I’m about to drop a real truth bomb on you. Are you ready?

Starting an MUA business — or any business — is hard. Okay, maybe that’s not the hottest take ever, but it’s something that we business owners aren’t that great at talking about. Sure, we love to talk about our business when everything is working and running smoothly, but we’re not so quick to share the messy side of things. And trust me, there’s lots of messy things, especially when you’re just getting started.

Dare to DIY… But Be Prepared

When I started out, I had to do and figure everything out on my own. DIY was the only option. When I wouldn’t have clients, I’d look to my analytics to see how people were interacting with my website and then I’d make changes. I spent an incredible amount of time investigating, changing, tweaking, optimizing… and then something crazy happened. I was copied.

All that hard work, all those hours… and for what? To be copied by someone else in my same industry who undercut my prices? You could say I learned what it meant to be in this industry; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I decided that I could either sink or swim. Obviously, I chose the latter.

I even wrote an article about this experience which was published for the Tuesdays Together Guide for The Rising Tide Society and Honeybook! Read the article here.

If someone was copying me, it means I am doing something right! If someone is doing the same thing to you, then book a coaching call. Let me help you monetize your genius. I also want to share this article I wrote with you. It was actually published by Honeybook for 120,000 creative entrepreneurs, which just tells me that I am definitely NOT alone.

The Cost of Doing Everything Alone

My experience with someone stealing my sales page and website copy was especially painful because of how long it took to do all of it on my own. Running a part-time makeup artistry biz is actually a full time job. Evenings, weekends, mornings. You’re either doing makeup, cleaning your kit, or doing admin stuff. Oh yeah, and if you’re like me, you have a family. Kids. A husband. So there’s no time, really. That’s why it took me 3 years to finally get to this point where I have my system in place.

Do you have 3 years? To spare? Or would you rather skip all the headache and invest in time-saving templates that will grow your biz fast?

Starting an MUA business is just like any other business. You have to have contracts, invoices, and a process for onboarding clients. You have to get information from your clients before you meet with them. If this all sounds like a lot of work, don’t worry. There are amazing digital templates out there to help get you up and running quickly.

I chose to create a handful of digital templates that I can use and re-use to make things a little bit easier on myself. I just need to plug in the client information and make some tweaks and it’s good to go! These templates are the same ones I use today, and I created a version for other aspiring makeup artists, too! They’re in my shop and trust me, they’re SUCH a time-saver.

In this post, I want to share with you some of the digital templates you should grab first.

These are the must-have digital templates you need in your MUA Business.

#1 – Makeup Artist Invoice Template

What: MUA Proposal/Invoice Templates

Why: You need to get paid.

I don’t know why but for many creative professionals, it’s hard to invoice people. It’s hard to ask for money. It’s awkward. I really shouldn’t be because hello, we are business owners first. And if you don’t send out proposals and invoices that detail everything, then there’s going to be a lot of back and forth (taking up precious time).

When you send professional and complete proposals and invoices, it not only help you to get paid faster but further establishes you as the professional you are.

While my client management system does have built-in proposals and invoices, this particular template is the same one I use for clients that I do not put into the CMS (like, corporations, marketing agencies, etc). This is also the proposal and invoice template I used before I employed my client management system.

Buy Now

#2 – Client Questionnaire Digital Template for MUAs

What: A MUA Client Questionnaire

Why: Customer service is everything for an MUA business (or any business). When your clients feel heard and respected, they’re going to be hooked. Having a polished and professional client questionnaire to send over to them is such a valuable tool. They’ll see that you care about their preferences, allergies, areas of concern, etc. They’ll appreciate that to you, they’re not just “another client” and instead, an individual that you really want to get to know better.

As an artist, making your client experience the best one is the most important thing you can do. Honestly, this is where you differentiate yourselves from the rest of the pack. Not only does this make your client experience amazing but it helps you to prepare and grow your kit.

Create a client questionnaire template that you can quickly customize and send off in just a few minutes. Your clients will feel totally pampered and you can get on with your day! If you want to use the same one I use, I got you covered.

Buy Now

#3 – Email Templates

What: Digital Email Templates for MUAs

Why: Honestly, this is where I’d spend so much time, crafting the perfect email. I didn’t want to sound desperate but I also want the client to say “yes” to me! Of course, sometimes I am not available, so I have to say “no” to the client, which can be hard. Writing that email is a balance between letting them down gently and keeping the door open for future appointments (hopefully).

Buy Now

Work mostly with brides or brides-to-be? Check out my separate email bundle for them here >

#4 – MUA Bridal Template Bundle

This is a “business in a box” for MUAs who serve bridal clients. The bundle includes eight of my best bridal email templates, an invoice template (also great for professional looking price quotes) and a detailed bridal questionnaire you can use to prepare for the big day. They can all be easily branded and plugged into any software you already use. Work smarter, not harder, bridal makeup artists!

Buy Now

Bonus #5 – Client Management System + Templates

When you grab all the templates and put them into a client management system, you’ll free up SO much time. You can schedule emails, proposals, invoices, as well as put them into automations.

I personally use Honeybook for my client management system. And if you sign up for a paid subscription using my referral code + a generous discount, you’ll get my Full MUA Bundle for FREE!

Where To Buy MUA Business Templates?

In my Pro Shop, of course!

Want to test ride a template before committing to purchasing one? Smart! Grab my free “Client Inquiry + Availability For Special Event” email template right here!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post! Please check out my shop because my digital templates are seriously good, y’all. I even have a Full MUA Bundle option that includes everything: my client questionnaire, price quote, invoice template, and nine of my most popular email templates. If you just want to get it done and move on with your life, this is the way to go!

Do you have any questions about digital templates or setting up your MUA business? Feel free to reach out. If you need a little bit more help than just a quick question or two, I offer one-on-one coaching for aspiring makeup artists, too! You can learn more about that right here.

Natalie Setareh

PS. W