How to Open a Nail Salon: Equipment Costs and Where to Buy

Find out about:

• The Early Stages of Your New Business
• Determining Services and a Price List
• Nail Salon Equipment You’ll Need

Nail salons in the UK bring in more than £3 billion in revenue every year, and now it’s your turn to have a piece of the pie. You’re good with people, you want to create a relaxed environment for your customers and you’re probably passionate about beauty treatments – so where do you start?

We know that COVID-19 has hugely impacted the beauty industry. For a long period of time, nail salons were closed and customers were anxious to come back when things reopened. But now the industry is booming again and schedules are fully booked!

We’re here to support you in opening your nail salon during this unprecedented time and simplify the process, including listing the equipment you’ll need to set up.

The Early Stages of Your New Business 

Opening a nail salon, as with any business, requires plenty of planning and forward-thinking. You’ll need a written business plan to acquire funding and improve your chances of setting up a successful business. 

Your business plan will dictate what your salon looks like, how it operates and its objectives. You’ll need to consider the following:

• The legal business structure
• Name (the best part)
• Location
• Business insurance
• Licenses and permits
• Finances
• Admin – such as appointment scheduling software
• Hiring staff
• Market research into industry trends
• Target customer
• Marketing and PR – from social media to commercials
• COVID-19 guidelines 

You can’t open a nail salon without picking your services and setting your prices. The amount you charge depends on your location, clients and the number of competing salons in your immediate area. Luxury spa-like salons with premium services will typically charge more than mall outlets.

Check to see what competitors in your area charge, especially those with a similar setup to your salon. As a general rule, manicures can typically run anywhere from £5 to £35, while pedicures can cost between £15 and £35.

More specific treatments come with additional costs. Acrylic full sets can range from £20 to £40, while gel nails vary between £20 and £50. This is thanks to the surge in popularity of nail art, gems and complex designs. 

And don’t forget, if you decide to sell products like nail polish, lotions or filing kits, the typical markup is around 50 percent¹ or more. Whatever you decide, research will help you set your optimal nail salon prices.

Nail Salon Equipment You’ll Need

Now you’ve got the groundwork covered, you’ll need to source supplies and start kitting out your new salon. Read on to find out what nail salon equipment you’ll need to get started and how much this might cost. After all, you’ll need the right kit to make your nail salon dreams come true!

Manicure stations

What is a nail salon without a manicure station? This is where the core of your services take place, so providing a comfortable station for both you and your customers is vital to your success.

A station should include a manicure table that holds all of the nail polishes, brushes and tools you’ll need, and it may even come with lighting and motorised vents to pull away fumes. You’ll also need comfortable chairs for both the customer and nail polisher. 

Table prices can start at around £60 and run upwards of £700, though many standard models typically cost between £200 and £300. Stools can run between £40 and £100.

Where to start? Online supplier Salon Store has a wide selection of manicure tables and stools to help you open your nail salon.

Pedicure chairs

The type of pedicure chair you offer can help entice customers and keep them coming back, which makes it one area where you may not want to skimp. 

Opt for comfortable padded recliners where your customers can relax. A built-in foot bath will add a professional touch and provide an extra service option (foot massages) to your menu of offerings. Chairs can be one of your biggest equipment costs, starting at £250 for lower end models to as much as £2,000 for luxury chairs. 

Where to start? Try retailers such as Salon Beauty Furniture that offer a variety of chair options at a range of prices.

Nail polish displays

Though not essential, an attractive nail polish rack can help market and lure new customers into your salon. It can also help customers choose the colours they want by giving them an easy view of all available colours and gradients.

Nail polish racks are typically wall-mounted or rotating floor displays, costing anywhere between £20 and £1,000, depending on size and quality.

Where to start? Chicybee has several nail polish racks to choose from to please most budgets.

Drying lamps

Drying lamps are essential when opening a nail salon. It’s important to properly dry clients’ nails after polishing to prevent smudging, and the best way to achieve this is with a drying lamp. 

Creating a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers while their nails dry also helps elevate the overall experience in your salon. UV and LED drying lamps and stations can cost between £30 and £400.

Where to start? For more economical drying lamps, Nail Polish Direct offers a number of options.

Equipment sanitisers

It’s important to keep your nail salon equipment clean and sanitised for the safety and peace of mind of your customers. In addition to scrubbing foot basins after each customer, you also need to wash and dry reusable metal instruments. Place them in a sanitiser that uses UV rays or heat to sterilise the equipment. Sanitiser costs can range from £50 to £150.

Where to start? Suppliers like Direct Salon Furniture have several equipment sanitisers to choose from.

If you’ve found this page useful and want access to more of our business resources, become a listed Groupon Merchant today.

References:

1. 1. 1. https://www.nailsmag.com/382159/the-6-retail-numbers-you-need-to-know