Author: Tegan

10:05:45 GMT • 20 March 2025

How can you embrace sustainability in hairdressing?

2 October 2023

•

9 mins read

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My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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No matter what industry you’re in, it’s good to be green when it comes to your business practices. Sustainability is much more than a trend; it’s an urgent necessity that everybody needs to participate in. Sustainability in hairdressing may not seem all that easy to achieve, but there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint without having to compromise your brand identity or completely shake up the way you operate.

The hair and beauty industry can play its part in protecting the environment while still keeping up with the latest trends and cutting-edge developments. In fact, if you neglect to address your business impact on nature, you risk falling behind competitors. You can make more ethical choices without having to change your service offering or lower your standards, while also attracting an ever-increasing section of the market who are environmentally conscious. Many clients now value companies that prioritise the planet, so it makes business sense to shift attitudes towards more ecologically-minded ways of working.

In this article, we discuss why all this is so vital, giving you tips for adopting environmentally sustainable work practices in hairdressing.

Why is sustainability important in hairdressing?

Sustainable hairdressers and salon owners still aren’t the norm. Of course, there are plenty of businesses making waves for their efforts. The most well-known brands who took this strategy early enough now stand out as leaders who inspired positive change. However, the environmental factors in hairdressing are numerous, so there is still much room for improvement across the industry as a whole.

Many of the most-used products in a hairdresser’s kit aren’t biodegradable, from cotton wool to foils, tissues to shampoos, colours and styling products in plastic packaging. Further to this, it’s unsurprising that hairdressers use a lot of energy when washing hair daily, using an array of tools constantly and requiring long hours of lighting from various fixtures. Not to mention that many hair products contain chemicals that are harmful to Earth’s ecosystems.

There are plenty of business benefits to going sustainable too, including reducing your costs, protecting your reputation, cornering a new market and maximising your longevity.

How can I make my salon environmentally friendly?

From greener products to reduced waste and energy-efficient practices, here are six tips for how hair salons can be more sustainable.

Use sustainable products and always check ingredients

One of the first and most effective steps hairdressers can take towards sustainability is opting for eco-friendly products. Many leading and smaller brands now offer shampoos, conditioners, and styling products free from dangerous chemicals and in recyclable packaging.

Find products with certifications such as ‘cruelty-free’ and ‘vegan’ to ensure they adhere to ethical and sustainable codes. As the hair industry is self-regulated, you have to know what to look for to avoid being fooled by greenwashing. When it comes to hair colour, you’ll need to select products with low ammonia content. There are many ingredients in different go-to products that have the green light to use guilt-free, from organic botanicals to ethically sourced oils.

Think about everything you use as a business; there’ll be more opportunities than you realise for making more thoughtful choices. Everything from toilet roll to cleaning products and tea bags can be switched for less damaging varieties.

Commit to recycling in every way possible

Salons generate a fair amount of waste, from hair clippings to used foil and empty product containers. So, it’s highly important to implement thorough systems for recycling. Clearly communicate these to everyone who uses the premises, setting up a comprehensive system with separate recycling bins in accessible places and easy-to-understand signs.

Hair waste could be collected and sent to organisations that use them for environmental initiatives, such as cleaning up river pollution and oil spills, or turning it into composting fertiliser. There are many charities that will gratefully receive hair waste donations to recycle it for wigs, too. You could also encourage clients to bring their own reusable towels or capes, instead of using disposable ones.

If you want to really commit to being more circular, you could even ban the use of plastic water bottles on your premises. And of course, the best way to avoid waste is to go digital, so invest in your online presence rather than traditional offline marketing, directing customers to your website rather than endless paper brochures and leaflets.

Get savvy on energy-efficient hacks

Hair salons inevitably take a lot of lighting and heating to run. Switching to LED bulbs is a simple way to use less electricity. This will both bring down your bills and give you more efficient illumination that lasts longer. Wall insulation can also help regulate room temperatures and reduce your energy by 25%, while programmable thermostats help you to use only what’s essential for heating and cooling your space. Use a green energy supplier and get smart meters installed, so that you only pay for what you’re using.

Sustainable hairdressers need to keep on top of water consumption, too. Conserving this precious resource is important for the environment when it comes to droughts and protecting wildlife habitats. It also saves on your bills. You can invest in low-flow showerheads and taps to minimise water wastage during shampooing and rinsing.

Be firm and fair with staff about using water more efficiently, encouraging them to turn off taps when not in use and only use washing machines when there is a full load. The small actions can contribute to significant water savings over time.

Make better practices part of your culture

Not only can hairdressers introduce eco-friendly sensibilities into your daily routines, you can communicate this ethos to everyone who interacts with your business and make it part of your company mission. Train any staff members on how they’re required to support your shared goals, making it clear that this isn’t a short-term drive for cost-cutting but a sincere ongoing campaign for contributing to a better world.

Shout about what you do to clients and partners; mention your aims and actions on your website, in email newsletters and on social media; you could even talk about it to press if you want to be featured in industry magazines. Get everyone excited about the ways they can get involved and be transparent about the positive effect it will have. Take an interest in news on climate change and environmental issues, so that you can live and breathe your purpose and remain clear on your motivations.

Educate clients about sustainable haircare habits they can implement at home when you advise on aftercare, such as using kinder haircare products and reducing water usage during showers.

Design your salon using a sustainability-first approach

Environmental sustainability in a hairdressing salon is grounded in the design. A space that has been created for responsible operations will make it all the easier to stay on the right track and run your business with integrity, remaining faithful to your mission.

When designing or refurbishing a salon, consider using sustainable materials for flooring, furniture, and decor. Everything from wood to cork and metal can fit the bill for this. Reclaimed or recycled, rather than new, products will help to reduce the environmental impact of renovations and interior updates.

Incorporating natural lighting can also reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day, further cutting energy consumption. Large windows and skylights will do wonders for this, while also making for a beautifully bright space that customers will love to spend time in.

Get smart with thoughtful brand collaborations

Sustainability in hairdressing salons can extend beyond your own business. Being selective about who you work with will cement your brand as one that takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. This can extend to the hair products, tools and uniforms you invest in, the influencers you work with and trade shows you appear at.

Partnering with sustainable brands and suppliers not only means you source the right products; these collaborations can also raise your profile if you agree to promote each other’s work and get you seen by right-minded new clients.

You could also join online directories of sustainable businesses, so that you are established as an ethical business or freelancer within a vast global network and seen alongside other reputable names.

Get your hairdressing insurance from Protectivity

When you’re running your own hairdressing business, you want to know that you’re financially supported should anything go wrong. Whether property is damaged, you’re the victim of a crime or an unfortunate incident occurs, having the right insurance will help mitigate the impact on you and your company.

Protectivity have designed Hairdressing Insurance to meet the needs of self-employed salon professionals. If you’re looking for barber insurance, we’ve also got you covered.. With up to £10 million in Public Liability Insurance, you can breathe a little easier if claims are brought against you by a third party. The same amount is covered under Employers’ Liability, in the event that any employees suffer injury or illness. Equipment Cover is up to the amount of £12,000 should you need a replacement due to damage, while Personal Accident Cover offers reassuring protection for loss of income.

Get an instant tailored quote for Protectivity’s Hairdressing Insurance. Our advisors are on hand to help if you need any support.

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12:41:35 GMT • 14 November 2024

What clients look for when hiring a painter and decorator

28 September 2023

•

7 mins read

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If you’re starting or growing a painter or decorator business, a big part of your success comes down to making yourself as appealing as possible to prospective customers. Achieving this means understanding the major motivations that customers have when searching for firms, and responding to them in order to stand out from the crowd.

