Training Academy, he is also Lead Trainer for Botox and dermal filler injection techniques to fellow clinicians entering the aesthetics industry.
Hello I am interested in starting up my own aesthetics business however don’t really know where to start, its not the courses / injecting side of things which is daunting as I am a registered nurse and am fully trained in injection techniques etc however I am worried about the business side of things. I don’t know if I am better of providing a mobile service and if this can be done successfully, or finding a place in a clinic however I am not sure how this is done. Thankyou.
Hello Rachel,
We may be able to help you with this, please could you email your phone number to info@skinvivatraining.com and one of our advisers will call you.
Thanks.
I am in the same position, a registered general nurse, would absolutely love to start this up and hopefully leave ward nursing!
Odalis Castellon, PA-c
Hi, I have been injecting for 12 years now and am looking to open a small one room botox bar in the near future…(purely injectables and skin care) and I’m looking for a medical director in my area which is fairly new for me since I just moved to central Florida 2 years ago. Any suggestions???
Hi Odalis.
Thanks for your question. I see you’re in the USA. Unfortunately our knowledge at the moment doesn’t extend to the mechanisms for acquiring medical directors in the US. We’re UK based. Maybe you could go onto one of the Facebook groups and enquire there. I’m not sure how well they function in the US, but in the UK there are some very helpful ones. All the best with it.
Wow quite a helpful post. Thanks for sharing the tips. Informative.
Thanks, glad you found it useful.
Hi, I am a podiatrist registered with HPC (health professions council) I hold a POMs certificate and V300. I am keen to step away from podiatry and start up a facial aesthetics clinic. Would I be eligible for these courses?
Kind regards
Nicole
Our entry requirements are laid out here https://www.skinvivatraining.com/faqs/entry-requirements/. These have been recently revised and are now not role specific. In summary, we will train qualified medical professionals with membership of a regulatory body, experience in a clinical role, a health/medical degree and suitable insurance. Applications are subject to review. If you’d like to apply, please email info@skinvivatraining.com or else call 0161 850 2491 to find out more.
Hi Dr
Thanks for your question Nicole .
I am in a similar situation but in New York . I would like to inject facial and foot fillers in NY as a podiatrist . How can I find out my scope of practice and do you recommend any lawyers/ classes I can look into ?? Thank you in advance !
SkinViva Training don’t train Podiatrists or carry out foot filler at our clinic. Unfortunately, we cannot recommend any lawyers or suitable courses for you in New York. Sorry we can’t help in this instance.
Interesting and informative.Thanks.
You’re welcome, glad you found it useful.
Hi I am looking for some advice on how to find a medical director to oversee your personal practice. Everyone I talk to says personal acquaintances/friends that are MD’s or NP’s are the best way to go about getting a medical director so you can order products, etc. however I do not know of anyone on a personal basis to do that so I am am wondering if you could give me some advice. Should i write a letter and bring it into practitioners in the areas office and just approach and idea and try to sell a stranger on agreeing to be my medical director for my medical aesthetic practice? What kind of business contract/benefits is typical to offer in that kind of agreement?
Thanks so much!
Hi Grace, Thanks for your enquiry.
Regards purchasing products you do not need a Medical Director per se, but you will need to work with a prescriber if you want to offer BOTOX injections. You can currently order dermal fillers without a prescriber, but Botulinum Toxin is a prescription only medicine, so you will need prescriber assistance for this aspect of your business. A prescriber must be V300 qualified with aesthetic training and indemnity insurance in place. They will need to undertake a face to face consultation with your client in order to obtain the Botulinum Toxin and prescribers will generally charge a fee per prescription for this service.
The good news is we have a database of prescribers in various geographical locations in the UK. This is free for delegates who have done practical training with us. Alternatively we have a small Introducer Fee of £299 for non-delegates.
If you are interested in training this year, you can peruse our training courses and upcoming dates.
We also have cannulation courses, Advanced BOTOX plus the new Level 7 qualification.
I really appreciate the insight here in this post and confident it’s going to be helpful to me and many others.Thank you for this sharing.
Glad you found it useful, thank you for the positive feedback.
Hi,
I am really keen to start the coursend. However I am curious to know how much profit I would gain?
I just wanted to know what you meant when you said “Those who see their gross profit as their new hourly wage will not flourish in the industry” and “Be prepared to invest time, as well as money to get established”.
I suppose I wanted to know how much “time” I would have to put in to gain profit from this business as I already work full time and enjoying the career that I’m in?
Earning potential does vary depending on a number of variables. We suggest you try our Free Aesthetics Profitability Calculator Tool, which helps you to work out how much you could earn based on your options.
