How to Start a Lash Business in Australia (Step-by-Step Checklist)

Starting a lash business is one of the best small business plays in Australia.

You can choose your hours, keep overheads low, and you don’t need a shopfront or a team to start. With a solid skillset, the right setup, and a few smart systems, you can start taking bookings and building real income.

This guide breaks down the exact steps to set up your lash business, from choosing where you’ll work and getting the legal stuff sorted (ABN, council/landlord approvals, insurance), to setting up your finances, prepping your lash space, and booking your first clients.

By the end, you’ll have a simple checklist to follow so you can get started with confidence.

 

Starting a Lash Business Checklist

 

 

Where to Work From

There’s no “best” setup, only what fits your budget, lifestyle, and how you want clients to experience you.

Home lash business: lowest overhead, easiest to start, but you need boundaries and a professional client experience.

Mobile: flexible, but travel time eats your day (and your income) and it's much harder to be compliant with council regulations

Renting a room/chair (sub-lease): quickest way to look “salon-level” without a full lease, but you’re working around someone else’s rules.

Opening your own salon/studio: full control and strongest brand presence, but highest costs (lease, fit-out, utilities) and more admin.

Before you commit to any location: check what local council regulations apply, especially If you’re starting a lash business from home. Better to know now than after you’ve started setting up.

 

 

Name + Brand Basics

Pick a name that’s easy to say, easy to spell, and easy to search. If someone hears it once, they should be able to type it without butchering it.

Good vs bad examples:

✅ Good: Harper Lash Studio (clean, memorable, easy to search)

❌ Bad: LashzByMikaylah (hard to spell, hard to find, looks messy on Google/booking pages)

Before you commit to the name, do these quick checks:

Instagram handle: search your name on Instagram and see what’s actually available. Ideally you get something clean like @brandname, but a small tweak is normal (@brandname.lashes, @brand_name, etc). Keep it readable and consistent.

Domain name (recommended): you don’t have to buy it today, but check whether the .com.au (or .au) is available for when you’re ready to build a website. Registering it early can save headaches later. You can register at places like namecheap or godaddy

Business name availability (ASIC): do a quick search on the ASIC Business Names Register to make sure your name isn’t already registered.

Trade mark check: do a quick IP Australia search for your name and close variations. If there’s a near-identical name already used for beauty/lash services, pick another name. If you want a simple official explainer on what to avoid, read:
business names vs trade marks

Logo (keep it simple):

• Clear at small size (Instagram profile pic + booking page)
• One readable font (don’t overdo the fancy script)
• Looks good in black and white
• You can make one fast using Canva and their logo templates.
  
• You don’t need to look fancy. You need to look intentional.

 

 

 

 

How to Register & Insure Your Lash Business 

ABN: You’ll need an ABN for your lash business. Apply online via the Australian Business Register (it’s free). 

Business name (ASIC): If you’re trading under a brand name (not your personal name), register that business name with ASIC

Lash business insurance: Get cover that matches your setup (home/mobile/rented room/salon) and the services you offer. It’s the boring box that saves you if something goes sideways.

 

 

Money Setup (Bank Account & Tax Basics)

Future-you will thank you for doing this now.

Do these early:

• Open a separate bank account for your business
• Track income/expenses from day one
• Save receipts/invoices for expenses (simple digital folder is fine)
• Set aside money for tax so it doesn’t sting later

 

 

 

Buy Your Lash Supplies

Beginner mistake: buying everything before you’ve earned a dollar. Wait until you've completed at least a few full sets before you really commit to expand your supplies. 

Start with the essentials:

• Lashes (basic selection)
• Adhesive + accessories
• Two tweezers (isolation + pickup)
• Pads, tape, disposables
• Cleansing/priming basics
• Hygiene supplies (surface + tool sanitising)
• Applicators (spoolies, micro brushes, etc.)

 

Set Up Your Lash Space 

Whether you’re at home, mobile, renting, or in your own studio, your setup should feel clean, calm, and professional.

Comfort: bed/table, lash pillow, blanket (clients won’t relax if they’re stiff or freezing)

Lighting: a reliable lash light so you’re not guessing

Clean + organised: wipeable surfaces, tidy storage, everything within reach

Hygiene: a routine you follow every single client, every single time

Quick vibe check: if a new client walked in, would they immediately feel safe and looked after?

 

 

 

Set Your Pricing & Service Menu

Keep your menu simple and your pricing deliberate, that’s what stops you being “busy but broke.”

Menu: start with 1–2 full set options, infills, and removals. You can expand later once demand is steady.

Pricing: pick a price range by looking at similar businesses near you (same setup/style of salon), then sanity-check it against your costs + time so you’re actually making profit.

Avoid the trap: don’t set your everyday prices super low just to get bookings. If you want a rush of early clients, do a limited-time “launch special” (e.g. “20% off for the first 10 bookings” or “until [date]”), then your prices go back to normal.

 

 

Booking System, Policies & Payments

If you want to feel like a real business (and stop living in DMs), set this up early. It saves time and cuts down no-shows.

Booking system: pick a system that gives you online booking + automated reminders + deposits/card capture + easy rescheduling. Examples: Fresha , Timely or Square

Policies (keep them short): deposit rules, cancellation window, no-shows, late arrivals, and your refill timeframes (what counts as a 2-week vs 3-week infill). Square even shows how to set this up inside the system so it’s enforced, not just “a post on Instagram.” We also have tips (and an editable template) for setting up your cancellation policy.

Payments: make it easy to pay — tap/card, payment link, and deposit upfront where possible. 

Tip: put your booking link + key policies in the same places everywhere (bio + booking page + Google profile).

 

 

Getting Your First Clients

If you want clients who are already searching for lashes, Google is your fastest win. If you want them to stalk your work and think “yep, that’s my lash girl,” Instagram seals the deal.

Google Business Profile (gets you found)

Set it up properly: correct category (Eyelash Salon/Beauty Salon), services, hours, phone, and a booking link.

Photos = trust: upload your best sets + a couple of clean “space” shots. Keep adding fresh work.

Reviews = rankings + bookings: ask right after the appointment, send the link, reply to every review.

Keep it active: post occasional updates (availability, promos, new sets) so your profile doesn’t go stale.

Instagram (your portfolio + proof)

Most lash clients will check your Instagram before they book. Make it easy for them to choose you.

Bio basics: location + what you do + how to book (booking link front and centre).

Post the stuff that converts: close-ups, before/after, quick videos, and the occasional “you/your space” trust-builder.

Make it scannable: Highlights for Prices, Aftercare, Policies, Reviews, Bookings.

Don’t ghost: consistency beats perfection. A few strong posts a week is better than random bursts.

 

 

Conclusion: One Step at a Time

Starting your lash business isn’t about having everything perfect, it’s about getting the foundations in place so you can take bookings with confidence and grow from there.