This guide highlights ten key things that your customers are looking out for when working out how to find a painter and decorator that suits their needs. The list comprises practical skills, business acumen and vital documentation, but all of them are critical to the long-term success and profitability of your business.

Experience

Probably the first thing that a customer will look for is information about your experience and qualifications. In particular, they’ll want to know how long you’ve been offering painting and decorating services, what your particular skill sets are, and what stands you out from the competition. They’re most likely to look for your website or social media pages to find this information, as well as any online trader directories that you’re a part of, so make sure your online footprint is updated regularly.

Customer reviews

Alongside researching your credentials, most customers will also explore any reviews that other customers have left for you in the past, and your overall star rating. If you’ve had some negative experiences in the past and received some poor ratings, then this can have a major effect on how you shape up compared to similar painters and decorators. It’s therefore more important than ever to get satisfied customers to leave you positive reviews when you’ve completed their work, to boost your rating and make yourself more attractive to prospective clients.

Estimate visits in person

Customers want to feel valued and that you’re taking your job seriously, especially if they’re looking at spending thousands of pounds with you. And that’s why a thorough estimate inspection, carried out at the location in person, can make an excellent first impression. By conducting an extensive survey and discussing different parts of the work with the customer, you can establish a common ground over what needs doing, how long it will take and how much it’s likely to cost.

Competitive quotes in writing

It goes without saying that you’ll have a better chance of getting more work if you’re able to do it for less than competitors in your local area. At the same time, it’s also good practice to give customers quotes in writing, so that they can be sure of what the price can be and that there is no risk of any ambiguity later on. This quote should take into account all materials and labour, including any extra charges incurred (for example, for working on Saturdays and Sundays).

Quick responses to enquiries

In all forms of retail and services, customer expectations are rising all the time. They increasingly expect to receive responses to their enquiries more or less straight away. In the case of an initial enquiry for a quote, many customers are likely to contact several different painters and decorators at the same time, and go with whichever one gets back to them first. Additionally, they will also expect you to keep in close contact throughout the job so that they’re fully informed.

Comprehensive service

Connected to the previous point, the best painters and decorators will be able to provide a comprehensive and fully professional service. Ideally, you’ll be able to bring several different jobs into a single quote, so that the customer can get large parts of their project done in one go without having to deal with multiple contractors simultaneously. And in professionalism terms, they will expect you to be appropriately dressed and behaved when on site, and with excellent timekeeping (both at the start and at the end of the day).

Specialist skills

General painters and decorators are ten-a-penny, and while they might be good for the basic work where the main differentiator is price, they’ll struggle to pick up the real high-value jobs. To do this, you need to look for more specialist work, such as commercial premises or even heritage conservation, which requires skills only possessed by a relatively small number of tradespeople. If you can develop your CV with skills and qualifications in highly specialised areas, then you’ll be in the running for more lucrative work, and the amount of competition you’ll face for it should be lower.

Clear information

From the start of a job all the way through to the end, clarity is vital in everything you do. Customers never want to feel that you’re pulling a fast one on them, whether that’s through knocking off early at the end of the day, or suddenly saying halfway through that there will be some extra unexpected costs. You should always be as honest and upfront as you can with the customer about the progress of the job, and give them total clarity on timeframe and costs in particular.

Additionally, when providing quotes and estimates, high-pressure sales tactics should be avoided at all costs. Not only are more customers wise to them these days, meaning they will more likely be deterred by them, but the ethical questions around such tactics can really hit your reputation over time.

Flexible payment options

Different painters and decorators take different approaches around when and how customers pay. Some like to get all the money up front, so that they have the capital to buy all the materials they need. Others, meanwhile, will take a proportion as a deposit and then the rest of the payment once the job has been completed. Either way, what is most important here is clarity: customers want to be sure exactly what they need to pay and when, and not to be met with any nasty surprises further down the line.

Proof of insurance cover

One thing that customers hate above just about anything else is uncertainty. This applies to things like enquiry response and timekeeping mentioned above, and it also applies to what happens if and when something goes wrong. For example, if a tin of paint is accidentally spilled over a customer’s carpet, then they (and you) want to be certain that they’ll be able to replace it without ending up out of pocket. The only sure-fire way to do this is with specialist painter and decorator insurance cover. If you’re in the trade looking for cover, get a quote for tradesman insurance today.

Affordable painter and decorator insurance from Protectivity

The last point on this list is especially important. Having painter and decorator insurance is not a legal requirement, and many less reputable operators in the trade may cut corners by not having it. This leaves customers liable for any damage that’s caused, even if it’s accidental, and can quickly lead to a very negative reputation being built up.

This is just one of the reasons why painter and decorator insurance is a must. Take out an affordable, flexible policy with Protectivity and you’ll benefit from cover in several areas to insulate you against any unforeseen financial impact. This includes public liability, products liability, commercial legal protection, and employers’ liability (required if you employ anyone else to work for you).

Starting at just £4 a month, we can give you financial protection for less than a multipack of paintbrushes. Find out more on our painter and decorator insurance policies today.

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10:08:47 GMT • 16 December 2024

How to become a gym instructor: A comprehensive guide

26 September 2023

•

8 mins read

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If you’re passionate about helping people to improve their fitness and reach their performance targets, you may be considering a career as a gym instructor. In this role, you lead exercise programmes and give people advice to support their physical health and overall wellbeing. It’s a good time to work in this industry as more people become interested in their health and fitness, seeking out advice and training from qualified professionals.

You could work at a gym, in a leisure centre or for a sports club. The benefits of being a gym instructor include a flexible schedule outside of 9-5 hours, nurturing people’s self-confidence and helping them to enjoy healthier lives. Working on shared goals with people in a dynamic environment can be extremely rewarding. This can increase your own happiness through feelings of professional fulfilment and social connection, as you build strong relationships with clients and fellow instructors. Naturally, you’ll also reap the benefits of good physical health, as the role requires you to be consistently active and lead by example, adopting the good fitness habits you teach to others.

If you’re wondering how to become a gym class instructor, there are specific requirements you’ll need to be aware of. In this blog, we’ve outlined everything you can do to become certified and start practising as a gym instructor. Find out more about the desired skills, the necessary qualifications for different roles and levels, and the length of time it takes to qualify.

How do I become a gym instructor?

To become a gym instructor, you’ll need certain qualifications, people skills and a personal interest in fitness. When pursuing work, it will help you to have practical experience in relevant settings, so you could start out by working as a fitness assistant or another role within a gym. You could do this while you study for the necessary certifications to work as a gym instructor. You’ll also have to pass background checks before you can do this work.

Gym instructors looking for roles can also opt to become certified in CPR and first aid. This isn’t always essential but it is often desired, so it could increase your employability as it shows your commitment to safety, which is an important aspect of the role. You could also be filling a vital gap in the gym you’re applying to work in, if they’re in need of more people with that kind of training.

To be able to lead a variety of fitness classes, you can also follow industry trends and attend conferences, taking additional training in specific types of exercise. You could create videos of yourself leading classes with consenting participants, to demonstrate your abilities to prospective employers.

The required skills of gym instructors

Gym instructors need to possess certain skills and qualities, so it will help your prospects if you have these attributes. They include these core areas:

Good communication

You’ll have to clearly explain exercises to clients, with step-by-step instructions and guidance around health and safety. The role requires you to help people understand their own health and fitness, and clearly share details about the progress they are making in various areas. You’ll also have to listen to what clients tell you and trust that they know their own bodies and capabilities best.

