One of the questions I get asked a lot from aspiring stylists is 'Can I really make good money as a stylist or is it simply a side hustle?' It's an important question, and obviously, something to think about before you embark on a career in the styling industry. The truth is that yes, you absolutely can make money as a personal stylist, fashion stylist, or image consultant but the amount you make is directly related to 3 key things:
1. Your Dedication to Being a Personal Stylist
There is no magic money tree and there's no magic client tree either. If you want to be successful as a personal stylist and make money then you have to be willing to put in the time and effort to make your personal styling business a success. It's not easy to build a business and it takes commitment and tenacity, so you'll need to be prepared to work hard and stay focused even when it seems like it's not working out.
2. Learning the Skills Needed to be a Personal Stylist
Being a personal stylist requires knowledge and simply being able to pull together an outfit is not going to bring in the big bucks. You'll need to be willing to learn everything you can about fashion and styling, whether it be through a training course, reading articles, or watching videos and podcasts. You need to be a sponge soaking everything up to advance your skills and knowledge.
Even if your personal styling business has been up and running for a few years and has a solid client list the learning doesn't stop there. Techniques change and advance, and people's needs and preferences change, so you need to stay up-to-date on the changes in the styling industry and society. The good news is that the recent growth of the industry has increased the availability of training and resources for stylists so it's never been easier to advance your skills and knowledge. You don't even need to leave your house with the emergence of online training courses for personal stylists like the ones we offer at The Style Academy International.
3. Believing You Can be a Successful Personal Stylist
I've seen many great personal stylists fail simply because they never truly believed in themselves. You have to believe that you can be a successful stylist before you can find clients and make money. Being successful is 80% mindset and 20% skill so it's something that you need to work on every day. Even personal stylists who have built 6-figure styling businesses and have been in the industry for years still work on their mindset every single day, and I know this because I'm one of them!
How Much Money Do Personal Stylists Make?
The styling industry is booming and according to a report by IBISWorld, the personal styling industry in the US grew by 6.2% from 2016 to 2021, with revenues reaching $1.6 billion in 2021 alone. The report also predicts that the industry will continue to grow in the coming years, creating even more opportunities for personal stylists. This is great news for anyone who is thinking about becoming a stylist.
It's hard to provide exact amounts for how much personal stylists make as many factors come into play, location, types of services, education level, and certifications, to name a few. On average, a trained/certified personal stylist can easily charge (and earn) $75 to $150 per hour, and that rate increases as their experience increases. I've seen certified personal stylists charging $250 per hour after only being in business for 2 years, and they have no shortage of clients. Your income potential can also increase significantly if you switch from an hourly rate and create a signature style program.
The bottom line is that yes, you can make money as a personal stylist and it can be a very lucrative career as long as you are willing to do what it takes to get it!
Happy Styling!
Louisa 💕