business plan for a nail bar

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How to write a business plan for your nail bar salon.

Starting a nail bar salon is a great idea because it can provide a convenient and enjoyable service to customers, as well as creating a potential stream of income.

It is also a relatively low cost business to set up and operate.

But, before that, you need a business plan.

Creating a business plan is essential before starting a new project like a nail bar salon. It will help you organize your ideas, goals, and strategies to ensure success.

In short, a good business plan will help ensure the profitability of your nail bar salon .

What information should you put into the business plan of a nail bar salon? What is the best way to structure it? What are the key financial ratios to consider? How can I write a business plan efficiently and effectively?

Exciting news! The forthcoming article holds all the answers to these questions!

One last thing: it's up to you whether to start your business plan from scratch.

You can download our comprehensive business plan for a nail bar salon and customize it for your business.

Writing a business plan for a nail bar salon

Should you draft a business plan for your nail bar salon.

Yes, you should draft a business plan for your nail bar salon.

Formulating a comprehensive business plan will allow to:

• get familiar with the nail bar market
• stay informed about current trends and integrate them into your project
• find what makes a nail bar salon successful
• understand clients' nail preferences and desired styles to deliver precise and customized nail services
• find a unique value proposition for your nail salon with bar-like atmosphere
• investigate competitor customer retention strategies
• find relevant competitive advantages for your nail bar salon
• find a business model that will lead you to profitability
• implement a well-crafted and strategic action plan for growth
• identify and manage risks specific to a nail bar salon, including chemical exposure, sanitation practices, and customer satisfaction

Our team has drafted a business plan for a nail bar salon that is designed to make it easier for you to achieve all the elements listed.

How to outline a business plan for a nail bar salon?

There is a lot of information, content, metrics and financial data in a business plan. It must be presented in a structured format, to make easy to read and digest.

When we built our business plan for a nail bar salon , we made sure to outline it properly.

The structure is made up of 5 sections (Opportunity, Project, Market Research, Strategy and Finances).

1. Market Opportunity

The introductory section has been named "Market Opportunity".

In this section, we have compiled vital data and metrics about the nail bar salon industry, providing insights and trends for salon owners and operators.

This section undergoes updates twice a year for up-to-date data.

2. Project Presentation

In the "Project" section, you can describe your nail bar salon, including the range of nail services you offer, such as manicures, pedicures, nail art, and enhancements, your qualified nail technicians, salon ambiance, product selection, and the unique value proposition that pampers clients with top-notch nail care and trendy designs.

Remember to introduce yourself at the end of this section.

Explain your qualifications in the beauty industry, specifically in nail care and treatments. Discuss your passion for providing exceptional nail services, your expertise in nail art and designs, and your commitment to maintaining a clean and relaxing salon environment. Highlight your dedication to using high-quality products and your ability to create stunning and customized nail looks that leave clients feeling pampered and satisfied.

We've written descriptions for you. You can adjust them to fit your business idea exactly.

3. Market Research

Following that, we have the "Market Research" section.

In this section, you will find a detailed market segmentation analysis for your nail bar salon.

It includes a presentation of other nail salons in the area that will be competing with you. Your salon's unique nail services and competitive advantages are also highlighted. A customized SWOT analysis is included.

4. Strategy

The "Strategy" section presents a comprehensive 3-year action plan, outlining the initiatives and actions required to make your nail bar salon a highly profitable venture.

Moreover, this section comprises a marketing plan, a strategy to mitigate risks, and a Business Model Canvas that has been completed.

5. Finances

Ultimately, the "Finances" section provides a comprehensive financial plan for your project.

How to elaborate the Executive Summary for a nail bar salon?

The Executive Summary offers a brief glimpse into the business plan of your nail bar salon.

Don't exceed 2 pages; emphasize only the most important components.

The intention behind this document is to make the reader eager to explore your business plan.

In the Executive Summary of your nail bar salon, provide answers to these questions: what's the innovation behind your project? who's your market? competitors? better than them? background? budget?

How to do the market analysis for a nail bar salon?

Analyzing the market for your nail bar salon helps you gain insights into factors such as customer preferences, trends in nail care, and the level of competition from other salons.

By conducting a thorough market study, a vegan restaurant can establish a unique selling proposition, optimize its menu options, pricing strategies, and marketing campaigns, ultimately leading to a larger customer base, increased satisfaction among patrons, and a prominent position in the vegan food industry.

This is what you'll find in the "Market Research" section of our business plan for a nail bar salon :

• recent data and statistics about nail bar salons, including nail care trends, nail art popularity, and the growth of specialized nail services
• a compilation of potential customer segments for a nail bar salon
• the competitor study
• the competitive advantages for a nail bar salon

The key points of the business plan for a nail bar salon

What's the business model of a nail bar salon, business model of a nail bar salon.

A nail bar salon's business model revolves around offering nail care services such as manicures, pedicures, and nail art to customers. Revenue is generated through service fees, potentially offering additional services such as nail extensions or specialized nail treatments.

The business model focuses on providing skilled nail technicians, using quality nail products, delivering exceptional customer service, effective marketing to target individuals seeking nail care, and building strong customer relationships based on nail expertise and creativity.

Success depends on maintaining a wide range of nail polish colors and designs, delivering hygienic and safe nail services, fostering positive customer reviews and recommendations, and creating a relaxing and stylish nail salon environment that attracts nail enthusiasts.

Business model vs Business plan

Don't get "business plan" and "business model" mixed up.

A business model defines how a company creates, delivers, and monetizes its offerings.

In a business plan, you articulate your business model through a mechanism called the Business Model Canvas.

And, of course, there is a Business Model Canvas (already completed) in our business plan for a nail bar salon .

How do you identify the market segments of a nail bar salon?

Market segmentation for your nail bar salon involves dividing your potential customers into different groups based on their nail care needs, preferences, and experiences.

These categories may include factors such as manicures, pedicures, nail enhancements, or customers seeking specific nail care environments or ambiances (e.g., luxury, express services, eco-friendly).

By segmenting your market, you can offer a range of nail services and experiences that cater to each segment's specific requirements. For example, you might provide comprehensive manicure and pedicure services for customers looking for a full nail care experience, offer nail enhancements and extensions for clients seeking longer or more durable nails, specialize in express nail services for busy individuals who require quick and efficient treatments, or create a luxury nail bar environment with premium services and amenities for customers seeking a pampering and indulgent experience.

Market segmentation allows you to effectively target your marketing efforts, create a unique and appealing nail bar concept, and provide satisfying and personalized nail care experiences that meet the unique needs and preferences of each customer segment.

In the business plan for a nail bar salon , you will find a complete market segmentation that allows you to identify your potential customers effectively.

How to conduct a competitor analysis for a nail bar salon?

It's clear that you won't be the only nail bar salon in your market. There are other establishments offering nail care and beautification services to customers.

Make sure to conduct a comprehensive competitor analysis to identify and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses when developing your business plan.

Take note of their weaknesses (such as unhygienic practices, limited nail service offerings, or inadequate customer satisfaction).

Why should you pay attention to these points? Because these weaknesses can impact customer satisfaction at nail bar salons. By addressing these aspects, you can provide a wide range of nail services and designs, prioritize cleanliness and hygiene, and offer exceptional customer care, establishing your nail bar salon as a go-to destination for beautiful and pampering nail treatments.

It's what we call competitive advantages—invest in them to make your business unique.

Here are some examples of competitive advantages for a nail bar salon: skilled nail technicians, wide range of nail services and designs, high-quality nail products, hygienic and clean salon environment, relaxing and luxurious atmosphere, exceptional customer satisfaction.

How to draft a SWOT analysis for a nail salon?

A SWOT analysis can be useful when starting a nail bar salon to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that may affect the success of the business.

As you can guess, there is indeed a completed and editable SWOT matrix in our business plan for a nail bar salon

The strengths for a nail bar salon

When we refer to the "S" in SWOT, we are talking about Strengths, which are the project's positive attributes.

For a nail bar salon, potential strengths could include a friendly staff, a wide selection of nail treatments, high-quality products, and a relaxing atmosphere.

The weaknesses for a nail bar salon

When we say "W," we mean Weaknesses, which are the parts of the project that need improvement.

For a nail bar salon, potential weaknesses include inadequate staffing, lack of marketing strategy, limited product range, and lack of competitive pricing.

The opportunities for a nail bar salon

When we refer to the "O" in SWOT, we are talking about Opportunities, which are positive external circumstances for the project.

In the case of a nail bar salon, potential opportunities could include offering additional services such as waxing, pedicures, manicures, eyelash extensions, and acrylic nails.

The threats for a nail bar salon

When we talk about the "T" in SWOT, we mean Threats, which are the potential barriers or negative elements from the external environment.

How to elaborate a marketing strategy for a nail salon?

A solid marketing strategy allows entrepreneurs to adapt to market changes and respond to customer needs effectively.

A nail salon can attract clients seeking professional nail care services by implementing a well-crafted marketing approach that emphasizes the salon's skilled nail technicians, hygienic practices, and trendy nail designs.

Customers won't visit your nail salon without proper promotion; showcasing the expertise of your nail technicians, variety of services, and trendy nail designs is necessary.

Have you explored marketing approaches to attract customers to your nail salon? Consider offering trendy nail art designs or seasonal promotions, showcasing your work on social media platforms, and partnering with local fashion influencers or beauty bloggers for brand endorsements.

Don't fret if you have zero knowledge about marketing and communication – it's not a problem.

How to build a 3-year financial plan for a nail salon?

A successful business plan requires comprehensive financial data in order to accurately forecast future performance.

As part of your business plan, it will be necessary to forecast the revenue for your nail bar salon.

Potential investors will feel more confident in your business plan if the revenue projections are based on sensible and well-founded assumptions that they can understand.

Our financial plan for a nail bar salon is easy to use and includes built-in checks to help you identify and correct any assumptions, ensuring you create reliable projections with confidence.

No doubt, you'll have to establish an initial budget for launching your nail bar salon. Double-check that you haven't missed any expenses. If you have a doubt, we have listed them all in our financial plan!

The break-even analysis is also central in your financial plan as it indicates you whether your nail bar salon will be profitable or not.

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Nail Salon Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Business Plan Outline

Nail Salon Business Plan

• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan

Start Your Nail Salon Plan Here

You’ve come to the right place to create your business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their nail salons.

Nail Salon Business Plan Sample

The links below provide an example of each essential component of a business plan for a nail salon:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Nail Salon Business Plan FAQs

What is a nail salon business plan.

A business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your salon. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, provides market research about the nail salon industry trends, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial plan.

You can  easily complete your business plan using our Nail Salon Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Nail Salons?

There are many types of salons depending on the beauty and nail services offered. Traditional nail salons are the most common, focusing on manicures, pedicures, and treating and painting nails. There are also other salons that offer more comprehensive services including waxing and massages.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for Nail Salon Businesses?

The primary source of revenue for nail salon businesses are its service fees. Some salons also gain revenue from sale of nail care products.

The key expenses for salons are rent, salaries for salon owners and nail technicians, and supplies expenses.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Nail Salon?

Salons are typically funded through small business loans, personal savings, credit card financing and/or angel investors. In order to secure funding you will need a solid business plan for a nail salon.

Read more about how to get funding: Seeking Funding from Angel Investors vs Venture Capitalists .

How to Write a Nail Salon Business Plan

A great business plan gets the reader excited about your business and encourages them to take the actions you want them to take. In many cases, that action is for them to write you a check to fund your nail salon. 

In order to achieve this, start with a compelling executive summary. In the summary, clearly explain why your nail salon is or will be successful. Do members of your team have lots of experience in nail salons? Do you have clients from other nail salons that you will bring to your business? Do you have a large social media presence you can leverage to get new clients?

Think about why your nail salon is going to be successful and clearly document this in your summary. Also, be sure to include the other key business plan elements like your customer analysis (describing the demographics of your target market), your competitive analysis (detailing your competitors and how you’re unique) and your marketing plan (the marketing strategies for how you will attract new clients). Do this and you’ll have a great plan that reflects your salon and attracts readers to help you succeed.

What are the Steps To Start a Nail Salon Business?

Starting your own nail salon business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Nail Salon Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for your nail salon that outlines all aspects of the venture.  Your nail salon business plan should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your nail salon business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your nail salon business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Nail Salon Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your nail salon business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your nail salon business, so a detailed nail salon financial plan is key.  After completing this, take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Nail Salon Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your nail salon business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your nail salon business.  Your nail salon marketing plan includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful nail salon business:

• How to Start a Nail Salon Business
• How to Open a Nail Salon Business

Where can I Download a Nail Salon Business Plan Sample PDF?

You can download our sample nail salon business plan PDF template here . This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

BUSINESS STRATEGIES

How to write an effective nail salon business plan

• Annabelle Amery
• Oct 29, 2023
• 12 min read

Starting a business can be an exciting and rewarding venture. Whether you're an entrepreneur or a small business owner, having a clear plan is crucial for success. A nail salon business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the goals, strategies and financial projections for your nail business . It serves as a roadmap for your business, guiding you through the process of starting and managing your nail salon.

Looking to promote your business online? Get online and start making a website with the help of Wix’s website builder .

How to write a nail salon business plan in 6 steps

Writing a comprehensive nail salon business plan is essential for the success of your business. It serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the process of starting and managing your nail salon. A well-written business plan should include the following six main parts:

Executive summary

Business and domain names

Market research and analysis

Operations plan

Marketing and advertising plan

Financial plan

01. Executive summary

The executive summary is a brief overview of your nail salon business plan. It provides a snapshot of your salon's key information, goals, and strategies. While it appears at the beginning of the plan, it is often written last. The executive summary should be concise, clear and compelling to capture the attention of potential investors or lenders.

For example, here's an executive summary for a nail salon business: "[Your Nail Salon Name] is a modern and upscale nail salon located in [City]. Our mission is to provide exceptional nail care services in a relaxing and hygienic environment. With a team of highly skilled technicians and a wide range of services, we aim to become the go-to destination for nail care in our community. Our strategic location in a busy shopping center ensures high foot traffic and visibility."

02. Business and domain names

The company name is an important aspect of your nail salon business plan. It represents your brand identity and helps build awareness and trust among customers. When choosing a business name for your nail salon, consider something unique, memorable and reflective of your salon's values and offerings.

Using a business name generator can provide inspiration and help you brainstorm beauty business name ideas. Look for names that are catchy, easy to pronounce and relevant to your industry.

In addition to the company name, choosing the right domain name is crucial for establishing an online presence. Your domain name should be closely aligned with your salon's name and easy to remember. It's also important to check its availability and secure it as soon as possible.

Best practices for choosing a domain name include keeping it short, avoiding hyphens or numbers and using relevant keywords. This helps improve search engine visibility and makes it easier for potential customers to find your salon online.

Take the steps to register your business once you’ve landed on a nail business name , plus decided on the best structure for your business.

03. Market research and analysis

Market analysis and research are vital components of a nail salon business plan. Conducting thorough research allows you to understand the competitive landscape, identify your target market and develop effective marketing strategies .

Start by analyzing the local market to determine the demand for nail salon services. Look at factors such as population demographics, income levels and competition in the area. This information will help you identify opportunities and potential challenges.

Next, conduct a competitor analysis to understand what other nail salons in your area offer. Identify their strengths and weaknesses, pricing strategies and target audience. This analysis will help you differentiate your salon by offering unique services or a superior customer experience.

Additionally, research industry trends and stay updated on the latest nail care techniques and technologies. This salon marketing knowledge will enable you to stay ahead of the competition and provide innovative services to your customers.

04. Operations plan

The operations plan outlines the day-to-day functioning of your nail salon. It includes details about the location, premises, equipment and staffing needs of your business.

When choosing a location for your nail salon, consider factors like accessibility, visibility, parking availability and proximity to target customers. A convenient location with high foot traffic can significantly impact the success of your business.

In terms of premises, design an inviting space that reflects your salon's aesthetic and brand. Consider factors like layout, lighting, decor and sanitation protocols to create a pleasant environment for your customers.

Invest in high-quality equipment and products to deliver exceptional nail care services. This includes manicure stations, pedicure chairs, nail polish brands, sterilization equipment and other tools necessary for your services.

Staffing is another crucial aspect of the operations plan. Determine the number of technicians and support staff required based on the size of your salon. Hiring skilled and friendly professionals who prioritize customer satisfaction will contribute to the success of your nail salon.

05. Marketing and advertising plan

This plan outlines the nail salon marketing strategies and campaigns you will use to promote your nail salon. It helps you attract customers, build brand awareness and increase revenue.

Start by identifying your target market—the specific group of customers you want to reach. This could be based on demographics such as age, gender, location or interests. Tailor your marketing efforts to appeal to this target audience.

Consider a mix of online and offline marketing strategies. Online tactics may include creating a business website , utilizing social media platforms, running targeted online advertisements, and implementing search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve visibility in search results.

Offline strategies may include distributing flyers or brochures in the local community, partnering with complementary businesses for cross-promotion, attending local events or trade shows and offering promotional deals to attract new customers.

Remember that no matter where you choose to promote your business, you should keep your branding consistent. Start by using a logo maker to discover beauty logo ideas .

06. Financial plan

The financial plan is a crucial part of any nail salon business plan. It outlines the financial projections, funding requirements and profitability timeline for your business.

Start by estimating the startup costs required to open your nail salon. Think: lease or rent, equipment purchase or lease, initial inventory, licenses and permits (cost to start an LLC for example), marketing and working capital.

Next, project your monthly and annual revenue based on factors such as the number of customers served per day, average service prices and estimated repeat business. Consider seasonal fluctuations and industry trends that may impact customer demand.

Calculate your expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, salaries or wages, inventory restocking, marketing costs and other operational expenses. This will help you determine your break-even point and when you can expect to achieve profitability.

If you require funding to start or expand your nail salon, outline your funding needs and potential sources for raising money for your business . This may include personal savings, loans from financial institutions, investment from partners or investors or government grants.

Regularly review and update your financial plan as your nail salon grows. Compare actual financial results with projected figures to identify any discrepancies and make necessary adjustments.

Nail salon business plan examples

Creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for starting and managing a successful nail salon. While every business plan should be tailored to the specific needs of your salon, having a template can provide a helpful framework to guide you through the process. Here are two draft business plans for hypothetical nail salon businesses, incorporating all the parts discussed earlier. Also make sure to check out these service business examples to help you get started:

Sample business plan 1: Elegant Nails

Executive summary: Elegant Nails is a high-end nail salon located in the heart of downtown. Our mission is to provide exceptional nail care services in a luxurious and relaxing environment. With a team of highly skilled technicians and a wide range of services, we aim to become the go-to destination for nail care in our city. Our strategic location ensures high visibility and accessibility for our target clientele.

Company name and domain name: The company name, Elegant Nails, reflects our commitment to providing elegant and sophisticated nail care services. The domain name chosen is elegantnails.com, which aligns with our brand identity and is easy for customers to remember.

Market analysis and research: We have conducted extensive market research to understand the competitive landscape and identify our target market. Our analysis indicates a growing demand for high-quality nail care services among professionals in the downtown area. By offering premium services and targeting this niche market, we aim to differentiate ourselves from other salons.

Operations plan: Elegant Nails will be located in a newly renovated commercial building in downtown. The premises will feature a modern and elegant interior design that creates a luxurious ambiance for our customers. We will invest in state-of-the-art equipment and high-quality products to deliver exceptional services. Our staff will consist of experienced technicians who prioritize customer satisfaction.

Marketing and advertising plan: We will implement a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote Elegant Nails. This includes creating a professional website with online booking capabilities, utilizing social media platforms to engage with our target audience and running targeted online advertisements. Offline marketing efforts will include distributing brochures and partnering with local businesses for cross-promotion.

Financial plan: Based on our projections, the startup costs for Elegant Nails will amount to $150,000. We will secure funding through a combination of personal savings and a small business loan. Our financial plan forecasts steady revenue growth over the first three years, with a break-even point expected within the first year of operation.

Sample business plan 2: Blissful Nails

Executive summary: Blissful Nails is a neighborhood nail salon committed to providing high-quality nail care services in a friendly and welcoming environment. Our mission is to create a blissful experience for our customers through exceptional services and personalized attention. Located in a bustling residential area, we aim to become the go-to salon for local residents seeking relaxation and pampering.

Company name and domain name: The company name, Blissful Nails, reflects our commitment to creating a blissful experience for our customers. The chosen domain name is blissfulnailssalon.com, which aligns with our brand identity and makes it easy for customers to find us online.

Market analysis and research: We have conducted market research to understand the needs and preferences of our target market. Our analysis indicates a demand for affordable yet quality nail care services among local residents. By offering competitive pricing and focusing on building strong customer relationships, we aim to differentiate ourselves from other salons in the area.

Operations plan: Blissful Nails will be located in a small retail space in a residential neighborhood. The salon will have a cozy and inviting atmosphere, with comfortable seating and soothing music to enhance the relaxation experience for our customers. We will invest in essential equipment and high-quality nail care products to deliver satisfactory services.