Knowledge of fitness

You’ll need a good understanding of areas such as science, anatomy, physiology, and nutrition. This will help you to design targeted workout plans and give informed, relevant advice to people. Your qualifications will give you a good grounding in the required knowledge. If you take up an apprenticeship, it will provide you with on-the-job training and real-world experience as you learn. It will also help you to continuously expand your expertise and skills throughout your career.

Motivational abilities

You’ll have to inspire clients to push themselves and strive to hit their objectives, keeping them accountable and helping them to remain committed to the goals they’ve set. You’ll need to be empathetic and help them remain positive on more difficult days, giving them encouragement and empowering them to push their limits.

Good observation

This is a crucial skill to have, as you’ll not only help people to become fitter, you’ll also be responsible for their safety. This means you’ll observe everything from changes in their appearance to developments in their physical health, their capacity to perform activities at each stage of their training to whether they are safely carrying out instructions and protecting themselves.

Strong organisation skills

You’ll have to balance the training programmes, records and appointments of numerous customers and clients at any one time. This means keeping on top of paperwork, being meticulous in your note taking and constantly reacting to change, adapting your plans and updating your files. You’ll have to be punctual and help clients to remain on track with their goals.

What qualifications are needed to be a gym instructor?

The guidelines for how to become a gym instructor in the UK vary according to the stage you’re at. Everyone needs to take the same qualification when starting out in their career. As you grow your skills and move into particular areas of interest, you can pursue various training routes.

How to become a level 2 gym instructor

A level 2 qualification is the minimum requirement you’ll need to qualify as a gym instructor. The Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing will formally permit you to practise, once you’ve enrolled on the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) and gained your membership.

There are no entry requirements for acceptance and 16 years is the minimum eligible age. You can take the course with a traditional educational institution, such as a college, or with an online learning provider.

Do you need to be qualified to give an induction in a gym?

Once you have your Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing and are working as an instructor, you’ll be able to induct new members. Gym inductions involve showing new customers how to use the equipment, informing them about health and safety procedures and obtaining a completed medical questionnaire.

How to become a gym instructor assessor

If you want to become a fitness tutor, this usually incorporates being both a gym instructor assessor and a teacher, supporting other professionals to develop their careers. This can require you to create lesson plans, teach groups of people starting out in the industry, give feedback on people’s work and invigilate exams.

You’ll usually need a couple of years’ experience before you can become an assessor. This role will also require you to have passed a Level 3 Ofqual-accredited teaching and assessing course.

How to become a personal trainer

If you want to advance beyond your gym instructor role and become a personal trainer, you’ll need to take the Personal Training Level 3 Certificate. This is in addition to your level 2 certification. It will teach you to work with people more closely, giving targeted advice around health and nutrition, and creating and delivering personalised fitness programmes. You could then find your own clients and become self-employed in your personal training.

How to become a fitness coach

If you’d like to move into coaching, you can take the Sports Coaching and Development Level 3 National Diploma. This is a vocational, practical-based BTEC qualification, which qualifies you to become a professional coach. You’ll be eligible to undertake this diploma once you’ve obtained your Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing. You’ll usually need at least five GCSEs too.

Sports Coaching and Development teaches you how to support people with specific areas of their health and wellbeing, with modules on subjects such as nutrition and physiology. You’ll learn detailed techniques for helping people with their performance goals. The course content also prepares you for building your career as a self-employed fitness professional.

How long does it take to become a gym instructor?

The timeframe for becoming qualified as a gym instructor can vary, depending on where you gain your qualification. However, the Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing usually takes up to six weeks on a full-time basis; longer if you study part-time.

Get gym insurance with Protectivity

If you’re a self-employed gym instructor or running your own fitness business, you’ll need to take out comprehensive gym insurance that covers a range of possible risks. Whether it’s a customer injury or damage to your premises that prevent you from operating, we have a range of cover that can be tailored to your needs.

Protectivity, offers a gym insurance policy that gives you peace of mind for unexpected situations that may arise. It’s been designed to support your company and your career success, while protecting your professional reputation, workplace and finances. This great-value specialist cover protects you from a range of potential pitfalls that can come with working for gyms and fitness clubs.

We also offer personal trainer insurance for those looking to branch out on their own. Our friendly and experienced team members are on hand to assist with any insurance related queries to help you protect your business.

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09:48:18 GMT • 14 November 2024

How to price a job as a painter/decorator

21 September 2023

•

9 mins read

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Determining a fair and competitive price for your services is one of the most essential aspects of running a painting and decorating business. It takes a little time and careful calculation, but once you’ve refined this process, you can apply the same methodology time and time again to reliably price up each job.

You’ll need to incorporate a range of factors to refine your figures, including your level of experience and expertise, the particular deliverables and deadlines, and the going rates for the area. Striking the right balance not only supports your profitability, it also ensures that your clients receive the best value for their investment.

Pricing a job as a painter and decorator might seem slightly complex, but it doesn’t need to be. There are tried and tested strategies you can use to help you come up with an accurate estimate so that you bring in your worth from happy customers and receive positive reviews.

We’ve taken the headache out of this whole process, with a full guide to how painters and decorators price jobs.

How much can I earn as a painter and decorator?

You can research current average earnings for UK painters and decorators, which will continue to change with inflation and other rising costs, by consulting trade websites and government resources and talking to other professionals.

Sole trader painters and decorators earn an average of £47,754.42. This is an average of £36,430 a year after tax and business expenses, such as transport, materials and insurance. This is an average take-home pay of £3,035.83 per month.

For business owners with limited companies, the average annual take-home pay rises to between approximately £45,913 and £58,411.58. This equates to average monthly earnings of between £3,826.08 and £4,867.63.

While it usually makes more sense to offer fixed quotes for large jobs, you can look to standard hourly and daily rates as a rough guide for smaller projects or ad hoc work. You can typically make an average of £37 per hour as a self-employed painter and decorator, or £48 as a business owner. Day rates typically range anywhere between £250 and £400. Bear in mind that painters and decorators in certain regions, such as London, will usually be able to command higher figures.

It can also be beneficial to know the average project costs. Painting a medium room can usually be expected to cost around £400, while painting a house would ordinarily be an average of around £40-60 per square metre of flooring, £8 to £16 per square metre of wall, or £7 to £10 per square metre of ceiling. Painting the interior of whole properties comes in at anywhere between £2,000 for a two-bedroom flat, and £6,000 for a five-bedroom house.

The average price for wallpapering a medium room is between £12 and £16 per square metre, or £350 to £500 for the whole room. If old wallpaper is also being removed, this will be an additional labour cost to factor into the quote.

Painting the exterior of a house usually comes with a charge of between £15 and £25 per square metre. Project costs work out at between £1,100 and £1,500 in total for a three-bed semi-detached house, or between £1,750 and £2,500 for four bedrooms.

These are very loose guideline figures, so to find out your own potential earnings as a painter and decorator, consider the factors we’ll expand on further in this guide. Stay informed about economic conditions that may affect your earning potential, so that you’re always armed with the right knowledge and can plan for your business accordingly.

How do painters and decorators price jobs the right way?

To help you determine a fair and competitive price for your painting and decorating services, you can draw on factors including:

Your experience
Project scope
Location
Client type
Required materials
Any other costs
Current market conditions

You can come up with your own formula for pricing each job to use as a template. Here are the steps to take when creating a quote.

