How to Start An Image Consulting Business TE-17

Image consulting is about giving advice to clients on beauty and fashion, color basics, and how to increase their self-esteem so they can present themselves at their best professionally.

If you have a genuine interest in helping people and a strong sense of fashion, image consulting could be an exciting and rewarding career to pursue part-time from home. You must stay up-to-date on the latest trends.

An image consultant in the U.S. can earn around $45,000 a year as reported by Glassdoor – and their clients could be either private individuals or companies.

Image Consulting Business Plan Guide for Beginners

To launch a successful image consulting business, you should follow these 8 steps:

1. Skills Required For Image Consulting

To be a successful fashion designer, you need to have a keen eye for detail, a passion for fashion, and knowledge of the current trends, color schemes, and labels. You should also have an understanding of body and face shapes.

To succeed, you’ll need patience, creativity, organization skills, self-discipline, integrity, professionalism, punctuality, and a good sense of humor.

If you’re interested in starting an image consulting business, consider taking training courses to learn about fashion, nutrition, and communication.

The following are some of the trade associations that offer certifications and training for image consultants:

International Image Consultants’ Society (ICSI)
The IFIC is an international organization dedicated to image consulting.
The AICI (Association of Image Consultants International)

2. Services You Can Offer as an Image Consultant

An Image Consultant can assist people in a range of areas, like finding a job, or getting promoted, it could even help them find the love of their life or simply make them feel more confident. Here are some services they can provide:

Helping a client with a transformation, which may include analyzing their color palette, decluttering their closet, giving them a new hairstyle, and providing makeup advice.
Help people with their verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as how to act courteously in various social situations–from dining to phone use.
Personal shopping involves buying clothing and accessories for a customer.
Creating connections between the client and other professionals who can enhance the client’s look, including personal trainers, stylists, and skin specialists.
Crafting outfits tailored to the client’s needs in collaboration with fashion designers and boutiques.

3. Understanding the Market for Image Consulting

Potential clients of yours can be people striving to start a new job, business leaders wanting to build trust among their shareholders and customers, as well as actors and political figures aiming to maintain an impactful image.

Also, your customers could be brides-to-be who require assistance with their wardrobe and social etiquette, along with many other individuals looking for specialist guidance on how to make a strong impression mentally and/or physically.

Corporate clients may require you to train their executives, and employees, or update the company dress code. To better understand customer demand and trends in the existing market, be sure to conduct thorough market research.

4. Create a Business Plan

Writing a business plan for an image consulting business is essential, even for those beginning on a small scale. There are certain basics that must be covered in the plan, such as:

Initial and recurring costs
Target customers
Pricing plan
What services are you going to provide?
What strategies are you planning to use to promote your image consulting services?

5. Name your Business

When creating a business in the field of image consulting, make sure to choose an appropriate and memorable company name. Additionally, make sure to secure a domain name that is consistent with your company name.

Get expert tips on how to choose a business name with our step-by-step guide.

6. Equipment For Image Consulting

With only a mobile device and an internet connection, you can begin image consulting. As your business expands, you can acquire mirrors, cosmetics, color swatches, and fashion publications.

To satisfy your clients, you should have a video camera and relevant accessories to capture their before and after make-up looks.

7. Licenses and Permits for Image Consulting Business

If you’re in the US, forming an LLC is a good way to protect your assets while operating your image consulting business.

To start an image consultancy business, you may need to obtain licenses and permits from the local governing body. In some states, if you wish to offer makeup services, a cosmetology license may be required.

8. Promote Your Image Consulting Business

To be successful at building an image consulting business, marketing and promotion are key–the execution of services only accounts for 20%.

A well-crafted marketing plan can help you identify your target audience and set a course of action to get in front of them. Establishing brand identity through business cards, brochures, and a website is essential for success.

In order to establish credibility for an image consulting business, one must create a media kit. This kit commonly consists of professional images, one’s biography, and press notices.

It is also wise to network with industry leaders and civic groups. Networking in this way often leads to meeting wedding organizers, caterers, and event coordinators who can align clients with the business.

Leading workshops and conferences for both personal and corporate customers is another great way to build the business.