Marketing and advertising plan: Our marketing strategy for Blissful Nails will focus on building strong relationships within the local community. This includes participating in neighborhood events, offering special promotions for local residents and implementing a referral program to encourage word-of-mouth marketing. We will also establish an online presence through social media platforms and maintain an informative and user-friendly website.

Financial plan: The estimated startup costs for Blissful Nails are $80,000. Funding will be secured through personal savings and a small business grant. Our financial plan projects steady revenue growth over the first two years, with profitability expected within the first year of operation.

Why should you create a nail salon business plan? Top benefits

No matter your type of business , a business plan helps you clarify your goals and strategies. It also offers several other benefits, specific to your nail salon. These benefits include:

Attracting investors: One of the primary benefits of having a nail salon business plan is that it helps attract investors and secure funding for your business. Investors want to see that you have a clear vision and a well-thought-out strategy for success. A well-written business plan showcases your professionalism and commitment, making it more likely for investors to take interest in your venture. It provides them with the necessary information to evaluate the potential return on their investment and the viability of your nail salon.

Understanding resources needed: A nail salon business plan enables you to understand the resources, supplies, and staff required to start and operate your business. By conducting thorough research, you can estimate the costs involved in setting up the salon, purchasing equipment, hiring employees and covering ongoing expenses (like rent and utilities). This understanding allows you to budget effectively and avoid unexpected financial challenges down the line.

Setting clear goals: A business plan provides you with an opportunity to set clear goals for your nail salon. By defining specific objectives and milestones, you can track your progress and measure your success over time. Setting goals helps you stay focused, motivated and accountable. It also allows you to identify any areas where adjustments or improvements need to be made.

Developing effective strategies: A nail salon business plan requires careful market analysis and research. This process helps you understand the competitive environment in which your salon will operate. By identifying your target market, analyzing your competition and conducting a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, you can develop effective strategies to differentiate your salon from others and attract customers. This research-driven approach increases your chances of success in a competitive industry.

Managing risks: A well-written business plan allows you to identify and manage potential risks associated with starting a nail salon. By conducting a thorough risk analysis, you can anticipate challenges and develop contingency plans to mitigate them. This proactive approach helps you navigate uncertainties and increases the likelihood of overcoming obstacles that may arise during the early stages of your business.

Operational efficiency: A nail salon business plan includes an operations plan that outlines the location, premises, equipment and staffing needs of your salon. By carefully planning these aspects, you can ensure operational efficiency from the start. This includes choosing a suitable location with high foot traffic, selecting the right equipment for your services and hiring qualified staff members who align with your salon's values and customer service standards.

Long-term success: Ultimately, a nail salon business plan serves as a roadmap for the long-term success of your business. It provides a clear direction and guides decision-making processes as you navigate challenges and pursue growth opportunities. By regularly reviewing and updating your business plan, you can adapt to changes in the market, industry trends and customer preferences. This adaptability is essential for staying relevant and ensuring the continued success of your nail salon.

Is owning a nail salon profitable?

Whether or not owning a nail salon is profitable depends on a number of factors, including the location, services and products offered, customer base and management practices. However, nail salons generally have high-profit margins, meaning that there is potential for good earnings.

Nail salons in high-traffic areas with a large customer base tend to be more profitable than nail salons in less populated areas. Additionally, nail salons that offer a wide range of services and products, such as manicures, pedicures, waxing and facials, are typically more profitable than nail salons that only offer basic services.

Of course, the profitability of a nail salon also depends on how well it's managed. Nail salon owners need to be careful to control costs, such as the cost of rent, utilities and supplies. They also need to market their salon effectively and provide excellent customer service in order to attract and retain customers.

Overall, owning a nail salon can be a profitable business venture, but it's important to do your research and understand the factors that contribute to success.

Here are some tips for increasing the profitability of a nail salon:

Choose a good location with high foot traffic and visibility.

Offer a wide range of services and products to meet the needs of a variety of customers.

Price your services competitively and offer discounts and promotions to attract new customers and reward loyal customers.

Hire and train experienced and qualified nail technicians.

Provide excellent customer service and create a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere for your customers.

Market your salon effectively through online and offline channels.

Manage your costs carefully and track your expenses regularly.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success and profitability in the nail salon industry.

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Nail salon business plan FAQ

How to start getting nail clients.

One of the best ways to start getting nail clients is to offer a referral program. Encourage your existing clients to refer their friends and family to your salon. You can also offer discounts and promotions to new clients.

Another great way to get nail clients is to network with other businesses in your community. For example, you could partner with a local spa or hair salon to offer joint promotions. You could also reach out to local businesses and offer to provide corporate nail services.

How to become a successful nail salon business?

What makes a nail salon stand out, what do you say when advertising nails, related posts.

How to create a website from scratch in 11 steps (for beginners)

How to start a business in 14 steps: a guide for 2024

How to start a nail business in 6 steps

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How To Write The Perfect Nail Salon Business Plan (Free Template Inside)

When one decides to start a business venture, the first thing one focuses on is potential income. And a little birdie told us you were considering opening a nail salon. 

Right off the bat, we must say you have great taste, going by your choice of industry and our blog. Let us provide you with an all-essential fact – The average nail salon industry earnings were estimated to gross $287,000 in revenues , with a 17% profit margin . So opening a nail salon might be a lucrative venture for you after all.

But how do you make sure your salon turns a profit consistently? The answer is – by writing a solid nail salon business plan. 

Not only will such a plan make your nail salon easier to establish, but it will also equip you with the right tools to succeed in the industry. And the best part? Our step-by-step guide with a free downloadable template will make your job even easier!

We sincerely hope you keep making great choices and read on!

Going back to the basics

Before we delve into the planning, let us first discuss what a business plan truly is. Don’t think of  it as a ton of documentation headache to get over with. Rather, think of it as a blueprint. In the hands of a talented architect such as yourself, that blueprint builds the foundation of your business.

A nail salon business plan lays down a roadmap for your salon from marketing, business development, and operational standpoints , by defining its various aspects in detail. It also includes a business summary, talking about the aims and objectives of the nail salon for the future.

So why do YOU need it? 

Now that we understand what a business plan truly is, let us establish why it is important. This documentation is essentially a doorway between the past, present, and future. 

Sounds far-fetched? Give us a chance to explain.

• It documents the industry statistics and your initial stages, which are soon to be your past . It will help you look back and remember how it all started.  (It may help you learn from mistakes. Not that we’re saying you made any. This was just in case.)  
• By taking stock of the current situation (whenever you document, of course) and keeping financial records, you make it your present .
• And by creating those financial projections and laying down growth markers for the next steps, you are looking to your future .

Did our extensive reasoning convince you? 

Essentially, by creating a detailed business plan for your nail salon, you are capitalizing on your strengths and giving yourself a competitive edge . So it is imperative to business success, for a salon or any other enterprise.

And this entire blog is structured to be a business plan template for a nail salon. Maybe, made just for you!  

What to include in a business plan

So what goes into this big plan we keep talking about? Listed below are the elusive parts. Read on to find out!

Getting started with market research

Getting down to business planning, getting a marketing plan underway.

• Getting to operations planning

Creating an appendix

Compiling your detailed business plan.

Understanding your market is an essential part of starting and maintaining a successful business.

You have already begun your market research, you just didn’t know it (or maybe you did?). By looking up your prospective income, and even settling on the idea of creating a business plan for your future nail salon, you’re on the right track.

In this section, we will talk about conducting market research a bit more systematically.

Before we begin, let us introduce you to a fictional nail salon – ‘ ABC’s Nails ’. It will serve as our case study, to follow their journey of creating a business plan. 

So far, for our convenience, they have finalized just their name. In the course of this blog, ABC’s Nails will go on to become a full-fledged nail parlor (on paper, of course). So let us write this nail salon business plan example together. 

Analyzing the industry

Keep in mind that we’re writing for ABC’s Nails right now. The first step for us in analyzing the industry is looking up the market trends. According to marketresearch.com –

• Market data estimates that the U.S. nail salons industry was worth $6.5 billion in 2020
• As mentioned previously, the average nail salon industry earnings were estimated to gross $287,000 in revenues, with a 17% profit margin.
• This implies that during any economic downturn, your business might face a financial ebb, 
• but still, be able to turn a profit as a whole.

This information collected for ABC’s Nails will help us understand opportunities for growth as well as prepare us for any slow days. 

We quickly document all this information under the industry analysis of our nail salon business plan and move to the next step.

Defining the target customer (base)

Now that we’re armed with the data about the market for ABC’s Nails, we look for possible customer segments. 

An excellent way to approach this step is to create a profile or a persona of your customers. A customer persona is a semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer(s). They’re usually created by interviewing various potential customers, and charting their information together. 

To build a persona, consider their – 

• Location, 
• Gender, 
• Preferred method of communication 
• Other demographic details – hobbies, preferences

The below listed persona is from the nail salon business plan sample pdf that we’ve been creating for ABC’s Nails.

By creating multiple such personas, you ensure that you design your nail salon keeping all your customers in mind. This will be helpful in drawing up a marketing plan in later stages as well. 

Again, we will add these customer insights in the respective tab in our business plan. 

Doing the competitor research

Now ABC’s Nails may be prepared to accommodate their future customers’ wishes but how will they contend with their existing competitors?

By doing competitive research, of course! The answers to these questions can be filed directly in our report – 

• Who are the competitors in my locality?  
• What services and products do they offer?
• What is their typical pricing?
• What is their branding and marketing strategy?

The answers to most of these questions can be found by looking at their websites online, or even physical directories. 

To compile all this information, ABC’s Nails plans on using a table to add clarity to their information, as shown below, but you can choose to use paragraph formats as well.

Our nail salon’s business plan is well and truly underway. The next part will help us sculpt the structure of our future business. 

Writing a mission statement

The first and foremost task for ABC’s Nails is defining our aims and goals for the business. A simple yet precise way to do so is by –

• Defining your short term goals (from 6 months to a year)
• Setting up long term goals (a 5-year plan)
• Also, be sure to include the values and what sets you apart from the rest

Once the mission statement is complete, be sure to append it to the growing, new nail technician business plan. 

Selecting the products and services to offer

Once a general idea of the nail salon is created in the mission statement, the next step is to create lucrative services and select the right products to offer.

Tip: Make sure while selecting products you cater to both – your customer as well as your own values. 

ABC’s Nails is planning on offering a few basic selections as follows – 

• Artificial Nails
• Acrylic Overlay
• Gel (with or without UV curing)

This newly created list goes straight into the business description for a nail salon.

Setting the right prices

Now that the products and services are decided, we focus on setting the right pricing for the salon. Before setting the exact prices, we check –

• The competitor pricing to understand the market standard and what people are willing to pay.
• That we will be able to cover the basic cost of supplies and return a profit. 

Of course, certain personal factors are in play as well. Let’s say you plan on taking only a few customers per week and providing them the highest quality service. Also, take into consideration that you will be working only from 11am – 7pm on weekdays.

In such a scenario, we imagine your nail menu charges would be leaning more towards the higher end of the spectrum, such that your business turns a profit in the limited time you have available. 

Once a catalog is prepared, it is also stored in the business plan we are compiling for ABC’s Nails. 

(Sorry, no photo here. We don’t want to give away all our secrets after all 😉)

Choosing a location

The space we select for the salon will have a big impact on the overall business. Not only will it affect the spending but also the business goals and aesthetics. 

Initially for our pride and joy, ABC’s Nails, we consider the following options –

• Renting a space: When starting out, easier to lease out a space and decorate it according to your aesthetics
• Buying a space: This will take a huge chunk of investment, and lends itself to the more established nail salon owners, rather than a relative newbie such as ABC’s Nails.

Additionally, we have to keep in mind various factors that can affect our choices –

• How competitive the market is
• The area and cost of utilities 
• What is our tentative budget 

With these factors in mind, we went ahead with scoping out possible (albeit imaginary) locations and adding them to the plan. 

Getting the licenses and insurance

Registering your business is considered to be an essential step in business activities. It requires forming the business entity and registering the business through the state government. 

Below we compare the various types of businesses you can register as: 

Source – sba.gov

Along with a business license, it is common for nail salons to require a cosmetology establishment license before beginning operations . 

Once you have acquired your licenses, make sure to store them safely. If you wish, you could add a copy to your business plan doc as well.

Calculating the startup cost 

Now that the business processes have been dispensed with, it is now time to plan the budget for your nail salon. You can refer to the below estimate table we have prepared for ABC’s Nails. 

Thus, an estimated minimum cost of $3,690 is found for ABC’s Nails . Depending on your location and other factors, your costs might be higher or lower.

Creating financial projections

A crucial part of any business plan is its financial projections. It shows the tentative spending as well as the estimated growth for the nail establishment. 

Now that we have prepared both the revenue (or pricing) sheet and our spending (or startup cost) sheets, we analyze them together to be included as the nail salon financial plan. 

Many small businesses close within the first couple of years of opening , as their spending is higher than their income. 

We are preparing to avoid such a situation for our nail parlor, by creating the following charts to be included in the free sample business plan for ABC’s Nail salon-

• Prospective profit/loss sheet : Overall sheet that tabulates your revenues, costs, and expenses incurred during a specific period of time. It shows the ability of your business to generate profits by increasing revenue and reducing costs.
• Prospective balance sheet: This indicates the financial future of your business. Using your profit and loss spreadsheet, you can project what your balance sheet will look like at the end of your first year.
• Break-even analysis: This indicates when your business will be able to cover all of its expenses and begin making a profit.

This brings us to the end of our business planning section. Next, we tackle our marketing plan for ABC’s Nails.

This plan of ours is shaping up nicely. Good job, us! Now we move on to planning the marketing aspect to round up our plan.

Defining the market positioning

From ABC’s Nails mission statement and customer personas, we are clear on who we wish to cater to in terms of the customers. So now we define where we stand in the market. 

• Are we a high-end salon or a more economical one?
• Who are our direct competitors?
• What sets us apart from the rest?
• What are the market factors that impact our nail salon business?

Once we pen down the answers, we will be well equipped to understand where our business will fit in the market, and develop a marketing strategy effectively. Of course, we will be adding our answers to the business plan doc.

Brainstorming strategies to attract customers 

Attracting customers is the most basic goal of a successful marketing strategy. As we start our business, our aim is to draw the attention of potential customers to our business and bring them in.

A few examples of such strategies are:

• Opening discount
• Discount coupons
• Free gift/service with another service, etc.

If you want to read more, take a gander at our other informative blog – nail salon marketing ideas . 

Deciding the platforms to advertise on

As a direct business-to-consumer industry, your marketing will directly target your customers. You need to know who your customers are (the personas you created, remember?) and how you can reach them.

Before choosing our advertisement channels, we ask the following questions:

• Where do your customers spend time, both on and offline?
• What social media platforms are they most likely to use?
• What, if any, print media are they reading?
• Do they listen to traditional radio or stream their music?

Based on these questions, and matching the answers with our customer personas, ABC’s Nails arrives at the conclusion that we will choose to advertise on – 

• Digital Ads
• Social media – preferably Instagram and Facebook

As per usual, we make sure this has gone into our business plan.

Customer retention planning

Now, attracting customers is one thing, but retaining them requires building effective communication and strong connections.

Our favorite Nail Salon – ABC’s is planning on following this motto –

Loyal customers = Ambassadors 

This means we’re going to be offering loyalty programs – a discount for customers who refer other customers. (We will quickly go and tweak our marketing budget now.)

Along with this, methods to retain customers can be 

• Staying active on social media 
• Reaching out with new product offerings or promotions
• Providing stellar customer service and 
• Streamlining your appointment system 

which can keep your clients coming back for more. 

How do you streamline appointments, you ask? Well, simply by using a nail salon scheduling software such as Appointy , especially built to cater to the needs of a nail tech such as you. By investing in such an affordable software option you :

• Automate your scheduling processes: booking appointments, managing salon timings, and also the staff availability
• Free up more time to focus on what you love doing – nails!
• Save the cost of hiring a receptionist
• Store client information to provide them a more personalized experience in near future.

What’s more, is that you can integrate with RwG and provide a ‘book now’ button to nudge viewers of your salon’s page to take action and become your clients!    

So what are you waiting for? Explore our nail salon software today .

Getting to operations planning 

Yay! This is the second to last part of the business plan that you need to complete. Keep going.

Hiring employees

Unless you plan on operating a mobile nail parlor, you will need to hire a couple of employees. (However, our template still stands valid as a mobile nail salon business plan, if you wish to keep following it)

The hiring for ABC’s Nails will be done on the basis of these questions –

• Eg – 3 and 2 respectively
• Eg – None
• $15000 (estimated)

Based on this, we require at least 2 more nail technicians, who we will be able to pay well.

While interviewing, you can

• Look for qualities and values that align with your business. 
• Make sure they have a strong work ethic
• Check if they are dependable and responsible prospects
• Ensure that they have good communication skills 
• Confirm that they are good team players.

Setting up a training plan

This will be an integral part of your nail salon’s success, as your employees will interact with your customers on a daily basis. What can we do to make sure that our service is on point? These steps –

• Develop a training plan
• Include skills training sessions as well
• Customer service training plan

Having a plan in place well ahead of time will help you train your employees properly, even in the busiest of times. 

Linking the tech

In the 21st century, it is imperative that you fulfill the demands of all your customers – including Gen Zers. And they want the latest technology.

• Set up your Google Business page Having a Google business page ensures that when a customer searches for “nail salon near me”, your salon pops up. The reviews and ratings that your salon will accumulate in the future will add to the trust factor in the community as well. 
• Integrate a Point Of Sale (POS) system A POS system is critical to your business in managing day-to-day finances. Along with POS, setting up a few different payment methods such as – Square, Stripe, PayPal makes payment easy for your customers and gives them the freedom to choose their payment option.
• Adopt a CRM and scheduling software The scheduling software we mentioned before will be an enormous help to gratify each customer’s wishes. Even before they reach your salon, they will be able to view the available slots, prepay online and view a detailed service menu – all in one place. And an added bonus is that their purchasing habits will be stored in the cloud, to be able to change them in the future.

Setting up an Appointy booking page is very easy. As you can see in the below example, Covered Nail Bar is offering its customers a wide variety of services to choose from. 

Preparing an expense report 

When you are running a business, you are in charge of paying all the bills – 

• Inventory  
• Utility bills 
• Staff wages, etc. 

Filing away all these and then manually adding them to your balance sheets can be a laborious task. So using a fixed template each time will ease your burden greatly. You can choose to create your own spreadsheet or use one of these example templates . 

Once you have your expenses entered, you can use the inbuilt functions of your spreadsheet to import them to your final balance sheet. 

You are nearly at the end of creating your nail salon business plan. 

Now what’s left is linking relevant supporting documents such as-

• Your research document
• Your salon location and other details
• Any vendor details and their business details 

and any overhead costs or documents to your main business plan. 

Essentially, by attaching such documents, you are solidifying your business venture and its proposal and showing that your business is indeed ready to be launched! 

The end of this section marks the end of four main parts of the nail salon business plan.

Now that the grunt work has been dispensed with, it is smooth sailing ahead. Just one small, but rather important task and a shiny, new nail salon business plan will be ready.

Writing an executive summary

We are armed with all the information we could need about the nail salon we are establishing. What better time to write an executive summary than now?

In the summary, briefly tell your reader 

• About your company and why it will be successful.
• Include parts of your mission statement, 
• Your products and services, 
• And basic information about your company’s leadership team, employees, and location. 

If you were planning on submitting this report to secure funding, you should also include financial information and high-level growth plans. Just make sure that the summary does not exceed more than 1-2 pages!

Attach it at the very front of your business plan and you are all set. 

Download the free nail salon business plan template!

Detailed and yet aesthetically pleasing, type in or print out to write in our professional business plan template today.   

Hearty congratulations are in order! After all, if you were working along with us, you are now the proud writer of a shiny new nail salon business plan . And even if you were not writing, we are sure you can go back to the beginning and follow along the next time. 

We covered the basics of writing a business plan for a nail salon in this blog. If you want more information on the basics of opening a nail establishment, we recommend you go through our other blog –  How to Open a Nail Salon .

We wish you the best of luck in your new endeavor!

About Appointy We at Appointy, help business owners grow and run their businesses with our online scheduling software. This blog was a part of our ‘Manage your Business’ category, where we provide expert tips, and resources, or simply talk about the challenges that small and medium businesses face every day.  If you have any thoughts on this blog or would like to chat about your business struggles and achievements, let us know in the comments below.  We love a good talk!

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Nail Salon Business Plan

Clearly state your nail salon’s concept, success factors, unique selling point(USP), market opportunity, and team expertise, which will be explored in greater detail within the plan.

Don’t forget to highlight your salon products & services offered and financial strategy in this section. Lately, complete this section with a compelling call to action for inviting potential investors or readers.

Drafting an executive summary is often easiest when done last once you have simply gone through and penned all the key sections of your business plan.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

2. Company Overview

Now, it’s time to emphasize the key aspects of your nail salon business that help you turn your idea into something real and concrete.

