2 answers
Kristy
Student
Leadville, Colorado
1
Question
Updated
361 views
When you are starting your own business, what is the most important thing to make sure you have done? #spring25
I am a private nail artist and am starting up my own in-home salon, but any advice is greatly appreciated.
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2 answers
Theophilus Mensah
Entrepreneur
60
Answers
Grambling, Louisiana
Updated
Theophilus’s Answer
Ouu I love this question because I’ve been there and still am! One of the most important things I’ve learned in starting my own business is the mindset. Like, the ‘I’m doing this no matter what’ type of mindset. Not just excitement, but consistency mindset. Because starting is the hardest part. And people don’t always talk about that. You only learn how to run a business if you have one🌚. There’s no perfect time, no perfect plan. And in the beginning, it might feel slow, overwhelming, or even a little discouraging. But once your mind is made up that ‘I’m doing this,’ everything else starts to fall in place.
Then you can focus on the rest—your setup, your services, your customer experience—but it all starts with that decision. That mindset that says, ‘Even if I have just one client this week, I’m still showing up like it’s ten.’ That’s what keeps you going, and growing.”
Keep these too!
Set boundaries from the jump.
Especially with an in-home salon, people will try to treat your space like it’s casual. “Oh girl, can I come at 11:45pm? I’m already in your area.” Um, no ma’am—this isn’t Waffle House. Respect your space and your time.
Get your systems in place early.
Scheduling, payments, inventory. Use tools (even free ones) to stay organized. I used to literally forget who owed me money until I started tracking with a free app. Now? No confusion, no awkward texts.
Build trust before you build hype.
A lot of people focus on blowing up. But honestly, the best marketing is delivering great service to the 5 clients you have now so they bring you 5 more. One time I gave a free delivery to someone just because……and she brought me 3 new clients the next week.
Finally, don’t forget to hype yourself.
Document your journey. Post your wins. Even the little ones like “First client didn’t cancel!” That’s growth. You’re building something real and personal, and that deserves to be celebrated.
All the best!!
Then you can focus on the rest—your setup, your services, your customer experience—but it all starts with that decision. That mindset that says, ‘Even if I have just one client this week, I’m still showing up like it’s ten.’ That’s what keeps you going, and growing.”
Keep these too!
Set boundaries from the jump.
Especially with an in-home salon, people will try to treat your space like it’s casual. “Oh girl, can I come at 11:45pm? I’m already in your area.” Um, no ma’am—this isn’t Waffle House. Respect your space and your time.
Get your systems in place early.
Scheduling, payments, inventory. Use tools (even free ones) to stay organized. I used to literally forget who owed me money until I started tracking with a free app. Now? No confusion, no awkward texts.
Build trust before you build hype.
A lot of people focus on blowing up. But honestly, the best marketing is delivering great service to the 5 clients you have now so they bring you 5 more. One time I gave a free delivery to someone just because……and she brought me 3 new clients the next week.
Finally, don’t forget to hype yourself.
Document your journey. Post your wins. Even the little ones like “First client didn’t cancel!” That’s growth. You’re building something real and personal, and that deserves to be celebrated.
All the best!!
Jarod Fan
Customer Service
3
Answers
Dalian, Liaoning, China
Updated
Jarod’s Answer
When starting your own home - based nail salon as a private nail artist, here are some crucial things to ensure you've completed:
1. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Business License: Check with your local government to see if you need a general business license to operate a nail salon from home. In many areas, you'll be required to register your business, which helps make your operation legitimate and allows you to operate without legal issues down the line.
Zoning Permission: Confirm that running a business out of your home is allowed in your residential area. Some neighborhoods have specific zoning laws that restrict commercial activities in residential zones. You may need to apply for a home - occupation permit, which often involves demonstrating that your business won't cause problems like excessive traffic, noise, or disruption to neighbors.
Health and Safety Regulations: Familiarize yourself with the health and safety regulations related to nail salons. This includes ensuring proper sanitation of your tools (such as sterilizing nail clippers, files, and buffers between clients), maintaining a clean and hygienic work environment, and handling chemicals (like nail polish removers and acrylic powders) safely. You might need to undergo inspections by local health authorities to make sure you meet the required standards.
2. Business Planning
Define Your Services and Pricing: Clearly decide on the range of nail services you'll offer, whether it's basic manicures and pedicures, gel nails, acrylic extensions, or specialized nail art. Research the pricing of other local nail salons to set competitive and profitable prices. Consider factors like the cost of materials, the time each service takes, and your skill level when determining your rates.
Target Market and Marketing Strategy: Identify your target customers. Are you aiming for busy professionals who want quick and high - quality services during lunch breaks, or are you focusing more on stay - at - home parents, or perhaps brides - to - be looking for wedding - related nail treatments? Once you know your target market, develop a marketing plan. Use social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase your work, offer promotions for new clients, and build a local customer base. You can also create flyers and distribute them in your neighborhood, local coffee shops, or community centers.