Please feel free to contact our team on 0161 850 2491 or info@skinvivatraining.com if you’d like to discuss anything further.
I am considering setting up as a mobile aesthetic practitioner. I watched your very informative video on keeping an emergency kit. My question is regarding ordering the components of the emergency kit. These are clearly not intended for a ‘specific’ patient therefore can not be prescribed but must be purchased as a ‘signed order’. Signed orders appear to have to be delivered to CQC registered addresses. This is my dilemma, as a mobile practitioner I would not be working from a CQC registered address. So simply, how can I get the components required for my emergency pack?
SkinViva Training recommend that all practitioners keep an emergency kit ready at all times from day one. Practitioners we’ve spoken recommend making out the prescription in their own name, to ensure that the supplies are at hand whenever needed. When/if the emergency kit is used, then the name on the prescription can be updated to the actual patient’s details and a new emergency kit ordered. Alternatively, one of our practitioners recommended as follows:
Hello,
I am an Advanced Nurse Practitioner with the V300 prescribing qualification registered. I am interested in starting up my own business providing botox and fillers. Please could you send me information regarding working from home or mobile and also about the courses themselves.
Many thanks
Leigh.
Hi Leigh, somebody will be in touch shortly if they haven’t already. In the meantime, here are a few links to useful information.
If you’d like to chat with somebody further, please contact our team on 0161 850 2491.
Hi, i am very interested in setting up my own business for lip fillers. I want to qualify for this particular area, is it possible to do the course without being a registered nurse?
Miranda
Kind Regards
You don’t have to be a nurse, but for insurance reasons, we do require that course delegates are medical professionals who have active registration with the relevant professional body. See our FAQs for a list of professions who are currently accepted. Please free to contact our team on 0161 850 2491 if you’d like to discuss your circumstances further.
I am a Podiatry student, am I eligible to receive training on non surgical aesthetic courses?
Thanks
For insurance reasons, we do require that course delegates are medical professionals who have active registration with the relevant professional body. Unfortunately, podiatry is not currently one of the stated professions and in addition, a student is generally unlikely to be eligible unless there are some other qualifying criteria. See our FAQs for further information. Please free to contact our team on 0161 850 2491 if you’d like to discuss your circumstances further or would be interested in volunteering as a model for one of our courses, which you may find of interest.
Hi,
I’m a US medical school graduate and have passed all of my board exams including step 3. However, I did not enter a residency program. Can I attend your Botox/ Juvederm course and will this certification allow me to start a clinic?
Thank you, will look forward to your response,
Gayane
For insurance reasons, we do require that course delegates are medical professionals who have active registration with the relevant professional body. In your case, we would need to verify the professional body, qualifications and ID.
Please free to contact our team on 0161 850 2491 if you’d like to discuss your circumstances further and also see our FAQs for more information.
For further information, you can currently practice cosmetic treatment injections without any qualifications in the UK, but it’s not something we’d recommend and we do anticipate the industry becoming better regulated in the future. While you may be allowed to inject, you would not be allowed to prescribe POA treatments such as Botox without appropriate prescribing qualifications.
Hi
I am a prescribing pharmacist and I am very interested in starting an aesthetics business
I would like to start with the basics then build up as client demands
Which would be the best course for me and what about insurance?
Thank you
We recommend Foundation Botox and Dermal Fillers as the best introduction to techniques and practices for the most popular injections. If you already have some injecting experience and/or feel the foundation course isn’t the best place to start, we also offer 1-2-1 sessions, shadowing and a series of follow-on courses for lips, cheeks etc so that you can develop your skills further. Please free to contact our team on 0161 850 2491 if you’d like to discuss training with SkinViva Training – we’ll be happy to advise.
Hi
I’m currently working as a RGN and I’m interested in completing a Foundation Botox and fillers course with a view to setting up my own business,would you be able to offer me some advice
Regards
Carly waljer
Hi Carly, we suggest you take a look at Dr Tim’s advice on starting an aesthetics business. Then please free to contact our team on 0161 850 2491 for a chat – we’ve helped many delegates and are happy to provide support and information.
Hi,
I am a GP. I have done foundation course of Botox and filler few months ago. I want to start practical work now. I have offer from local salon but as I have no experience therefore don’t know how much to offer a salon per client. Can you plz advise.
Thanks
This is very much a local question. We recommend new practitioners to look at other local salons and choose a price point they feel fits with the Salon and what they feel comfortable with charging. You could also offer promotional prices when starting out and should always be building his promotional materials and portfolio of treatment with before and after shots. Dr Tim’s Essential Knowledge is very helpful regarding getting started and pricing. You can download this for free at https://www.skinvivatraining.com/downloads/aesthetics-business-building/ or https://www.skinvivatraining.com/downloads/
I am a GP and interested in dermatology and skin cosmetic business. I do not know how to go about doing it at present and would like some advice. What courses need to be done and are the certificate recognised and licence to practise?
