How to Open a Nail Salon: Step-by-Step Guide to Launching a Nail Business

Congrats on your idea to open a new nail salon and bring more beauty to the world.

But if you need more details on how things work and how to launch your business, let’s nail it!

We’ve prepared a comprehensive nail salon business tutorial to help you get started as smoothly as possible.

Get Started with the Basics: Write a Business Plan

There is no one big rule or universal pattern of what a business plan should contain – it can be big or small, detailed or general.

However, there are essential things that we recommend including in your plan, so open a new Google sheet to start systemizing your future business and calculating your potential expenses for opening a nail salon! You can take inspiration from business plan examples to help structure your own plan and get a clearer sense of what works best for your business. 

Understand Target Audience

There are various groups of clients you can target when opening a nail salon:

• everyday consumers (regular nail maintenance, simple manicures, and pedicures).
• high-end luxury services.
• nail treatments for work or events.
• bridal or special event clients.
• men.
• teenagers.

Determine the Services You will Offer

Depending on your skills and equipment, and of course, the target audience, determine what services you would like to offer in your nail salon.

Find some popular examples below.

• Custom 3D designs
• Airbrush techniques
• Detailed patterns
• Simple nail art
• Innovative nail art
• Neon & holographic finishes
• Influencer-inspired styles
• Glitter or jewel accents
• Men’s manicures and pedicures

Calculate Startup Expenses

You will always have ongoing costs (insurance, utilities) which are hard to calculate upfront, but you should try to at least do the math with the startup costs in your area. 

First of all, think of how to approach nail salon space (rent or lease).

	Rent a nail salon space	Lease a nail salon space
Ownership	No	Potential ownership at the end of the term
Term	Short-term	Longer-term
Purchase option	No	Yes
Cost	Typically lower	Typically higher

Other essential costs include:

• Renovations and design.
• Equipment purchase and installation (manicure tables, pedicure chairs, sterilization machines, nail polish dryers).
• Supplies.
• Marketing and promotion.
• Staff salaries.

Browse your local shops to understand approximate prices. 

Create Brand Identity

A brand identity is more than just a logo or tagline, you need to invest your time in making it really creative. What values and experience do you want to offer your client?  What vibe or emotion do you want them to feel when they walk through your doors? Luxury, relaxation, or cutting-edge style… You will probably need to consult a designer or brand creator to help you find your way.

Pick a Nail Salon Name

This is a very responsible and time-consuming task. In the past, we’ve provided you with a list of possible nail salon names you can use.

It’s important to remember that your nail salon name should be unique and follow legal guidelines to ensure it is not already trademarked or in use by another business. Perform your search through local business registries, trademark databases, and online platforms.

There are many local differences, so make sure to check if the name complies with any local or national business naming regulations, avoiding terms that are misleading or restricted by law. Last but not least, if you’ve chosen a name, secure the domain name for it, as well as register social media handles for proper online branding in the future.

Choose Location

Sounds like the easiest task to choose from available options, but it’s not so!

We’ve picked several important do’s and don’ts to consider to ensure success in this journey 

Do’s:

1. Do research whether the area has a large enough customer base.
2. Choose a location that is easy to access by public transportation and parking slots, for both staff and customers.
3. Check out foot traffic.
4. Look at nearby salons to assess the level of competition.
5. Verify that the area is zoned for a beauty salon and meets the legal requirements for salon operations.
6. Select a location that allows for potential future expansion (e.g. adding new services or additional chairs/technicians).

Don’ts:

1. Don’t choose a spot that is hidden or difficult to find. Lack of visibility can hurt your ability to attract new clients.
2. Don’t pick a location based solely on cost.
3. Avoid spaces that need extensive (and expensive) renovations to launch your salon.
4. Don’t sign a lease without fully understanding its terms.

Obtain Necessary Licenses & Permits

It’s hugely important to obtain the required licenses and permits to operate a nail salon in your area.

First of all, you need to check with your city, county, or state regulatory agencies to understand the specific licenses and permits required to operate a salon for nail treatments.

Create a Brand Website with Booking Options

Creating a website is easier than building a nail salon, of course, but still, it takes a lot of effort.

Essential Website Pages

• Powerful home page to introduce your salon’s brand, services, and vibe. It normally requires eye-catching imagery, a brief overview of your services, and social trust signals like testimonials. 
• The Services page with detailed information on what nail treatment services you offer.
• The About Us page for a brief introduction to the salon owner and staff.
• The Gallery/Portfolio page to show your creativity in the wild.
• The Book an Appointment page to encourage clients to schedule appointments directly from the website.

Appointment Booking Software

At BookingPress, we’re highly involved in helping you automate appointment scheduling in your salon.

Thanks to the powerful software for appointment bookings, you can improve your communication with clients and simplify the entire workload of your staff. From a service selection to a payment, everything can be smoothly managed via one platform.

If you are interested in a detailed guide, here it is 6 Steps to Create a Nail Tech Booking Website with WordPress.

Briefly, here are your options with BookingPress:

• Set pricing and maximum clients per service.
• Set standard service times.
• Display detailed service information right in the scheduling forms.
• Offer convenient online payment options.
• Allow clients to customize service lengths.
• Manage clients and nail artists in one account.
• Use extras to enhance services and upsell more.
• Manage scheduling for different locations.
• Accommodate bookings for many people at the same time.
• Monitor all appointments easily.

Once you start using it for taking online bookings, it’s easy to send traffic to the booking engine with our tips.

Actively Promote Your Nail Brand

Now it’s time so step in and build an awesome buzz around your beauty brand.

Blog

Blog a lot on your website to send traffic and promote your relevant keywords, to help new clients find you easily.

Social networks

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have popularized nail art and trends in the first place, so many people, who look for inspiration and professional services refer to these platforms often. 

Workshops and events

Host, sponsor, and attend events that spread the idea about your brand and services. This won’t just help you build expertise but also attract the audience to your actual nail salon business.

Your Takeaways for Starting Nail Salon

There are three important things to remember to successfully launch your business:

1. Take time to write a clear and coherent business plan with startup expenses, legislations, and brand identity development taken into account.
2. An online booking form integrated with your scheduling system is a must to make appointment booking convenient for your customers.
3. Create a brand promotion plan with consistent and creative ideas. 

Enjoyed this article? We think you’ll love these related reads as well:

• Beauty Salon Booking Website Ideas to Boost Your Performance
• How to Increase Retention Rate for Appointment Business?
• How Appointment Scheduling System Can Boost Your Team Productivity