Financial Plan: Calculate your startup costs, which will include purchasing nail products (polishes, gels, lotions, etc.), tools, furniture (a comfortable chair for clients, a manicure table), and any necessary decorations for your home salon space. Also, estimate your monthly expenses, such as restocking supplies, utility bills for the additional usage due to the business, and marketing costs. Figure out how many clients you need to serve each month to cover your costs and start making a profit.
3. Equipment and Supplies
Quality Tools and Products: Invest in high - quality nail tools that are durable and comfortable to use. This includes good - quality nail clippers, cuticle pushers, files, and buffers. Choose a wide variety of nail polish brands and colors that are popular and long - lasting. Stock up on essential supplies like nail glue, cotton balls, and nail polish remover. You may also want to consider purchasing specialized equipment if you plan to offer advanced services, such as a UV or LED lamp for gel nail curing.
Comfortable and Functional Space: Set up a dedicated area in your home for your salon. Make sure it's well - lit, preferably with natural light, and has good ventilation to avoid the buildup of strong chemical odors. Create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for your clients with soft lighting, pleasant music, and tasteful decorations. Arrange your furniture in a way that allows for easy movement and efficient service delivery.
4. Customer Management
Booking System: Decide on a booking system that works for you. You can use online booking platforms like Acuity Scheduling or Vagaro, which allow customer to book appointments directly through your website or social media pages. This makes it convenient for customer and helps you keep track of your schedule, manage appointments, and send reminders to reduce no - shows.
Customer Service Skills: Focus on providing excellent customer service. Build relationships with your customer by being friendly, attentive, and listening to their preferences. Offer personalized recommendations, and go the extra mile to ensure they have a great experience. Happy Customer are more likely to become repeat customers and recommend your services to others.
Please remember, everything is Customer, Customer, Customer....
1. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Business License: Check with your local government to see if you need a general business license to operate a nail salon from home. In many areas, you'll be required to register your business, which helps make your operation legitimate and allows you to operate without legal issues down the line.
Zoning Permission: Confirm that running a business out of your home is allowed in your residential area. Some neighborhoods have specific zoning laws that restrict commercial activities in residential zones. You may need to apply for a home - occupation permit, which often involves demonstrating that your business won't cause problems like excessive traffic, noise, or disruption to neighbors.
Health and Safety Regulations: Familiarize yourself with the health and safety regulations related to nail salons. This includes ensuring proper sanitation of your tools (such as sterilizing nail clippers, files, and buffers between clients), maintaining a clean and hygienic work environment, and handling chemicals (like nail polish removers and acrylic powders) safely. You might need to undergo inspections by local health authorities to make sure you meet the required standards.
2. Business Planning
Define Your Services and Pricing: Clearly decide on the range of nail services you'll offer, whether it's basic manicures and pedicures, gel nails, acrylic extensions, or specialized nail art. Research the pricing of other local nail salons to set competitive and profitable prices. Consider factors like the cost of materials, the time each service takes, and your skill level when determining your rates.
Target Market and Marketing Strategy: Identify your target customers. Are you aiming for busy professionals who want quick and high - quality services during lunch breaks, or are you focusing more on stay - at - home parents, or perhaps brides - to - be looking for wedding - related nail treatments? Once you know your target market, develop a marketing plan. Use social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase your work, offer promotions for new clients, and build a local customer base. You can also create flyers and distribute them in your neighborhood, local coffee shops, or community centers.
Financial Plan: Calculate your startup costs, which will include purchasing nail products (polishes, gels, lotions, etc.), tools, furniture (a comfortable chair for clients, a manicure table), and any necessary decorations for your home salon space. Also, estimate your monthly expenses, such as restocking supplies, utility bills for the additional usage due to the business, and marketing costs. Figure out how many clients you need to serve each month to cover your costs and start making a profit.
3. Equipment and Supplies
Quality Tools and Products: Invest in high - quality nail tools that are durable and comfortable to use. This includes good - quality nail clippers, cuticle pushers, files, and buffers. Choose a wide variety of nail polish brands and colors that are popular and long - lasting. Stock up on essential supplies like nail glue, cotton balls, and nail polish remover. You may also want to consider purchasing specialized equipment if you plan to offer advanced services, such as a UV or LED lamp for gel nail curing.
Comfortable and Functional Space: Set up a dedicated area in your home for your salon. Make sure it's well - lit, preferably with natural light, and has good ventilation to avoid the buildup of strong chemical odors. Create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for your clients with soft lighting, pleasant music, and tasteful decorations. Arrange your furniture in a way that allows for easy movement and efficient service delivery.
4. Customer Management
Booking System: Decide on a booking system that works for you. You can use online booking platforms like Acuity Scheduling or Vagaro, which allow customer to book appointments directly through your website or social media pages. This makes it convenient for customer and helps you keep track of your schedule, manage appointments, and send reminders to reduce no - shows.
Customer Service Skills: Focus on providing excellent customer service. Build relationships with your customer by being friendly, attentive, and listening to their preferences. Offer personalized recommendations, and go the extra mile to ensure they have a great experience. Happy Customer are more likely to become repeat customers and recommend your services to others.
Please remember, everything is Customer, Customer, Customer....