Let’s talk about a business idea that’s fun, creative, and surprisingly profitable—becoming a personal shopper or stylist! If you’ve ever gotten compliments on how you dress your kids (or yourself) or find yourself helping friends pick the perfect outfits, this could be your dream side hustle. Bonus? It’s flexible enough to fit into your busy mom life.
Here’s how to get started, step-by-step, with tips to help you shine in this rewarding business.
Why Personal Shopping or Styling Is Perfect for Moms
Being a mom gives you superpowers when it comes to organizing, multitasking, and understanding people’s needs. These skills are gold for styling and shopping! You’re already used to picking out clothes that are practical yet adorable for your little ones. Now, you can channel that into helping other moms, busy professionals, or even teens look and feel their best.
Not to mention, personal shopping isn’t just about fashion. It’s about building confidence—something we all need more of, right?
What Does a Personal Shopper or Stylist Actually Do?
Your main job is to make life easier for your clients by:
● Helping them define their style or wardrobe goals.
● Picking out outfits for special occasions or everyday wear.
● Finding deals and saving them time by doing the shopping for them – this can be groceries, appliances, or stationery.
● Offering advice on colors, fits, and trends that work best for them.
It’s like being a fairy godmother, but with a shopping cart instead of a wand!
How to Start Your Styling Business as a Mom
1. Start with Your Circle
Your first clients are probably closer than you think! Start by offering to help friends, family, or other moms in your network. If you’re going the Stylist route, share before-and-after photos (with permission) to show off your skills. And if you’re a personal shopper, you’ll need to share the various shopping outlets you buy from as well as their product catalogues.
2. Build Your Brand
Think of a catchy name for your business—something fun and reflective of your personality. For example, “Styled by [Your Name]” or “Mommy’s Magic Wardrobe.” Make it easy for people to remember you.
3. Use Social Media to Shine
Post outfit ideas, quick styling tips, or shopping finds on Instagram or Facebook. Show people how your work can make their lives easier and more stylish. If you’re comfortable in front of the camera and not awkward on video (unlike me), record short videos for Instagram Reels, Facebook videos and Tiktok, showing off your sharp fashion sense or your favourite products.
4. Offer Flexible Services
You don’t need to limit yourself to in-person shopping. Offer virtual consultations via video calls or create online shopping lists for clients. I have, in the past few months, sent my grocery lists to Personal Shoppers via WhatsApp and paid on collection. This works beautifully with my schedule as a client, and saves the Personal Shopper from having to come all the way to where I am to collect my shopping list.
The Shopper I usually use doesn’t offer delivery services – which saves them time and money, but can be a hassle for customers. If you can afford it, offer to deliver to do home deliveries for products above a certain shopping value – say $100 or more.
5. Charge What You’re Worth
If there’s one mistake many mompreneurs make, it’s charging too little for our services. Our kind and generous mommy hearts can sometimes be the reason we struggle when it comes to claiming what we deserve.
Here’s a tip: When you’re starting, you can charge hourly or offer flat rates for specific services (like grocery shopping or finding the perfect outfit for an event). Research what other personal shoppers in your area are charging and price yourself competitively.
Pro tip: you can charge a specific percentage of the total shopping value. Where I come from, personal shoppers (we call them “runners” here) charge a 30% commission on all purchases.
Tools You’ll Need to Succeed
●Good Communication Skills: Listen to your clients’ needs and build their trust. Don’t shove your personal tastes and preferences on your clients, please!!
●A Keen Eye for Shops and Deals: Be the mom who knows where to find the best quality at a bargain.
●Basic Tech Savviness: Learn apps like Canva to create mood boards or Pinterest to collect style ideas.
● Reliable transport: if you’re going to be buying and delivering products to your clients, you’ll need to have decent transport. Waiting for buses and trains in the rain or scorching sun while carrying bags of shopping just doesn’t cut it! Besides, you don’t want to ruin your clients’ shopping while transporting it from point A to point B. Make sure you have something appropriate for your needs – a small car, a van, or a bike.
Why Moms Love Hiring Other Moms
Here’s the magic part—clients love working with moms because we just get it. We know how to balance practicality with beauty, how to stay within a budget, and how to make others feel comfortable.
Plus, as a mom yourself, you’ll connect with your clients on a deeper level. They’ll trust you, not just as a stylist, but as someone who truly understands their busy lives.
SEO Tips: What People Are Searching For
If you’re planning to promote your services online, focus on these phrases:
“Personal stylist for busy moms”
“How to start a personal shopping business”
“Budget-friendly wardrobe stylist near me”
Use these keywords on your website, social media profiles, and blog posts to help clients find you!
You’ve Got What It Takes
Starting a personal shopping or styling business is more than just a way to make money—it’s a chance to help people feel amazing about themselves. And as a mom, you already have the heart, patience, and skills to make this work.
So, grab that coffee, jot down some ideas, and take the first step. Your dream business is waiting, and so are the people who need your magic touch!
Would you try this? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time, keep shining, mommy!
Empowering entrepreneur and stay at home moms with the best business ideas for a successful future—one step at a time!
These tips are super inspiring for moms looking to start their own business!
Hi, Umer! Thank you for dropping by and for your lovely comment.
This sounds like such a fun and rewarding side hustle! Turning a natural talent for style into a flexible business is such a smart idea, especially for busy moms. I can’t wait to see your tips and learn more about getting started!
Hi, Ann! Thank you for dropping by! I’m glad you found this business idea interesting. I look forward to hearing which ideas you decide to implement!
Yes!! Love being a shopper 😂.
Hi, Marilyn! Thanks for dropping by! I can completely relate to your love of shopping… 🛍 But maybe we can turn our hobby into a money-making project?
This sounds like fun, and the ability to make money while doing it is amazing
I’m not someone who enjoys shopping, but your tips are inspiring. They were so inspiring that they made me consider becoming a personal shopper. Ha Ha! I’m kidding, but it was a great blog post about how to turn a hobby into a money-making enterprise.
Hi, Danielle 👋 Wow! I’m glad you found the post inspiring! Thank you for dropping by! Hopefully, we’ll be posting something soon that’s more in line with your interests and passion.