Provide all the basic information about your salon, including

• Name & concept of your business
• Business structure & legal entity (sole proprietorship, Limited Liability Company (LLC), partnership firm, or some other)
• Prime location & reason for choosing the place

Clearly illustrate your salon owners’ or partners’ names with the ownership shares. And accentuate your passion for personal care salons and commitment to quality services with the mission statement.

Discuss a little bit more about the business history and how your salon operates. Here, don’t forget to answer questions like:

• When did you start your nail salon business?
• What is the purpose and long-term business objective?
• What milestones have you accomplished? It could be the number of customers served, positive reviews, new nail salon openings, etc.

Refer to the below business history for an example:

Also, represent any health and safety regulations or details on licensing requirements for your nail technicians that affect your business.

3. Market and Competitor Analysis

After the business description, let’s move to the market research and competitor analysis section. It is a crucial aspect of your nail salon business plan.

Take some time to go further and conduct a thorough market analysis, as it unveils necessary information about your target audience and the local market.

It helps you understand your position in the market and allows you to anticipate market shifts. Identify emerging nail care industry trends and stay updated on recent practices, styles, and products.

Illustrate your target market demographics, including age, gender, income level, and preferences. Want help creating a buyer persona for your nail salon business?

Utilize Upmetrics AI writing assistant now and write your business plan sections. Follow the given prompt or revise it to make a bunch of buyer persona profiles for your target customers:

Not just that, you can tailor your services and marketing tactics effectively according to target market needs.

Explore the current landscape and understand your competitors better. You can identify direct and indirect competitors of your nail establishment.

Most likely, the other nail salons located near your area will be your direct competitors. Indirect competitors are other supermarkets or retailers from where customers can buy products (nail polish, nail files, etc.).

Collect details about competitors, such as their target market demographics, offered services and products, pricing strategies, strengths, and weaknesses.

If you know other salons’ target customers and marketing plans, it is easier for you to stay ahead in the competitive landscape and establish an exceptional position in the local nail salon industry.

4. Salon Products and Services

After understanding the market trends, provide details about what salon services you’d like to offer. This section encloses a range of nail care services and products your salon will offer, highlighting below:

• Artificial Nails
• Acrylic Overlay
• Nail Gel (with or without UV curing)

Sketch out a comprehensive menu that clearly showcases your expertise, ensuring customers understand the full range of available pampering options. Also, define your pricing plans for nail services.

Ensure that you research local market rates and align your pricing strategy with industry standards. Try to offer tiered packages to cater to various client preferences and budgets.

Not only that, highlight the quality of products to convey a commitment to excellence. Mention the exclusive use of premium, non-toxic, and long-lasting nail care products, from nail polishes to lotions.

Specify any partnerships with eminent brands that resonate with customers seeking an elevated experience. Explain how your services satisfy market needs and stand out from the other nail salons.

Take a reference from the below example drafted using Upmetrics AI, describing products and services for a nail salon business:

Below are Finger Art’s initial service offerings and in-store products sold.

Nail Technicians will be asked to perform the following services:

• Acrylic Nails
• Hand & Foot Massages

Finger Art will feature premium nail products in-store from these well-established brands. It will continue to update its offering in order to provide the newest nail products to its customers.

Some of its featured brands will include:

Furthermore, the waiting area will have television screens and popular publications to make the wait for service more pleasurable. Toys and board games will also be on hand for children, as well as at-request refreshments which we will provide for free during the waiting period.

If applicable, detail any specialty or additional salon services you provide, such as waxing and false eyelash application.

Here, remember that as you expand your salon services, your technicians may need to be specifically certified to serve these new services.

5. Salon Marketing Strategy

Developing a successful marketing strategy is an essential aspect of your nail salon business plan. Define the unique facets of your salon that build a distinct brand identity.

In a nail salon business, it is of utmost importance to have a strong marketing plan and a modern digital approach, using a mix of online and traditional offline channels.

While writing the nail salon marketing plan, keep in mind to outline the below strategies to attract new clients and retain existing ones:

Social Media Platforms

Use social media platforms to present your salon’s essence. Regularly post exquisite snapshots or videos of your nail art designs, salon ambiance, and behind-the-scenes moments.

User-Friendly Website

Assure that your salon has a user-friendly website that provides basic information about your services, pricing, and contact details. Share informative content including blog posts, infographics, or videos.

Collaborations

Collaborate with local businesses or influencers to expand your reach and draw their existing customers. This might do wonders for your business and enhance your salon’s image.

Offline Advertising

Effectively reach your target audience using offline advertising methods like brochures, newspapers, social gatherings, or events. Also, get in touch with the local community through marketing initiatives.

Loyalty Programs & Promotions

Facilitate client retention through loyalty programs that offer rewards for frequent patrons. Create promotions(special discounts or festive packages) to attract new clients and retain existing ones.

6. Nail Salon Management Team

Allowing your readers or investors to know more about your management team will help them have a clear picture of who is running your salon.

So, shed light on your management team structure. Highlight each individual’s specific roles & responsibilities. Also, jot down all the skills, qualifications, and prior experience.

This section is especially important for nail salons as it includes everything about your salon owners and employees. And having skilled nail technicians is integral to the success of your business.

Here is an illustration of a nail salon management team using the #1 business planning software —Upmetrics:

Next, describe the compensation plan or salary structure in this section. This can help key stakeholders to ascertain how much percentage of the revenues is allocated to salaries.

Not only that, you can also define an advisory board by including 2 -3 individuals who act like mentors to your business. They would direct you with strategic guidance and add credibility to your business idea.

7. Operational Plan

Now, it’s time to provide precise information on day-to-day operations, as it is the choreography that ensures every day unfolds smoothly and your clients leave with perfectly polished nails and smiles.

Consider including below essential components in your operational plan:

Staffing requirements

Set the number of nail technicians needed as per your expected client traffic and detail their skills & experience. Mention support staff, such as receptionists or cleaning personnel for a seamless operation.

Briefly outline their responsibilities and discuss ongoing training programs for your staff to keep them updated on the latest nail care methods, trends, and customer services.

Facility management

Highlight the ambiance you want in your salon and clearly state cleaning protocols for maintaining hygiene maintenance practices. Also, describe supplies and inventory management for good stock control.

Apart from that, you can also provide a nail salon layout, showing workstations, waiting areas, and other facilities.

Equipment/Technology

Detail the equipment or technology you plan to implement in your parlor, including executive tools, reception furniture, salon station equipment, nail drying lamps, nail polish racks, online booking systems, or CRM.

Quality measures

Clarify the service standards you wish from your staff for customer interactions, punctuality, and the overall client experience. Also, gather feedback from clients to enhance your nail services.

8. Financial Plan and Forecasts

Currently, you are in the business planning stage, but spending some time putting together the most realistic financial projections is also crucial.

This section will be immensely significant when you start seeking out funding from investors. A well-structured and in-depth financial plan reveals the tentative spending as well as the projected growth for your nail salon.

So, highlight all the vital information investors require for informed, strategic decision-making. They can also help you comprehend how your business can satisfy its financial obligations while keeping a positive cash flow.

To avoid such a situation for your salon, clearly outline projected sales, operating budgets, revenue forecasts, profit margins, and startup costs to buy nail salon equipment & cosmetology establishment license.

Besides these statements, here’s what you should consider while forecasting a nail salon financial plan:

Income statement

An income statement is commonly known as a profit and loss statement, or P&L, showing the ability of your business to generate profits by increasing revenue and reducing costs.

This financial statement summarizes your business’s revenues, costs, and expenses over a specific period. Here is an example of a projected income statement for a nail salon using Upmetrics:

Cash flow statement

Right cash flow planning helps you notice how much money you need to start a nail salon or grow an existing business and ensure that you never run out of money.

Don’t forget to maintain a cash flow statement even for certain months before earning profits.

Balance sheet

The balance sheet shows the financial future of your business. It classifies all your financial data into three parts: assets, liabilities, and equity.

Typically, a balance sheet is prepared once a year. Create a prospective balance sheet at the end of your first year using your profit and loss spreadsheet and cash flow statement.

You can also include a break-even analysis that indicates the exact point at which your salon will be able to cover all of its expenses and start earning profits.

However, calculating all the financial statements from scratch can be challenging, but it’s easier than ever with Upmetrics’ robust financial forecasting tool .

All you need to do is provide the information you have, and let the tool evaluate financial projections, and create visual reports for you. No manual data entry, recalling Excel formulas, or preparing graphs—nothing.

Well, having a practical financial plan in your hand not only helps you present your business’s fiscal health but also accentuates its long-term viability.

Key Considerations for Creating a Nail Salon Business Plan

Creating an effective nail salon business plan requires a thorough understanding of the target customer’s needs.

To ensure your business plan lays the foundation for a nail salon rather than just a mere checklist, ask yourself whether you’re incorporating the following key considerations for business development:

Service offerings

Understand diverse target customer preferences and include a wide range of nail services. Try to offer unique or specialized services that set you apart from other nail salons.

Pricing strategy

Conduct a proper market analysis to determine the average cost of nail services in your area. Set a competitive pricing strategy that covers your expenses, and assures profitability.

Training and Expertise

In the nail care industry, recognize the importance of quality services and invest in ongoing staff training. Make sure that your team is aware of new trends, techniques, and exceptional customer service skills.

Digital Presence

Implement a strong online presence to satisfy the expectations of digitally savvy customers. Enhance your salon’s visibility by developing a professional website, effective search engine optimization (SEO), and active social media.

Salon ambiance

Prioritize the salon atmosphere, considering factors like décor, cleanliness, and stellar customer service. Develop an inviting and comforting environment that helps you attract and retain customers.

Health and Safety Measures

Ensure you comply with health and safety protocols to meet industry standards and regulations. Give paramount importance to cleanliness and client well-being.

Download Your Free Nail Salon Business Plan PDF

Are you ready to start writing a nail salon’s business plan? And want to get help with your business plan? Well, here you go; download our free nail salon business plan pdf now.

This expertly crafted template has been designed with nail salon businesses in mind. With a step-by-step guide and example, this template assists you in developing your own plan.

Import data into your editor and start business plan writing.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Start preparing your business plan with AI

Finally! With the help of our free sample business plan template, you know how to write a nail salon business plan. So, you are one step closer to starting or expanding your business confidently- pretty thrilling, right?

But you know what else is exciting? Your business planning process can be even smoother than this. Yes, you heard it right; it’s possible with the help of Upmetrics AI-powered assistant .

So, take a sigh of relief as we will take care of your business plan, and focus only on your business operations!

Check out our other beauty salon & fitness business plan templates .

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Frequently asked questions, how often should i update my nail salon business plan.

Regular updates to your business plan are necessary to reflect transitions in the market and industry trends. Consider reviewing and revising your plan annually or more often if there are significant changes in your business structure, services, or market conditions.

What are some resources for nail salon business owners?

Here are some of our resources that help nail salon owners on their business journey:

• Investor pitch template
• Online business calculators
• Free marketing plan template

What are the legal considerations to include in a nail salon business plan?

There are several legal requirements that you need to include in your nail salon business plan:

• Business license and permits
• Health and Safety Compliance
• Employment Laws
• Insurance coverage
• The legal structure of your business

Are there any examples of nail salon business plans I can reference?

You can find templates and guidelines online to craft your nail salon business plan effectively. Consider reputable sources like Upmetrics, which offers sample business plan templates to help you create a comprehensive and professional business plan tailored to your salon.

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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• Starting a Nail Salon Business

Nail Salon Business Plan

Last Updated: February 16, 2024, 1:15 pm by  TRUiC Team

The first step in getting your nail salon off the ground is to sit down and develop a thorough business plan . Before starting, be sure you’ve taken the time to consider the vision you have for your business, what you hope to accomplish as a business owner, and a basic plan for what this journey will entail. With those things in mind, it’s time to dive deeper into the details. This guide is designed to take you to the next phase in preparing to start your nail salon business.

Market Research

Understanding your market is an essential part of starting and maintaining a successful business. This includes getting to know both your target customer and your major competitors as well as learning all that you can about the nail salon industry in general.

If you need help branding your nail salon, try using our Free Nail Salon Logo Maker . Our free tool will help you brand your nail salon with a unique logo to make your small business stand out.

Who is your target customer?

On the surface, identifying your target customer may seem simple. At the most basic level, a nail salon customer is anyone looking for nail services. However, true success comes from knowing not the target customer of a nail salon, but of your nail salon.

During the first phase of your business planning, you spent some time considering what type of salon you hope to open and who it will cater to . At this phase, it is time to deal with the specifics.

An excellent way to approach this step is to create a profile or persona of your ideal customer. Consider the age, location, gender, income level, and other demographic details about who you think will be frequenting your salon. By doing this you can most effectively craft your design, atmosphere, marketing, prices, products, and services.

Some important questions to answer when establishing your target customer base are:

• How many people in your area fit into this customer base?
• What drives their consumer decisions?
• Do they need your services?
• Can they afford your services?
• How do they consume media and marketing?

Who are your competitors in the market?

Just as important as understanding your customers is understanding who else is trying to attract them. Knowing who your competitors are, and what they offer, can help you make your products, services, and marketing stand out. It will enable you to set your prices competitively and help you respond to rival marketing campaigns with your own initiatives.

It is important to remember that competition can come from a number of places. The first stage of your competitive research should focus on identifying competing nail salons in your area. Look to local business directories, trade organizations and events, advertisements, and basic online research to develop a better understanding of what businesses and products exist in direct competition with what you hope to offer.

Next, take a closer look at how they do business. Compare prices, services , staff size, brand design , and media and marketing. Much of this information can be found by simply visiting your competitors’ websites or following them on social media. To dive even deeper, book a service or two at some of your competing salons. While there, pay close attention to the quality of their customer service, the wait time for an appointment, how busy their salon is at a given hour, how many people are working, and the skill of their technicians.

Throughout this process, make note of what aspects of their services you’d like to adopt and what things you know you can improve on. Consider what marketing tactics appear to be working for them and what falls flat.

Finally, do not forget about less direct or obvious competition. The explosion of multi-level marketing businesses means competing not only with other brick and mortar nail salons, but also a range of online businesses marketing directly to your customers in the comfort of their homes. Research what nail products are available through these companies and how you may be able to offer similar products or services in your salon.

Nail Salon Industry

Understanding your industry as a whole is just as critical as knowing your local market. This information can help you predict your profitability and growth over time as well as how to effectively capitalize on industry trends or innovations.

The nail salon industry is fairly stable, with an annual growth rate of around 7.5% over the past three years. In 2019, industry sales were $5.9 billion dollars, with the average sales per company around $200,000. As a discretionary service business, nail salon profitability will often hinge on the economy at large. During economic downturns, demand for non-essential services such as manicures and pedicures will fall. As the owner of a nail salon, you should be prepared for these economic ebbs and flows.

Product/Service

With an idea of who your ideal customer is and where your salon will fit in the local market, you can begin to consider what services you’d like to offer, any products you hope to sell, and how to price these selections.

What types of services will your nail salon offer?

A nail salon can offer anything from basic manicures and pedicures to a full slate of personally crafted specialty services . To begin, sketch out a list of services you hope to offer based on the type of salon you are opening. Start with the basic categories of manicure, pedicure, and artificial nails and build your list from there. This initial list will look something like this:

• Acrylic Overlay
• Gel (with or without UV curing)

The specific services you offer will depend on your salon’s style, atmosphere, and aesthetic, but should also strongly take into account the information you gain during the market research phase of planning. Look closely at who uses salon services in your area, what services are most popular, what your competition offers, and what gaps can be filled.

A nail salon in a small college town will offer services and specialties different from one located in an upscale city center, but that does not mean you can’t put your own personality into your salon. One of the best ways to do that is to focus on both the service and the experience. Consider how you can transform a manicure or pedicure into a unique spa experience for your clients. Services falling under the manicure category can include anything from simple polish or French manicures to paraffin wax treatments and aromatherapy hand massages, while pedicures may include a hot stone massage or callus treatment.

One of the most appealing aspects of opening a nail salon is that changing and adapting your services comes with low overhead costs. As you begin seeing clients and getting a feel for what types of services they are requesting, what style of artificial nails they prefer, and which technicians are most in-demand (and why) you can further tailor your offerings to meet those demands.

Finally, many nail salons offer additional services, such as waxing and false eyelash application. Keep in mind that as you expand your offerings your technicians may need to be specifically licensed to perform these new services.

Will your nail salon offer products for sale?

Offering products for sale in your salon is an excellent way to add to your profits. At the very least, most salons will sell the line of nail polish they use on their clients. Other popular offerings include hand and foot care products, cosmetics, fashion accessories, and gift sets.

Your product offerings should stem directly from your available services. Like your list of services, your selection of products will likely evolve over time as you learn the preferences of your clientele.

Pricing your services right is a critical factor in the success of your salon. At the most basic level, price setting is a product of supply and demand. As with each factor in your planning, your market research should be the first place you look for information on how to properly price your salon services.

If you set your prices too high above the average rate in your area, you risk pricing out your target customer base or driving them to your competitors. If there is a great deal of competition in your area, consumers will have enough options to choose a lower price for comparable services. Even if you are the only salon in town, however, your prices can still only go as high as your customers can reasonably afford and are willing to pay.

On the other hand, pricing your services too low also comes with a number of problems. If your services are priced too far below average you risk inviting a higher demand of clients than you can handle, leading to long wait times for appointments or rushed services, both of which will turn people off to your salon. Additionally, low prices can lead to lost revenue or a price war with other salons in your area that can put you out of business.

Your prices will ultimately need to be high enough to cover your expenses and turn at least a modest profit.

Beyond the supply and demand curve, however, there is a strong psychological factor involved in pricing. It has consistently been shown across industries that consumers use the price of products and services to help determine their quality. For this reason, people will very often respond more favorably to higher-priced items, even when identical products are being compared.

If you consider all of these factors, you should be able to establish reasonable prices for your services that can be tweaked up or down as your business develops until you find your sweet spot.

Finding the proper space for your salon will have a big impact on upfront and ongoing expenses as well as the overall success of your business. Because the location of your salon is one of the most important decisions you will make, be sure to set aside enough time to visit many locations and consider all of the following critical factors before settling on a space.

Buy or rent

The decision to buy or rent your space will have lasting implications for your budget and the future of your business. Buying will typically require a larger upfront investment, while renting offers more flexibility. Commercial rental rates can be anywhere from $10 to $200 per square foot per year, or around $10,000 to $200,000 annually. Real estate prices can vary just as widely depending on your location.

Turnkey or remodel

You will also need to decide if you’d prefer to purchase and take over a functioning salon or start from scratch. Buying out an existing business can be much less of a risk, but will not offer as much flexibility when it comes to executing your own vision. The cost to purchase a fully functional nail salon can range anywhere from $40,000 to well into 6-figures depending on where you live and what you’re looking for. Alternatively, industry experts estimate that the cost to build out a nail salon in a commercial space will range from $75,000 to $125,000 for a 1000 square foot salon.

Choosing the right location for your business is essential and will have a big impact on both cost and success. You will need to balance the benefits of a given location with your budget to find a space that is attractive from a business and financial perspective. Things to consider include the other businesses around your space, the level of foot or vehicle traffic past your location, and the population in the area. If you select a residential area you will need to determine how visible your location is from the road or sidewalk and how busy or deserted the area becomes during the workweek. If you select a space within a larger shopping plaza, the other businesses in the plaza will have a dramatic effect on what type of consumer is walking past your salon.

As a service-based business, hiring the right employees is essential. Although you won’t be doing any hiring at this stage, it’s important to start considering what roles need to be filled and how you may go about filling them.

Day One Employees

Unless you are starting a small at-home salon or a one-person mobile salon, you will need to hire at least a handful of employees ready to work from day one. At a minimum your start-up staff should include one or more technicians to perform salon services, a front desk receptionist to greet clients, answer phones, and make appointments, and someone to manage the day to day business functions of the salon. You may choose to take on one or more of these tasks yourself, but will not be able to handle all of them on your own.

To get a rough idea of who you’ll need to hire, think about how many manicure and pedicure stations you hope to have in your salon, what additional services you plan to offer, and how much you can afford to spend on your staff’s wages. You can also begin a preliminary list of qualifications you will seek in prospective employees and how you hope to conduct the interview process. Read our full guide on the hiring process . 

This first core group of employees will be a more integral part of your business’ success than future hires. For this reason, hiring the right people and developing a training program that gets them invested not only in their job but in your business as a whole can make all the difference. Start to think about the key skills you’ll look for in your employees and how you can hone these skills through proper training. Consider also, what type of customer service environment you hope to create and how you can instill your values as a business owner in each person you bring into your venture.

Permits/Licensing/Insurance

Before you get started, be sure you understand what permits, licenses, and insurance are required to keep your business compliant with state and local regulations.

In general, most states require that businesses be registered. This involves forming your business entity, be it a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation, through the state government where you plan to do business. Learn how to form a business  in 6 easy steps. 

