nail parlour business plan

Nail Salon Business Plan Template & PDF Example

• September 4, 2024

Creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for launching and running a successful nail salon. This plan serves as your roadmap, detailing your vision, operational strategies, and financial plan. It helps establish your salon’s identity, navigate the competitive market, and secure funding for growth.

This article not only breaks down the critical components of a nail salon business plan, but also provides an example of a business plan to help you craft your own.

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or new to the beauty industry, this guide, complete with a business plan example, lays the groundwork for turning your nail salon concept into reality. Let’s dive in!

Our nail salon business plan is crafted to be straightforward and comprehensive, encompassing all essential elements necessary for a well-rounded business plan. It specifies the salon’s operations, strategic direction, market analysis , competition landscape, management structure, and financial forecasts.

• Executive Summary : An overview of your nail salon’s concept, market positioning, leadership, and financial strategy.
• Salon & Location : Describes the salon’s design, amenities, and strategic location choice.
• Treatments & Pricing : Details on the range of nail services provided, including manicures, pedicures, and pricing.
• Key Stats : Industry size , growth potential, and critical statistics about the nail salon market.
• Key Trends : Current trends shaping the nail salon industry, such as customer preferences and technological advancements.
• Key Competitors : Analysis of major competitors in the vicinity and how your salon differentiates itself.
• SWOT : Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis.
• Marketing Plan : Strategies for marketing your nail salon to attract and retain customers.
• Timeline : Important milestones and targets from the startup phase to expansion, for at least the first year.
• Management : Information about the management team, outlining their roles and contributions to the salon’s success.
• Financial Plan : A projection of the salon’s financial performance over the next five years, including revenue, profits, and anticipated expenses.

Nail Salon Business Plan Template (Download)

Fully editable 30+ slides Powerpoint presentation business plan template.

Download an expert-built 30+ slides Powerpoint business plan template

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary introduces your nail salon’s business plan, providing a succinct overview of your salon and the services it provides. It should outline your market positioning, the range of nail care and beauty services offered, its location, size, and a brief on the operational aspects.

This section should further detail how your nail salon will position itself within the local market, including an analysis of the number of direct competitors in the area, identifying who they are, along with your salon’s unique selling points that distinguish it from these competitors.

Additionally, it is important to include information about the management and founding team, detailing their roles and how they contribute to the nail salon’s success. Lastly, present a summary of your financial projections, highlighting expected revenue and profits over the next five years.

Nail Salon Business Plan Executive Summary Example

Business Overview

Presenting a succinct  business overview  is pivotal in the executive summary, laying the groundwork by providing essential details. This includes the salon’s name, its location, and a concise insight into its daily operations. These details serve as an introduction to your salon, setting the stage for its distinct characteristics.

A unique selling proposition (USP) is pivotal, differentiating your salon from competitors. Whether it’s a focus on eco-friendly products, specialized nail artistry, or exceptional customer service, the USP should be a highlight in your executive summary. It encapsulates the essence of your salon and its  unique value proposition .

Example: “ChicNail Haven,” nestled in the vibrant heart of Downtown Bliss, occupies a spacious 2,000 square feet area on Elm Street. We offer an array of premium nail services including gel manicures, nail artistry, pedicures, and extensions. Our USP lies in combining luxurious pampering with eco-friendly practices, utilizing toxin-free products and sustainable materials in our salon experience.

Market Overview

Understanding the  market size , growth trends, and industry dynamics is crucial. This section should emphasize the potential of the local nail care market, supported by relevant data such as market value and growth rates. Discussing trends, such as the rising demand for eco-conscious beauty or innovative nail techniques, sheds light on the evolving landscape and your salon’s positioning within it.

Equally important is outlining the  competitive  landscape. Identify  key competitors  and elucidate how your salon distinguishes itself within this framework. Whether through specialized services, unique product offerings, or exceptional client experiences, this section showcases how your salon stands out amidst competition.

Example: In the local nail care market of Downtown Bliss, estimated at $5 million annually with a 7% growth rate, ChicNail Haven stands out among competitors by focusing on organic nail treatments and cruelty-free products. While competing with established salons, our commitment to eco-conscious beauty practices positions us as the preferred choice for environmentally aware clients.

Management Team

The expertise and background of your management team are critical assets. Highlight the qualifications and experiences of key team members in your executive summary.