Assess the project scope

Visit the project site and assess the specific requirements. This includes the surfaces to be worked on (walls, ceilings, woodwork, etc.), the number of rooms or areas required, and any additional services needed (e.g., wallpapering, plastering, trim work).

Calculate material costs

Create a list of all the materials required for the project. Be specific in terms of the quality and brand of materials you’ll use, as well as any special requests from the client.

Estimate labour costs

Determine how long you think the project will take. This includes time for preparation, cleanup, and potential delays. Multiply the estimated hours or days by your labour rate, to calculate the labour cost.

Include any extra costs

These might include transportation, parking fees, and the disposal of waste materials. Remember to also factor in the cost of insurance for your tools too.

Add a markup percentage

Add this to the total cost to account for your profit and business expenses. This will typically be around 10-20% on average.

Factor in value-added services

Highlight any unique skills, certifications, or guarantees you offer that can justify higher pricing.

Maintain accurate records of project costs and profits

This information can help you refine your pricing strategy for future jobs and ensure your business remains profitable.

Tips for earning more as a painter and decorator

Providing high-quality work and excellent customer service is one of the best ways you can establish a positive reputation in the industry and confidently increase your rates. However, there are many ways to exercise good business sense and keep boosting your bottom line.

If you want to earn more, there are a few ways you can look to increase your income.

Specialise in profitable professional areas

Over time, you will get to know the types of work that help you to maximise your earning potential as a business. These may be jobs where the materials are less costly, which you can complete in a shorter amount of time, or which require less people. Developing insights into the best sources of profitability will help you to create a business plan that supports your annual revenue, by focusing your efforts on taking on more of this type of work.

Limit how far you’ll travel

While it may seem tempting to travel for work when opportunities arise further afield, you need to make sure it doesn’t end up costing you more than it’s worth in travel expenses. Focusing on work in your geographical area means you can keep costs such as petrol down, while avoiding running up excessive miles on company vehicles, which could impact your insurance. It also lets you grow your reputation locally, rather than spreading yourself too thinly, particularly if you have a smaller team or you’re a sole trader.

If there are going to be occasions when an opportunity further away makes good sense for your business, make these worth it for your business by charging extra fees for travel costs and additional time.

Be smart with your business costs

Your overall costs will depend on the equipment, tools and materials you use, the condition of the property you’re working on, the team you assign to the job (in the case of business owners), and how long it usually takes you to complete the work. You have more control over some of these factors, so make sure you always get the best rate for business purchases and build up relationships with suppliers for trade discounts. Never take out credit cards or loans unless absolutely necessary and they come with 0% interest deals, which you know you’ll be able to pay off within the given time period.

Create a marketing plan

There are many ways you can grow awareness of your brand online and offline, increase your customer base and generate sales. There are a range of strategies you can focus on, depending on your business needs. Search engine optimisation (SEO) helps you rank highly in Google and attract people to your website, while paid advertising helps you to compete against your competitors and target specific audiences. You might also want to look at out-of-home campaigns, such as billboards or radio adverts.

Employing marketing professionals to fill any skill gaps in these areas can be highly worthwhile, as they work towards key performance objectives, such as more website traffic, lead generation and revenue. Hiring freelancers for short-term projects can be a great way of testing the waters and seeing what kind of uplift you can get from investing in this area.

Get Painter and Decorator Insurance with Protectivity

When it comes to protecting your business against claims for injury or property damage, our tradesman insurance policy is a smart choice. By factoring it into your annual expenses, you can minimise the impact of unforeseen events that could harm your reputation and save on costs that arise as a result.

Protectivity’s Painter and Decorator Insurance offers a variety of cover options, including Public Liability, which gives protection against third-party claims from clients and members of the public. If you employ staff and contractors, Employers’ Liability providers cover for workforce illness and injuries.

Get an instant tailored quote for our Painter and Decorator Insurance. If you have any questions or further requirements, you can chat with our friendly team.

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22:20:20 GMT • 22 January 2025

How much does a painter and decorator earn?

5 September 2023

•

8 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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Tradespeople are in demand across the UK right now, so it’s no surprise that many people want to know ‘how much does a painter and decorator make?’. Whether working in domestic, commercial or industrial settings, becoming a painter and decorator could help you earn very good money, once you’ve got the right experience in place. But what is the scale of your potential in this industry?

This guide takes an in-depth look at how much painters and decorators can earn in the UK. We’ll look at typical salaries for different levels of experience, how much you could potentially make through a self–employed painter and decorator hourly rate, and what you can do to maximise your earning power.

What is a typical painter and decorator salary in the UK?

The amount that you could earn as a painter and decorator varies substantially, depending on a number of different factors, perhaps the biggest of which is your level of experience. We’ve used figures from Checkatrade research to underline what you can expect to get at different stages of your career – and highlight how your earnings could ramp up over time:

If you’re an apprentice

Typical salary: £6.40 per hour (£11,238 per year)

Typical earnings for a painting and decorating apprentice come in at £6.40 an hour, or £51.20 for an eight-hour day. This equates to an annual salary of £11,238, and the good news here is that this is below the income tax threshold, so you would only be liable to make some small payments towards National Insurance. As a result, you can expect to take home £10,869 a year, which is just over £900 a month – a decent amount with which to combine your studies and training.

If you’ve just qualified

Typical salary: £9.50 per hour (£16,682 per year)

Once you’ve got your basic qualifications in place, you’ll start off somewhere around the National Living Wage level, which varies slightly depending on your age. Typically, you can expect to earn around £9.50 an hour, which means £76 a day. This generates a pre-tax salary of £16,682 per annum, which comes down to £14,837 once tax and National Insurance have been deducted. This is just under £1,250 a month take-home, but as you gain experience and a good reputation, your earnings should increase quite quickly.

If you’re employed full-time

Typical salary: £16.50 per hour (£34,320 per year)

Once you’re settled into full-time employment with a painting and decorating firm, you should be able to attract a decent wage. According to Checkatrade, typical earnings for an experienced, employed painter and decorator are £16.50 per hour, or £132 per day. This would generate a pre-tax annual salary of £34,320, which is a good chunk above the national average salary. Your net earnings would be £26,831, for a take-home of more than £2,200 per month.

If you’re self-employed as a sole trader

Typical salary: £37 per hour (£54,576 per year)

If you decide to branch out and start your own painting and decorating business as a sole trader, then the earning proposition is very different. How much you earn will be dictated by how much you charge as your hourly rate, minus any business expenses you incur, from fuel and transport to materials and safety gear.

A typical self-employed painter and decorator hourly rate is £37, which translates to £296 for an eight-hour day and £54,576 a year. Once expenses, tax, and National Insurance have been deducted, you should still be left with around £36,000, or £3,000 a month take-home.

If you run a limited company

Typical salary: £48 per hour (£70,802 per year)

How much you earn running a limited company depends on whether you’re still doing the work yourself, or whether you’re employing someone to do it for you and taking a management role instead. For the purposes of simplicity, we’ll assume the former here.

The average hourly rate that a limited company would charge for painting and decorating services is £48, which works out at £384 a day. This means you could generate £70,802 a year. However, in addition to expenses and your own tax and National Insurance, you’ll also have to pay corporation tax. What you end up with as your net earnings is therefore highly variable, but within reason, your earning power is unlimited!

