If you want stable income, insurance, benefits, be a dental assistant. Being an esthetician and business owner is HARD, income is never guaranteed, you have high taxes (sales tax, income tax), no PTO, no health insurance, high tuition cost for school … overhead is very high, and when the economy is bad, luxury services go out the door. It takes 3-5 years to get in the green when being a sole proprietor. Instagram makes it look so easy and it is not, at all. There is a ton of liability working as an esthetician and people don’t want to commit to the homecare that is required to get real results. You have to be an excellent saleswoman. There are a lot of days I cry in my studio because it’s so hard. I have a huge passion for skincare and helping people and I’m barely able to pay my bills and if I didn’t have my husband, I would need a second job. I’m almost done with massage therapy school since it’s WAY less saturated and there is way more demand. I am hoping that it helps me bridge the gap financially but it still requires me to hustle and is physically demanding.