02-05-2025
Young Aussie's shock $5,000 a week earnings in 'constantly growing' industry: 'Doesn't feel like work'
An Australian beautician has revealed her earnings after just two years of starting her own business. Imogen Grace worked for six years before launching Studio Grace back in 2023.
The Gold Coast woman told jobs app GetAhead that she has pulled in $3,000 to $5,000 a week from her five days at her salon, which works out to be around $260,000 over a year. But the 23-year-old told Yahoo Finance her early days were a struggle.
"[It was] very challenging at first - going from guaranteed income each week, to some weeks making only $20," she said.
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"I was very fortunate to have savings up my sleeve that I was able to use during those times where I wasn't making much money.
"And I kept reminding myself that everybody has to start somewhere."She left high school in Year 10 and went to beauty school before learning the tricks of the trade for more than half a decade.
It wasn't long before the Queenslander realised she wanted to go out on her own and plunged her savings into getting Studio Grace off the ground when she was just 21.
Her salary revelation left some shocked, with one person saying: "Ain't no way a beautician is taking home $260,000 a year."
But Grace explained that that money is her revenue and her take-home pay is what is left over once she pays her tax, rent, utilities, and the products that go into her services.
The 23-year-old told Yahoo Finance that her decision to launch Studio Grace came with some peaks and troughs.
"There's so much competition in the Gold Coast," she said. "Beauty and appearance are everything to everyone.
"The hardest part of my job is not having anyone to take my clients if I'm sick or unexpectedly need a day off.
Even though she said competition in her industry has been fierce, particularly on the Gold Coast, she told GetAhead that it still wasn't saturated and believed it's "constantly growing".
While running your own business means she has very little wiggle room for time off, she said picking her own hours has been great, compared to when she was working under someone.
She now averages around six clients a day and offers eyelash, eyebrow and skin services.
"The best part is that I never have to work a day in my life. I truely believe if you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work," she told Yahoo Finance.
You have to undergo formal training to be a licensed beautician. While there are some qualifications that cover a wide range of treatments, others can be far more specific.
An aspiring beautician can complete qualifications at TAFE like a Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy (SHB40115) and a Certificate III in Beauty Services (SHB30115).
You can also complete a Diploma of Beauty Therapy (SHB50115) if you want to explore other options within the beauty industry.
In some states or territories, you have to get a specific license to be able to offer certain beauty treatments, like ones involving lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapies.
The AABT5022 Advanced Laser IPL and Dermal treatments is highly recommended as many salons look for proficiencies in this sector.
Completing this will allow you to do IPL skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, skin needling, dermal peeling and cool lifting.
After that, you'll have to get hands-on experience, which comes during the practical part of the TAFE course, or can be gained by reaching out to salons for work experience.
According to SEEK, a beautician's average salary in Australia is between $70,000 to $75,000, while Indeed says the average hourly rate is around $ in to access your portfolio