Ways to improve your earnings

If you want to push those figures up a notch, or you’re thinking that they may be a little low for your personal financial needs or expectations, then there’s plenty you can do to make more money out of the profession. None of them will necessarily make a huge difference, but all are good ‘marginal gains’ that can help you improve your earnings incrementally:

Get more qualifications

When the public are looking for a self-employed painter and decorator, they want maximum confidence that they’re working with the right person for the job. The best way to convince them of your abilities is to gain more qualifications at more advanced levels: ideally, you should adopt a continuous approach to education and constantly be on the lookout for new skills and techniques.

Specialise your offering and skills

If you want to stand out in a competitive marketplace, then pursuing some specialist skills and types of painting and decorating can help. It will give you a niche that not many of your competitors will offer, and also may allow you to charge a premium. This could be anything from particular types of paints and materials, to heritage conservation or commercial premises.

Expand and move yourself into admin

As mentioned above, if you’re experienced and operating as a limited company, you could move into a management and admin role. This means you’ll be involved in quotes, estimates, contract management, design, sales and materials procurement, and you’ll be employing other people to do the actual painting and decorating for you. If you’re employed by someone else, you may find that larger firms also have their own openings for these types of roles.

Raise your rates

Perhaps the simplest way to generate more income is to put your prices up. Far from being an opportunity to grab more cash, many businesses have had to do so to counteract their own rising costs, but this still ensures a greater level of profitability. Raising rates should be done with caution, though: you don’t want to go too far and price yourself out of the market relative to your local competitors.

Look for cost savings

If you don’t feel you can put your prices up, then the best alternative is to look at ways at bringing your costs down. Naturally, you don’t want to compromise in quality of goods or services, but there may well be some efficiencies in your business processes. Think along the lines of more economical transport, using tools and equipment for longer before replacing, or even bringing a packed lunch instead of buying food on the go.

Explore tax efficiencies

If you operate as a limited company, then work with a good-quality accountant, who will be able to advise on ways for you to minimise your tax liabilities within the boundaries of the law. For example, you may be able to reduce your income tax and National Insurance liabilities by paying yourself a small salary and the rest in business dividends. See our limited company tax guide for more details.

Protect yourself against claims

One of the biggest impacts your earnings might face is if you have to deal with a claim for compensation. This could be because you’ve accidentally damaged some customer property, not completed work to the expected standard, or an employee who works for you has got hurt on the job. You should always make sure you’re insulated against these major expenses.

Affordable painter and decorator insurance from Protectivity

At Protectivity, we provide affordable tradesman public liability insurance which is specialist cover for small businesses, sole traders and self-employed trades people.

Our policies include public liability as standard with the option to add employers’ liability if you hire other people and all-risk insurance which can include a combination of plant and tools cover and contractors works insurance. That way, when unforeseen circumstances occur, you and your business won’t end up out of pocket.

Starting from just £4.16 a month, our cover represents a minimal business expense but could potentially save you thousands of pounds in the long run. We now also offer specialist tools cover to protect your tools and equipment.

Take two minutes today to take a closer look at our painter and decorator insurance policies.

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11:36:43 GMT • 12 February 2025

How to become a nail technician

24 August 2023

•

9 mins read

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If you love keeping your nails healthy and making them look fantastic, then there’s a career opportunity waiting for you as a professional nail technician.

As with most beauty treatments nowadays, there is huge demand for qualified, professional nail technicians to sell their services and add some shimmer to clients’ hands and feet. However, in order to make the most of the opportunity, there’s plenty to learn, do and understand, whether you want to work for yourself or for someone else.

In this guide, we’ll cover all the basics you need to know around how to become a nail technician. You’ll read about what it involves, the qualification and training that you need, your potential earnings, how to go about starting a nail technician business, and much more.

What is a nail technician and what do they do?

A nail technician delivers all kinds of different treatments to the fingernails, thumbnails and toenails of their clients. These can include treatments to keep them healthy, such as grooming cuticles, removing dead skin and even massaging the arms and legs to promote overall health in that part of the body. And it also includes more style-based, beauty treatments such as manicures, pedicures, nail art, and the application and removal of nail polish and false nails.

Other responsibilities that nail technicians are required to undertake include:

Giving advice on nail care and advising on possible courses of action

Conduct repairs for broken or damaged nails (more on this below)

Ensure that the skin and areas around the nails are in good condition

Use chemicals and other substances correctly, safely and in accordance with relevant regulation

Keep tools and equipment, as well as working environments, clean and sanitised so as to minimise the risk of accident or infection

What qualifications do I need to be a nail technician?

First of all, it’s important to state that there is no formal legal requirement to possess a qualification and offer nail technician services professionally. However, it can make a major difference to your employability, or your attractiveness to clients as a freelancer, so gaining some proper credentials is strongly recommended.

There are many different colleges and education bodies around the UK that offer nail technician training courses, but one way to train and earn at the same time is to take on an apprenticeship. Here, you’ll be able to work in a salon and learn some of the basics of the job in a real-world environment, while doing the academic study parts of the qualification alongside.

If you can reach level 3 of your apprenticeship, then you will have gained:

All the key skills and trends to provide a wide range of nail-related services

An understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements of the job

The preparation and knowledge to start your own nail technician business

From this, you can then go on to explore some specialist nail technician courses which can help you stand out from the crowd and expand your offering. These can include (and are by no means limited to) manicures and pedicures, acrylic nails, fibreglass and gel extensions, and nail art.

What tools and equipment do I need?

Obviously, you’ll need some nail varnish and paints, and suitable brushes! However, there are lots of other pieces of equipment you’ll need, such as clippers, files, glue, sanitisers, buffers and cuticle oil. You’ll also need to consider some clean, professional clothing, as well as any protection you might need to keep your hair out of the way.

Furthermore, you should make sure you have the right environment for giving treatments, so that both you and the client are comfortable, and so you don’t make any mistakes. A sturdy table and chairs are a must, while you should also look at mirrors and portable lighting so that you can easily see what you’re doing at all times.

Can nail technicians fix broken nails?

With the right skills and training, yes. Nail repairs are one of the most common reasons that clients come to a professional nail technician, making it a potentially lucrative channel of profitability for those who are able to do it to a high standard.

Repairs can either be carried out using a special gel to fill the crack, nail glue to put the two cracked sides back together, or through localised reapplication in the case of acrylic nails.

It’s vital to get some good training and qualifications in repairing broken nails, so that employers and clients can get the job done right. If you make any errors, then it can be disruptive (and painful!) for the client.

How much do nail technicians make?

There is quite a wide range of potential earnings when it comes to nail technicians, and that’s because there are many different factors at play. Firstly, you’ll be able to command greater salaries (or charge higher rates if you’re self-employed) if you have plenty of experience and a good reputation in your local area.

Additionally, the part of the country you live in may increase your salary potential (for example, if you live in London or the south-east), but this can often be counterbalanced by higher living costs. And then there’s expenses to consider: many freelance nail technicians wanting to operate from salons will have to pay for chair rental, which will eat into profit margins.

Overall, according to the National Careers Service, annual salaries for full-time employed nail technicians’ range between £15,500 for younger newcomers, up to £25,000 for older and more experienced technicians at high-end spas. If operating on a self-employed basis, then rates per treatment range between £15 to £35, before any business expenses are taken into account. Which leads nicely onto the next section…

How do I start my own nail technician business?

