Why the 80/20 Rule Will Change the Way You Run Your Beauty Business
Hi, I’m Barbie Patel, the founder of Beauty CEO University. My expertise has been featured in Forbes, where I shared how I bootstrapped a side hustle into a multi-million-dollar lifestyle portfolio. I built my career from the ground up in the beauty industry, starting as a makeup artist and turning my passion into a thriving empire.
But I quickly learned that success isn’t just about talent with a brush, it’s about strategy, confidence, and running your business like a true CEO. That’s exactly why I created Beauty CEO University: to give beauty professionals like you the tools, coaching, and support you need to scale your business, attract dream clients, and build a brand that lasts.
I’ve been where you are, hustling, feeling stuck, and trying to figure out what actually works. Now, I help beauty entrepreneurs step fully into their CEO role with clarity and confidence.
One of the most powerful strategies I teach is the 80/20 Rule, a simple principle that can completely change the way you run your business. Let’s dive in.
What is the 80/20 Rule?
The 80/20 Rule (also called the Pareto Principle) says that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.
Think about it:
20% of your clients probably bring in 80% of your income.
20% of your marketing efforts drive most of your bookings.
20% of your services are responsible for the bulk of your profits.
When you understand this, you stop wasting time and energy, and start focusing on the things that actually move your business forward.
At Beauty CEO University, I call this working smarter, not harder. And I’m going to show you how to apply it to your beauty business with some Beauty Coach Tips along the way.
1. Client Attraction
Here’s the truth: not all clients are equal.
Some clients will book you once, drain your energy, and never come back. Others will become loyal clients who book regularly, tip generously, and send their friends your way. That second group? That’s your 20%, your dream clients.
Beauty Coach Tip: Stop trying to be everything for everyone. Instead, build your brand around attracting your people. Ask yourself:
Who are my dream clients?
What do they value most? (Luxury? Affordability? Professionalism? Relaxation?)
Where do they hang out—online and offline?
Once you know that, you can tailor your content, your pricing, and even the way you speak online to attract them.
2. Marketing
Here’s the thing: trying to be everywhere online is a recipe for burnout. You don’t need to master every single platform, you just need the ones that actually work for you.
For many beauty pros, a few well-done Instagram Reels, a smart referral system, or networking with other vendors brings in most of their clients.
Beauty Coach Tip: Track where your bookings actually come from. If 80% of your clients find you through Instagram, but you’re spending hours every week stressing over TikTok or Pinterest with little return, it’s time to focus on what’s already working. Doubling down on the 20% that delivers will free up time and get better results.
3. Pricing & Services
Let’s talk money, because I know it can feel uncomfortable, but it’s the lifeblood of your business.
Here’s what most pros don’t realize: a small percentage of your services probably account for most of your profits. Maybe your bridal packages are steady high-ticket earners, while single-appointment services barely cover your time.
Beauty Coach Tip: Regularly review your pricing and service menu. Ask yourself:
Which services are my “money makers”?
Which ones drain my time without much return?
Can I bundle, highlight, or even raise the price on my top performers?
Real-Life Example: What It Looks Like To Double Your Bridal Business
bridal makeup artists who offer everything, bridal glam, prom, photoshoot makeup, lash lifts, and even quick touch-up services. Can be exhausting, you could be overbooked, and underpaid.
When we looked at your numbers, we realized that bridal packages made up 75% of your total income, while all the smaller services combined barely added 25%. The kicker? Those smaller services were draining most of your time and energy.
Restructuring your business around your top-performing bridal services. It is smart to raise your bridal package rates, cut out low-profit offerings, and start posting more content aimed at brides. Within six months, you can double your income while cutting your workload in half.
That’s the 80/20 Rule in action: focusing on what actually moves the needle.
4. Networking & Collaboration
Here’s something most beauty pros don’t realize: some of your biggest opportunities don’t come from clients at all, they come from relationships.
A strong connection with one wedding planner, photographer, or venue can bring you dozens of bookings in a year. That’s the 80/20 Rule in action.
Beauty Coach Tip: Don’t try to network with everyone, focus on building real, long-term relationships with the 20% of people who can open the right doors for you. Quality over quantity always wins.
5. Confidence in Your Artistry
This one’s big. You can have great marketing and competitive prices, but if you don’t believe in your artistry, people will feel it. Confidence is magnetic, it attracts clients who trust you and happily pay your rates.
Beauty Coach Tip: Confidence comes from two places:
Improving your skills (never stop learning).
Appreciating how far you’ve already come (don’t downplay your growth).
Even small shifts in your mindset and confidence can completely change the way clients respond to you.
Why the 80/20 Rule Matters
When you start applying the 80/20 Rule in your beauty business, everything shifts:
- You attract more high-value, loyal clients.
- You spend less time on marketing that doesn’t convert.
- You raise your income without burning yourself out.
This principle helps you stop guessing and start leading your business like the CEO you are.
And here’s the best part, you don’t have to figure it out alone. At Beauty CEO University, we coach beauty pros on how to use strategies like the 80/20 Rule in every area of their business, from marketing and PR to finances and building confidence in your artistry.
Because the truth is: you don’t need to work harder. You just need to work smarter. And once you do, you’ll see how much your beauty business can really grow.
I want to share one of my favorite books that’s had a big impact on how I run my business: The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business & Life by Steven Bartlett.Steven Bartlett
Steven talks about timeless truths, ideas that don’t change with every new trend or algorithm update. That’s exactly what the 80/20 Rule is: not a quick hack, but a deeper mindset shift.
Here’s how I see them connecting:
Steven emphasizes focusing on what matters most, avoiding distractions, aligning your actions with your values, and being intentional. That’s the heart of the 80/20 Rule in business: identifying and cultivating the 20% of efforts that give the biggest returns.
He also writes about consistency, discipline, and clarity of purpose. Those things are essential when you’re building a brand that lasts, ways to show up even when the viral posts aren’t coming, and still make progress.
And he reminds us that success is more about mindset and habits than flashy moments. When you pair the 80/20 Rule with the kind of personal and leadership growth Steven talks about, your business becomes more sustainable, joyful, and profitable over time.
Ready for Your CEO Glow-Up?
The 80/20 Rule is powerful, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. To really grow, you need the right skills: marketing, branding, pricing power, collaboration, confidence, and social media.
That’s exactly what I teach at Beauty CEO University. These are the skills I used to build my empire, and they’re the ones I’ll help you master so you can build yours.
Your business deserves strategy. Your brand deserves to shine. And YOU deserve to lead like a true beauty CEO.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing, click here to learn more or book your free clarity call.
Want to keep up with Barbie? You can follow her here:
BarbiePatell, BeautyCeoUniversity, Luxx.Escapes, CinderellaBridez
