Plano B

What Plano B does

Plano B - Escola de Estética de Coimbra is a private vocational training school based in Coimbra, Portugal, founded in 1996 by Sofia Cruz and Susana Torres to address perceived quality gaps in regional aesthetics education. The school delivers in-person, classroom-based and hands-on training across a tiered curriculum: (i) four professional vocational courses (Cursos Profissionais) registered in Portugal's National Qualifications Catalog (Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações) at Nível 2 and Nível 4 — Esteticista (1225 hours), Técnico/a de Massagem de Estética e Bem-Estar (1200 hours), Manicure-Pedicure (650 hours), and Assistente de Cuidados de Beleza; (ii) seven QNEP-certified modular units (UFCDs) covering Gel Nails, Makeup, Hair Removal, Facial and Body Treatments, Massage, and Manicure-Pedicure; and (iii) more than sixteen short-format specialization courses (4-16 hours each) in techniques such as microblading, micropigmentation, eyebrow design, body modeling, threading, lash extensions, gel/acrylic nails, nail art, bamboo massage, and geothermal massage, plus introductory technical courses and express courses. Professional courses integrate mandatory workplace internships (estágio integrado), enabling graduates to obtain dual certification (professional qualification plus 12th-grade equivalence). The school claims a 99% employability rate for Esteticista graduates.

The business model is fee-based education with five revenue streams: professional course fees, specialization course fees, UFCD module fees, technical initiation course fees, and express course fees — all structured as one-time program payments rather than subscriptions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; interested students must submit a contact/inquiry form to receive quotation. The school operates from a single physical training facility at Avenida Fernão Magalhães nº686, Coimbra, with eight employees. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and direct: a marketing-light website (plano-b.pt), a Facebook page, and word-of-mouth drive local/regional enrollment.

Plano B is a bootstrapped, founder-owned private entity with no external funding, no parent company, no acquisitions, no subsidiaries, and no app or digital product. Its partners include DGERT (professional certification services) and several minor industry partners (Sixsense, Club Nuances, Inventore, Escadote for web development). Geographic reach is confined to Coimbra, Portugal, with no online course offerings, reseller channels, or marketplace distribution — all delivery is in-person at the school facility. Operating segments comprise: (a) aspiring aesthetics professionals from 9th grade onward seeking career entry and certification, (b) working beauty professionals seeking specific technique certification, and (c) short-course attendees seeking quick skill acquisition.

Name

Plano B

Legal name

Plano B - Escola de Estética de Coimbra

Website

https://plano-b.pt

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plano B is a private, in-person vocational school in Coimbra, Portugal, founded in 1996 by Sofia Cruz and Susana Torres, offering government-recognized professional courses (Nível 2 and Nível 4), certified UFCD modules, and short specialization courses in beauty and aesthetics to aspiring and working professionals in the Coimbra region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Beauty & Aesthetics Training

NAICS

Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

akta.pro primary industry

Cosmetology Schools & Programs (HSALANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuing Education & License Exam Prep (CE/State Board Prep) (HSALANAL)

Keywords

• Vocational beauty training
• Aesthetics education
• Esthetician certification courses
• Massage therapy training
• Nail technology courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Coimbra

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Course Fees: Revenue from professional vocational courses (Cursos Profissionais) including Esteticista (1225 hours), Técnico/a de Massagem de Estética e Bem-Estar (1200 hours), Manicure-Pedicure (650 hours), and Assistente de cuidados de Beleza. These are government-recognized qualifications at Level 2 and Level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework.
2. Specialization Course Fees: Revenue from short specialization courses including Microblading (16 hours), Micropigmentação, Design de Sobrancelha (8 hours), Modelação corporal (4 hours), Threading, Extensão de pestanas, Acrílico, Verniz gel (4 hours), Nail art (8 hours), Massagem de bamboo, and Permanent/Lifting and painting of lashes (8 hours).
3. UFCD Module Fees: Revenue from individual certified training modules including Unhas de Gel, Maquilhagem, Epilação, Tratamentos Faciais, Tratamentos Corporais, Massagem, and Manicure-Pedicure. These are certified modules recognized by QNEP.
4. Technical Initiation Course Fees: Revenue from introductory technical courses for working professionals who cannot attend full programs, including Técnico de estética (300 hours) and Técnico de massagem courses.
5. Express Course Fees: Revenue from short express courses including Auto Maquilhagem, Threading, Extensão de pestanas, Unhas de gel/Acrílico, Manicure e Pedicure, Epilação/Depilação, Permanente/Lifting de pestanas, and Massagem relaxante.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Plano B is a private vocational beauty and aesthetics training school in Coimbra, Portugal that delivers in-person, classroom-based training to individual students. It offers a structured portfolio including four long-duration professional courses (Esteticista, Massage Technician, Manicure-Pedicure, Beauty Care Assistant) leading to nationally recognized Level 2 and Level 4 qualifications, shorter UFCD-certified modular units, and short-format specialization and express courses covering techniques such as microblading, gel nails, lash extensions, and body modeling, with integrated work placements.