This could include your salon manager’s extensive experience in beauty service management or your head nail technician’s specialized training. Demonstrating the team’s proficiency not only builds credibility but also assures potential investors and partners of your salon’s capability to excel.

Example: At ChicNail Haven, Emily White, with a decade of managerial experience in upscale beauty services, leads the team. Supported by a team of certified nail technicians and beauty professionals, each boasting specialized training in eco-friendly nail care, the salon promises expertise and excellence in every service.

Financial Plan

A succinct overview of your financial goals and projections is imperative. Summarize revenue targets, profit margins, and anticipated growth trajectories, offering a clear picture of your salon’s financial journey.

Example: ChicNail Haven aims for a projected revenue of $500,000 by its second year, targeting a 15%  net profit  margin. Capital investment in premium nail care equipment and sustainable salon aesthetics, coupled with strategic marketing focused on eco-conscious consumers, drives anticipated growth and profitability within the local market.

For a Nail Salon, the Business Overview section is divided into 2 concise slides:

Nail Salon & Location

Present the design and ambiance of your nail salon, focusing on how the environment is tailored to provide a relaxing and premium experience for clients. Discuss the salon’s location, emphasizing accessibility and the convenience it offers to potential clients, such as proximity to busy shopping areas or availability of parking. Highlight the strategic benefits of the location that make it an attractive choice for your target market .

Services & Pricing

Explain the variety of nail services your salon offers, from basic manicures and pedicures to more advanced treatments like gel, acrylics, and nail art. Provide an overview of your pricing structure , showing how it aligns with the salon’s quality of service and the competitive landscape. Mention any special packages, membership options, or loyalty programs that encourage repeat visits and foster a loyal customer base, enhancing the client’s salon experience.

Industry Size & Growth

In the Market Overview of your nail salon business plan, begin by outlining the current size of the nail care industry and its potential for growth. This part is essential for understanding the scale of the market and the opportunities it presents.

Key Market Trends

Next, address recent trends in the market, such as the increasing consumer demand for luxury nail services, eco-friendly products, and innovative nail art designs. For example, mention the growing interest in customized nail art, long-lasting gel manicures, and the use of non-toxic, vegan nail polishes.

Competitive Landscape

A  competitive analysis  is not just a tool for gauging the position of your nail salon in the market and its key competitors; it’s also a fundamental component of your business plan.

This analysis helps in identifying your nail salon’s unique selling points, essential for differentiating your business in a  competitive  market.

In addition, competitive analysis is integral in laying a solid foundation for your business plan. By examining various operational aspects of your competitors, you gain valuable information that ensures your business plan is robust, informed, and tailored to succeed in the current market environment.

Identifying Your Nail Salon’s Competitors

Begin by mapping out local nail salons and beauty spas in your area. Direct competitors would include nearby nail salons offering similar services, nail bars known for specific techniques, as well as full-service beauty salons that offer nail care alongside other services. Don’t overlook indirect competitors such as home-based nail technicians or DIY nail care kits.

Utilize online resources such as Google Maps to gain insights into the distribution of competitors. Platforms like Yelp, Google Reviews, or specialized beauty service review sites offer customer feedback, providing invaluable insights into competitors’  strengths and weaknesses . For instance, if reviews consistently highlight the quality of service and a wide range of nail art designs at “Glamorous Nails,” this indicates a key strength of your competitor.

Nail Salon Competitors’ Strategies

Analyzing competitors’ strategies involves various aspects:

• Service Offerings:  Assess the range of services offered by competitors. If a salon nearby specializes in eco-friendly or organic nail treatments, it indicates a  market trend  toward sustainable beauty practices.
• Techniques and Styles:  Consider the nail techniques and styles. A salon known for intricate nail art might attract a different clientele compared to one that emphasizes quick, express manicures.
• Pricing Strategy :  Compare your pricing with competitors. Are your services priced similarly to budget-friendly salons, or are they more aligned with the premium offerings at high-end spas?
• Marketing Tactics:  Evaluate how competitors market their services. Do they leverage social media effectively, or do they rely more on referrals and loyalty programs?
• Customer Experience:  Assess the in-salon experience. For example, a salon known for its relaxing ambiance and personalized customer service might have a competitive edge in customer retention.
• Operational Efficiency:  Observe if competitors use technology or innovative processes to enhance efficiency, such as online booking systems, nail care subscriptions, or advanced nail care equipment.

