First 30 Days - Self-Employment Setup Checklist

Week-by-week setup checklist for your first 30 days of self-employment in beauty

First 30 Days - Self-Employment Setup Checklist

This is a template - always read the linked guide first. BeautyKiln gives general information, not legal advice.

Just gone self-employed? This week-by-week checklist covers everything you need to do in your first 30 days. Don't try to do it all at once - work through it steadily.

Week 1 - The Legal Essentials

Monday-Tuesday: Register Your Business

• Register as self-employed with HMRC (do this within 3 months of starting, but sooner is better)
• Note your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) when it arrives - you'll need it for everything
• Decide: sole trader or limited company? (Sole trader is simpler for most beauty workers starting out)
• Check if your local council requires you to register (some areas require registration for skin piercing, tattooing, electrolysis, acupuncture, or semi-permanent makeup)

Wednesday-Thursday: Money

• Open a separate business bank account (you don't legally have to as a sole trader, but it makes life so much easier)
• Compare business accounts - some are free (Starling, Monzo Business, Tide)
• Set up a savings account for tax (put aside 25-30% of your profit each month)
• Choose a simple bookkeeping method or app (FreeAgent, QuickBooks, even a spreadsheet to start)

Friday: Insurance

• Get public liability insurance quotes (minimum £1m, most go for £2m or £5m)
• Get professional indemnity insurance quotes
• Check if your treatment types need specific cover (e.g. aesthetics, chemical peels)
• Compare at least 3 providers (Salon Gold, Balens, ABT, BABTAC - some include insurance with membership)

Week 2 - Set Up Your Systems

Record-Keeping

• Set up your bookkeeping system (app, spreadsheet, or notebook - just be consistent)
• Create an expenses folder (physical or digital) for receipts
• Start a mileage log if you're mobile (date, destination, miles, purpose)
• Download a receipt-scanning app (Dext, FreeAgent, or just use your phone camera)

Pricing and Policies

• Create your price list (research local competitors, but price based on your costs and value)
• Write a cancellation policy (how much notice, what you charge for late cancellations and no-shows)
• Write a patch test policy if you do colour, lash extensions, or skin treatments
• Draft your terms and conditions (keep them simple and fair)

Week 3 - Get Visible

Booking and Communication

• Set up a booking system (Fresha, Timely, Square Appointments - many have free tiers)
• Get a business phone number or WhatsApp Business account
• Create a simple Google Business profile (free and helps people find you locally)
• Set up social media profiles (Instagram is essential for beauty, Facebook is useful for local reach)

Marketing Basics

• Take good photos of your work (natural light, clean background, client consent)
• Order business cards if you want them (Vistaprint, Moo)
• Tell everyone you know that you've started - word of mouth is still the biggest source of clients in beauty
• Join local Facebook groups and community pages (don't spam, just be helpful and visible)

Week 4 - Review and Adjust

Check How It's Going

• Review your first month's income and expenses
• Are your prices right? (If you're fully booked immediately, you might be too cheap)
• Is your cancellation policy working? Adjust if needed
• Are you tracking everything? Fix any gaps in your record-keeping now before they become habits

Plan Ahead

• Set income goals for the next 3 months
• Identify one training course or skill update you want to do this year
• Plan your marketing for next month
• Book in a proper day off - burnout starts early if you don't set boundaries

Don't Forget

• Keep every receipt from day one
• Separate your personal and business spending
• Put tax money aside every time you get paid
• Get insurance before you see your first client
• Read the BeautyKiln guides for detailed help on any of these topics

Started self-employment: [DATE] HMRC registration date: [DATE] UTR number: [UTR] Prepared by: [YOUR NAME]