For Beauty, Hair & Aesthetics Business Owners

Running a beauty, hair or aesthetics business is demanding. You’re managing clients, staff, stock, bookings, social media and growth — often all at once.

So it’s understandable that many business owners assume:

“As long as my accounts are done and HMRC is happy, that’s enough.”

But here’s the truth we see every day at Accounting Matters:

👉 Most accountants only tell beauty businesses what has already happened — not what’s coming next.

And that silence can be costly.

Below are the key things your accountant should be telling you — but most don’t.

1️⃣ Being Busy Doesn’t Always Mean You’re Profitable

One of the biggest misconceptions in the beauty industry is that a full diary equals success.

What your accountant should be helping you understand is:

• which treatments actually make money
• which services look busy but drain profit
• how treatment length impacts margins
• whether discounts and offers are quietly eroding profits

If you don’t know your profit per service, you’re guessing — not managing.

2️⃣ VAT in Beauty & Aesthetics Is Not Straightforward

VAT is one of the most misunderstood areas in the beauty sector.

Your accountant should be proactively talking to you about:

• differences between beauty and advanced aesthetic treatments
• VAT on retail product sales versus services
• chair rental VAT implications
• how incorrect VAT treatment can create HMRC risk

VAT mistakes often don’t surface until an inspection — and by then, they’re expensive to fix.

3️⃣ Your Tax Bill Should Never Be a Surprise

If your Corporation Tax bill catches you off guard each year, it’s a sign you’re not getting proactive advice.

Your accountant should be telling you:

• what your tax position looks like before year-end
• how to structure salary and dividends efficiently
• when to plan equipment purchases
• how pension contributions can reduce tax
• how much cash to set aside in advance

Waiting until the accounts are finalised is too late for meaningful tax planning.

4️⃣ Payroll Costs Can Quietly Erode Profits

As your salon or clinic grows, payroll often becomes the largest cost — and one of the easiest to overlook.

Your accountant should help you understand:

• staff costs as a percentage of turnover
• whether pricing supports your staffing model
• when overtime or overstaffing is affecting margins
• how to plan recruitment sustainably

Without regular reviews, payroll costs can creep up unnoticed.

5️⃣ Once-a-Year Accounts Aren’t Enough for a Growing Beauty Business

Year-end accounts are a compliance requirement — not a growth tool.

Your accountant should explain why growing beauty businesses benefit from:

• quarterly management accounts
• regular cashflow forecasting
• proactive VAT reviews
• forward-looking profit analysis

Looking backwards once a year won’t support confident growth.

6️⃣ Your Numbers Should Reduce Stress — Not Add to It

If finances feel confusing, stressful or overwhelming, something isn’t working.

Your accountant should be providing:

• clarity, not confusion
• advance warning, not surprises
• plain-English explanations
• a clear plan you can trust

Not just a set of figures and a filing deadline.

💜 How Accounting Matters Supports Beauty, Hair & Aesthetics Businesses

At Accounting Matters, we specialise in supporting growing beauty businesses with proactive, hands-on advice.

Our services include:

✔ quarterly management accounts
✔ tailored VAT support for beauty & aesthetics
✔ salary and dividend planning
✔ payroll and staffing cost reviews
✔ cashflow forecasting
✔ Month 9 tax planning meetings
✔ supportive, jargon-free guidance

We believe your accountant should help you understand your numbers and use them to grow — not just file them.

🌟 Final Thought

If your accountant only contacts you once a year, tells you what you owe, and moves on — you’re missing out on the support that growing beauty businesses truly need.

The right accountant doesn’t just keep you compliant.

They help you stay profitable, confident and in control.

If you’d like to find out what your numbers are really telling you, the team at Accounting Matters would be happy to help.