How To Start A Nail Salon Business

Dreaming of starting your own nail salon? You’re not alone. Every year, thousands of new nail salons get started in the UK. If you have a passion for nail care, an artistic flair and some business acumen, you could soon be operating your own nail salon.

Setting up a nail salon can be very rewarding, but it can also be stressful. As a business owner, you’ll be able to call the shots on how you run things. From setting your own prices, choosing your own hours and taking control of your financial future, running a nail salon is sure to be rewarding.

If you’re planning to set up your own salon business, we’ve created this simple guide to help you get started.

Decide the structure of your business

Ask yourself this:

• Will you run a mobile nail salon?
• Will you rent a chair in an existing salon?
• Or will you establish your own premises?

The structure you choose here will have a big impact on your future earning potential. If you want to test the waters, a mobile nail salon business can be a great option. But if you want to train your own team and build a nail salon brand, you need dedicated premises.

Choose your premises

Will you be working from your home, from another salon, from the customer’s home, or your own salon? These are all questions that will need to be answered before you can move forward. If you choose your own premises, you will have to factor in things like rent, business rates and utilities. However, with more space, you’ll be able to hire a team and increase your earning potential.

Get certified

You may be self-taught, but getting certified can boost your customer’s confidence in your skills. Certification might be a requirement for your local area to allow you to trade, so make sure you look up local regulations. This is to ensure you are up to date with the latest cleanliness protocols and know-how to protect your customers.

Buy your equipment

Things are starting to get real. It’s time to invest in some equipment, but don’t even think about going for the cheapest options. The results you can achieve will make or break your reputation, so make sure you invest in quality equipment. This applies to the products you use, too. Remember to keep receipts, as these are all business purchases and should be declared on your tax return.

Brand your business

You now know what you will offer and where you will be based. It’s time to create your brand. Your brand should be memorable and unique to you. Hiring a graphic designer to create a unique logo and social media set is a better option than using templates. If you have some graphic design skills, you may want to tackle this yourself.

Once you have sorted your branding, create a website with an online booking form. A well-designed salon software will allow you to create a professional online presence and manage your business all in one place.

Create a marketing plan

You’re now ready to start telling the world about your nail salon business. A marketing plan will keep you focused and on-track, so you can spend more time thinking about how to give your customer’s the best possible experience.

You can find marketing plan templates online, or use the resources from Salon Iris. Make sure you plan long-term and short-term marketing goals so that you don’t get caught up thinking about the day-to-day.

Plan a killer launch

Everything is ready to go, now you just need to unleash it on the world. Make sure you get your friends and family to help you spread the word about your new business. Your network will be a great starting point to help you spread the word and get people talking about your new nail salon business.

By offering an introductory discount, you can encourage new customers to take a chance on you. Just remember to keep video and photo documentation of your work. Every customer nail transformation and testimonial can be transformed into powerful marketing collateral, helping to bring in new customers. If you get this system working right from the start, you won’t have to worry about thinking of new marketing ideas as you move forward.