Business and professional licensing requirements vary by state, but it is common for nail salons to require both a business license and a cosmetology establishment license before beginning operations. All states require that nail technicians complete a certain number of hours in cosmetology school to be eligible for work in a salon. Your state government’s website can direct you to exactly what is required.

Finally, insurance is critical to protect yourself and your business and is required by most states. To start, it is recommended that you purchase at a minimum, general liability, professional liability, worker’s compensation, and property insurance.

At this point, you should feel confident about your business goals, your target customer, and where your business is likely to fit in the overall industry and marketplace. With these things in mind, you should be well equipped to begin considering a marketing strategy . To do so, there are a few things to consider.

How will you position yourself in the market?

With all of the information above in mind you should now be well equipped to understand where your business will fit in the market. Some questions to answer at this phase include:

• Will your nail salon be the premium choice in the area or offer a lower price option to customers currently priced out of local salon services?
• Is your salon a quick and convenient lunch-break stop or does it offer a more luxurious, personally tailored service than your competitors?
• What is the story behind your business and how will this help you connect with your customers?
• What value does your business add to your community ?

The answers to these questions should be the jumping-off point to developing a broader marketing strategy to effectively reach your target customer base.

How will you get new customers?

Attracting customers is the most basic goal of a successful marketing strategy. As a direct business-to-consumer industry, your marketing will directly target your customers. To do so you’ll need to know where your customers are and how to reach them.

To start, think about which major marketing devices will work best for your business. These include:

• Social media

Which of these tools you use and how you use them will depend on the results of your market research. Consider some of the following questions:

• Where do your target customers spend time, both on and offline?
• What other local businesses do they frequent?
• What social media platforms are they most likely to use?
• What, if any, print media are they reading?
• Do they listen to traditional radio or stream their music?
• Are they likely to have cable or do they primarily stream their media?

The answers to these questions will depend significantly on the demographics of your target customer. Finding accurate answers will save you a tremendous amount of time and money and get your business off the ground much more quickly.

Return Customers

Although new customer acquisition is an essential part of any business plan, understanding customer retention is absolutely critical to your success. No amount of effective ads can replace the value of building a loyal customer base that will return again and again. Return customers are also likely to provide you with word-of-mouth marketing, giving your business an additional cost-free boost and allowing you to scale back on your overall marketing expenses over time.

Customer retention is often a natural product of doing good business, but that doesn’t mean you should take it for granted. Consider your entire business plan and how each facet of it can help you build effective communication and strong connections with your clients. Staying active on social media, reaching out with new product offerings or promotions, streamlining your appointment system, and simply providing stellar customer service can all keep your clients coming back for more.

Budget/Money

Planning ahead is critical to any business, but these plans will not come to fruition unless you have the funds to put them in motion. Before you can begin to fund your business you’ll need to have a clear picture of what you need to get started. Potential lenders and investors will want to see a solid and realistic budget before committing funds to your project.

Initial Investment

Although not exhaustive, the list and estimated cost of the items below should serve as a guide to help you write up a financial plan for your business. Speaking with other salon owners and local business owners in your area will help you expand upon this list and more accurately price each item.

Start-up Costs

The first thing to begin calculating is your start-up costs . This includes everything you’ll need to have before opening your doors on day one.

Equipment and supplies

Your initial purchase of equipment and supplies should include everything you need to set up and stock your salon. This will include:

• Administrative equipment such as a point of sale system, register, phones, and a reception desk.
• Reception furniture such as chairs, couches, tables, lamps, and other furnishings; shelving or cases for retail products; laundering equipment.
• Salon station equipment such as manicure stations, pedicure stations, sanitation stations, nail drying lamps, nail polish racks, and any other manicure and pedicure supplies you want to have on hand.

You will also need to budget for your initial salon inventory. This includes all of the nail polish, lotions, cleaning and sanitation products, and other consumable items you will need on day one.

The cost of these items will depend on both the size of your salon and the style you’re looking to create. Manicure and pedicure stations, for example, can range anywhere from $200 to well over $1000.

Certifications and licenses

If you plan to personally provide salon services, you will need a cosmetology license. This requires completion of a cosmetology program, which typically costs anywhere from $6,500-$10,000

Salon insurance

To get the best price on business insurance, shop around for bundle options that include all of the policies you’ll need for your business. While business insurance costs vary significantly based on industry, you should expect to spend a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to get your policies up and running. CW Insurance offers a broad range of business insurance options. Request a quote . 

The cost of your marketing will depend on the nature and scope of your strategy and whether you do your marketing in-house or outsource it to a professional marketing service. You will also need to consider the cost of building your salon’s website. If you hire a professional to build your site, you should expect to spend a few thousand dollars to get it up and running. GoDaddy’s free website builder can help you get started on your own.

While not required, many entrepreneurs seek out legal advice when starting a business. If you choose to do so, be sure to include a line in your budget for legal fees. This can be anywhere from a one-time fee of a few hundred dollars to well into the thousands if you retain an attorney at an hourly rate during your start-up phase.

The bottom line

Generally speaking, those looking to build out a commercial space should expect an upfront start-up cost anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000. For those looking to purchase an existing salon, your start-up budget will likely fall between $50,000 and $300,000.

Ongoing expenses

Once you’ve gotten your salon up and running, you will face a number of ongoing expenses. You should not, however, wait until that point to plan for these costs. Your salon’s revenue will ideally cover your expenses moving forward, but you should be prepared to cover at least part of your ongoing costs over the first few months as you get your business off the ground.

Employee wages will be your biggest ongoing expense. The total cost will depend on the size of your staff and the expected wages in your area. On average you can expect to pay a manicurist or pedicurist anywhere from $16,000 to $36,000 per year. A receptionist will typically make around $23,000 per year, and managers or supervisors can make up to $39,000 annually. You should also consider what salary you hope to take for yourself initially and in the long-term.

The taxes you owe will depend, in part, on your business structure, the number and type of employees you hire, and your annual revenue. You will be responsible for both federal and state income taxes on your salon’s profits and payroll taxes for your employees. The federal payroll tax rate is 15.3%. As the employer, you must cover half of this amount, while the other half is deducted from your employees’ paychecks each pay period. You are responsible for paying the full amount to the federal government, often on a quarterly basis. If you own your salon space, you will also owe property taxes. Check out our tax affiliate  for more information. 

Rent and utility bills

Your electric, gas, and water bills will depend on the scale of your business, the type of equipment you use, and where your business is located. Unless you operate a large-scale salon with the highest-tech equipment, your utility expenses should not exceed a few hundred dollars per month.

Ongoing inventory

After your initial inventory purchase, you will need to restock your supplies on a regular basis. If you are starting your salon from scratch, it may take a few months to determine how quickly you run through your supplies, so it is important to have extra money set aside initially for this expense.

Once open, you’ll need to maintain a budget for continued marketing. This does not need to be a large expense , especially once you’ve established a solid client base and word of mouth advertising. However, it is important to budget anywhere from $500 to a few thousand dollars annually for ongoing marketing expenses.

Financial Projections

Although you are only in the planning phase of your business right now, it is important to spend some time putting together the most realistic financial projections you can manage. These projections will be especially important when you begin seeking out funding from investors and lenders. They will also help you understand how your business can meet its financial obligations while maintaining a positive cash flow.

If you have not prepared any financial information at this point, you can start by researching industry statistics to develop estimates of what the profits and costs will be for your company. If you still need assistance you can contact a local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) or SCORE , two of SBA's resource partners, through the SBA.gov Local Assistance tool. They are located across the country and provide free business counseling and answers.

Your financial projections should include the following:

• Prospective profit/loss sheet: This summarizes your revenues, costs, and expenses incurred during a specific period of time. It shows the ability of your business to generate profits by increasing revenue and reducing costs.
• Prospective cash flow/budget: This shows how money will come in and go out of your business. This will indicate when your expenses are too high and help you determine if you should arrange short term investments to deal with cash flow surpluses. It will also highlight how much capital investment your business will need.
• Prospective balance sheet: This indicates the future financial health of your business. Using your profit and loss and cash flow spreadsheets, you can project what your balance sheet will look like at the end of your first year.
• Break even analysis: This indicates when your business will be able to cover all of its expenses and begin making a profit.

Complete your business plan

If you’ve made it this far and are ready to get moving on making your business a reality, keep your momentum going by continuing on to our guide to developing a nail salon business .

Featured Articles

Next Step: Developing a Nail Salon

Launching a Nail Salon

Form An LLC

How to Write a Nail Salon Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF

Elon Glucklich

7 min. read

Updated April 1, 2024

Download: Free one-page nail salon sample business plan

Nail trends are changing faster than ever. With social media fueling endless inspiration, people of all ages are embracing self-expression through their appearance, and their nails are no exception.

With the number of manicurists and pedicurists projected to grow 9% in the next decade, this burst of creativity is opening opportunities for nail technicians who dream of owning their own nail salon.

But just because the market is booming doesn’t mean anyone can start a nail salon and be successful. To build a financially stable business, you’ll need to have a sharp understanding of your ideal client, define the unique services that sets you apart, and develop smart marketing strategies to bring customers in your door.

A well-crafted business plan will help you focus your planning efforts on the tactics and strategies that attract loyal clients. And it’s key for convincing banks or investors if you need funding to get started.

• Nail salon business plan checklist

Here are a few sections we recommend including in a nail salon business plan:

Executive summary

• Products & services

Market analysis

• Marketing & sales plan
• Company overview
• Financial plan & forecasts

Writing a business plan thorough enough to impress lenders typically requires following a standard format. But if you aren’t seeking outside funding, you shouldn’t feel like you have to stick to that structure.

For instance, don’t spend too much time on the products and services section of your business plan if you’re writing it to determine how to market your business. Just include the sections that are relevant to your situation.

Here’s an example of a nail salon business plan outline. Just remember that your business plan might have different sections. It’s all about what you need for your business.

The executive summary is essentially your nail salon’s opening pitch. 

It shouldn’t be more than 1-2 pages, and should be written last, despite going first in the plan. Just outline the objective of your business, and your mission. 

Are you focused on intricate nail art, speedy manicures, or a luxurious spa-like experience? 

Then, describe the issue you solve for clients and your unique value proposition — the factor or factors that make you different from the competition. Some examples include:

• A unique combination of services
• An emphasis on naturally made products
• Partnerships with other beauty service providers (hair, makeup, etc.)

The executive summary is all about being concise, but capturing the reader’s interest so that they’ll want to read more.

Products and services

The products and services section is all about detailing your revenue streams. Start with your core nail services. Maybe you offer:

• Gel/acrylics

Once you’ve written down the basics, expand to emphasize any unique offerings, such as:

• Intricate designs
• Complementary services like aromatherapy
• Plant-based ingredients

You should mention any retail products you plan to sell, such as:

• Nail polishes
• Nail care kits
• Hand creams.

These are potentially additional revenue streams for your business. Use the products and services section to focus on your unique value proposition . Maybe you’re known for your eye-catching nail designs, or have partnerships with complementary businesses like hair salons. Anything that contributes to your sales and profitability is worth including.

This is where you get to know your target market and your competition. What’s the size of the nail salon market in your area? Can your customers be grouped factors like:

• Spending habits

The market analysis section should outline the specific groups in your community that you aim to serve, such as working professionals, students, or individuals seeking luxury treatments.

If you’re already running a nail salon, you likely have a sense of your customer demographics. But studying industry trends (like the growing demand for natural nail care) and whether they can help you understand how your customers’ motivations and desires might change over time.

Use your business plan to compile that research, and zero in on the demographics and desires of your perfect client . Maybe they’re:

• Busy professionals seeking quick lunchtime manicures
• Trend-conscious teens and young adults
• Parents looking for some relaxation

You should also scout out your competition . List other nearby salons in your plan, noting their strengths and weaknesses. How will you stand out and win customers over?

Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan describes your strategies to turn your target market into paying clients.

Start by detailing your strategies to reach customers. 

We recommend you prioritize social media channels , as they’re a major driver for the beauty industry. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are ideal for showcasing your nail work. 

Other marketing tactics to consider include:

• Partnerships with local businesses
• Loyalty programs for returning customers
• Incentives for customers who bring friends to your business 

Whichever marketing channels you choose to invest in, remember that your market research and unique value proposition should inform the content you put out to entice consumers. 

For instance, if most of your customers are working professionals, determining other businesses they frequent and seeking our partnership opportunities with them could be a valuable approach. But if your clients are mostly high school and college students, you’re most likely to be successful with an engaging social media campaign.

Make sure to track the results of your marketing efforts as well, so you know which strategies are paying off.

Company Overview

The company overview is where you highlight your team and business history. (If you aren’t seeking a loan or investment, you can likely skip this section).

Outline your business structure . Are you a:

• Sole proprietor
• Partnership
• Corporation

Then, highlight your team. Even if it’s just you, summarize your experience and any special certifications you hold. If you have key employees like nail salon technicians, a manager, or an administrative assistant, list their experience and skills. And if you plan on hiring, briefly mention the skills you’ll be looking for in future team members.

If you already have customers or brand partnerships, mention them in this section as well.

Financial Plan

The financial plan is all about deciding how successful your business can be. You’ll need a few things:

Sales Forecast : How much do you realistically expect to bring in each month? Consider the average price of services and how many clients you can serve.

Profit and Loss (P&L) : This lists your income minus expenses. Don’t forget things like rent, nail polish, and staff salaries.

Cash Flow Statement : This shows when money comes in and goes out, which is crucial for managing bills.

Startup Costs : If you’re seeking a loan, itemize costs like salon equipment, initial inventory, and any renovations.

Detail the assumptions behind your profitability and starting capital projections to provide clarity on your market analysis and expectations. Also, outline any potential risks, such as economic downturns affecting discretionary spending. And if you’re seeking funding, outline here how you will use those funds to support your business operations.

This optional section is where you include extra materials that strengthen your main points, but don’t fit in the actual plan. 

Maybe you surveyed customers about their preferences for a new product line, or researched the demographics of your neighborhood online. 

Include those reports in the appendix, if you think anyone reading the plan will benefit from the additional information. 

Remember, only include items that truly add value to your plan.

• Download your free nail salon one page sample business plan

Download our nail salon sample business plan template right now for free. You can also view other salon and spa business plan templates , or browse Bplans’ gallery of more than 550 sample business plans to find more inspiration. 

In a space as full of entrepreneurs as the nail industry, standing out is crucial, and writing a business plan is one of the best ways to make sure you set yourself apart with a strategy that’s financially viable and built for long-term success.

And remember, you’ll need a plan if you’re looking for a loan or investment to fund your business.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

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How to Write a Nail Salon Business Plan in 2024?

Having a nail salon business plan is essential if you want to set and meet targets for your new business, figure out your marketing strategy and have a roadmap for daily operations.

What You Will Learn

We’ll look at the basics of creating your nail salon business plan, some important business planning tips, plus a nail salon business plan checklist and template to help you get going.

Jump to the Section You Like

What is a nail salon business plan, why does your nail salon need a business plan, nail salon business plan template.

Your nail salon business plan does a lot more than track day to day operations.

It’s a competitive analysis of your own business, complete with market research, a financial plan, mission statement and long term strategy for promoting and growing your company. It will usually also include a plan for supporting your nail technicians and staff’s needs.

A nail salon business plan usually includes both an executive summary of the plan (we’ll describe this in more detail later) plus a nail salon business description and the actions you’ll take to establish your nail salon and build a loyal customer base.

It contains your market research and shows that you understand industry trends, outlines your business goals, has a sample budget, and outlines your target market and services you’ll provide.

Your business plan is also something you can look back on to check how your nail salon is doing, make sure that you’re “on target” to meet your financial goals, and make any adjustments as needed.

This makes it easier to adjust your nail salons marketing plan, check financial projections and make data-based decisions rather than reacting based on feelings or assumptions.

Nail salon businesses aren’t the only ones that need a plan.

In reality, every established or up-and-coming company needs to have a business plan to help them with financial projections and business decisions.

Even if you’re just trying to secure a loan, attract new investors or get a better idea of your expenses and potential to attract new clients, a nail salon financial plan and business strategy is essential.

Whether you’re running your own nail salon or managing one, a plan for your small business is just as crucial as having the right staff or equipment.

Your business plan will make it easier to create your nail salon’s marketing plan, brainstorm improvement ideas and hold effective team meetings where you can discuss your nail services, business expenses and strategies to target customers.

It’s your roadmap to help you and your team stay on track with your vision and target market’s needs.

Key Elements of a Good Nail Salon Business Plan

If you’re wondering how to start, nail salon business plan structures may look a bit different depending on the salon owners, business size and clientele, but they have some key things in common.

They always outline your objectives, identify your target market, services provided, projected sales and revenue, as well as your marketing tactics, potential expenses and financial plan as a whole.

If you’re a new nail salon, it will contain your startup costs and business structure. If you’re an experienced nail salon owner, the plan will show that you have a solid grasp of where your business stands and where you’d like it to be in the future.

Let’s take a look at some of this in more detail:

How to Start a Nail Salon Business Plan?

Having your nail salon business plan ready to go is an important first step that can give you (and any investors) a clear picture of your business structure. It’s also a great way to stay focused on your goals and mission statement when making decisions.

To start a business in the nail salon industry, you’ll need to:

• Gather Necessary Info: Look into current nail salon market trends, research the local market and competitors, client segmentation, and your potential new customers and target market.
• Create Clear Quantitative Targets: Conduct a market analysis and base these targets on the profits and expenses you’ve projected.
• What Makes You Stand Out: How does your business stack up against the other nail salons out there? Be aware of your strengths and whether you have a unique selling point, then decide on a marketing plan. Maybe you’re the only one that specializes in french manicures or uv gel overlays in your area- find out.
• Understand the Potential Roadblocks: Do your homework and list out everything that could potentially affect your startup costs, revenue or the time it takes to get your nail salon open and running. Budget for these possibilities in your financial plan.
• Consider Using a Free Template: A free nail salon business plan template is easy to find online and a great way to get everything organized- you can always make adjustments to a premade template as needed instead of building one from scratch.
• Ask for Professional Help: Whether you’re dealing with a small business or a large chain of nail salons, don’t shy away from hiring a professional consultant to help you with the details of your market analysis, mission statement or executive summary.

Here are a few examples of what should be included in your nail salon’s business plan:

This is the first thing potential investors (and anyone else who has an interest in helping or running your nail salon) will see. Be sure to include:

• Your Businesses Name (and logo, if you have one)
• Your Contact Information

Table of Contents

A good business plan is organized, and a table of contents will make it easier to find information quickly. Separate your financial data, marketing plan and other details into clear sections.

Executive Summary

This is where you’ll make your first impression. TYour executive summary should always include the following:

• Your Nail Salon’s Mission Statement (briefly explain your business goals and your plan to achieve these goals)
• A Vision Statement (where do you see your nail salon in five years, for example?)
• An Overview (briefly explain your nail salon’s concept, and give a summary of what the plan will cover)
• Keys for Success (what do you need for your business to get started and stay on the right track)

Business Description

This is a brief explanation of your business and the services you’ll provide:

• Where You’re Located
• What Services You’ll Offer (or new services you’d like to expand to provide)
• Your Staff (including the number of nail technicians plan to hire)
• A General Overview of the Nail Salon Industry in Your Area (and what sets you apart from the competition)

Target Market

Who are your target clientele and how would you describe them? Consider the following:

• What demographic will you provide services to?
• Where are they located? Do they live or work in the area? Are they students?
• Why did you choose them? (Your chosen clientele will influence future business decisions like staff training, retail products, decor and equipment purchases)
• What do these clients want (and how will you provide it)?
• Why should they choose you? (What makes you more appealing than your competitors?)

Think about conducting a nail salon SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to get a better picture of these details as you’re putting the plan together.

Competitive Analysis

Understand the market you’re entering and be ready to explain:

• Who are your competitors?
• Where are they located in relation to you?
• In what ways are you similar/ different?
• Will you share the same pool of clients?
• If so, will you offer services that make you stand out and keep customers coming back?

Management Plan

A nail salon’s management plan breaks down how your business will be run. As the owner, you should explain:

• The Company’s Structure (this will differ a lot depending on the size of your business- a home nail salon business plan will be relatively simple, whereas a large multi-location facility needs more detailed management)
• Your Management Strategy (major business goals, projections and targets for the next few years, and how you plan to achieve these)
• Staffing Information (how many team members you’ll need in which roles)

To learn more about nail salon management improvement check out our post How To Improve Nail Salon Management Efficiency .

Products and Services

Including these in the business plan makes it easy for anyone (including angel investors) to see that you’ve got a solid grasp of your future revenue, profit margins and projected expenses. Include the following:

• Any products (including nail polish or nail-care items) you’ll use
• Retail products
• Each service you’ll provide

List these items in detail, breaking down the prices of each, their costs and profitability.

Marketing Plan

How will you reach new customers and expand? What advertising will you use and how much will it cost? What about low-cost or no-cost marketing options? You can include a more general overview here, but you should still do lots of research and planning.