If you’d prefer to be your own boss, or you want to progress long-term after starting out in a salon, then you have the opportunity to set up your own nail technician business. This means that your earning potential is theoretically limitless, but there are plenty of considerations and expenses to take into account, too:

Business model

Firstly, you’ll need to decide how your business is going to operate. For example, do you want to freelance out of a salon and pay for chair rental, or do you want to go it alone and provide services yourself? The former option is the simplest from a business admin point of view, but can come with the substantial expense of the chair rental. The latter gives you more flexibility, although it requires an important decision to be made in the next point…

Place of treatment delivery

Where are you going to be providing your nail treatment services? If you want to set up your own salon (and are unable or unwilling to do so from their own home), then you’ll need to find and pay for suitable business premises. Alternatively, you could set yourself up as a mobile nail technician, and travel to clients’ homes: compared to many types of beauty treatment, nail work doesn’t require lots of big, heavy kit, making it more viable as a mobile operation.

Company arrangements

Whichever of the options above you choose, you’ll need to decide the status of your business in legal and taxation terms. The easiest way (especially if freelancing alone) is to set yourself up as a sole trader; however, in this situation, any debts you incur will have to be settled through your personal finances. While a limited company can take more administration and be more expensive to set up, it does give you some financial protection, especially if you go on to employ other nail technicians in the future.

Overheads and transportation

Any prices and rates you set (whether on a per-treatment or an hourly basis) need to account for the fact that you will incur expenses in many different areas. These can include premises, transport, products, tools, equipment, health and safety provision, heating, lighting, water, Internet and business administration. You’ll also have to bear in mind that you’ll need to pay income tax and National Insurance on the earnings you make, as well as Corporation Tax if you operate as a limited company.

Insurance and employing staff

If you’re really successful with your nail technician business, then you’ll be able to expand by hiring staff to work for you. This multiplies the amount of clients and treatments that you’ll be able to offer, but also comes with an extra layer of requirements and expenses. As well as paying your staff a fair wage, you’ll also need to make Employer’s National Insurance contributions. In addition, it’s a legal requirement to have employer’s liability insurance in place, so that you’re protected against a claim in the event of your employee suffering an accident or injury in the course of their work.

Affordable nail technician insurance from Protectivity

If you’re branching out as a self-employed nail technician, or you’re setting up a nail technician business, then it’s important to be sure you have the correct insurance cover in place.

Protectivity’s specialist nail technician policy covers you in case unexpected incidents occur where a claim is made against you. Our insurance includes public liability, products liability, equipment and stock, employers’ liability, personal accident and much more. That way, you can grow your business with confidence and avoid costly claims that could seriously damage your finances.

Take two minutes today to explore our affordable and flexible nail technician insurance policies.

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Last updated by

15:47:51 GMT • 13 November 2024

Best personal trainer courses

22 August 2023

•

8 mins read

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If you’ve got an enthusiasm for health and fitness, and you love helping others, then becoming a personal trainer may well stand out as a career option for you. But there’s far more to it than putting your kit on and encouraging your clients to push themselves on – and that’s why you need to get qualified, ideally from one of the best personal trainer courses around.

In this guide, we’ll take a detailed look at the best personal trainer courses around and the options available to you. We’ll cover the importance of the level 3 personal trainer courses accredited by CIMSPA, the alternative options for getting yourself qualified, and a selection of Britain’s leading personal trainer course providers.

Why are personal trainer courses so important?

There is no hard and fast legal requirement to be qualified in order to become a professional personal trainer. However, you’ll find it extremely difficult to progress your career to any meaningful level.

Gyms and other fitness businesses that want to hire full-time or part-time personal trainers will want to know that they’re hiring someone that’s up to the job. If you don’t already have extensive experience and references, then your list of qualifications will be the first thing on your CV that they’ll look at. Without much to show in that area, you’re unlikely to get a foot in the door.

The same principle applies if you want to work as a self-employed personal trainer. Clients spending their hard-earned money on a private or group training session will be looking for someone with the right credentials.

Courses and qualifications will continue to play an important role throughout your career. As you gain more experience, you can look at the best personal trainer courses which allow you to specialise your skills, and explore niche areas where you can differentiate your business model and earn more revenue.

CIMSPA level 3 personal trainer courses

The baseline of personal trainer qualifications is the level 3 personal trainer course, accredited by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. Because you’ll have to work your way through levels 1 and 2 before you can achieve level 3, by the time you get to the end of the process you’ll have all the key skills and knowledge you’ll need to operate professionally.

The level 3 personal trainer course normally covers seven key areas: biology, nutrition, healthcare, communication, planning, administration and self-improvement. That way, you’ll not only learn how to deliver sessions, but also cover important functions from a business perspective. You can find out more on the CIMSPA level 3 personal trainer courses in our guide.

Other personal trainer course options

While the level 3 personal trainer course is very important, it is by no means the be-all and end-all. For example, you can then go on to take level 4 qualifications in different specific skills, such as strength & conditioning, nutrition or yoga. But this is only part of the story.

Other course types you can explore include (but are by no means limited to):

Continuous Professional Development (CPD): while this isn’t a specific qualification, it is a process which allows you to keep developing and improving your knowledge throughout your career. If you’re working for someone full-time, you should explore any CPD programmes that they’re running, while you may find that some private course packages contain CPD opportunities, too.

Gym chain courses: many of the leading gym chains and businesses around the UK have their own corporate training and development programmes. You may well find that you gain some formally recognised qualifications along the way, especially if you’re starting out through an apprenticeship. However, you should remain aware that any of the chain-specific qualifications you gain here might not be valued as highly (or even be considered) by other companies if you’re looking for alternative employment in the future.

Online courses: the advance of the internet and the move towards flexible and hybrid working means that it’s far more viable these days to gain some personal trainer qualifications online. But if you decide to try an online course, check the requirements very carefully: it’s likely that you’ll still need to travel for in-person learning and assessments at some point, and you’ll need to make sure you can reach the location in question.

The best personal trainer courses around

There are countless personal trainer courses all over the UK for you to explore, so it’d be impossible to list them all here! Instead, we’ve picked out some of the best personal trainer courses in the country, which should act as your first port of call if you want tuition and support of the highest quality:

Study Active

Study Active takes a largely online-based approach to learning, but with all the mentoring and support that you’d expect of an in-person course. It combines a range of resources, webinars, tutorials and practical workshops, available on a flexible basis that allows you to fit your training alongside any work or family commitments you might have.

As well as personal training, Study Active can also help you learn gym instruction, nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle, mental health awareness and more. But one of the stand-out features of Study Active is that they’ll continue to give you advice in translating your qualifications into careers, and can even help connect you to available entry-level roles.

OriGym

OriGym is arguably the biggest personal training course provider in the UK, tutoring the best part of 10,000 people every year. It offers an excellent blend of online and physical learning, thanks to a wide range of digital resources and a nationwide network of lecturers and trainers.

Everyone who works for OriGym is a qualified professional themselves, meaning you’re learning from people who have had to pick up the same expertise themselves along the way. And if you’re worried about the financial strain that your course represents, don’t panic: you’ll get free resits on both theory and practical exams if you need a second bite at the cherry.

HFE

If you want all or most of your personal training course to be delivered in person, then HFE is a good place to start. They can provide study and learning facilities at more than 30 locations all over the country, and their personal training courses are fully CIMSPA-approved.

You can augment your in-person training with access to digital resources if you so wish, while its CV Connect programme gives you a chance to get your foot in the door with prospective employers when you graduate.

AMAC Training

AMAC Training is built on a friendly approach that understands the needs of those wanting to get personal training qualifications. They produce all their courses and learning resources themselves, and focus solely on personal training and gym instruction through a tuition team who have all picked up their own credentials. AMAC also offers financial support in the form of Advanced Learner Loans, backed by the Education & Skills Funding Agency, to make learning more accessible for everyone.

