Updated October 21, 2026
Where paying customers actually come from
Paying clients arrive through a mix of local and online channels. Neighbours and people in your apartment block or village often give the first work. Family and friends bring referrals. Colleagues and people at your workplace can become regulars if you offer after-work appointments.
Nearby schools and student communities can be a source for cuts and low‑effort styling. Word of mouth from a few satisfied clients is important, but online search and local listings let new people find you beyond your immediate circle.
- Neighbours and friends
- Workplaces and colleagues
- Schools and students
- Online search and service marketplaces
- Word of mouth and repeat clients
How to set your first price and talk about money
Start by calculating your direct costs - materials, cleaning, travel - and a reasonable hourly value for your time. Look at nearby providers to understand typical local pricing. You do not need to undercut everyone; low prices can make it hard to raise them later.
Decide whether to charge per service or by time. For a first client list your price before you start and confirm acceptance. For larger or mobile jobs ask for a small deposit. Put a clear price list on any public page you share so clients do not have to ask on booking.
- Calculate materials, travel and your time
- Check local comparable prices
- Choose per-service or hourly pricing
- Confirm price before starting and consider deposits
What the first ten customers usually look like
Your first ten customers are often a mix: friends, family contacts, a neighbour, someone from your workplace and a few people who found you online or through a marketplace. Expect varied requests - simple cuts, trims, colour tests - and an uneven schedule while you build repeat business.
These early customers are valuable for feedback and photos you can show on a profile. Ask permission to use pictures and to be listed as a reference. Treat each appointment as both service and informal market research.
- Friends and family for initial experience
- Neighbours and local residents
- Colleagues and workplace referrals
- A few online or marketplace leads
What to sort out when you start taking money
Common administrative steps in Czechia include registering to trade and handling taxes and insurance. If you are unsure about the exact requirements for your situation, check with the trade licensing office - živnostenský úřad - about registering as a sole trader and what trade licence you need. Ask the financial office - finanční úřad - how to report income, whether you need to register for VAT and about invoicing or receipts.
Also contact the Czech Social Security Administration - ČSSZ - and your health insurance company - zdravotní pojišťovna - to learn how social and health contributions apply to your chosen form of work. Ask each authority what records you must keep and what documentation clients may need.
- Ask the trade licensing office how to register and what licence you need
- Ask the financial office about tax reporting, VAT registration and invoicing
- Ask ČSSZ and your health insurance company about contributions and records
What tends to go wrong in the first months
The most common early problems are poor time estimates, undercharging, inconsistent availability and weak record‑keeping. Missed bookings and last-minute cancellations eat time and income. Relying on a single source of clients slows growth.
Other issues include unclear price agreements that lead to disputes, no written proof of income when taxes are due, and equipment or product shortages. Keep simple records of appointments, payments and expenses from day one so you can resolve problems quickly.
- Underestimating time or costs
- Inconsistent opening times and cancellations
- Poor paperwork and missing records
- Relying on too few client sources
How a Websta profile fits into this
A Websta profile acts like a simple public page you can send to people. It displays services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. On Websta the marketplace also lets nearby people find providers by service and place or post a task for offers. Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe, and you set your prices.
Using one public page reduces repeated messages about availability and prices, and online booking cuts back-and-forth. If a profile on the platform was built from a public business register it will show the registered trade and town and carry a notice that the person can claim or remove the page.
- A single page to share with clients showing services and prices
- Online booking to reduce scheduling friction
- Card payments paid out to your bank account through Stripe
- Marketplace visibility to people searching by service and place
Practical next steps to get started
Make a short price list for basic services and a simple schedule you can keep. Ask five people to try you out and give feedback and photos. Register any required trade or tax status after you confirm the scale of your activity with the relevant authorities. Keep one folder or app for receipts, client notes and bookings so you can track income and expenses.
Plan small protections - a deposit for mobile bookings, a confirmation message before appointments and clear cancellation terms. Use your Websta page as the public home for your service list and booking link so clients always see the same information.
- Create a concise, consistent price list
- Get feedback and photos from first clients
- Register and ask authorities the right questions before scaling
- Use deposits and booking confirmations to reduce no‑shows
Frequently asked questions
- Do I have to register before I take any paying clients?
- You can start small, but check with the trade licensing office - živnostenský úřad - about whether your planned activity requires registration. Also ask the financial office how to report the income you earn.
- How should I accept card payments as an independent hairdresser?
- Card payments on Websta are processed through Stripe and paid out to your own bank account. Check with your bank and the financial office about how those payments should be recorded for tax purposes.
- Should I charge by time or by service?
- Both approaches work. Charge by service for predictable work and by time for experimental or mobile jobs. Make sure the client agrees to the price before you begin and consider a deposit for longer appointments.
- What records do I need to keep for taxes?
- Ask the financial office what records they expect for your case. In general keep copies of payments received, receipts for expenses, and a log of appointments and services delivered so you can support income declarations.
- How do I reduce no‑shows and cancellations?
- Confirm bookings by message, request a small deposit for mobile or costly appointments and communicate clear cancellation terms. A visible booking system on a profile reduces confusion about times.
About the numbers
Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.