Explain your:

• Nail Salon Marketing Plan (give an overview of how you’ll reach and bring in new clients- explain your target market and how you’ll reach out to them)
• Your Sales Strategies and Promotions (how will you move products and retain loyal clientele)
• Advertising Strategy (how will you spread the word about your nail salon’s services- include your social media plan)
• Your Branding (define your brand- crucial if you’re expanding existing locations or trying to reach a new market segment)

Consider this in terms of your retail products and your services. Be sure to go over:

• How you plan to introduce your products and services
• How you will market these to clients
• Why your offerings are unique/special/appealing to your clients
• Projected sales goals and targets
• A breakdown of projected income from both services and product sales
• Your cost estimates and financing plan for extras like training or new equipment needed

Do not miss to check out our post Eye-Catching Nail Salon Business Card Ideas .

Financial Plan

You’ll need to know how much it will cost to get started and have a plan to become profitable as soon as you can, especially when you’re talking to investors. Try to get these details figured out in as much detail as possible. Prepare your:

• Financial Statements
• Assumptions (including things like detailed costs and expenses forecasts)
• Profits and Loss Projections (including your break even point)
• Your Balance Sheets (if you have them for an existing business)
• Any Loans and Debts for Your Business

Pro Tip: Have a financial advisor or professional take a look at the numbers in your financial plan and go over any details before you finalize it. They can provide valuable advice and insight.

Do not miss our post Nail Salon Price List .

Operating Plan

This breaks down the day-to-day details of running your business, such as:

• Your Main Location (this can be a central office for a nail salon chain, if you have more than one location)
• Your Management Structure

Additional Information

Make sure to include any other details that you think investors, financial professionals or management should know. This might be:

• Any Additional Documents
• Relevant Statements, Policies or Information

You can include these in the final pages of your nail salons business plan. Often, it’s helpful to add an appendix here.

We also recommend you check out our blogs on How to Open a Nail Salon and Nail Technician Duties .

If you’re concerned about the cost of creating a professional business plan for your new nail salon, then you’re not alone. It can be a bit intimidating at first.

Even seasoned nail professionals and business people might not have the time or the resources to build all of this from scratch. That’s why we’ve done our best to help. We’ve put together a nails salon business plan free template that you can use and modify to fit your needs.

By using our free sample of a nail salon business plan, you’ll be able to save time and effort on the “red tape” and focus on the details.

Do not miss our post Top 165 Nail Captions for Instagram .

Nail salons are a lot of work, and getting started in the industry is no exception. Having a business plan that you can refer to is a good way to make sure that the decisions you make are the right ones to keep you on the right track and grow your business.

Writing your nail salon business plan is a big job, but it shouldn’t feel like a chore. In fact, it’s the best way to show your love and enthusiasm for your business- this is your chance to outline your goals and think about how you’ll make them a reality.

How to write a great business plan https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel3/46/14446/00660335.pdf

The successful business plan: secrets & strategies https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hp

How to write a business plan https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=jFFCGKTjQ4MC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=business+plan&ots=5lkUASJ0Fg&sig=xnE0G_SfvfLXhAbuuKOpG67UIqo

About the author Bartek Kulasza

Bartek Kulasza creates informative content that focuses on efficient business management. He covers salon software, marketing and sales, budgeting and reporting, salon design and equipment, inventory management, growing customer base, helping businesses optimize operations, enhancing customer experience, and increasing profitability.

• Nail Salons
• How to Write a Nail Salon Business Plan

How to open a nail bar?

Want to start a nail bar but don't know where to begin? Then you've come to the right place!

Our comprehensive guide covers everything related to opening a nail bar - from choosing the right concept to setting out your marketing plan and financing your business.

You'll also learn how to assess the profitability of your business idea and decide whether or not it can be viable from a financial perspective.

Ready to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey? Let's begin!

In this guide:

• What is the business model of a nail bar?
• What is the ideal founding team for my nail bar?
• Is there room for another nail bar on the market?

How should I position my nail bar on the market?

• Where should I base my nail bar?
• What legal form should I choose for my nail bar?

How much money do I need to start a nail bar?

• How will I promote my nail bar's?
• How do I build my nail bar financial forecast?
• How do I choose a name and register my nail bar?
• What corporate identity do I want for my nail bar?
• What legal steps are needed to start a nail bar?

How do I write a business plan for a nail bar?

• How to raise finance for my nail bar?
• What to do after launching my nail bar?

Key takeaways

Understanding how a nail bar works.

The very first step when exploring a business idea such as starting a nail bar is to make sure you understand how the business operates and makes money (which is what we call the business model).

This will not only give you an initial idea of how profitable the business can be, but it will also enable you to make sure that this is the right business idea for you, given your skills, start-up capital and family or personal lifestyle, in particular.

The best ways to get to grips with the nail bar's business model are to:

Talk to nail bar owners with experience

Work a few months in a nail bar already in operation, take a training course.

Experienced nail bar owners have valuable insights and can provide practical advice based on their firsthand experiences. 

They've likely encountered and overcome challenges that a newcomer might not anticipate. Learning from other’s mistakes can save you both time and money and potentially increase your venture’s chances of succeeding.

Obtaining work experience in the industry can be a crucial factor in confirming whether you truly want to start a nail bar, as it provides insight into the day-to-day activities.

For instance, if the working hours are longer than expected or if other business requirements don't align with your personal lifestyle or preferences, you might reconsider your entrepreneurial goals.

Even if you've decided that this business idea is a good fit for you, gaining work experience will still be valuable. It helps you better understand your target market and customer needs, which is likely to be beneficial when launching your own nail bar.

Obtaining training within your chosen industry is another way to get a feel for how a nail bar works before deciding to pursue a new venture.

Whatever approach you choose to familiarise yourself with the business, before going any further with your plans to open a nail bar, make sure you understand:

• What skills are required to run the business (compare this with your own skills)
• What a typical week in the business is like (compare this with your personal or family life)
• What is the potential turnover of a nail bar and the long-term growth prospects (compare this with your level of ambition)
• Your options once you decide to sell the business or retire (it's never too early to consider your exit)

Create your business plan online!

Think your business idea could be profitable? Find out how with a business plan

Assembling your nail bar's founding team

The next step to opening your nail bar is to think about the ideal founding team, or to decide to go in alone.

Starting and growing a successful business doesn't have to be a solo journey and setting up a nail bar with several co-founders is generally easier. The business benefits from a management team with a wider skillset, decisions are made together, and the financial risk is shared among the partners, making the journey more collaborative and less daunting.

But, running a business with several partners brings its own challenges. Disagreements between co-founders are quite common, and these can pose risks to the business. That's why it's crucial to consider all aspects before starting your own business.

We won't go into too much detail here, as this is a complex topic that deserves its own guide, but we do recommend that you ask yourself the following questions:

What is the ideal number of co-founders for this venture?

Are you on the same wavelength as your potential partners in terms of vision and ambition , how will you deal with potential failure.

Let's look at each of these questions in more detail.

To answer this question you will need to consider the following:

• What skills do you need to run the business? Are you lacking any?
• How much startup capital do you need? How much do you have?
• How are key decisions going to be made? - It is usually advisable to have an odd number of partners (or a majority shareholder) to help break the tie.

Put simply, your co-founders contribute skills, capital, or both. Increasing the number of partners becomes advantageous when there is a deficiency in either of these resources.

Your business partners should share the same short and long-term vision, be it business expansion or social responsibility, to avoid future frustrations and simplify decision-making. Different views are natural, but alignment is ideal.

In any case, you should think of having an exit mechanism in place in case one of the partners wants to move on.

We wish you nothing but success when starting up and growing your nail bar, but it's always wise to have a backup in case things don't go as planned.

How you deal with a potential failure can vary significantly based on the relationship you have with your business partner (close friend, spouse, ex-colleague, etc.) and the personal circumstances of each of you. 

For instance, starting a business with your spouse might seem appealing, but if it doesn't succeed, you risk losing 100% of the household income at once, which could be stressful.

Similarly, going into a partnership with a friend can put pressure on the friendship in the event of failure or when you need to make difficult decisions.

There is no wrong answer, but it is essential to carefully evaluate your options before starting up to ensure you're well-prepared for any potential outcomes.

Conducting market research for a nail bar

The next step in launching a nail bar is to carry out market research. Let's take a look at what this involves.

The objectives of market research

The objective here is very simple: to assess the level of demand for your business and whether there is an opportunity for it to thrive in your chosen location. 

The first step will be to check that the market is not saturated with competing offers and that there is room for a new player: your nail bar.

Your market analysis will also help you identify a concept and market positioning that has every chance of being successful in your target market, thereby helping increase your business's chances of success.

Carrying out market research for your nail bar will also enable you to better understand the expectations of your future customers and the most effective ways to communicate with them in your marketing plan.

Analyse key trends in the industry

Your market research should start with an industry analysis in order to gain a good understanding of the main players and current trends in your sector.

Once you've delved into the current state of the market, it will be time to assess what proportion of your target market can be seized by your nail bar. To do this, you will need to consider both the demand and supply side of the market.

Assess the demand

After checking out the industry, let's shift our focus to figuring out what your potential customers want and how they like to buy.

A classic mistake made by first-time entrepreneurs is to assess demand on the global or national market instead of concentrating on their target market. Only the market share that can be captured by your company in the short term matters. 

Your demand analysis should seek to find answers to the following questions:

• Who are your target customers?
• How many are there?
• What are their expectations?
• What are their buying habits?
• How much budget do they have?
• What are the different customer segments and their characteristics?
• What are the main distribution channels and means of communication for reaching each segment?

The aim of the demand analysis is to identify the customer segments that could be targeted by your nail bar and what products and services you need to offer to meet their expectations.

Analyse the supply side

You will also have to familiarize yourself with the competing nail bars on the market targeted by your future business.

Amongst other things, you’ll need to ask yourself:

• Who are the main competitors?
• How many competitors are already present?
• Where are they located?
• How many people do they employ?
• What is their turnover?
• How do they set their prices?
• Are they small independent businesses or national players?
• Do they seem to be in difficulty or are they flourishing? 
• What is their market positioning?
• What types of products and services do they offer?
• What do customers seem to like about them?

The aim of the competitive analysis is to identify who your competitors will be and to gather information that will help you find a differentiating commercial positioning (more on that later in this guide).

Regulations

Conducting market research is also an opportunity to look at the regulations and conditions required to do business.

You should ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you need to have a specific degree to open a nail bar?
• Do you need specific licences or permits?
• What are the main regulations applicable to your future business?

Given that your project is at an early stage, your focus should be to clear that there are no roadblocks from a regulatory standpoint before you deep dive into the planning process.

Once your project is more advanced, you will have the opportunity to talk about regulation more in-depth with your lawyer.

Concluding your market research

By the time your market research is completed, you should have either:

• Pinpointed an untapped business opportunity
• Or arrived at the realisation that the market is saturated, prompting the search for alternative business ideas or models.

If the conclusion is that there is an opportunity in the market to cater to one or more customer segments currently overlooked by competitors, that's great!

Conversely, if you come to the conclusion that the market is already saturated, don’t panic! The good news is that you won’t spend several years working hard on a project that has little chance of success. There is no shortage of business ideas either - at The Business Plan Shop, we have identified more than 1,300 potential business ideas!

Don't start from scratch!

With dozens of business plan templates available, get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like

The next step to start your nail bar is to define precisely the market positioning your company will adopt in order to capitalise on the opportunity identified during your market research.

Market positioning refers to the place your product and service offering occupies in customers' minds and how they differ from the competition. Being perceived as a low-cost solution, for example.

To find a concept and a market positioning that will resonate with your customers, you need to address the following issues: 

How can you differentiate yourself from your competitors?

Do you have the option of joining a franchise to reduce risk, is it better to start or buy a nail bar already in operation, how will you validate your concept and market positioning before investing in the business.

Let's look at these aspects in more detail.

Opening a nail bar means starting with a major disadvantage compared with competitors already active on the market. 

While you will have to create everything from scratch, your competitors already have everything in place.

Your competitors' teams know the business well, whereas yours has only just been recruited, their customers are loyal and they benefit from word of mouth that you don't yet have.

So you're going to need a solid plan to succeed in taking market share from your competitors and making your mark.

There are a number of aspects to consider in order to try to avoid direct confrontation if possible: 

• Can you target a different customer base than your competitors?
• Can you offer products or services that are different from or complementary to what your competitors already sell?
• How will your competitors react to your nail bar entering their market?
• Can you build a sustainable competitive advantage that will enable you to compete with your current and future competitors?

A proven way of reducing the risk of your business venture is to join a franchise.

Joining a nail bar franchise means you don't have to start from scratch. You benefit from the brand recognition of a group and support with operational processes, relations with suppliers, recruitment, etc.

On the flip side, being part of a franchise will restrict your personal freedom, and you'll have to pay an entry fee and an annual royalty (typically a percentage of your sales).

Nevertheless, where possible, starting up as a franchise is generally a good way of reducing risks, especially if you're up against competitors with well-known brands.  

Please note, however, that franchising opportunities vary from country to country and region to region, so there is no guarantee that you'll be able to find a franchise.

The other alternative to setting up a new independent business is to buy out and take over a nail bar already in operation. 

Here too, a takeover is a good way of reducing the risk of your project compared with a pure start-up.

Taking over a business has two enormous advantages over setting up a new one: you start out on an equal footing with your competitors since you take over the team and the customer base, and you don't increase the supply on the market enabling you to maintain the existing balance on the market where the business operates.

However, as with franchising, the capital requirements for a takeover are higher because the business will have to be bought from its previous owners.

However you decide to set up your business, you will need to ensure that there is a good fit between what you sell and what customers are looking to buy.

To do this, you'll need to meet your target customers to present your products or services and check that they meet their expectations.

Deciding where to base your nail bar

The next step to opening a nail bar is deciding where you want to set up your business.

Choosing the right location for your business is like finding the perfect stage for a play. Without it, your business may lack the spotlight it deserves.

Whilst there is no “perfect” location for your nail bar, one that meets as many of the following factors as possible could be ideal:

This list is obviously not exhaustive and will have to be adapted to the particularities of your project. 

Once you’ve considered the factors above, it’s important to think about the budget that your startup has at its disposal. You’ll need to find a location that meets your business requirements but is affordable enough, especially short-term.

If you opt for renting instead of buying your premises, make sure to take into account the terms of the lease, including aspects such as the duration, rent increase, renewal, and so on.

The lease contractual terms vary greatly from country to country, so be sure to check the terms applicable to your situation and have your lease reviewed by your lawyer before signing.

Decide on a legal form for your nail bar

It's now time to think about the legal structure for your nail bar.

The legal form of a business simply means the legal structure it operates under. This structure outlines how the business is set up and defines its legal obligations and responsibilities.

What are the most common legal structures?

Naturally, the names and intricacies of business structures differ by country. However, they typically fit into two main categories:

Individual businesses

Individual businesses are usually a good fit for self-employed individuals and freelancers who want limited administrative work. These types of entrepreneurs are commonly referred to as sole traders or sole proprietorships.

As mentioned above, the main benefit of being a sole trader is that minimal paperwork is required to launch and operate the business. Tax calculations are also relatively simple and annual accounts are not always required (and when they are, usually don't need to be audited) which saves a bit of time and money on bookkeeping and accounting fees.

Decision-making is also easy as the final decision is fully dependent on the sole trader (even if employees are hired).

However, being a sole trader also has drawbacks. The main disadvantage is that there is no separation between the individual running day-to-day operations and the business.

This means that if the business were to file for bankruptcy or legal disputes were to arise, the individual would be liable for any debts and their personal assets subsequently at risk. In essence, sole traders have unlimited liability.

This also means that profits earned by the business are usually taxed under the personal income tax category of the sole trader.

Another drawback is that sole traders might find it harder to finance their business. Debt (bank loan for example) is likely to be the only source of external financing given that the business doesn't have a share capital (effectively preventing equity investors from investing in their business).

Companies are more flexible and more robust than individual businesses. They are suitable for projects of all sizes and can be formed by one or more individuals, working on their own or with employees.

Unlike individual businesses, companies are recognised as distinct entities that have their own legal personality. Usually, there is also a limited liability which means that founders and investors cannot lose more than the capital they have invested into the business.

This means that there is a clear legal separation between the company and its owners (co-founders and investors), which protects the latter's personal assets in the event of legal disputes or bankruptcy.

Entrepreneurs using companies also gain the advantage of being able to attract equity investment by selling shares in the business.

As you can see companies offer better protection and more financing options, but this comes at a trade-off in terms of red-tape and complexity.

From a taxation perspective, companies are usually liable for corporation tax on their profits, and the income received by the owners running the business is taxed separately (like normal employees).

Normally, companies also have to produce annual accounts, which might have to be audited, and hold general assemblies, among other formalities.

How should I choose my nail bar's legal setup?

Choosing the right legal setup is often simple once you figure out things like how many partners you'll have, if you hire employees, and how much money you expect to make.

Remember, a great business idea can work well no matter which legal structure you pick. Tax laws change often, so you shouldn't rely too much on getting specific tax benefits from a certain structure when getting started.

You could start by looking at the legal structures most commonly utilised by your competitors. As your idea evolves and you're ready to officially register your business, it's a good idea to confirm your choice using inputs from a lawyer and an accountant.

Can I switch my nail bar's legal structure if I get it wrong?

Yes, you have the flexibility to change your legal setup later, which might include selling the existing one and adopting a new structure in certain situations. Keep in mind, though, that this restructuring comes with additional expenses, so making the right choice from the start is usually more cost-effective.

To answer this key question, we first need to look at the resources you'll need to launch your nail bar and keep it running on a daily basis. Let's take a look at what that entails.

Since each venture is distinct, providing an average budget for starting a nail bar is impossible.

We strongly advise careful consideration when reading estimates on the web. It’s best to ask yourself the following questions:

• Is my project similar (location, concept, planned size, etc.)?
• Can I trust where this information is coming from?
• Is the data fresh or stale?

Your thinking behind the investments and human resources required to launch and operate the business will then enable you to cost each item and include them in your financial forecast (which we'll look at later in this guide).

Once complete, the forecast will give you a precise idea of the initial investment required and profitability potential for your business idea.

Startup costs and investments to start a nail bar

Let's start with the investments. To set up a nail bar, initial working capital and investments can include the following items:

• Nail stations and chairs: These are essential items for a nail bar as they provide a comfortable and professional working space for technicians and clients. Your expenditure forecast should include the cost of purchasing or leasing high-quality nail stations and chairs that are durable and ergonomic.
• Manicure and pedicure equipment: This includes items such as nail polish, nail files, buffers, cuticle pushers, and foot baths. These are essential tools for providing nail services and should be included in your expenditure forecast. Make sure to consider the cost of restocking these items regularly.
• Sterilization equipment: In a nail bar, it is crucial to maintain a clean and hygienic environment for the safety of both technicians and clients. This may include items such as autoclaves, UV sterilizers, and disposable tools. These are one-time purchases, but keep in mind the cost of maintenance and replacement.
• Point-of-sale system: A modern and efficient point-of-sale system is essential for managing bookings, inventory, and transactions in a nail bar. Your expenditure forecast should include the cost of purchasing or leasing a reliable system that meets the specific needs of your business.
• Salon furniture and decor: This includes items such as reception desks, waiting area furniture, and decorative elements. These items are not essential for providing nail services, but they contribute to creating a welcoming and attractive environment for clients. Your expenditure forecast should include the cost of purchasing or leasing these items.

Of course, you will need to adapt this list to your company's specific needs.

Staffing requirements to operate a nail bar

You'll also need to think about the staff required to run the business on a day-to-day basis.

The human resources required will vary according to the size of your company.

Once again, this list is only indicative and will need to be adjusted according to the specifics of your nail bar.

Operating expenses of a nail bar

The final point to consider when analyzing the resources required is the question of operating costs.

Operating expenses for a nail bar may include:

• Rent: This is the cost of leasing a space for your nail bar. It can vary depending on the location and size of the space.
• Utilities: These are expenses for electricity, water, and gas needed to run your nail bar.
• Supplies: This includes the cost of nail polish, acrylics, gels, cotton balls, and other supplies needed for manicures and pedicures.
• Equipment: This covers the cost of purchasing and maintaining equipment such as nail dryers, manicure tables, and pedicure chairs.
• Staff Costs: This includes salaries, wages, and benefits for your nail technicians and other employees.
• Marketing and Advertising: This covers the cost of promoting your nail bar through advertisements, social media, and other marketing efforts.
• Accountancy Fees: You may need to hire an accountant to manage your finances and file taxes for your nail bar.
• Insurance Costs: This includes insurance for your business, employees, and any liability insurance.
• Software Licences: You may need to purchase software for booking appointments, managing inventory, and other business operations.
• Banking Fees: This includes fees for processing credit card payments and other banking services.
• Cleaning and Maintenance: This covers the cost of keeping your nail bar clean and well-maintained.
• Professional Memberships and Training: You may need to pay for memberships to professional associations and training for your staff.
• Taxes and Licences: This includes business taxes and any necessary licenses or permits for your nail bar.
• Renters Insurance: If you are leasing the space for your nail bar, you may need to purchase renters insurance to protect your business.
• Credit Card Processing Fees: This covers the cost of processing credit card payments for your services.