Future Fit

Future Fit is one of the longest-established and most respected providers of personal training courses in the country. They’ve been training people throughout the health and fitness industry for more than three decades, and are able to provide personal training and gym instructor courses up to Level 4.

If you want to branch out and specialise your skills, then they could well be the provider for you. They offer a large number of advanced courses, including sports massage, pilates, strength & conditioning, and much more. And with both hybrid learning options and flexible payment available, the training can very much work the way you work.

Get personal trainer insurance with Protectivity

Whether you’re starting out working full-time as a personal trainer, or decide to go down the self-employed route, you’ll quickly learn that the unexpected can and will happen.

This is where Protectivity’s personal trainer insurance can help you. Our comprehensive policies make sure that if you’re hit by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, you don’t end up out of pocket. A combination of personal liability, public liability, equipment cover and more can give you the confidence to grow your business, while you can also get the legally-required employer’s insurance if you go on to hire your own staff.

Our personal trainer insurance can give you confidence you’re covered for just a few pounds a month, so take some time today to explore your options in more detail.

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Last updated by

15:54:03 GMT • 13 November 2024

How to become a painter and decorator

17 August 2023

•

10 mins read

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Have you ever wondered how to become a painter and decorator? If you love making interiors look great, applying some flair and creativity, and working out and about rather than in an office, it could be the career for you. And at a time when demand for good tradespeople continues to outstrip supply, it’s a chance for you to potentially earn some really good money in the long-term. But if you’ve never explored painting and decorating as a career option before, where do you start?

This guide tells you all you need to know about how to become a painter and decorator. You’ll discover your day-to-day duties, the qualifications and skills you’ll need, how much you could potentially earn, and what you need to consider when setting up a business.

What does a painter and decorator do?

The range of duties and jobs that professional painters and decorators are hired for is huge. That’s because every home and building is different, and every client has different ideas about what they’d like to see.

First of all, when looking at how to become a painter and decorator, it’s important to remember that the job isn’t just restricted to people’s homes. The same services are just as in demand in commercial settings like shops, and in industrial environments like offices. This is good news for you as it gives you the opportunity to differentiate your skills and business, and stand out more from the competition in your area.

From a more practical, day-to-day perspective, your responsibilities may include some or all of the following:

Mixing paint and applying it to walls, ceilings and other materials

Applying primer or undercoat

Carrying out repairs to surface, such as filling cracks

Pasting and applying wallpaper

Stripping old surfaces for new substances to be applied

Surveying and measuring environments, both for quotation and to determine the quantity of materials required

What qualifications do I need to be a painter and decorator?

Technically speaking, there is no legal requirement to become a painter and decorator. However, it’s strongly recommended that you get some formal training and qualifications behind you. Without them, it will be extremely difficult to get a job with a decorating business, which will want concrete evidence of your capabilities. Similarly, if going down the self-employed route, then customers will be more likely to trust you if they can see any reliable credentials of your skills.

The good news is that there is a wide variety of courses and qualifications you can take to get the certification you need. Perhaps one of the most common is the Painting and Decorating NVQ, starting at Level 1. This initial course gives you theoretical and practical experience of using the right materials, best practice in health and safety, the range of products available to you, and being able to mix and apply paints, varnish and sanding.

From this, you can move onto Level 2, which brings in paint and surface preparation, up-to-date techniques, and further information around business and customer management. Level 3 takes these skills to the next level and allows you to gain a Gold Advanced Craft Card, which stands you out as a highly competent painter and decorator.

Alternatively, you can go down the City & Guilds route, starting with the Basic Wallpapering course. From this you can take the Intermediate and Advanced Painting & Decorating courses, and gradually build up the knowledge and practical skills that you need over time.

Some of the courses available do have the option for online learning, but it’s important to check what the facilities are for practical training in your area.

How long does it take to become a qualified painter and decorator?

This depends on the type of courses you take, and whether you’re learning full-time or gaining your qualifications on-the-job. Using NVQs as an example, in most vocational professions it generally takes between one and two years to reach Level 3 from a standing start.

You may find some colleges and training providers offer ‘intensive’ training that allows you to gain qualifications in much shorter timeframes. However, you should never neglect the value of practical experience: you’ll never stop learning as a painter and decorator, and practice will ultimately make perfect!

What skills do I need to be a painter and decorator?

First and foremost, painting and decorating is a practical and hands-on job, so you’ll need to be good with your hands! Perhaps just as importantly, you’ll need to have a strong work ethic: you may well be required to work outdoors, in difficult conditions, and sometimes at unsociable hours like evenings and weekends.

One skill set you might not associate with the profession – but can be a real differentiator – is computer proficiency. That’s because the planning of painting and decorating is becoming increasingly digitised, with digital colour charts and paint mixing apps taking some of the guesswork out of the job. So, if you’re good with computers, it can add another useful line to your CV. Painting and decorating also requires a decent level of mathematical skills, so that you can work out quantities of materials, and formulate quotations.

If you intend to work on building sites at any time, then it will also be a legal requirement for you to gain a Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS) card.

What tools and equipment do I need?

You’ve probably already worked out that you’re going to need paint, brushes and rollers if you’re going to be a painter and decorator. But that’s only a small amount of the equipment that you’ll need. Other equipment and tools required includes (and is not necessarily limited to):

Trays for brushes and rollers, and materials for cleaning them

Dustsheets and other measures for protecting items from paint damage

Sandpaper and other abrasive items that help prepare areas for decoration

Stanley knives, spirit levels and stepladders

Suitable clothing and footwear that will keep you clean and safe

A first-aid kit in case of an accident or injury

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and you may have further requirements depending on the environment you’re working in. For example, on a building site, steel-capped boots and a hard hat will be mandatory, even if the work you’re doing isn’t especially dangerous or heavy-duty.

If you’re taking a job with a professional decorating firm, make sure you check in advance how much equipment is going to be provided. Some may lay on everything you need, while others may expect you to bring some of your own stuff with you.

How much can painters and decorators make?

The range of potential earnings on offer for professional painters and decorators is substantial, and there are two main reasons for this. The first is that the public is willing to pay a premium for access to good-quality workmanship with an excellent reputation, especially as skilled tradespeople are in particularly short supply at present. The second is that your earning power is potentially limitless if you’re self-employed or run your own business, rather than earning a fixed salary working for someone else.

According to the National Careers Service, a full-time employed painter and decorator can expect to earn anywhere between £17,000 and £32,000 a year, depending on location and experience. But if you’re running your own business, your rates (minus expenses and overheads) are up to you, meaning your earnings can increase by a substantial margin.

Business formation

Firstly, you should decide the legal status of your business, and there are two main options open to you. The first (and simplest) is to operate as a sole trader, which is preferable if you’re intending to work on your own. This means that your income and expenditure is directly tied to your own personal finances, and are assessed for tax when you fill out your Self-Assessment every year. But there is a downside: if you fall into debt, including if a claim for compensation is made against you, then you are personally liable for the bill. In the worst case scenario, your home could be at risk if you have no other way of settling the bill.

The safer, but slightly more complex option, is to set yourself up as a limited company. This means you have a degree of separation between your business finances (operated through a business bank account) and your own affairs. It also means that any debts are the responsibility of the business rather than you personally. This can make things much clearer from an operational point of view if your business will be relatively complicated, and especially if you intend to hire other people to work for you.

