Different types of lash artists: which type are you?

The Independent contractor: Also known as a booth renter. This lash artist can rent a space in an open salon area such as Glam Lab PDX / Lash Lab PDX, or rent a private suite in a salon or commercial space. The IC is required to pay for their own products, tools, training, marketing material and most importantly, rent. For the most part, the IC is required to grow their own client list. The IC sets their own prices, handles thier own money, files their own taxes (or pays a CPA to do so), and likely has their business also registered as an LLC.

The Freelancer: The mobile lash tech, who travels to other people's homes or events. A freelancer is likely running their own business similarly to an IC, but travels instead of working stationary. The freelancer sets their own prices, handles their own money, files their own taxes (or pays someone to), and likely has their business also registered as an LLC.

The employee: This is the lash artist that doesn't want to run a business, just wants to show up to work, lash and go home without thinking about client communications, inventory, taxes, etc. An employee likely gets trained by their salon owner, and is under a contract to work for the salon for a certain timeframe, such as 1-2 years, in trade for free education. If the employee might end the contract early, they likely have to pay for the entirety or prorate of the training fee. Employees automatically have federal and state taxes taken out of their paychecks, and still have to get their taxes filed at the end of tax season, but don't have to set tax money savings aside since it's automatically withdrawn. 

Employees typically work on either an hourly rate, or commission rate. For example $17-30 per hour, or 42% of the commission. 

The Salon owner: This is the person who manages the salon, hires and trains employees, or seeks booth renters to help pay for the salon overhead. This salon owner has alot of logistics and tasks such as payroll, taxes, paperwork, salon licensing upkeep, inventory orders, marketing, social media, training employees, salon cleaning and organization, customer communications, website, point of sale and booking system logistics, hiring, salon standards and operations, meetings and more.