Here also, this list will need to be tailored to the specifics of your nail bar but should be a good starting point for your budget.

Create a sales & marketing plan for your nail bar

The next step to launching your nail bar is to think about the actions you need to take to promote your products and services and build customer loyalty.

Here, you'll be looking at the following issues:

• What is the best method to attract as many new customers as possible?
• How to build customer loyalty and spread word of mouth?
• What human and financial resources will be required to implement the planned actions?
• What level of sales can I expect to generate in return?

The precise sales and marketing levers to activate will depend on the size of your nail bar. But you could potentially leverage some of the initiatives below.

Besides your sales and marketing plan, your sales forecast will be affected by seasonal patterns related to the nature of your business, such as fluctuations during the holiday season, and your competitive landscape.

Building your nail bar's financial forecast

The next step to opening a nail bar is to create your financial forecast.

What is a nail bar financial forecast?

A nail bar financial forecast is a forward-looking tool that projects the financial performance of your business over a specific period (usually 3 years for start-ups). 

A forecast looks at your business finances in detail - from income to operating costs and investments - to evaluate its expected profitability and future cash flows.

Building a financial forecast enables you to determine the precise amount of initial financing required to start your nail bar.

There are many promising business ideas but very few are actually viable and making a financial forecast is the only way to ensure that your project holds up economically and financially.

Your financial forecast will also be part of your overall business plan (which we will detail in a later step), which is the document you will need to secure financing.

Financial forecasts are used to drive your nail bar and make key decisions, both in the pre and post-launch phases:

• Should we go ahead with the business or scrap the idea?
• Should we hire staff or use an external service provider?
• Which development project offers the best growth prospects?

Creating a financial forecast for starting a nail bar is an iterative process as you will need to refine your numbers as your business idea matures. 

As your nail bar grows, your forecasts will become more accurate. You will also need to test different scenarios to ensure that your business model holds true even if economic conditions deteriorate (lower sales than expected, difficulties in recruiting, sudden cost increases or equipment failure problems, for example).

Once you’ve launched your business, it will also be important to regularly compare your accounting data to your financial projections in order to keep your forecast up-to-date and maintain visibility on future cash flows.

What does a financial forecast look like?

Once ready, your nail bar forecast will be presented using the financial tables below.

The forecasted profit & loss statement

The profit & loss forecast gives you a clear picture of your business’ expected growth over the first three to five years, and whether it’s likely to be profitable or not.

The projected balance sheet

Your nail bar's forecasted balance sheet enables you to assess your financial structure and working capital requirements.

The projected cash flow statement

A projected cash flow statement to start a nail bar is used to show how much cash the business is expected to generate or consume over the first three years.

Which solution should you use to make a financial forecast for your nail bar?

The easiest and safest way to create your nail bar forecasts is to use an online financial forecasting software , like the one we offer at The Business Plan Shop.

There are several advantages to using professional software:

• You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You have access to complete financial forecast templates
• You get a complete financial forecast ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• The software helps you identify and correct any inconsistencies in your figures
• You can create scenarios to stress-test your forecast's main assumptions to stress-test the robustness of your business model
• After you start trading, you can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast, and recalibrate your forecast to maintain visibility on your future cash flows
• You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you are interested in this type of solution, you can try our forecasting software for free by signing up here .

Choose a name and register your nail bar

The next phase in launching your nail bar involves selecting a name for your company.

This stage is trickier than it seems. Finding the name itself is quite fun; the difficulty lies in finding one that is available and being the first to reserve it.

You cannot take a name that is similar to a name already used by a competitor or protected by a registered trademark without inevitably risking legal action.

So you need to find a name that is available, and be able to register it before someone else can.

In addition, you will probably want to use the same name for:

• Your company’s legal name - Example LTD
• Your business trading name - Example
• The trademark - Example ® 
• Your company’s domain name - Example.com

The problem is that the procedures for registering these different names are carried out in different places, each with their own deadlines:

• Registering a domain name takes only a few minutes
• Registering a new trademark takes at least 12 weeks (if your application is accepted)
• The time taken to register a new business depends on the country, but it's generally fast

You will therefore be faced with the choice of: either registering everything at once and hoping that your name will be accepted everywhere, or proceeding step by step in order to minimise costs, but taking the risk that someone else will register one of the names you wanted in the meantime.

Our advice is to discuss strategy with your legal counsel (see further down in this guide) and prioritise your domain names and registered trademarks. You'll always have the option of using a trade name that's different from your company's legal name, and that's not a big deal.

To check that the name you want is not already in use, you should consult:

• Your country's business register
• The relevant trademark registers depending on which countries you want to register your trade mark in
• A domain name reservation company such as GoDaddy
• An Internet search engine

In this area too, your legal counsel will be able to help with the research and formalities.

Deciding upon the corporate identity of your nail bar

The next step in opening a nail bar is to look at your company's visual identity. 

Your company's “visual identity” plays a crucial role in shaping your brand image. It helps you to be recognizable and to stand out from your competitors. 

Although you can define your visual identity yourself, it is generally advisable to call on the services of a designer or marketing agency to achieve a professional result.

At a minimum, you will need to define the following elements: 

Brand guidelines

Business cards, website theme.

Your nail bar's logo allows others to quickly identify your company. It will be used on all your communication media (website, social networks, business cards, etc.) and official documents (invoices, contracts, etc.).

In addition to its design, it's important that your logo is available in a variety of colors, so that it can be seen on all media (white, dark background, etc.).

Having brand guidelines enables you to maintain consistency in formatting across all your communications media and official documents. 

Brand guidelines define the font (family and size), design and colours used by your brand. 

In terms of fonts, for example, you may use Roboto in size 20 for your titles and Lato in size 14 for your texts. 

The colours used to represent your brand should generally be limited to five: 

• The main colour, 
• A secondary colour (the accent),
• A dark background colour (blue or black),
• A grey background colour (to vary from white),
• Possibly another secondary colour.

Designing business cards for your nail bar is a must, as they will allow you to communicate your contact details to your customers, suppliers, partners, potential recruits, etc. 

In principle, they will include your logo and the brand guidelines that we mentioned above.

In the same way, the theme of your nail bar website will be based on your logo and the brand guidelines we mentioned above.

This involves defining the look and feel of your site's main graphic elements:

Navigate the legal and regulatory requirements for launching your nail bar

The next thing to do in getting a nail bar off the ground is to handle all the legal and regulatory requirements. We recommend that you be accompanied by a law firm for all of the steps outlined below.

Intellectual property

One of your priorities will be to ensure that your company's intellectual property is adequately protected.

As explained before, you can choose to register a trademark. Your lawyer can help you with a detailed search to make sure your chosen trademark is unique and doesn't clash with existing ones.

They'll assist in preparing the required documents and steer you in picking the right categories and locations for trademark registration.

Moreover, your lawyer can offer guidance on additional measures to protect other intellectual property assets your company may have.

Getting your nail bar paperwork in order

For day-to-day operations, your nail bar will need to rely on a set of contractual documents. 

Your exact needs in this respect will depend on the country in which you are launching your nail bar, the number of partners and the envisaged size of the company. 

However, you will probably need at least the following documents:

• Employment contracts 
• General terms and conditions of sale
• General terms and conditions of use for your website
• Privacy Policy for your website
• Cookie Policy for your website

Applying for licences and permits and registering for various taxes

Operating your business legally may require licences and business permits. The exact requirements applicable to your situation will depend on the country in which you set up your nail bar.

The lawyers who advise you will also be able to guide you with regard to all the rules applicable to your business.

Similarly, your accountant will be able to help you take the necessary steps to comply with the tax authorities.

Once you've completed all the above steps, you can start writing the business plan for your nail bar.

What is a nail bar's business plan?

The business plan is a document containing:

• The financial forecast (discussed earlier in this guide), highlighting the project's financing requirements and profitability potential,
• A written presentation, which presents your project in detail and provides the necessary context for the reader to assess the relevance and coherence of your forecast.

The business plan is particularly important: it will help you validate your business idea and ensure its coherence and financial viability.

But it's also the document you'll send to your bank and potential investors to present your plan to open a nail bar and make them want to support you.

So it's best to draw up a professional, reliable and error-free business plan. 

How to write a business plan for my nail bar?

If you're not used to writing business plans, or if you want to save time, a good solution is to use an online business plan software for startups like the one we offer at The Business Plan Shop.

Using The Business Plan Shop to create a business plan for a nail bar has several advantages:

• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can access a library of dozens of complete startup business plan samples and templates for inspiration
• You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
• You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast by importing accounting data
• You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows

Interested? If so, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

Raise the financing needed to launch your nail bar

With your business plan in hand, you can tackle one of the final steps to open a nail bar  business: the search for financing.

Raising the capital needed to launch your business will probably require a combination of equity and debt, which are the two types of financing available to companies.

Equity funding

Equity is the sum of money invested in a nail bar by both founders and investors.

Equity is a key factor in business start-ups. Should the project fail, the sums invested in equity are likely to be lost; these sums therefore enable the founders to send a strong signal to their commercial and financial partners as to their conviction in the project's chances of success.

In terms of return on investment, equity investors can either receive dividends from the company (provided it is profitable) or realize capital gains by selling their shares (provided a buyer is interested in the company).

Equity providers are therefore in a very risky position. They can lose everything in the event of bankruptcy, and will only see a return on their investment if the company is profitable or resold. On the other hand, they can generate a very high return if the project is a success.

Given their position, equity investors look for start-up projects with sufficient growth and profitability potential to offset their risk.

From a technical standpoint, equity includes:

• Share capital and premiums: which represent the amount invested by the shareholders. This capital is considered permanent as it is non-refundable. In return for their investment, shareholders receive shares that entitle them to information, decision-making power (voting in general assembly), and the potential to receive a portion of any dividends distributed by the company.
• Director loans: these are examples of non-permanent capital advanced to the company by the shareholders. This is a more flexible way of injecting some liquidity into your company as you can repay director loans at any time.
• Reserves: these represent the share of profits set aside to strengthen the company's equity. Allocating a percentage of your profits to the reserves can be mandatory in certain cases (legal or statutory requirement depending on the legal form of your company). Once allocated in reserves, these profits can no longer be distributed as dividends.
• Investment grants: which represent any non-refundable amounts received by the company to help it invest in long-term assets.
• Other equity: which includes the equity items which don't fit in the other categories. Mostly convertible or derivative instruments. For a small business, it is likely that you won't have any other equity items.

The main sources of equity are as follows:

• Contributions made by the owners.
• Private investors: business angels, friends and family.
• Crowdfunding: raising funds by involving a group of people through campaigns where they contribute money or make donations, often getting something in return for their support.
• Start-up aid, e.g. government loans to help founders build up their start-up capital.

Debt financing

Debt is the other way of financing companies. Unlike equity, debt offers lenders a limited, contractually guaranteed return on their investment.

Your nail bar undertakes to pay lenders' interest and repay the capital borrowed according to a pre-agreed schedule. Lenders are therefore making money whether or not your company makes a profit.

As a result, the only risk lenders take is that of your nail bar going bankrupt, so they're extremely conservative and will want to see prudent, hands-on management of the company's finances.

From the point of view of the company and all its stakeholders (workforce, customers, suppliers, etc.), the company's contractual obligation to repay lenders increases the risk for all. As a result, there is a certain caution towards companies which are too heavily indebted.

Businesses can borrow debt in two main ways:

• Against assets: this is the most common way of borrowing. The bank funds a percentage of the price of an asset (a vehicle or a building, for example) and takes the asset as collateral. If the business cannot repay the loan, the bank takes the asset and sells it to reduce losses.
• Against cash flows: the bank looks at how much profit and cash flow the business expects to make in the future. Based on these projections, it assigns a credit risk to the business and decides how much the business can borrow and under what terms (amount, interest rate, and duration of the loan).

It's difficult to borrow against future cash flows when you're starting a nail bar, because the business doesn't yet have historical data to reassure about the credibility of cash flow forecast.

Borrowing to finance a portion of equipment purchases is therefore often the only option available to founders. The assets that can be financed with this option must also be easy to resell, in the unfortunate event that the bank is forced to seize them, which could limit your options even further.

As far as possible sources of borrowing are concerned, the main ones here are banks and credit institutions. Bear in mind, however, that each institution is different, in terms of the risk it is prepared to accept, what it is willing to finance, and how the risk of your project will be perceived.

In some countries, it is also possible to borrow from private investors (directly or via crowdfunding platforms) or other companies, but not everywhere.

Key points about financing your nail bar

Multiple solutions are available to help you raise the initial financing you need to open your nail bar. A minimum amount of equity will be needed to give the project credibility, and bank financing can be sought to complete the financing.

Launching your nail bar and monitoring progress against your forecast

Once you’ve secured financing, you will finally be ready to launch your nail bar. Congratulations! 

Celebrate the launch of your business and acknowledge the hard work that brought you here, but remember, this is where the real work begins. 

As you know, 50% of business start-ups do not pass the five-year mark. Your priority will be to do everything to secure your business's future. 

To do this, it is key to keep an eye on your business plan to ensure that you are on track to achieve your goals.

No one can predict the future with certainty, so it’s likely that your nail bar's financial performance will differ from what you predicted in your forecast.

This is why it is recommended to make several forecasts: 

• A base case (most likely)
• An optimistic scenario
• And a pessimistic scenario to test the robustness of your financial model

If you follow this approach, your numbers will hopefully be better than your optimistic case and you can consider accelerating your expansion plans. That’s what we wish you anyway!

If, unfortunately, your figures are below your base case (or worse than your pessimistic case), you will need to quickly put in place corrective actions, or consider stopping the activity. 

The key, in terms of decision-making, is to regularly compare your real accounting data to your nail bar's forecast to: 

• Measure the discrepancies and promptly identify where the variances with your base case come from
• Adjust your financial forecast as the year progresses to maintain visibility on future cash flow and cash position

There is nothing worse than waiting for your accountant to prepare your year-end accounts, which can take several months after the end of your financial year (up to nine months in the UK for example), to realise that the performance over the past year was well below the your base case and that your nail bar will not have enough cash to keep running over the next twelve months.

This is why using a financial forecasting solution that integrates with accounting software and offers actuals vs. forecast tracking out of the box, like the financial dashboards we offer at The Business Plan Shop , greatly facilitates the task and significantly reduces the risk associated with starting a business.

• There are 15 key steps to opening a nail bar.
• Your financial forecast will enable you to accurately assess your initial financing requirements and the potential profitability of your project.
• Your business plan will give your financial partners the context they need to be able to judge the consistency and relevance of your forecast before deciding whether or not to finance the creation of your nail bar.
• Post-launch, it's essential to have an up-to-date forecast to maintain visibility of your business's future cash flows.
• Using a financial planning and analysis platform that integrates forecasts, business plans and actual performance monitoring, such as The Business Plan Shop, makes the process easier and reduces the risks involved in starting a business.

We hope this guide has helped you understand how to open a nail bar. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or want to share your experience as an entrepreneur.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• Start-up business plan examples

Know someone who wants to start a nail bar? Share this guide with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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Setting up a Nail Bar Business

All you need to know about starting and running your business.

In this article

What is a Nail Bar Business?

Currently worth nearly £400 million and with more than 3,500 nail salons in the UK, the nail industry in the UK is booming. With more people than ever paying for their nail treatments every month, now could be a great time to set up a nail bar business.

A nail bar, also known as a nail salon, is a shop that provides various treatments for fingernails and toenails.

This could include:

• The application and removal of gel polish, shellac polish or nail varnish.
• Nail designs and nail art.
• The application and removal of acrylic nails, artificial nails and nail extensions.
• Manicure treatments, including cuticle tidying, and cleansing, soaking, filing, shaping, trimming, grooming and buffing fingernails.
• Pedicure treatments, including foot spa, foot soak, foot scrub, cuticle tidying, and filing, shaping and grooming toenails.
• Hand treatments, including hand massage, moisturisation and cuticle oil treatments.

Depending on the size of your nail bar and how in demand your business is, you may hire additional nail technicians to perform treatments. If you set up a nail bar business, you and any nail technicians you hire will use your own skills and an array of equipment to provide different treatments to your clients. You may offer pre-scheduled appointments or on-the-day walk-in appointments, depending on how busy you are. Many nail bars succeed as a result of repeat business and customer loyalty.

Because you will be using products and chemicals on your clients, you need to ensure you thoroughly research any products you use and check whether your customers have any allergies or sensitivities before using any products on them.

Starting up a nail bar business can be both financially and personally rewarding. Nail bars can be a lucrative business venture and can offer you the potential to earn a high income.

To ensure your business succeeds, you will need to ensure you are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge. This can include knowledge about nail and skin care and new nail trends and styles. You will also need patience, attention to detail, a steady hand and good hygiene practices.

Even if you are a skilled technician, there are other qualities that you will need to make your nail bar business succeed. This includes good communication skills and customer service skills, creativity and a genuine interest in your customers.

Types of Customers

Although traditionally, nail treatments are associated with a specific demographic, in fact, many different people attend nail bars for different treatments.

There are several factors that could result in your nail bar attracting a specific customer base. Determining your typical customer base can help you to plan your marketing and advertising strategies more effectively, encourage more business and maximise your profits.

Some factors that can affect your typical customer base are:

The treatments you offer:

Many people choose their nail bars based on the available treatments. For example, they may prefer gel polish over shellac or may want a nail technician who offers nail extensions. Consider your own skills, experience and preferences, the cost of equipment and your local competition when determining what treatments you will offer.

Your location:

Your location can impact your customer base as many people opt to visit a nail bar that is in a convenient location for where they live or work. If your nail bar is located in or close to a residential location, your clients are likely to be people who live nearby. If you are located in a town or city centre, you may attract clients who work in the area or visit the centre for other reasons, such as shopping and socialisation.

Your price points

Your pricing will have a significant impact on your customer base.

Clients can typically be categorised in three ways:

1. Budget: Budget clients look for nail bars that offer treatments for the lowest possible price. 2. Mid-range: This type of client looks for a combination of value and luxury. Although they don’t want to pay premium prices, they don’t look for the cheapest option and instead look for a quality service at a reasonable price. 3. Luxury: This type of client usually wants high-end treatments using the best equipment and products. They are happy to pay higher prices for the best service.

Your brand and aesthetic:

When choosing a nail bar, customers may look at your shop exterior and signs, your website and the interior of your nail bar. Your brand and aesthetic can help to attract certain customers.

Equipment You Will Need

Equipment is essential for your nail bar business. Without the correct equipment, you will be unable to offer many of the nail treatments and services.

Although some of your equipment requirements can vary depending on the types of treatments you offer, the guide below shows the typical equipment requirements of a nail technician.

Nail Equipment:

Nail clippers or scissors

Clippers or scissors allow you to quickly shorten the nail length and are particularly necessary for pedicures and toenail treatments. You will need at least one pair of good-quality nail clippers.

You will need different types of nail files for different tasks, including:

• An electric file.
• A coarse file.
• A fine-grit cushion file.
• A medium file.
• A fine file.
• An ultra-fine file.
• An acrylic file.

Buffers help to prepare the nails and smooth the nail surface. Buffers can become easily damaged, so investing in good-quality buffers can help to extend their longevity.

Cuticle pushers

A cuticle pusher pushes the skin from the cuticle back and away from the nail. They create tidier nails and help the nails to grow stronger. You can choose from metal, plastic or wooden cuticle pushers.

Cuticle nippers

This is a tool that is used to trim tough cuticles, hang nails and remove dead skin cells from the cuticles.

Cuticle oil

Cuticle oil is used to moisturise and hydrate nail beds. You will usually use it at the end of your nail treatments. Cuticle oil can help to encourage nail growth and make your nails stronger.

Nail cleansers

This cleans the nails before you apply the polish, gel or acrylics. It helps to prepare the nails by removing any dirt or oil and softening the surface of the nail. Nail cleanser helps to ensure a smoother, more professional finish.

Dappen dishes

These dishes (usually made from plastic or glass) are used to hold and mix acrylic nail liquid and other liquids. They are also used to hold powders and glitters.

Acetone and/or other soak solutions

Soak solutions are used to remove polishes, such as gel and shellac. The nails are soaked in acetone to break down the gel and the remainder will be buffed off using a special buffer.

Acrylic powder

This is the substance that is used to create acrylic nails and nail extensions. The powder is combined with a liquid chemical which causes the powder to harden. They can also be mixed with a pigment to create different colours or glitter can be added.

Acrylic liquid

Also known as a monomer; this is the chemical that is mixed with the acrylic powder to create the acrylic nails.

UV or LED lamp

An ultraviolet lamp is used to dry acrylic nails and gel nail polish. There are different types of lamps available, including plug-in lamps and cordless lamps.

Nail polishes

You may choose to work with gel polish, shellac polish and/or nail varnish. You will need to purchase polishes in a wide selection of colours. You may also purchase special polishes, such as glitter, metallic and matte.

Base coats and top coats

These help the polishes to adhere better, help to protect your nails, strengthen your nails and protect the polish from chipping.

