Career pivot at 40: Starting your beauty business in Australia

Let’s get one thing straight: that voice in your head saying you’re too old to start over – it’s lying. At 42, I watched my best friend Emma trade her corporate blazer for a hairdressing apron. Three years later, she’s running a thriving salon in Melbourne’s inner suburbs and actually enjoys Mondays.

The Australian beauty industry is having a moment. Actually, it’s having a whole era – we’re talking $22 billion annually and it’s exploding, with jobs growing faster than my grey roots.

Why beauty? Why now?

The numbers tell a story that’ll make your accountant friend jealous:

• Beauty industry employment up 23 per cent since 2019 (huge boom!)
• Average Aussie woman spends $3600 yearly on beauty services
• Industry expecting 50,000 new positions by 2028
• Skills shortage means employers are desperate for mature, reliable professionals.

But forget the statistics for a second. You know what really matters? This industry values life experience. Those years managing difficult clients in corporate? Perfect training for handling bridezillas. Your organisational skills from juggling kids and a career? Exactly what a salon needs.

Real women, real transitions

I’ve been collecting stories from women who made the leap, and honestly, they’re inspiring as hell:

Sarah from Brisbane left banking at 45. She started with a Certificate III at TAFE while working part-time. Now she specialises in colour correction and charges $300+ per appointment. “My corporate background helps me run the business side,” she said. “But the creative freedom? That’s what feeds my soul.”

Then there’s Maria, 48, who used her redundancy package to open a home salon in Perth. “I was terrified,” she said. “But my daughter said, ‘Mum, you’ve been cutting our hair for 20 years. Maybe it’s time to get paid for it’.”

The money talk (because we’re adults here)

Starting costs vary wildly depending on your approach:

Mobile beauty business: $10,000-$25,000

• Professional kit and tools
• Vehicle set-up
• Insurance and licencing
• Great for testing the waters.

Home-based salon: $15,000-$35,000

• Converting a space
• Meeting council requirements
• Equipment and inventory
• Perfect for work-life balance.

Traditional salon: $80,000-$120,000

• Full fit-out and equipment
• Lease deposits
• Staff wages
• Go big or go home option.

Government support that actually helps

Australia’s pretty good at supporting small business (when you know where to look). Current programs include:

• Small Business Asset Write-Off: Claim up to $20,000 on equipment
• Industry Growth Program: Grants from $50,000 – $5 million
• State-specific grants: NSW offers up to $10,000 emergency support
• Free TAFE courses for eligible students (yes, beauty courses included!)

The tool investment that matters

Here’s where I’m gonna get specific about scissors (stick with me). The difference between professional tools and cheap ones is like comparing a Thermomix to a hand whisk. Both technically work, but one makes your life infinitely easier.

Quality matters, especially when you’re building a reputation. Juntetsu Hairdressing Scissors made in Japan might seem like a splurge at $400-$700, but they’ll outlast cheap alternatives by years. Same goes for all your tools as you are building your brand with customers. The tools reflect your skill and professionalism.

For starting out, check the best selling hairdressing in Australia to see what working professionals actually use. No point reinventing the wheel as you can see what people trust across Australia.

Training that fits real life

TAFE remains the gold standard for beauty education in Australia. But here’s what they don’t advertise: classes designed for mature students. Evening options. Online theory components. Payment plans.

Certificate III in Hairdressing or Beauty Services takes 12-24 months depending on your schedule. The hands-on experience in TAFE’s training salons? Invaluable. You’re working on real clients (supervised) from week one.

Pro tip: Connect with other mature-age students. My friend Emma formed a study group with three other women over 40. They’re still each other’s biggest referral sources.

The reality check

I won’t sugarcoat this: starting over is scary. There will be days when you question everything. When your back aches from standing. When you mess up someone’s colour and want to cry.

But there’ll also be days when a client tears up because you’ve made them feel beautiful. When you realise you’re booked solid for the next month. When you catch yourself humming at work because you’re actually happy.

Breaking into the industry

Start building your network now:

• Follow local salons on Instagram
• Attend beauty trade shows (they’re actually fun)
• Join Hair and Beauty Australia (HABA). Less than $10 weekly.
• Connect with the Australian Hairdressing Council.

Consider starting as a salon assistant while studying. Yes, you’ll be sweeping floors and washing hair. You’ll also be learning from established professionals and building connections.

Your 12-month action plan

• Month 1-3: Research and enrol in training. Start following industry trends. Save like crazy.
• Months 4-9: Complete core training. Build your kit. Network relentlessly. Consider part-time salon work.
• Months 10-12: Finish qualification. Soft launch services to friends/family. Decide on business model.

The permission you’re waiting for

Here it is: You’re allowed to want more. You’re allowed to start over. You’re allowed to choose happiness over security, creativity over convention.

The beauty industry doesn’t care about your age. It cares about your passion, your work ethic, and your ability to make people feel good about themselves. And honestly? Life experience gives you an edge there.

Emma told me something last week that stuck: “I spent 20 years in a job I tolerated. Now I have a career I love. My only regret is not starting sooner.”

So what are you waiting for? That dream of running your own beauty business isn’t going to chase itself. And at 40-something, you’ve got the wisdom to do it right and the energy to make it happen.

Time to stop wondering “what if” and start planning “what’s next”. The beauty industry is waiting for everything you’ve got to offer. Trust me, you’re exactly what it needs.