Starting a Business
Starting an Airbrushing Business
Launching an airbrushing business is your ticket to owning a good, stable business but it's important to plan out the business in detail before you start. Here are tips and advice to develop the business successfully.
We've assembled several practical recommendations on how to go about opening an airbrushing business.
Types of Airbrushing Business Startups
Airbrushing is a popular artistic technique that can be utilized for a broad range of applications. The technique involves the nebulization of paint, ink or dye by combining streams of liquid and air. In the right hands, a good quality airbrush can yield artistic designs that simply aren't capable of being produced through other techniques.
There are many different kinds of airbrush applications and business concepts available to startup entrepreneurs. Custom airbrushing is commonly employed in clothing design (especially T-shirts), auto decoration, tattooing, makeup, tanning and other fields that call for the skillful application of artistic renderings.
Some airbrush entrepreneurs provide services in multiple fields, while others choose to become an authority business by specializing in one area. For startup airbrush business owners, the decision to specialize shouldn't be taken lightly, but should be strategically based on your skill set, your business capacity and opportunities in the local marketplace.
Airbrush Business Startup Costs
Airbrush businesses are relatively inexpensive startups. Airbrushing requires artistic ability as well as technical knowledge. So if you haven't done so already, you'll need to enroll in a training program or seek out a mentor to teach you how to perform at a professional level.
Since single action air brushes lack independent control mechanisms for paint and air, you'll need to spend a little more to invest in a dual action air brush. You may also need to invest in a feed system, reservoirs, cleaning supplies and other equipment. All told, startup costs for a commercial airbrush business range from a minimum of $2,000 up to $10,000 or more, depending on the scope of your operation.
Tips for Getting Started in Airbrushing on a Shoestring Budget
It's very easy to phase-in to a full-time airbrush business. Many airbrush entrepreneurs launch their companies as part-time, home-based businesses to minimize startup costs and monthly overhead.
Airbrush equipment is also readily available on the secondary market. If you're new to the field, consider buying quality, used equipment rather than investing in a top of the line set-up right away.
Pricing will play an important role in growing your airbrush business. Average prices for airbrush services are around $60 per hour (plus materials). Although you may be able to acquire more customers by undercutting the market, every dollar you discount will be one less dollar your can use to expand your operation.
How to Write a Top Quality Airbrushing Company Business Plan
A business plan is the skeletal framework for your airbrushing business's mission, goals and strategic vision.
Since lenders and investors will use your plan to gauge risk, it needs to contain industry-specific benchmarks and a detailed marketing plan.
Early in the process, it's worth your time to learn how to write the market analysis section of a business plan. While a robust market analysis can be a selling point for an airbrushing business startup, weak market research is a sure giveaway for a business that hasn't invested adequate effort in planning.
Look Over the Competition
Prior to launching an airbrushing business in your town, it's essential to determine how many competitors you have. Use the link below to find competitors near you. Just enter your city, state and zip code to get a list of airbrushing businesses in your community.
How tough is the competition in the market you are considering? If the competition is too tough, you may need to think about starting the business in a different area or even start a completely different business instead.
Studying the Market
If you are interested in starting an airbrushing business, it's a smart move to learn from folks who are already in business. If you think your local competitors will give you advice, you're being overoptimistic. Why would they want to educate a future competitor?
But, a person who owns an airbrushing business in a different city can be a great learning resource for you, provided that you won't be directly competing with them. Many business owners are happy to give advice to new entrepreneurs In my experience, you may have to call ten business owners in order to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.
Want the scoop on finding an airbrushing business manager that lives outside of your area?
It's easy. Here's a link you can use to find a mentor outside of your area.
Getting Started in Airbrushing Business Ownership
Would-be airbrushing business business owners can either launch a new business or acquire an existing operation.
We understand why a startup may sound appealing. A new airbrushing business will definitely be more reflective of your personal business philosophy. Yet startups are also more difficult to finance because their nature is inherently risky.
Acquired airbrushing businesses are known quantities - and are less risky for lenders. On the whole, buying a business minimizes uncertainty as well as many of the objections lenders use to disqualify startup entrepreneurs from financing.
Is Franchising the Right Option?
Your odds of doing well with your venture go up significantly if you decide to franchise rather than going it alone.
Before starting an airbrushing business, you should investigate whether franchising might help you avoid common entrepreneurial mistakes.
The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.
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