Decorative accessories

You will need decorative accessories to help you do nail art and nail design. You could choose nail stickers, an assortment of glitter and gems, transfer foils, gold leaf, metallic powder, and adhesive strips. You will need a variety of colours and designs to allow you to create different designs.

Soak off bowls

Also known as manicure bowls, soak bowls are used for soaking and softening the nails and surrounding skin before a manicure. They can also be used for soaking off acrylic nails or gel nails.

Cotton wool pads and cotton wool balls

These will have multiple uses in your nail bar, including cleaning nails, wiping off excess liquid and removing polish. You will need to have a good supply of cotton pads and balls at all times.

Nail art brushes, acrylic brushes and gel brushes

You will need a variety of different brushes depending on the task. You will also need brushes of different sizes and thicknesses.

A foot file

A foot file can be made of metal or sandpaper. They are usually two-sided, with one side containing a rough file to remove calluses and dead skin and a fine file on the other side to smooth the skin.

Salon Equipment:

Manicure stations

Your manicure stations will be the central feature of your nail bar and will need to be both attractive and functional. You may opt for one long station that multiple customers and technicians can use at one time or individual manicure stations. Ensure your stations are in line with your brand and aesthetic. You will also need comfortable chairs for both the technicians and the clients.

Nail polish racks or shelves

These are used to display your nail polish colours in an attractive and professional way. It can be a convenient place to store your polishes and give your customers an easy view of all your available options.

Pedicure chairs

Pedicure chairs have a built-in foot bath. They may also come with a massage feature. Pedicure chairs are particularly recommended for high-end salons that offer luxury pedicures.

Foot spa basins

If you opt not to have pedicure chairs in your nail bar, you will need foot spa basins. These are large containers that can be filled with water and used to bathe and soak the feet before a pedicure.

A manicure tray or trolley

Manicure trays can be used to store all the necessary tools required for a manicure. This helps to keep your salon tidy and makes it easier to transport the tools around the salon.

Cleaning equipment

Maintaining a high level of cleanliness is essential in your nail bar. You will need to wipe down chairs, equipment and surfaces between each client and ensure your premises are clean at all times. Some cleaning equipment you may need includes a sweeping brush or hoover, a mop, disinfectant, cloths, sponges, and cleaning products.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE can help to protect both you and your clients. Some of the PPE you may require are gloves, aprons and masks.

A CCTV system

CCTV can protect your business from potential break-ins and theft. A CCTV system can cost between £300 and £5,000 depending on the specification of the equipment, how many cameras you require, and the installation costs.

Reception and admin equipment

Some of the equipment you may require for your reception includes:

• A laptop or computer – For advertising, making appointments and accounting purposes.
• A phone – For customers to make appointments.
• An appointment book or scheduling software – To keep track of appointments and cancellations.
• A reception desk and chair.
• A cash register and Point of Sale (POS) system.
• Business cards and appointment cards.
• Pricing signs and opening hours signs.
• Shelving for displaying products.

Typical Pricing

When setting up your nail bar business and creating your business plan, you will need to calculate your approximate set-up costs and running costs. Planning your business’s finances can help you determine how to finance your initial investment, plan your pricing strategy and predict your profits.

Some of the typical costs you can expect when setting up and running a nail bar business are:

A nail bar premises

Your salon will likely be your biggest expenditure. You will need to rent your premises on a monthly or annual basis. Rental prices can vary significantly, depending on the location, the size of the premises and the on-site facilities. City centre locations and newly built premises usually have the highest rental costs. Rental costs are often calculated per square metre. They can range significantly, from £500 to £15,000 per square metre annually.

Refurbishment and installation costs

You will likely need to refurbish or convert your venue to incorporate the furniture and equipment you need for your nail bar business. You will also want to decorate your premises to fit the aesthetic of your brand and make it attractive to customers. Renovation costs can vary, from £500 to £20,000 depending on the level and scale of work required.

Equipment costs

The cost of equipment can vary based on how much equipment you require. The bigger your nail bar is and the more nail technicians you hire, the more equipment you will require. You may choose to purchase less equipment initially and expand your equipment as your business grows. Purchasing equipment could cost between £1,000 and £20,000.

Maintaining, repairing and replacing equipment

Repairs, maintenance and replacements are ongoing costs you will need to factor into your budget. Correctly cleaning and maintaining equipment and ensuring it is used correctly can extend its life, but potential repairs and replacements should still be factored into your budget. Keep in mind that equipment such as nail files and buffers will have a shorter lifespan.

Replenishing stock

You will need to make regular orders for stock including polishes, acetone, cleansers, acrylic powders and liquids, cotton wool and nail decorative items. You may need to make fortnightly or monthly stock orders.

If you hire additional nail technicians, you will need to pay them at least the national minimum wage of £9.50 per hour and account for other expenses such as holiday pay, sick pay and maternity/paternity pay. You may choose to initially operate your business independently and then hire staff once your business has grown.

Branding may be key to the success of your business, especially if you are competing with other nail bar businesses and salons in your area. Branding could include creating your business’s visual identity, a logo, business name, your business website and your brand message. You can hire a professional to help you with branding or do some of the work yourself. Branding can cost between £500 and £10,000, depending on the level of branding you require.

Marketing and advertising

Marketing and advertising are great ways of growing your business. You may spend more on marketing and advertising when your business first launches, and you are trying to grow your customer base. It is recommended that you spend no more than 3% of your annual revenue on advertising costs. For example, if your annual revenue is £30,000, your advertising costs should be less than £900. You may be able to reduce your advertising costs by utilising social media.

Running costs

These are the everyday costs associated with running your nail bar business. It could include your overhead costs such as electricity, gas, water and council tax. Most of your running costs will be paid monthly, although some may be paid quarterly or annually. Keeping your running costs as low as possible allows you to maximise your profits.

Business insurance

There are several types of coverage options you could choose for your nail bar business. The cost of your insurance can vary depending on your insurance provider and the level of coverage you choose.

Your insurance options include:

• Public Liability Insurance.
• Product Liability Insurance.
• Nail Treatment Liability Cover.
• Employers’ Liability Cover.
• Personal Accident Cover.
• Business Equipment and Stock Cover.

Once you have calculated the expected costs associated with setting up and running your business, you can then determine your pricing strategy.

Your pricing will likely depend on several factors.

• The location of your business.
• The type of nail treatments you offer.
• Your business’s reputation and demand.
• The types of products you use.
• The training, qualifications and experience of you and your staff.
• Your brand and aesthetic.
• Your local competition.

Safely Running a Nail Bar Business

Safe practices in your nail bar are essential to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of you, your customers and your employees.

Some safety practices you can employ in your nail bar business are:

Ensure all chemicals are stored safely

All chemicals should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. They should be kept upright to prevent spillages and be protected from contamination.

Adhere to labelling guidelines

You must always read the instructions on the labels carefully and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You should also pay attention to use-by and best before dates and never use any product that is past its expiration date.

Use personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE can help to protect you and your customers. You should wear gloves that are of an appropriate thickness and length and are powder-free. Wearing masks is also recommended if any of the products you use give off harmful vapours.

Conduct a client consultation

If you will be using any type of products or chemicals during the nail treatment, you should perform a client consultation before every appointment. This allows you to obtain any necessary personal details or medical information, such as any allergies or skin conditions, learn about the client’s requirements, learn more about the client’s nails and hands and give information about aftercare. You should also ask the client to sign their consultation card, particularly if it contains any medical information.

Clean, disinfect and sterilise

Having effective cleaning procedures is essential for your business. Especially as you will have multiple clients a day and are dealing with the human body and hazardous substances. A cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising schedule and cleaning policies should be in place that cover the cleaning of furniture, equipment and surfaces. You should also implement handwashing procedures.

Properly maintain equipment

You will be dealing with electrical and potentially hazardous equipment on a daily basis. Ensuring equipment is clean and properly maintained and performing regular equipment inspections can help to protect you and your employees and can help to extend the lifespan of your equipment.

Keep a fully stocked first aid kit

If a client or employee has an accident or injury, it may not be serious enough to warrant medical intervention. Instead, you may be able to offer treatment yourself. Having a first aid kit that is checked and replenished regularly and is easily accessible is recommended.

Implement security measures

Theft can be a major problem for many businesses. Ensuring your stock is safely stored and your salon is secure can help to protect your business. Installing a CCTV system, a reliable lock, and an alarm system are just some ways you can protect your nail bar business.

Obtain the relevant qualifications

Although qualifications are not a legal requirement for a nail technician, they can help to ensure safe and correct practices. You can opt for a general nail technician qualification, or you can become certified in specific treatments.

Carry out risk assessments

You should identify any potential hazards and risks in your business and how these can be reduced or eliminated.

As part of your risk assessments, you should:

• Identify hazards.
• Determine who could be at risk.
• Evaluate any potential risks.
• Implement relevant safety measures.
• Record the results of the risk assessment.
• Review the risk assessment regularly.

If your nail bar business has more than five employees, risk assessments will be a legal requirement and will need to be recorded.

Ensure proper ventilation

Because you will be working with chemicals which can release harmful vapours and dust from nail filings, you should ensure that your nail bar has proper ventilation. Fresh air should be able to circulate via open windows and doors, or you may opt for artificial ventilation (e.g. an extractor or dust ventilation unit).

Exercise your right to terminate the treatment

If you feel threatened or unsafe or a customer doesn’t maintain professional boundaries or acts inappropriately, you have the right to terminate the treatment immediately. You could have your code of ethics visible to customers or ask them to sign a contract stating they will act appropriately. If you ever feel uncomfortable or threatened in any way, terminate the treatment and contact the police, if necessary.

Legal Requirements

Complying with all legal requirements is essential for all businesses in the UK.

There are specific laws and regulations that apply to nail bar businesses and nail technicians that you should be aware of, including:

Apply for a premises licence

You will need to apply for a premises licence with your local authority to allow you to legally run your nail salon and perform nail treatments. Contact your local authority for more information.

Comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations

The COSHH regulations state that you must control any potentially hazardous substances. You must appropriately assess, control and reduce any risks or potential hazards and protect people from harm. As a nail business, you will likely be dealing with several potentially hazardous substances, including chemicals that can irritate the skin or cause respiratory problems.

Comply with the legal standards for beauty products

All beauty products you use and sell must meet the minimum legal standards, as set out by the Cosmetics Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 .

Comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

The Electricity at Work Regulations state that any workplace that uses electricals must construct electrical systems in a way that prevents danger. They must also maintain electrical systems to ensure they are safe, ensure electrical equipment is checked by a competent person annually and conduct Portable Appliance Tests (PAT). Your electricals could include your UV lamps, electrical nail file and other equipment.

Comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)

Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) , you must ensure that all work equipment is safe to use, maintained properly, suitable for the job and used appropriately. You must also ensure that you and any employees you hire are trained on how to use the equipment and wear PPE, where necessary.

Comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work Act lays out the duties of all employers in the UK regarding ensuring the health, safety and welfare of everyone in your workplace. As you are the business owner, you will be responsible for protecting the health and safety of your employees and any clients or visitors to your business.

Comply with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (1992)

Under these regulations , if your business has five or more employees you must ensure you conduct appropriate risk assessments, minimise any risks and maintain all equipment. You must also make sure high levels of cleanliness are maintained.

Comply with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013

RIDDOR states that you must report all injuries, diseases and dangerous events to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) using an appropriate recording document. The HSE may conduct an investigation into the incident. They can then provide advice or, in serious circumstances, may opt to prosecute.

Comply with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

The Manual Handling Regulations can help to protect you and your employees from sustaining an injury or illness as a result of manual handling tasks. The regulations apply to the lifting or moving of equipment and any repetitive movements when performing treatments.

Implement health and safety policies and fire safety procedures

All businesses should have health and safety policies that help to manage health and safety in your business. They protect the health and safety of you, your customers and your business. As the business owner, you are also responsible for fire safety on your premises. This could include conducting fire risk assessments, implementing fire safety measures, ensuring staff are both informed and trained on fire safety, and implementing emergency procedures.

Apply for permission to advertise outside your shop

If you put advertising or display boards outside your shop or advertise on posters or signs, you will need to apply for permission from your local authority. You must also ensure your outside advertisements stay clean, are in a safe condition and are not hazardous.

Comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA)

You must comply with both pieces of legislation when storing or sharing personal information, such as your customers’ contact details, delivery details or payment information. You must also apply for a Notification to Process Personal Data Licence. If you process or store personal information such as customer accounts and records, you will need to apply for a licence with the Information Commissioner’s Office and renew your registration every year.

Apply for a licence to play music

If you play any background music in your nail bar, you will need to apply for a licence with Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL).

Comply with employment legislation

If you employ any staff, you must ensure you follow employment legislation, including the Employment Rights Act (1996 ) and the National Minimum Wage Act (1998) . You must also comply with legislation relating to recruitment, working hours, sickness, discrimination, dismissals, and maternity or paternity pay.

Register your business

You must register your business with HMRC before you begin operating. You can register as a sole trader or as a limited company. You will need to register your business name and any other relevant information.

Register for self-assessment tax

This allows you to calculate and pay your own taxes each year. You will need to track your finances every month and submit any expenses as part of your tax assessment.

Positives of Owning a Nail Bar Business

Being a nail technician can be rewarding in many different ways.

Some of the main pros associated with owning a nail bar business are:

You can be creative and artistic

Nail designs and nail art require you to be artistic and creative. You can create new, individual designs with different colours, shapes and patterns. Being creative every day can be a lot of fun.

You can help people feel good

Making people feel good about themselves and building their confidence can be very rewarding. Many of your customers will view their nail treatments as a form of self-care and self-love and you can be an important part of helping them feel good.

Customer loyalty

People are usually loyal to their favourite nail bar or nail technician for years. You will likely have regular clients and may even find yourself working with multiple people from the same family or friendship group. High customer retention and customer recommendations can help to ensure the success of your business.

Be part of big occasions

People often get their nails done for big occasions such as weddings, birthdays, holidays and parties. Being a part of your customers’ special occasions can be very rewarding and make your work feel more special.

Flexible working hours

Being a nail technician allows you to work a flexible schedule. You can set your opening hours and working hours and book appointments for times that are most convenient to you.

Meet many different people

At your nail bar, you will meet different people from different walks of life. Talking to different people can be interesting and enjoyable, especially if you consider yourself a people person.

Design your working environment

As the salon owner, you can design the aesthetic of your business, choose the furniture and equipment, select your employees and even choose the music you play. You can design your perfect work environment that is positive, relaxing and enjoyable.

Opportunities for growth

There are multiple ways you can grow your business and increase your profits. You can hire more employees, take on more clients, expand your shop or even open additional nail bars. The opportunity for growth provides you with unlimited income potential.

Build connections

You can build important connections in your local community with your clients, fellow business owners and other people in your industry. Because you will be sitting with each client for an hour at a time (or potentially longer), you will likely spend a lot of time talking to them and learning about their lives.

You can offer a personalised customer experience

You can offer a tailored experience and personalised consultations and treatments. Not only can this improve your customers’ experience and result in repeat business and recommendations, but it can also make your job more enjoyable.

Easily gain exposure

The rise of social media makes it easier than ever to gain exposure. You can post photos and videos of your clients’ nails and your work and become noticed online. This can grow your client base, increase your experience and profits and even allow your business to become well-known online.

No qualifications required

You won’t need any specific qualifications to set up a nail bar business. What is most important is your creativity and a steady hand, although previous experience will also be beneficial. This makes setting up your own nail bar business more achievable.

Negatives of Owning a Nail Bar Business

However, there are some negative aspects of owning a nail bar business that you should be aware of, including:

It can be expensive

Nail bars can have high start-up costs and running costs. It will likely involve a high initial investment, meaning you may have to obtain outside investment or invest from your savings. This makes the business higher risk and makes it more difficult to make reasonable profits.

Work can be inconsistent

Your work may be inconsistent, and you may find that you don’t have a stable income from month to month. Seasonal changes may affect your income and although you may be busier at Christmas and in the summer, there may be other times of the year where you have fewer appointments. This can make it difficult if you have employees that you consistently need to pay and running costs to account for.

Physical strain

You may not consider being a nail technician as a strenuous profession. However, as you will be sitting down all day, this can affect your metabolism and can cause pain and strain in your hips, neck and back. Nail technicians may also feel strain or obtain an injury in their fingers, wrists or hands from the repetitive movements and the strain of keeping their hands steady for hours at a time.

Building your clientele can be difficult

Successful nail technicians often spend years building up their client base. This could mean you initially receive less custom and earn a lower income. If you have invested a lot of money into your business and can’t initially make a profit, this could result in your business failing.

Working weekends

Most nail bars are busier in the evenings and at the weekend when most of their customers aren’t at work. Although this can mean more business at the weekend, it does mean you are working less sociable hours and miss out on important family and social events. Even though you can choose your opening hours, not operating during peak times can have a detrimental effect on your profits.

Competitive

With many established nail bars and salons in the UK, this can be a competitive industry. If you already have established, successful nail bars in your area, this can make it more difficult for your business to succeed.

It can be stressful

Not only do you need to ensure all of your work is perfect and that your customers are happy, but as the business owner, you are also responsible for the day-to-day running of your business, ensuring health and safety and the overall success of your business.

High time commitment

Not only will you need to be available for nail treatments and services, but as the business owner, you will also need to consider the time you will need to spend on administrative duties, such as doing taxes, marketing and advertising, making appointments and ordering stock. Running a nail bar business can be time-consuming and demanding.

Running your own nail bar business can be high risk. Some of the potential risks you could encounter include liability issues, employee accidents, and the risks associated with using chemicals and certain types of equipment.

No benefits

As you are self-employed, you won’t receive benefits such as pension contributions. You will also be responsible for doing your own taxes and organising your National Insurance contributions.

Planning Your Nail Bar Business

An effective and well-designed business plan is essential to the success of your nail bar business. A business plan can help you to focus on the specific steps that will help your business succeed, plan your short-term and long-term goals, determine your financial needs and help your business to grow.

When creating your business plan, ensure it contains information such as:

• Your company information.
• Your company description.
• The services you will provide.
• Your branding, marketing and advertising plan.
• The structure of your business.
• The operational plan for your business.
• The financial plan for your business.

Some of the factors you will need to consider when planning your nail bar business are:

What treatments and services will you offer?

You may offer a wide range of nail treatments or choose to specialise in specific treatments. Consider your own skills and experience, the cost of the equipment, the services offered by your local competition and the most popular nail treatments when considering what you will offer.

What will your business brand and aesthetic be?

Your brand and aesthetic will have a significant influence on the types of customers your business attracts. Consider how you will design your nail bar, your business name, logo and the types of nail art you do.

Will you hire any employees?

Depending on the size of your nail salon and the number of nail treatments you want to do per day, you may need to hire additional nail technicians. Calculate the costs associated with hiring employees and whether this is the correct move for your business.

Where will your business be located?

Your location will have a significant impact on the types of customers you are likely to attract. It will also impact your premises’ rental costs. If your business is located in an area with high footfall or a place popular with your target market, the increased custom and higher profits will be extremely beneficial to your business. Consider your rental budget and your size requirements when choosing your premises.

What local competition do you have?

Being aware of your competition is an important step to ensuring the success of your nail bar business. Look at what other nail bars and salons do well and areas you feel they could improve. You should also look at the types of nail treatments they offer, the products they use and their typical customer base. Consider how you can make your business stand out from your local competition.

What are your equipment and product requirements?

Consider what equipment you will need for your nail bar business. You will need to decide exactly what treatments you are going to offer to determine what equipment and products you need. Calculate the approximate costs of purchasing your equipment and replacing and replenishing your stock. Consider if there is any equipment you can buy later on, once your business is more established and you have begun to make a profit.

What are your initial set-up costs and running costs?

You need to determine your approximate start-up costs and running costs to enable you to calculate your initial investment, determine how you will fund this investment and what your monthly or annual costs will be. Creating a budget is a key part of your business plan. It can also help you to determine whether you can finance the business yourself or whether you require outside investment or a business loan. Consult the list above to help you calculate the approximate costs associated with setting up and running your business.

What is your pricing policy?

Different treatments will have different pricing policies, depending on the amount of work that is required, the time the treatment will take and the equipment and products you will need. Calculate your acceptable profit margin per treatment and look at the pricing of your local competition when setting your prices.

What are your sales forecasts?

You will need to determine how many nail treatments you can feasibly make each day and what your weekly, monthly and annual sales forecasts will be. As your business grows, your sales forecast will change.

What are your business objectives?

Your business objectives are crucial for creating a successful business plan. Your business objectives highlight the targets and goals of your nail bar business and help you to create a one-year, three-year, and five-year business plan to help you grow your business.

Your business objectives should be SMART:

• S = Specific
• M = Measurable
• A = Achievable
• R = Realistic
• T = Time-bound

Have you complied with all legal requirements?

Consult the list above and ensure you have complied with all legal requirements before opening your nail bar business. Failure to comply with the legal requirements could negatively affect your business and your profits.

