Becoming your own boss and starting a lucrative career as a professional nail technician is a dream that many people have, but it can be confusing to know where to start. From doing nails independently by renting out a nail suite to owning your own nail salon, achieving your dream can be a reality. In fact, right now is a great time to start your own nail business, as the industry is growing with more opportunities across the United States.
In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023, employment for nail technicians grew 12 percent, much faster than the average for other jobs. Before you even consider starting your own nail business, you’ll need to make sure that you obtain your nail technician license by attending a certified nail school and passing your state exam. This is now a requirement across all 50 states in the United States.
Decide What Kind Of Nail Tech Business You Want
As a new nail tech business, you’ll need to decide how much upfront cost you can spend in order to start it. Owning a salon, hiring staff, and renting or buying equipment is the most costly, but could have the largest return if you manage to run your business well. It also runs the most risk, and could require taking out a business loan in order to get started, and typically involves signing a longer-term lease.
On the other hand, being independent and renting out a nail suite with a group of other techs requires a lot less upfront investment while still providing a professional environment to work out of. You’ll be able to split the costs on the rental fees, and you won’t be tied to a location if you don’t like it or find another, better option. It also provides the required equipment that would otherwise be expensive to purchase.
Being an independent mobile nail tech and making house visits is arguably the cheapest way to get started, but it also comes with its own risks. Making house calls is less safe than having a physical location where your clients travel to you, and you’ll also need to cover travel expenses. That said, you can also demand higher payment as a result, or focus on doing nails for events like weddings or photo shoots if you don’t feel comfortable visiting people at their homes. You’ll also want to double-check with your state’s labor board or governing organization to ensure that it’s legal where you live.
Regardless of what kind of business you want to start, you’ll need to get the right supplies and equipment, including a curing unit, nail table, lamp, facemask, gloves, disinfectant solutions like barbicide or acetone, files, buffers, and more. If you’ve graduated a certified nail school, you’ll already know what supplies and equipment you need.
Make Sure To Abide By Local & State Laws & Get Insured
Before you start your own nail tech business, it’s important you understand the legal and tax implications in whatever state you live in. Typically, you can work as an independent contractor under your own name, without needing to apply for a business license like an LLC. However, if you want to own a salon and hire staff, you’ll want to get a business license.
It’s also important to remember that as a business owner, you’ll be required to file and pay taxes at the end of the year. Depending on where you live and how much you earn, this could range anywhere from 20%-30% of your profit by the end of the year. You should track every expense tied to your business so that you can write it off at the end of the year. You should also consider tax software like QuickBooks or hiring a CPA if you don’t know how to file more complicated taxes.
Lastly, it’s critically important that before you get started, you get liability insurance for your business. Although this sounds expensive and scary, there are several vendors that provide options for insurance for as little as $100 per year. Bigger insurance companies like Progressive and The Hartford have insurance specifically for nail techs.
Start Building A Client Base
Once you’ve decided what route you want to go, it’s important to do some self-promotion to let people know about your services. Today, more than ever, leveraging any social media accounts you have and posting your work there may entice people to inquire about your services. Set your costs to be competitive, especially if you’re just starting and want to build up your client base. See what others are charging in your area, and try to be competitive.
Make sure to provide good customer service, be on time for appointments, and talk to your clients to get to know them. If they like you personally, they’ll be more likely to get their nails done by you again. Once you get a few clients, ask them for referrals. You may even be able to offer a discount to certain clients for these.
You’ll also need to get a payment processor in order to take payments. Popular apps include Venmo, Cash App, and Google Pay. If you want to be able to accept credit cards, you may get charged fees, so make sure to thoroughly check your options.
Stay Trendy & Organized
In order to provide good service, you’ll need to stay organized. You should have a defined calendar specifically for your business so that you know when your appointments are. Remember to follow up with your clients and consider sending them reminders for their appointment to decrease the number of no-shows. After all, if you are renting out a nail suite but clients aren’t showing up, you’re actually wasting money. You might even want to consider asking for an upfront deposit.
Similarly, you’ll need to keep your finances and expenses organized. This will help dictate what prices you charge, as you’ll need to consider the money taken out for taxes, equipment, supplies, and travel. Staying organized is especially important if you plan on being a mobile tech, as forgetting important supplies could ruin your client’s experience. You should have a tracker for all your expenses and client information.
Lastly, to gain more customers, it’s better to know more applications like Gel-X and keep up with current trends and styles to see what your clients will like. Following trending social media channels and reading up on being a nail tech, like in the A Plus Nail Tech Blog, will help expand your knowledge and provide more value than your competitors.
Although starting a nail tech business isn’t easy, it’s not impossible – and it will free you up to do what you love for a living, while being your own nail boss. A Plus Nail School offers business prep classes regularly, and any existing students and graduates can take those classes for free as a benefit. To learn more, visit our events page.
