Nail salons have been blowing up in popularity in the U.K. in the last few years. The beauty industry is on the rise again, and pampering is coming back into fashion.
Plus, to top it off, HotPatch is allowing nail station owners, to rent their spaces flexibly to other freelancers. It’s just become that much easier to work freelance in a professional beauty room.
Fancy working in a nail station like the one below? Managing your own time, and building your client base? Here’s a guide on your first few steps!
How to start a Nail Business
First thing’s first:
You need to register your nail business.
If this is a home-business where you’re looking to do some nail-tech for friends and family, then registering may not be necessary in the early-goings.
But if you’re looking to become a fully-fledged nail technician, registering is obligatory, so that you can declare your tax earnings for legal purposes.
You’ll need to set yourself up first as a sole trader. This is a declaration that you are self-employed, and independently responsible for your financial situation.
If you are earning over £1000 in self-employment, you need to make sure you:
- Possess an up-to-date record of your incomings and outgoings
- A national insurance number
- Send a self-assessed tax return every year
- Pay income tax on your profits
First thing’s first — Insurance!
Cover your nail tech business with insurance cover! If you’re running a salon from a Patch, then it’s best to be insured.
We recommended getting public liability insurance, as it will protect you from accidents that may occur during your sessions. Property insurance will similarly protect your salon against damages. If you ever accrue employees, then employers liability insurance is another legal requirement.
Creating a Nail Business Plan
When starting any company, a business plan is one of your first ports of call. What is it you’re hoping to achieve, and when by? Set yourself a rough route, so that you know when you should be hitting certain milestones.
Keep your objectives clear. What is it that makes you and your business different? How are you going to attract new clients?
Set yourself a budget, and what you expect to be spending, and how much you need, or hope to be earning as well. And keep it realistic! Using HotPatch salon chairs is a really affordable way to run your nail business – but do keep a note of your costs as you go.
When thinking about how much to charge, do some research into local nail tech companies. What are they charging? Can you charge a premium if you’re offering a higher quality service? Or can you undercut their prices? The most important factor is, either way, will this generate you a profit?
Remember to consider your fixed costs, like rent, insurance etc. Plus your more expensive nail-tech equipment purchases. One-offs and disposable items, like face-masks and brushes need to be considered, alongside any additional perks like magazines for your customers, or coffees.
Remember to consider, you will also be paying National Insurance and tax!
It’s all in the Marketing!
Marketing is a big one. How will people discover you?
This is another similar step. Set yourself a plan. Know who your customers are, what their demographic is, what their interests are, and so on.
Social media is the easiest go-to, as it’s an organic, free resource. Include all of your contact details, what is is you offer, and how to find your business in the ‘about’ section.
Running social media can be a full-time task, so make sure you regularly take photos, and get the word out there.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Start a Nail Business?
You may already be qualified, but if not there are nail courses you can join at any age as a starting point.
A level 2 or 3 certificate in nail tech or treatments is ideal. This can be studied at college, though you may need a minimum level of GCSEs etc. to apply. Courses can take up to a year to complete.
Running a Nail Business from home, or from a salon?
The final consideration, is where are you going to run your nail business from?
There is always the option of working from home, but remember to fully consider what this would mean. The benefit is that it can save you money, and can be a great place to start in the first few months.
But living and working from your home can be stressful, and often your clients will be a lot more comfortable visiting a high-street salon.
The great news is HotPatch allows you to rent nail chairs, near you, at any time. This means that you can change your location, on the daily, based on your clientele.
This will open up a whole network of customers to you, that won’t be put by a long commute time to reach your salon. If needed, you can go to them. Set yourself up in a new shop, and move onto the next the day after.
Visit HotPatch.com to browse nail chairs near you.
Are you that person “looking for nail stations near me?” Or for nail chairs to rent in London?
Use HotPatch to browse a full selection of rentable coworks studios today. Or, if you’re looking to make money from your own coworkers, you can list with us by signing up on our website.
For any further questions, please do reach out to us in the comments below, online or on our social media channels:
Instagram: @HotPatch_ | Twitter: @HotPatch_ | Linkedin: HotPatch
