Charge Your Worth. But Do You Know What You Need to Earn?

Introducing Personal Finance: Know Your Numbers — Workshop 1 of Kinky University's Booth Renter Business Management Series

"Charge your worth!"

We've all heard it. It's one of the most popular pieces of advice given to beauty professionals. But what does that actually mean?

Does it mean charging what the stylist down the street charges? Raising your prices because you've been licensed for five years? Charging more because you've invested thousands of dollars in your education?

Those things may influence your prices, but none of them answer one very important question:

How much money do you actually need to earn to support your life?

Before we start talking about service menus, booth rental, or becoming our own boss, we need to talk about personal finances.

And that's exactly where we're starting at Kinky University.

Your Personal Finances Come Before Your Business Finances

One of the biggest mistakes beauty professionals can make is jumping into business ownership without understanding their own financial responsibilities.

It's exciting to imagine setting your own schedule, choosing your clients, and keeping the money you collect for your services.

But how much of that money do you actually need to live?

Think about your monthly expenses. Housing, transportation, groceries, insurance, utilities, debt payments, savings, and all the other things that make up your lifestyle.

These expenses don't disappear when you become self-employed.

In fact, they become even more important because you're now responsible for making sure your business generates enough money to support both itself and you.

Your business needs a budget. But so do you.

This Isn't Just for Future Booth Renters

You don't have to own a business to benefit from understanding your personal finances.

If you're an employee, knowing your necessary hourly income can help you evaluate job opportunities, hourly wages, commission structures, and the number of hours you need to work.

If you're a student, this information can help you establish realistic expectations before entering the workforce.

And if you're already an independent beauty professional, understanding your personal income requirements gives you a foundation for evaluating whether your business is actually supporting your lifestyle.

Different career paths. Same fundamental question.

What do I need to earn?

Let's Do the Math

During our Personal Finance workshop, we're going to examine your individual financial responsibilities and use a mathematical formula to calculate your necessary hourly earnings.

Not what someone on social media says you should make.

Not what the busiest stylist in town claims to earn.

Not what you hope to make someday.

We're going to start with your actual numbers.

We'll look at your personal expenses, discuss your financial needs, and work through calculations that help you establish a realistic hourly income target.

The goal isn't to tell everyone they should earn the same amount.

The goal is for you to understand what you need.

Because two beauty professionals can perform the exact same services, work the same number of hours, and still have very different financial responsibilities.

Charge Your Worth. But Be Worth What You're Charging.

Understanding your financial needs is only part of the conversation.

I believe beauty professionals deserve to earn a living that supports their financial responsibilities and professional goals.

But I also believe we have a responsibility to provide value for the money our customers spend.

Your technical skills matter. So do your professionalism, time management, consistency, communication, sanitation practices, and the experience you create for your clients.

A higher price doesn't automatically make you a better professional.

And working hard doesn't automatically mean you're operating profitably.

We need to understand both sides of that equation.

Know what you need to earn, and develop the skills and habits that make your services worth paying for.

Why We're Starting With Personal Finance

Personal Finance: Know Your Numbers is the first workshop in Kinky University's Booth Renter Business Management Series.

The series is designed to help beauty professionals develop the practical knowledge and business management skills necessary to make informed decisions about their careers.

We'll begin with personal finances before moving into business responsibilities, budgeting, pricing, and productivity.

Here's how the workshops build on one another:

1. Personal Finance: Determine what you need to earn to support your lifestyle.

2. The Paperwork: Understand licensing, taxes, legal requirements, and professional responsibilities.

3. Business Finance: Develop a business budget, establish SMART goals, and build habits that support financial success.

4. Service Menu Pricing: Use your financial information to calculate sustainable service prices.

5. Productivity Management: Learn to use Square to organize your services, communicate their value, manage appointments, and support daily business operations.

Each workshop addresses a different part of managing a professional beauty career.

You can attend individual workshops based on your needs or participate in the complete series to build a more comprehensive understanding of independent business management.

Small Classes. Practical Learning. Information You Can Reuse.

I prefer teaching in small groups because I want learners to have opportunities to ask questions, work through exercises, and apply what they're learning.

Each Personal Finance workshop is limited to 6–12 learners.

During our two hours together, we'll work through personal finance exercises and practice using the hourly income calculation formula.

You'll receive printed worksheets during class, along with digital copies you can access later.

Because your financial circumstances will change.

Your expenses may increase or decrease. Your work schedule may change. You might transition from employment to booth rental or decide to expand your business.

When those things happen, I want you to be able to return to your worksheets, update your numbers, and make informed decisions.

Your registration also includes an invitation to the Kinky University BAND community, where beauty professionals can connect, share experiences, and support one another as they develop their careers.

Are You Ready to Know Your Numbers?

You don't need to have perfect finances to attend this workshop.

You don't need to own a business, have a full clientele, or even know exactly what direction you want your career to take.

You just need to be willing to examine your current financial situation and learn how to make more informed decisions moving forward.

Before you decide what you should charge, let's determine what you need to earn.

Personal Finance: Know Your Numbers
Workshop 1 | Booth Renter Business Management Series

2 Hours | Small Group Instruction | Digital Resources Included

 

How to Register

Registration is a simple two-step process.

Step 1: Purchase your workshop here.
Register through the Kinky University online store. After purchasing, you'll receive access to your digital welcome packet, including workshop resources and an invitation to our BAND community.

Step 2: Schedule your class.
Visit our class list to select your preferred workshop date and time.

Both steps are required to complete your registration. Workshop seating is limited to 6–12 learners per session, so we encourage you to schedule your class promptly after purchasing.