Product overview

Plano B is an aesthetics and beauty school in Coimbra, Portugal, offering a structured portfolio of vocational education products organized across three tiers: (1) Professional vocational courses leading to recognized qualifications under the National Qualifications Catalog (Catalogo Nacional de Qualificacoes), comprising four main programs — Esteticista (Esthetician, Nível 4, 1225 hours), Técnico/a de Massagem de Estética e Bem-Estar (Massage Technician, 1200 hours), Manicure-Pedicure (Nível 2, 650 hours), and Assistente de Cuidados de Beleza (Beauty Care Assistant, Nível 2); (2) QNEP-certified modular units (UFCDs) covering specific competency areas such as Gel Nails, Makeup, Hair Removal, Facial Treatments, Body Treatments, Massage, and Manicure-Pedicure; and (3) a broad range of short-format specialization courses (Cursos de Especialização) including Microblading, Micropigmentation, Eyebrow Design, Body Modeling, Buzial Massage, Threading, Lash Extensions, Acrylics, Dip Powder, Gel Polish, Nail Art, Bamboo Massage, Lash Perm/Lift/Tint, and Geothermal Massage, alongside introductory technical courses (Cursos Técnicos de Iniciação) in Esthetics and Massage. The school also integrates mandatory work placement (estágio integrado) within its professional courses. The product portfolio is grounded in ANQEP-regulated national qualification frameworks and targets individuals from 9th grade onward, with courses ranging from entry-level (Nível 2) to advanced (Nível 4) qualifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Esteticista (Professional Esthetician Course) A 1,225-hour theoretical-practical vocational qualification (QNQ Level 4) for individuals from 9th grade onward who want to become professional estheticians, with integrated workplace internship and dual certification (professional + secondary school equivalence).
• Técnico/a de Massagem de Estética e Bem-Estar (Massage Technician Course) A 1,200-hour professional vocational course (QNQ Level 4) focused on body massage specialization within aesthetics and well-being, qualifying graduates as massage therapists and SPA massage technicians.
• Manicure-Pedicure Professional Course A 650-hour professional vocational course (QNQ Level 2) covering basic and advanced manicure and pedicure techniques, qualifying graduates as manicure and pedicure technicians.
• Assistente de Cuidados de Beleza (Beauty Care Assistant Course) A professional vocational course (QNQ Level 2) preparing students to assist in beauty care, massage, manicure/pedicure, epilation, and hair lightening under supervision in beauty institutes and salons.
• UFCD Certified Training Modules A set of individually purchasable, QNEP-certified short training units covering competency areas such as Gel Nails, Makeup, Hair Removal, Facial Treatments, Body Treatments, Massage, and Manicure-Pedicure, designed for students seeking certification in a specific technique.
• Cursos de Especialização (Specialization Courses) Short-format paid specialization courses (4–16 hours each) for working beauty professionals, covering advanced techniques such as Microblading, Micropigmentation, Eyebrow Design, Body Modeling, Threading, Lash Extensions, Acrylics, Dip Powder, Gel Polish, Nail Art, Bamboo Massage, Lash Perm/Lift/Tint, and Geothermal Massage.
• Cursos Express (Express Courses) Short-format intensive courses designed for quick skill acquisition, covering techniques such as self-makeup, threading, lash extensions, gel/acrylic nails, manicure-pedicure, epilation, lash perm/lift, and relaxing massage.
• Cursos Técnicos de Iniciação (Introductory Technical Courses) Introductory technical courses (around 300 hours) in Esthetics and Massage, certified by QNEP modules, designed for individuals who cannot commit to the full professional program but want to begin their aesthetics or massage training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% employability rate for Esteticista course graduates

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• EscadoteminorOthersWeb development partner responsible for creating and maintaining the Plano B website. Listed as a partner in the 'Os nossos parceiros' (Our partners) section.
• Certifica (DGERT)minorOthersCertification partner registered with DGERT (Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho). Listed as a partner providing certification services for training programs.
• SixsenseminorOthersPartner company in the aesthetics/beauty industry. Listed in the partner section but without detailed relationship description.
• Club NuancesminorOthersPartner company, likely in the beauty products or equipment sector. Listed in the partner section without detailed relationship description.
• InventoreminorOthersPartner company listed in the partner section without detailed relationship description. Nature of partnership not specified in available content.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• CIDESCO International: International body that sets and certifies aesthetics and beauty therapy qualifications globally. Plano B aligns its curriculum to comparable professional standards, and CIDESCO-affiliated schools compete for the same aspiring-esthetician student pool in Europe.
• IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional): Portuguese national employment and vocational training institute. Offers publicly-funded courses in the same aesthetics field, making it Plano B's most direct domestic competitor for adult learners seeking certification.
• Mod's Hair International School: International chain of hairdressing and beauty academies. Comparable to Plano B as a multi-geography professional beauty/vocational school operating in the same aesthetics training category with structured curricula.
• MODATEX: Portuguese training center specialized in textiles, fashion, and beauty. Operates in the same vocational aesthetics training space as Plano B, including recognized qualifications and short-format courses.

Broad incumbents

• Pivot Point International: Established worldwide provider of cosmetology and beauty school curricula and training content. Indirect peer via shared customer base (schools and learners) and overlapping cosmetology/esthetics curriculum areas.
• Aveda Institute: Estée Lauder-owned network of branded beauty schools. A much larger incumbency in cosmetology and aesthetics education globally, with comparable curriculum structure though positioned in a higher price tier.
• Milady (Cengage): Long-standing publisher and standards-setter for cosmetology, esthetics, and nail education in the US and increasingly globally. Comparable as a broader incumbency in the same beauty training/credentialing category, particularly for foundational content.

Emerging players

• Douglas Academy (Douglas Group): Training arm of Europe's largest perfumery chain that offers beauty service certifications. Relevant as an adjacent retail-distributed vocational aesthetic credentialing player that could compete for the same professional development audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Plano-B-Escola-de-Estética-404116799766431
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plano-b.coimbra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plano B