Hi Catherine,
Our ‘Foundation Botox & Dermal Filler course’ is aimed at medical professionals who wish to get started in this sector and it focuses heavily on building confidence through practical experience of injecting models we arrange for you. Our key selling point is that we limit our courses to 4 training delegates per trainer which we believe is unrivalled. This ensures you get the very best exposure and value-for-money on the day. I’m pleased to say our courses are recognised by the two specialist insurance brokers – Hamilton Fraser and Cosmetic Insure. We can also offer you advice on how to get started and there’s a very active delegate support community included for after the course as part of your price.
If you’d like to learn more please contact me on 0161 850 2491. Thanks. Lee Cottrill
Hi I’m a registered nurse and very interested in doing the Botox and dermafiller course in view of oroviding treatment.
However I need advise on how to start this as I’d like to provide treatment from home in the evenings and weekends only.
What else do I need to consider to persue this?
Kind regards,
Maddie
Hi Maddie, thanks for your comments. We can certainly point you in the right direction and talk you through some of the major considerations like insurance, prescribing, equipment, products options, a longer-term approach to training, and how to get customers. Give me a call and we’ll have a chat. I’m on 01618502491. Thanks. Lee – SkinViva Training
Hello, I am a registered nurse in the Unuted States. I am also in nurse practitioner school. I have my certification in boyox and dermal fillers. Any guidance on how can find out regulations, and guidelines to have my business and get started?
Unfortunately we can’t comment on practice in the US market as each country has very different regulations. However, you are very welcome to take business advice from this website. You might find Dr Tim Pearce’s Essential Business Knowledge particularly useful. https://www.skinvivatraining.com/downloads/aesthetics-business-building/ and there are regular features in the news section that might also be of interest https://www.skinvivatraining.com/news/. All the best with your new venture.
I’m an RN really interested in doing the Botox and filler course, would like to seek advice on the course eg will I be qualified to give Botox after the course or do I have to complete further training ?? Have room in a salon already set up and does this affect my job in the NHS??
Hi Jo, thanks for getting in touch. I can happily offer some advice on regulation, qualifications and also the direction the market is moving in. Please call me on 0161 850 2491 and we’ll have a chat. Thanks. Lee – SkinViva Training
Please send information about the coursees.
Thank you for your enquiry. Hopefully you will have received some information by now? Please feel free to contact our team on 0161 850 2491 or info@skinvivatraining.com if we can help further.
Hi,
I am a registered nurse, really intrested in doing the combined course. need some further information on qualification, pescribing etc. would appreciate an email for a chat.
Thanks, Annabel
Hi!I am a dentist and I am interested in the Dermal Fillers Course. Please let me know if it is possible to attend it without attending the Foundation Botox Course. Thank you!
Thanks for your message. We’d be very happy to customise some training to meet your needs based on the areas of the face you’d most like to treat. Alternatively, our most popular course is the Foundation Botox & Dermal Filler course which is great because you learn about different areas of the face where some suit Botox and some suit dermal fillers, thus allowing you to understand the key interactions between the two types of product. We will email you directly so we can chat further. Thanks – SkinViva Training
Dear Dr. Pearce,
I am currently about to enter my second year of foundation programme after graduating at university.
I am extremely keen to start a cosmetics and beauty business, working with a local beautician to merge both my degree, skills and knowledge and hers to open a business such as yours.
However, I am afraid that with only two years clinical experience behind me this is slightly over ambitious? What are your thoughts. Secondly which course would you recommend I attend and thirdly do you need a business background.
I was keen to do a course and potentially shadow a clinic such as yours for experience?
I look forward to your response.
Thank you for your enquiry. We offer a range of aesthetic courses for medical professionals just like you who are keen to get involved in the aesthetics business.
The best starting place would be the Foundation Botox & Dermal Fillers Course, which is an introduction to cosmetic injections covering the basic skills and requirements. From there, we offer an advanced combined course for botox and fillers or individual courses specialising in botox, fillers or lip enhancement.
All delegates benefit from time with Dr Tim Pearce, who leads the courses and founded SkinViva as his own aesthetic treatments business. Dr Pearce shares invaluable business knowledge as part of our training courses and we include ongoing support for all course delegates to give our advice as required.
You can also book one to one sessions which are very helpful for longer term support. We can customise these entirely to suit your requirements, perhaps to include shadowing as you suggest or personal mentoring at your own establishment.
The best course of action would be to call our team on 0161 850 2491 to discuss further.