How to Start a Nail Tech Business

Register Your Nail Tech Business

If you’re doing nails for a few friends here and there, you probably won’t need to register as a business. However, if you want to make a real go of it and turn your skills into cash, you need to register with HMRC.

Visit the GOV.UK website for handy guides and information on how to register as self-employed, submit your tax returns each year, and much more. Setting up as a sole trader is the starting point for most nail techs.

You only need to register if you make over £1000 from self-employment. Keep good records of your income and expenses so you know when you get to this point.

Get Insured

Another thing to consider when thinking about how to start a nail tech business is insurance. If you are going to be doing treatments on members of the public, having the right insurance protects your clients and it protects you.

Depending on where you are working from, you may need these insurances:

Public liability insurance- this is the most important one. It covers everything that could occur when a client comes for a treatment, from allergic reactions to them slipping on a wet floor.

Employers liability insurance- should you take on a member of staff at any point, you’ll need this.

Property insurance- you’ll need this if you get your own premises.

Personal accident/sickness insurance- this protects your income in the event that you are sick or injured and can’t work.

Put Together a Business Plan

You know what they say, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. You might not think you need a business plan if there’s only going to be you doing nails. However, you need to plan how you’ll make money  and how your business might grow. Not only that, if you end up applying for a loan for equipment or training, you’ll need to show the bank your business plan.

There are loads of good resources online to help you write your business plan. Again, the GOV.UK website is a great place to start.

Market Yourself

Once you’ve set up your nail tech business, you have to think about how you’re going to get the word out about it. Who is your target audience? What kind of nail treatments are in demand in your area? Do your research.

Social media is really important when it comes to engaging with potential customers too. The great thing about nail businesses is that they are really visual. Once you start getting clients, you’ll have plenty of amazing nail photos to share on your social media channels.

Eventually, you might decide to have a website too, which is another great marketing tool for growing your business.  

How to Start a Nail Tech Business-Qualifications You Need

In theory, you could teach yourself how to do nail treatments and extensions, but it’s not a good move. When it comes to getting insurance for your business, you’ll need to show proof of qualifications.

A good place to start is getting a manicure qualification. This will give you the information and knowledge you need about nail care, client care, hygiene, and health and safety. Then you can build on this with qualifications like gel polish, gel nails, nail art, and more. You can get your qualifications through a local college or a private training provider. Just make sure if you go down the training provider route that the qualifications are accredited and insurable. 

Once you’re qualified, that’s not the end of the story. New nail treatments and products are coming along all the time and you need to stay up to date. Offering the latest treatments can help you stay ahead of your competitors too. Try to do at least one training course every year.

How to Grow Your Nail Tech Business and Make a Profit

Know that you won’t go from zero to profitable overnight. Put a good introductory offer in place then think about a ‘refer a friend’ scheme or something similar to build up your client base.

Then as your business grows, you can do things that set you apart and increase your profits. Maybe you want to focus on the fact that you only use vegan or eco-friendly products. You could start selling nail products to help clients maintain their nails in between appointments. You can sell upgrades to treatments, such as nail art as an add-on to a gel manicure. Or maybe when you have enough experience, you can start training other nail techs. The world is your oyster!

How Much should I Charge for My Nail Services?

When you’re thinking about how to start a nail tech business, pricing is an important thing to consider. It’s a good idea to research how much your competitors are charging, but nail service prices do vary. The reason for this is location, how experienced you are, and the quality of the products you use.

Whatever figure you settle on, make sure that you can meet your costs which will include:

Paying yourself

Paying things like rent if you rent a room, insurance, or website fees

Products and other supplies

Stationery

Travelling time if you’re mobile

Loan repayments, national insurance, and tax.

Where Should I Work From?

When you are just starting out as a nail tech, there are three feasible options.

Working from home- this will help keep overheads to a minimum however, you need to make sure that your landlord will allow you to run a business from the property if you’re renting. Also, there may not be much natural footfall where you live, so you’ll have to work extra hard on marketing.

Working as a mobile nail tech- this is convenient for clients however you have to consider that your travel time will limit the number of clients you can see.

Renting a room in a salon- this can bring you a ready-made client base, however you’ll be paying rent or commission to the salon owner. This can feel tough when you are just starting off.

The New Nail Tech Shopping List

From nail accessories to nail tools and acrylic and powder starter kits, we have everything a new nail tech needs to get started in our range.

As well as that, our blog will give you plenty of tips, insights, and advice into the nail world and the latest genius products for perfect client manis.