Setting prices and rates

The next step is to work out how much you intend to charge per hour for your services, and there are two defining factors at play here. The first is how much other firms in your area charge: you may want to charge a little less to attract business to begin with, but this will naturally limit your potential profitability.

The second consideration is your expenses, from your wages and earnings, through transport to different sites, to the materials, tools and equipment you need to do the job. When you quote for different jobs, it’s vital you take materials into account as well as labour, so that there is a decent amount left over for yourself.

Marketing and promotion

Your ideal starting point for marketing your services is to set up a simple website that details your skills and services, and link it to some social media platforms on which people can find you and enquire. However, don’t neglect the usefulness of more traditional forms of marketing: flyers, posters and adverts in your local newspapers are still often relied upon by people looking for reliable tradespeople.

Legal and insurance

When you run a business, you’ll be required to comply with a range of different legal frameworks, health and safety perhaps being one of the most important. But there are others to take into account, too, especially if you’re employing other people: you’ll need to pay Employer’s National Insurance, and take out a tradesman insurance policy that encompasses cover for employees. In any case, covering your business with specific painter and decorator insurance is always a good idea, given the potential for an accident or incident that can be disruptive and expensive.

Affordable painter and decorator insurance from Protectivity

Even the best and most experienced painters and decorators get things wrong at times – nobody is perfect, after all! The only problem is that from a business perspective, mistakes, incidents and accidents can become expensive.

At Protectivity, we provide affordable painter and decorator insurance cover specialising in small businesses. Our policies include public liability, products liability, commercial legal protection, and employers’ liability if you hire other people. That way, when unforeseen circumstances occur, you and your business won’t end up out of pocket. We now also offer insurance for your tools to help protect you should they be stolen or damaged.

Take two minutes today to take a closer look at our painter and decorator insurance policies.

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Last updated by

22:14:33 GMT • 22 January 2025

How to become a massage therapist

15 August 2023

•

7 mins read

Contributors

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Get massage therapist insurance from Protectivity

Have you ever considered how to become a massage therapist, and how to turn your skilled hands and passion for care into a career opportunity? Whether working full-time or on a self-employed basis, massage therapy could be your way to do a job that you love – and potentially earn a good living at the same time.

If you want to know how to become a massage therapist, then this guide is the perfect place to start. We’ll give you all the key information you need to know: the qualifications and skills you need to be successful, how much you could potentially earn, and how to go about setting up your own massage therapy business.

Why is massage therapy so popular?

Massage therapy is being used by more and more people, hence the rise in opportunities to make it a career. The range of massages that can be administered is huge, including sports massages that help muscles and joints, shiatsu that undoes any knots and stresses, and Swedish massages that reduce tension.

The physical benefits of massage therapy are well-known, but at a time when people’s mental wellbeing is in sharper focus, massages are increasingly being used to help the mind as well as the body. Being able to relax for a period of time, and remove all the strains and pains from the body, can make a huge difference to a person’s mood and character.

What does a massage therapist do?

Obviously, the core of your role as a massage therapist will be to deliver massages of the highest possible standard, and help your clients get the best possible results. But that’s only one part of the job.

There’s a lot of planning that goes into effective massage therapy and treatment. You’ll need to identify the areas of the body which need the most attention, and work out the best way to apply your hands to good effect. Within this, you may need to speak with the client to identify their needs and objectives, and potentially explore their lifestyle, diet and medical records as part of your planning.

Your business administration tasks will include keeping client records up-to-date; maintaining clear communication with clients before, during and after therapy; and referring clients to other medical professionals if you feel that they need further help. Connected to this, you may also be required to give advice to clients on how to maintain good physical and mental wellbeing in their day-to-day lives.

What qualifications does a massage therapist need?

While it’s true to say that it isn’t a legal requirement to get massage therapy qualifications, you’ll find it very difficult to progress your career without them. Businesses hiring massage therapists will be looking for your qualifications on your CV before pretty much everything else, while clients searching for self-employed massage therapists will want concrete proof of your credentials.

The good news is that you don’t need to commit the time and money of getting a degree to obtain the qualifications that you need. Instead, you can take more vocational courses like the International Massage Diploma, or a course certified for Continuous Professional Development (CPD). You can also explore options like a BTEC in Advanced Clinical and Sports Massage, as well as advanced vocational courses which can allow you to get trained in specific massage techniques and specialisms.

If you’re looking for an alternative that can allow you to work and train at the same time, then there may well be massage therapy apprenticeships available to you, too.

How long does it take to qualify as a massage therapist?

How long is a piece of string? There are so many different qualifications that there’s no fixed timeframe you should devote to becoming qualified. Certainly, you should expect to take anywhere between one and three years to get your credentials up to a good standard for a professional. However, you should never stop learning: there are always new techniques, opportunities and specialisms to explore, so in theory, your work to get qualified should be a constant process throughout your career.

How much do massage therapists earn?

There’s no hard and fast rule about how much you can earn as a qualified professional massage therapist. That’s because your location, level of experience, and specialist areas of expertise will all influence your earning potential. There’s also a substantial difference between working full-time for an employer, and working for yourself on a self-employed basis.

As a general rule, a full-time employed massage therapist can expect to earn around £30,000 a year, although this can be higher if you have specialisms or skills that are relatively rare or in high demand. If you work for yourself, then theoretically your earning power is limitless, depending on the hours you’re willing to work, the rates that you charge, the amount you lose to tax and expenses, and how well you market yourself.

How do I start my own massage therapy business?

If you decide to go down the self-employed route, then you’ll also have plenty of business-related duties to take on, in order to maximise your profitability and comply with rules and regulations. These include (and are not necessarily limited to):

Business type

You’ll first need to work out whether you want to operate as a sole trader or register as a limited company. While the limited company option is a little bit more complex from an administration perspective, it does give you separation between your personal finances and those of your business operation. If you run into debt or you face a substantial liability, this can give you extra protection and ensure that your home or other assets don’t end up at risk.

Rates and expenses

It’s vital to strike the right balance with the fees you charge your clients. You’ll need to take into account how much you want to earn, and how much you’re paying out in your business overheads and expenses. But you’ll also have to consider how competitive your rates are against other massage therapy businesses in your area, and avoid pricing yourself too cheap – or too expensive.

Marketing

It’s vital to get your name and your unique selling point out there, especially in a relatively saturated market like massage therapy. While social media and online promotion will play a big part, don’t overlook physical methods of advertising, such as leaflets, flyers, business cards and advertising your local paper. You should also try to leave marketing materials in places relevant to your specialism (e.g. at leisure centres if you offer sports massages).

Insurance

Insurance is strongly recommended for any small business – and if you employ anyone else to work for you, then having employer’s insurance cover is a legal requirement. Even if you provide your massages from home, you may not necessarily be covered under the terms of your home insurance, so it’s always strongly recommended to take out cover that’s specific to the nature of your business. Good cover will also protect the value of your equipment such as massage tables.

Get massage therapy insurance with Protectivity

As with every type of small business, taking out comprehensive insurance cover is crucial, particularly having specialised insurance for massage therapy.

Protectivity’s massage therapy insurance is designed with skilled entrepreneurs like you in mind. Our cover includes public liability insurance of up to £5million, professional indemnity, personal accident, equipment cover, and employers’ liability if you employ other people.

Our policies are available through flexible payment plans giving you peace of mind and the confidence to grow your business. Take a closer look at our massage therapy insurance in more detail today.

Get Massage Therapist Insurance from Protectivity

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