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Nail Salon Business Plan Sample

OCT.04, 2013

Nail salon business plan for starting your own business

In today’s time, visits to nail salons have become quite frequent. Therefore, having a business in this industry can prove very profitable. If you plan to have a nail salon business, you can start with a minimal set of resources. 

To make it a success, you would need a comprehensive business plan for a nail salon. To learn how to write a business plan for a nail salon, you can take help from this sample. You can also look at a detailed business plan template for gum studio . Glamor Studio offers a wide range of business planning services and hence this business plan is well-suited for your guidance.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Glamor Studio will be a nail salon business owned by Vanessa Abraham. The company will aim to provide beauty services across Atlanta. A wide range of services will be offered, from makeup packages to mani-pedis and much more. Hence, Vanessa will be using a diverse nail salon business model for Glamor Studio.

2.2 Management of Nail Salon

To ensure that all aspects of the business are coherent, you must prepare a unique fitness marketing plan for the services you offer. In your nail salon business plan executive summary, you should evaluate the technical, financial, and human resources you have at your disposal. And then construct a way to utilize and manage these resources in the best way possible.

We are providing an indoor sports complex business plan acquired by Glamor Studio to help you devise a plan for your startup. This can be very useful for your venture as this sample business plan for a nail salon is written in detail and can answer most of your questions regarding the procedure of setting up a business.

2.3 Customers of Nail Salon

Although the primary focus is on the female population, our customer base includes everyone cautious about their skin and beauty. In this nail salon business plan example, potential and recurring customer groups are identified as:

• College students
• Working Professionals

2.4 Business Target

Our target is to become the leading salon in the market, with the most loyal customer base. In addition, we aim to encourage a healthy lifestyle in the community by offering a wide range of services such as nail repairs, UV gel overlays, and nail designs.

You must have a sound nail salon business plans to satisfy business plan experts and keep the venture financially stable .

Our financial targets to meet for the first three years of our launch are demonstrated below:

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Vanessa Abraham will be the owner of Glamor Studio. Venessa completed her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Atlanta in 2015. After graduating, she worked with different fitness clubs as a trainer or a manager. After gaining some experience, Vanessa decided to have a startup of her own.

This business plan template for nail salon will help you out if you are thinking of opening up a nail salon like Vanessa.

3.2 Why the nail salon business is being started

Vanessa noticed that people have started to shift towards healthier lifestyles over time. Considering the potential of the growing health & beauty industry, Vanessa decided to start a nail salon business of her own. Glamor Studio promises to provide its customers with an exclusive experience and an atmosphere that other salons aren’t offering in the business. Here is a sample business plan for a nail salon of Glamor Studio. It will address all your questions regarding how to start your own nail salon.

3.3 How the nail salon business will be started

Step1: Plan Everything

The first step before starting a business is to develop a business plan. To help you create a business plan, we’re providing a nail salon business plan pdf. Venessa decided to offer a wide range of services such as yoga, dance, and providing healthier beauty tips.

Step2: Define the Brand

The next step is to be recognized by defining your business’s services and values. During this time, you will have to develop and brand your policies so that your customers can identify your unique selling point and choose you over your competitors. Finally, you can define and position your brand in the market through various marketing strategies. 

Step3: Establish Your Corporate Office 

Venessa decided to establish Glamor Studio’s corporate office above her salon’s building in Atlanta so that the management is aware of day-to-day operations. 

Step4: Establish a Web Presence

Since digitalization and online marketing are integral to a business’s success, your nail salon must have a web presence. So as Venessa decided to expand her services and thought of opening a dance studio business plan , she also made sure to have a website for Glamor Studio.

Step5: Promote and Market

The last step is to develop and execute a marketing plan to promote your services. Efficient marketing and promotion can help you position your business in the marketplace in a successful manner. This business plan template for a nail salon will guide you on all such aspects.

Before starting a nail salon business plan, you must be clear on what services you want to provide your customers. 

Considering various nail salon business plan examples, a business plan for beauty services such as nail overlays would be different than starting a yoga center business plan . 

Since Vanessa decided to offer a wide range of services, Glamor Studio sample nail salon business plan can help you with your startup planning, regardless of what services you will be offering.

Following are the services that Glamor Studio will offer according to the business plan for nail salon pdf:

• Nail UV Overlays

UV Hard Gel is a mixture applied either on top of a nail extension or directly onto the natural nail bed to strengthen the nail. This service is quite popular amongst Atlanta’s female population, particularly the homemakers who are our target market.

A manicure is a beauty treatment for the hands. Your nails will be cut, filed, and shaped. You will then have your cuticles pushed back and tidied, followed by a hand massage. The final step will be the painting of the nails with a color of your choice.

A pedicure is a treatment for your feet that removes dead skin, softens hard skin, and shapes and treats your toenails .  Think of it as a manicure for the feet!

Nail art is a creative way to paint, decorate, enhance, and embellish nails. It is a type of artwork that can be done on fingernails and toenails, usually after manicures or pedicures.

The costs for setting up a nail salon are similar to that of an indoor trampoline park startup cost . Hence it is not very high and has promising returns. 

If you plan to offer services like those provided by Glamor Studio, this sample will answer all your questions regarding how to write a business plan for a nail salon.

Marketing Analysis of Online Store Business

You must have an in-depth knowledge of your target market before starting up a nail salon. The ideal way of knowing your customers and competitors is to do a market analysis in your business plan. This example of a business plan for a nail salon includes an in-depth market analysis of the previous, existing, and forecasted market trends.

excellent work

excellent work, competent advice. Alex is very friendly, great communication. 100% I recommend CGS capital. Thank you so much for your hard work!

If you don’t know the components of detailed marketing analysis, you can take help from this free sample business plan for a nail salon.

5.1 Market Trends

As per market research, the average gross revenue of nail salons in the U.S total up to $287,000 with a profit margin of 17%. The nail salon business is quite promising in financial returns, especially if it is opened as a franchise.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

As per the nail salon business plan template, Glamor Studio will have the following groups of potential customers:

5.2.1 College Students

According to this nail salon business plan sample pdf, college students will be one of the most recurring customers of Glamor Studio. They are expected to visit us for different services before farewells and parties. 

5.2.2 Homemakers

Homemakers are our primary focus at Glamor Studio. UV nail overlayers are the most profitable service in our business, and hence, are the most sought after by homemakers in Atlanta. 

5.2.3 Working professionals

Employees in different sectors of the economy have demanding work schedules, and they barely get time for self-care. Glamor Studio offers personalized packages to such customers to avail of our services as per their timetable and budget.

5.2.4 Teenagers

Teenagers are fascinated by colorful, funky nail arts. Thus, they will also visit the studio.

If you are confused about how to open a nail salon business and are thinking about questions such as what do I need to open a nail salon, you should follow this guide. Start by analyzing the customer groups stated above and see if any of them can be a potential target market for your salon.

5.3 Business Target

• Have a market share of 20% in Atlanta within the first three years of operation
• Expand our services to East Point and Gresham Park
• Increase profit margins by 20% in the second fiscal year
• To achieve and maintain a CSAT score above 91%

5.4 Product Pricing

Our prices are similar to what our competitors offer. However, as a newly established business, our primary focus will be to establish a loyal clientele.

Marketing Strategy

To become prominent amidst huge competition, you need to develop a unique selling point. Moreover, you also need to develop a strong marketing strategy so that more and more people recognize you. 

In this business plan nail salon, we’re providing a well-thought-out marketing strategy for Glamor Studio. You can learn a lot from this nail salon marketing plan.

For marketing nail salon, Glamor Studio will use the strategies mentioned below.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

• We will record customers’ feedback to provide them with an improved experience every time they hire us.
• Through our website, our customers will be able to book their appointments online.
• We will use eco-friendly technology for UV Acrylics.
• Discounts will be offered to new customers, which will help acquire a greater market share.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We will advertise our services through Google Local ads service and social media.
• We will make our salon visible on Google Maps.
• We will employ SMS marketing techniques for our nail salon.
• Introductory packages and incentives will be provided to new customers

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

The success of a nail salon business depends heavily on the efficiency, technological expertise, and time management skills of employees. Vanessa knew the importance of hiring skilled employees. Therefore, she created a list of required employees and selection criteria in her business plan.

7.1 Company Staff

As per this nails salon business plan, Glamor Studio will hire for the positions:

• 1 General Manager
• 1 Receptionist
• 7 Beauticians
• 1 Accountant  
• 4 Fitness trainers
• 1 Technical Assistant

This nail salon business plan pdf promotes internal recruitment and suggests promising rewards & recognition system. Before recruitment for your startup, you may use this business plan template for nail salon as a reference point.

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

A sole focus on increasing sales does not ensure that your business will become successful and yield profits. If the thought “is opening a nail salon profitable” crosses your mind, you need to understand that to earn profits; it is essential to manage your operations timely and efficiently. To ensure that your business is not going into a loss, you must make an accurate financial plan that calculates the cost to start a nail salon, delineate cash flows, and presents a graphical analysis of profit and loss margins.

If you are worried how much does it cost to build a nail salon, just go through the financial plan that is being provided here. This plan contains all the fiscal details for starting a nail salon business.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 break-even analysis.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 business ratios.

• How much money can you make owning a nail salon?

The amount of money you can earn through a nail salon depends on your nail salon business plan checklist and financial planning.

• Is a nail salon a good business to start?

A nail salon is a very profitable business, as shown by this nail salon business plan sample.

• How much do you need to invest in a nail salon?

The investment varies as per the startup. While you look for how to start a nail salon business plan, create a checklist for resources that are needed to know how much investment you need to start this business.

• What is the startup cost for a nail salon?

The startup cost of the nail salon business varies with the extent of the services provided. To have a rough idea of the cost, you may see the table for startup costs given in this nail salon business plan.

Download Nail Salon Business Plan Sample in pdf

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How To Write a Nail Salon Marketing Plan + Template & Examples

In this article, we will describe what should be included in each component of your marketing plan and provide some marketing strategies that can help you generate leads, build credibility, and strengthen the brand of your nail salon.

Download our Ultimate Marketing Plan Template here

What is a Marketing Plan for a Nail Salon?

A nail salon marketing plan is a written document that outlines the specific actions you’ll take to generate leads, convert prospects into customers, and retain customers over time. This document is a crucial component of your larger nail salon business plan , as it details how you’ll attract and retain customers.

Your marketing plan should be built around your unique selling proposition (USP), which is the one thing that sets you apart from other nail salon businesses in your market. From there, you’ll need to develop targeted marketing campaigns, create compelling offers, and craft a promotions strategy that will reach your ideal customers.

For example, if your USP is that you offer vegan and eco-friendly nail services, then your marketing plan might include strategies for reaching environmentally-conscious consumers through social media, partnerships with sustainable brands, and targeted email campaigns.

Once you have all of the pieces in place, you’ll need to track your progress and adjust your plan accordingly. The best way to do this is to set measurable goals and track your results regularly.  

Why You Need a Nail Salon Marketing Plan?

There are many reasons why you need a marketing plan to start your nail salon . First and foremost, it will help you focus your efforts and ensure that you’re making the best use of your time and money.

With a well-crafted marketing plan in place, you’ll be able to track your progress and make necessary adjustments along the way. This will help you fine-tune your marketing efforts and eventually achieve the results you’re looking for.

In addition, a marketing plan will also give you a written record of your marketing activities. This can come in handy if you ever need to justify your marketing expenditures or report on your progress to stakeholders.

Finally, a marketing plan can help you avoid common mistakes that many nail salon businesses make. By taking the time to develop a comprehensive marketing plan, you’ll be in a much better position to avoid these pitfalls and set yourself up for success.  

Marketing Plan Basics

A typical marketing plan includes the following components:

Executive Summary

Target market segments, unique selling proposition (usp), pricing and positioning strategy, marketing materials, promotions strategy, digital marketing plan, conversion, referral, and retention strategy, financial projections, how to write a nail salon marketing plan.

The first section of your nail salon marketing plan should be written as the final section of your marketing plan.

In two or three pages, summarize all of the information you have presented in the other sections and include a summary version of any graphs or charts you have included.

You should also include your marketing goals, objectives, and success metrics for the first year of operations.  

Begin by dividing your potential customers into segments based on their demographics, geography, lifestyle, behavior, or any other factors that are relevant to your organization’s cause. Be sure to explain how you determined these target market segments.

For example, a nail salon business that specializes in natural nail care might target environmentally-conscious individuals, while a salon that offers luxury services may focus on affluent customers.

Once you have identified your target market segments, you’ll need to create buyer personas for each one. A buyer persona is a fictional character that represents a specific type of customer that you’re trying to reach.

When creating buyer personas, be sure to include detailed information about their demographics, behaviors, needs, and goals. This will help you develop targeted marketing campaigns that are more likely to resonate with each segment.  

Your USP is the one thing that sets you apart from other nail salon businesses in your market. It’s what makes you unique and it’s what will make prospective customers want to do business with you.

To develop your USP, start by brainstorming a list of all the things that make your nail salon business unique. Then, narrow down this list to the one or two things that are most important to your target market segments.  

This section should cover your pricing strategy, how you determine pricing, and what sets your prices apart from those of competitors. If there are specific circumstances that might affect your pricing strategy for certain types of customers or in certain market conditions, be sure to mention them here.

For example, a nail salon business that uses all-natural and organic products may charge a premium for its services compared to other salons. This would be an important detail to include in the pricing and positioning strategy section of the marketing plan.

You should also include your positioning strategy in this section. Positioning is how you want your nail salon business to be perceived by potential customers. For example, you may want to position your business as a luxury spa experience or a budget-friendly option.

To develop your positioning strategy, start by thinking about the things that are most important to your target market segments. What needs do they have that you can address? What are their pain points? How can you position your business as the best choice to meet their needs?  

Describe your company’s products and services in this section. Include any special offers, seasonal promotions, or plans to expand into new goods or services in the future. You will also want to include information about prices, discounts for bulk purchases, payment options, how frequently you offer sales, etc.

For example, nail salon businesses might offer a special promotion for bridal parties or a loyalty program for repeat customers.  

In this section, you’ll want to include information about the marketing materials you use to promote your business. This might include your website, brochures, business cards, email newsletters, and social media accounts.

You should also include information about how often you update your marketing materials and what kinds of content you include in them. For example, nail salon businesses might regularly update their website with new nail art designs or post before and after photos on social media to showcase their services.  

Your promotions strategy should detail how you plan to generate interest in your products and services. This might include trade shows, webinars, speaking engagements, press releases, or social media campaigns.

You should also include information about how often you run promotions and what kind of marketing budget you have for them. For example, a nail salon business might offer a discount for first-time customers or team up with other local businesses to cross-promote services.  

In this section, you’ll want to detail your plans for reaching potential customers online. For a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, you should include search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing.

You should also include information about how often you’ll update your website, blog, and social media accounts. For example, a nail salon might commit to posting two blog articles per week and updating its social media accounts daily.  

Your conversion, referral, and retention strategy should detail how you plan to turn potential customers into paying customers and keep them coming back for more.

This might include:

• Creating incentives for referrals from existing customers
• Offering rewards or loyalty programs for repeat customers
• Providing excellent customer service to encourage positive reviews and recommendations.

Finally, it might include a loyalty program or other perks to thank your most loyal customers and keep them coming back.  

In this section, you should include your plans for generating revenue and growing your nail salon business. This might include information about your target customers, pricing strategy, distribution strategy, and promotions strategy. They should also include your nail salon startup costs .

You should also include financial statements for your nail salon business such as your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.  

Common Marketing Strategies for a Nail Salon Business

Although every nail salon business will need to develop a marketing plan that meets its own unique needs, here are some common strategies you may choose to implement.

• Targeted Advertising: Utilize targeted advertising platforms such as Facebook Ads or Google Ads to reach potential customers in your area. This allows you to specify the demographics, interests, and behaviors of your target market segments.
• Social Media Marketing: Use social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter to showcase your services, engage with customers, and build a following. You can also partner with influencers or collaborate with other businesses in the beauty industry to reach a larger audience.
• Email Marketing: Keep your customers informed about new services, promotions, and salon updates through email newsletters. This is a great way to stay in touch with existing customers and encourage repeat visits.
• Partnerships and Collaborations: Partnering with local businesses, such as hair salons or bridal shops, can help you reach new customers and cross-promote services. You can also collaborate with beauty brands to offer exclusive products or discounts.
• Referral Programs: Encourage current customers to refer their friends and family by offering incentives, such as a discount on their next visit or a free service after a certain number of referrals. This is a cost-effective way to attract new customers and retain existing ones.
• Community Involvement: Participate in community events or sponsor local charities to increase brand awareness and showcase your commitment to giving back. This can also help you build relationships with potential customers in your area.

The marketing strategy that you choose will strictly depend on the ideal customer and where you are most likely to reach them.  

Sample Marketing Plan for a Nail Salon Business

Example – polish perfection.

Our nail salon is positioned as an upscale and luxurious option for individuals seeking a personalized and high-quality experience. Our target market includes women aged 18-40, professionals with disposable income, brides and bridal parties, and high school/college students. We offer non-toxic and cruelty-free products, exceptional customer service, and a relaxing atmosphere. Our marketing strategy includes various promotions, collaborations, and a strong digital presence.

We project sales of $200,000 in the first year and aim to increase brand awareness, customer retention, and online bookings over time. So even though our target market may be focused on specific areas or demographics, we strive to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all individuals who want to feel pampered and beautiful. Our salon is not just a business, but a community where everyone is valued and celebrated. We look forward to serving our clients and establishing ourselves as the go-to nail salon in the local area.  

• Women aged 18-40
• Professionals with disposable income
• Brides and bridal parties
• High school and college students

Demographics

Women aged 18-40:

• Located in urban and suburban areas
• College-educated
• Working professionals or students
• Middle to high-income level

Professionals with disposable income:

• Located in urban areas
• High-income level
• Young professionals or established career individuals

Brides and bridal parties:

• Located in suburban or rural areas
• Engaged women aged 25-35

High school and college students:

• Middle to low-income level

Psychographics

• Interested in self-care and beauty
• Social media-savvy
• Health-conscious
• Willing to spend money on luxury services
• Fast-paced lifestyle, seeking convenience and quality services
• Value self-image and presentation
• Willing to pay for premium services
• Interested in beauty and pampering for special occasions
• Budget-conscious but willing to splurge for important events
• Looking for a reliable and high-quality salon experience
• Trendy and interested in trying new styles
• Price-sensitive, looking for affordable options

Our nail salon offers a luxurious and personalized experience with high-quality products, skilled technicians, and exceptional customer service. We prioritize the health and safety of our clients by using only non-toxic and cruelty-free products. Our salon also offers a relaxing atmosphere with complimentary refreshments and Wi-Fi.  

Our nail salon is positioned as a premium and upscale option in the market. We offer higher quality services and products at slightly higher prices than our competitors. However, we also offer special discounts and packages for students, brides, and loyal customers to cater to different target segments.  

Distribution Strategy

Our nail salon will mainly operate through our physical location, but we will also have an online booking system and social media pages for customers to make appointments and stay updated on promotions and services. We may also partner with other beauty businesses and bridal shops to reach a wider audience.  

• Loyalty program for repeat customers
• Student discounts
• Bridal packages and group services
• First-time customer promotions
• Business cards with contact information and promotions
• Brochures showcasing services and pricing
• Posters and flyers distributed in the local area
• Social media graphics and posts highlighting current offers
• Email newsletters with updates, promotions, and tips for nail care
• Signage outside and inside the salon promoting current deals or events. Additionally, signage can include special messages about the salon’s values, such as non-toxic products or community involvement.
• Social media contests and giveaways to engage with followers and attract new customers
• Referral program offering discounts for successful referrals
• Collaborations with beauty influencers or partnerships with local businesses
• Sponsorship of community events or charities

Our digital marketing plan will focus on promoting our salon through various online channels, including social media, email marketing, and paid advertisements. We will also utilize search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to improve our online visibility and attract more customers.  

Our conversion strategy will focus on providing a high-quality and personalized experience to our clients. We will also offer special promotions and packages for first-time customers to encourage them to become regulars. Our referral program and loyalty program will incentivize current clients to refer others and continue using our services.  

Our projected sales for the first year are $200,000 with an expected increase of 10% each year. Our estimated expenses include rent, supplies, employee salaries, and marketing costs. We anticipate breaking even in the first year and achieving a profit margin of 15-20% within three years.  

Marketing Objectives:

• Increase brand awareness by 25% within the first year of operation.
• Acquire a minimum of 500 social media followers on Instagram and Facebook within the first six months.
• Achieve a customer retention rate of 40% in the first year, increasing to 60% by the third year.
• Generate $50,000 in sales from bridal parties within the first year.
• Increase online bookings by 50% within the second year.
• Collaborate with at least three local businesses for cross-promotion within the first year of operation.

Free Nail Salon Business Plan Example PDF

Download our nail salon business plan pdf here. This is a free nail salon business plan example to help you get started on your own nail salon plan.  

How to Finish Your Nail Salon Marketing Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your marketing plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Marketing Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!