I really need Advice on how to start my face painting business.

I am seeking advice from anyone who has a face-painting business. I have invested so much money and time to get it started but yet no one wants to pay for my services. They want to pay 1-3 dollars a face and I just cant because my art is definitely worth more. Where do I start.

Research.  There are lots of resources on-line, there are books, and workshops.  Check out small business resources in your area - often through banks and chambers of commerce.

A business is a business... everything applies.

Building a successful business takes time. Have goals, and write everything down- but let yourself know it is okay to have things happen next year, or three years from now. If you try and run a big business when you are still small- You WILL feel like a failure. Good Luck!

Lily Walters has a wonderful Pink Book that has tons of ideas to help!

do what I did:if all they want is a $1 face, GIVE THEM A $1 FACE!


I got tricked on a gig into painting at a soccer tournament....when I arrived, not only was it an unpaid volunteer gig, but there were a million people!


what did I do?

foot ball lines on the cheeks, numbers, and soccer balls.
simple, yes.
a display of my talent?not really.

does this mean my art isn't worth more?no.



I learned fast-kids who dig face painting don't care!they just like getting painted!

if you aren't being paid to do the $15 leopard face, then do the $5 tiger.

save your fancy faces for the guest of honor, so the other parents can see your talent.

also, have you broken down why your services cost so much?

I had trouble in the beginning with high prices and not enough clients....


I had to negotiate...simply by bringing my kids with me, I could shave $60 off my tab by not paying the babysitter or adding extra travel time and fuel.

another simple change-switch from high end mehron/paradise/tag/diamond FX, to snazaroo purchased on sale.saves me another $60.


yet ANOTHER simple change-no cheek art.keep it all sponges and teardrops/tiger lines/swirls. this saves me paint, time, water and cleaning supplies since it is fewer to clean than cheek art.


and what's with all the expensive equipment too....I used tyo use the high density sponges and Martha pouncers....but to save expenses to help lower costs for some parties, I switched to cheap cut up sponges-the results aren't as smooth on the yellow and white bases so I'll still grab a high density sponge for those designs, but for a regular rainbow cake?works great! and saves me at least $15, since every $3 sponge can cut up into 20 large pieces.

You are not alone. I was there. Still there in a way..haha. After 2 years of slowly getting my name out there, I finally changed my state of mind to business not hobby. It has worked out so far. All the advice you wonderful ladies have posted I have incorporated into my business and I have to say I sound so much more professional than I did a year ago. This second attempt has produced people actually asking for quotes!!! Yippie!! lol. But keeping your patience and realizing that someone will say yes book me helps out a lot. I agree with the car washing sponges. $4 for 3 square sponges at Home Depot produced 42 sponges for face painting  

Sorry for rambling on...I recommend keep going strong and be positive. Do those smaller jobs to get your name out. Save the best for the birthday child and yours ads/website. Those better jobs will be there in time. Buy supplies when you have discount codes and buy in incremints if possible.

Love reading all the advice and different ideas. I want to continue to absorb as much info and hopefully be better prepared for future gigs. Thanks everyone!

I'm still new to "being in business" as well as I've only ever contracted through a company. BUT this was the best move I've ever made.

Now, in the past year I have not done any Pay-per-face at all. None. With two kids of my own under 3 I can't afford to spend my time and potentially waste my time. That was the biggest offender when I worked elsewhere. I would end up making less than $5 per hour sometimes So hourly all the way. I have been having a great first summer! I'm not expecting to live full time on this by any means and I also care for my kids full time so anything over one party a week is a treat for me. This past month I've had no less than 2-3 each weekend and I am lining up some rather large HOURLY events for 3-4 hours at a time.

I have started out getting gigs by signing up online with GigSalad and Thumbtack, but ALSO by getting some small postcards and pinning them up places. My daughter was going to some dance classes and I left some there on a bulletin board and got one of those large jobs I did last Saturday from it. I've already gotten a call from someone who saw me at that large event to do their party... and so on. Google Adwords has also been a worthy investment.

I'm also still pairing up with other area painters to do jobs and that's been great to supplement but again they are hourly jobs.

At the rate I charge I estimate I get $4 per face but I do mostly 3-5 minute faces only. I guess I'd much rather have the guaranteed hourly than wait and see. I might do more ppf one day when my kids are older and I can rope them into doing my glitter tats or airbrushing

ALSO a vital part of my business has been having a good website. I have had several bookings from people that have told me they really just liked my website and the photos on it.

And as Shannon said - reasearch.

Oh yes one more thing - charge what you believe you are worth! You will find people to pay it. You may find you are pricing way too low and so that reflects what quality you are putting out. Not that it's true but that may be how people are perceiving it. You may want to think about catering to a higher level. You are in control of your business.

how is thumbtack? I was looking at it, but didn't like the idea of paying and then not winning the bid...you win often?

Sometimes. It's a way to start getting some clients but they are usually the kind that are price shopping and go with the lowest bidder so you may have to deal with that. I'm working to build some clients and actually RAISE my prices to be where they should.

Hi i am new to this forum and also i am running Face Painting Business.Having a creative knowledge and painting skills is must for face painting business.

Eventhough while i started to think face painting business i was little confused only.Then i started with confidence and we have to use the face painting products with high quality.It must be secure to the customer faces and also can be a free ammonia and the painting products must got the FDA approved that is safe for face and body.

In that i have get the details from Liquid Latex Fashions Makeup Products and Accessories their products were very useful for me to develop my business to high range you can try with them to get the Good Quality Products in online itself.

For Reference i give a Phone Number-1.888.774.7246

It sounds like you haven't done volunteering. You need to volunteer for a year at least. I did for two years!

Of course I'm only sixteen, but that is my best advice.

You don't need to volunteer. That's how people get the notion that they can get free face painters. If you are serious about being a business person and making money at this business, you will find people to pay you what you ask.

Now, you can offer to practice on people for free - but I don't think that's what the original poster was asking...

Dear Gladys1992:
There is NO FDA approved face paint.
There are FDA compliant face paints.

I do not understand the reference to ammonia free face paint. Unless you are being funny... as in, all my face paint is anvil-free!

If you are referring to liquid latex as a face paint.... I would rather use face paint. You have to be FAST with the latex for body painting, and then wait until it fully dries to add details or polish it with mica glitter. There is too much time wasted waiting for it to dry, unless you are painting several models at once, where I can have an assembly line.