What’s Your Nail Salon’s Value Proposition?

Identifying your unique position:.

• Define Your  Unique Value Proposition :  Identify what makes your salon stand out. It could be expertise in intricate nail art, a specialization in natural nail care using organic products, or unique services catering to a specific niche.
• Gap Identification:  Gather insights from customer feedback and industry trends to recognize gaps in the market. For instance, if there’s a growing demand for cruelty-free nail polishes or innovative nail care technologies that competitors aren’t addressing, this presents an opportunity for your salon to fill that gap.
• Location-Centric Approach:  Tailor your offerings and ambiance according to your salon’s location. A salon in a bustling commercial area might emphasize quick, walk-in services, while one in a residential neighborhood could focus on a tranquil spa-like experience.

First, conduct a SWOT analysis for the nail salon, identifying Strengths (such as high-quality nail care services and experienced technicians), Weaknesses (like significant competition or high operational expenses), Opportunities (for example, an increasing interest in nail art and care), and Threats (such as economic downturns impacting discretionary consumer spending).

Marketing Plan

Next, create a marketing strategy that outlines ways to attract and retain customers through targeted advertising, attractive package deals, vibrant social media engagement, and hosting or participating in local beauty events.

Marketing Channels

The marketing channels for a nail salon are avenues through which you can communicate your brand and services to potential and existing customers. These channels are essential for building brand awareness, engaging with customers, and driving foot traffic to your salon.

Digital Marketing

In today’s digital age, having an online presence is crucial. This includes:

• Social Media:  Utilize Instagram to post high-quality images of your nail art, create engaging stories on Facebook to showcase behind-the-scenes content, and use Pinterest to pin trendy nail designs. Regularly engage with your audience through comments and direct messages.
• Email Marketing:  Build an email list by offering a discount for sign-ups. Send bi-weekly newsletters featuring nail care tips, exclusive offers, and updates about new services or products at your salon.
• Website and SEO:  Develop a professional website with a gallery of your work, customer testimonials, and a blog with nail care advice. Optimize your website for local SEO to ensure your salon ranks high in search results for nail services in your area.

Local Advertising

Connecting with your local community can be highly effective:

• Flyers and Local Print:  Distribute well-designed flyers in local cafes, boutiques, and community centers. Place ads in local lifestyle magazines and newspapers to reach a broader audience.
• Community Events:  Participate in local fairs and beauty expos, offering free nail consultations or mini-services. Sponsor local sports teams or charity events to increase brand visibility.
• Partnerships:  Collaborate with local businesses like hair salons, spas, and bridal shops to offer joint packages or cross-promotional deals.

Promotional Activities

Engage potential customers with attractive offers:

• Special Deals:  Launch seasonal promotions like ‘Summer Beach Manicure Discounts’ or ‘Winter Nail Care Packages’. Offer special discounts for first-time visitors to encourage trial.
• Loyalty Programs:  Implement a loyalty card system where after ten services, the customer gets a free manicure or pedicure.
• Referral Bonuses:  Provide a discount or a free add-on service to clients who refer new customers to your salon.

Sales Channels

Sales channels  are the methods through which you sell your services and products to customers. These channels are crucial for maximizing revenue and ensuring customer satisfaction.

In-Salon Upselling

Maximize revenue with each customer visit:

• Service Add-Ons:  While booking, suggest add-ons like a French polish or a gel upgrade. During a manicure, offer a hydrating hand mask or an extended massage.
• Retail Products:  Display nail care products prominently at the checkout. Train staff to educate customers on the benefits of at-home nail care products like cuticle oils and hand creams.
• Package Deals:  Offer bundled services, such as a ‘Mani-Pedi Combo’ at a reduced price, or a ‘Bridal Package’ for weddings.

Online Booking and Sales

Leverage technology to streamline sales:

• Online Booking System:  Implement a user-friendly booking system on your website and social media. Offer an incentive, like a small discount, for booking online.
• E-Commerce:  Sell branded nail care products, gift cards, and salon merchandise through your website.
• Virtual Consultations:  Offer online consultations for personalized nail care advice, leading to tailored service bookings and product recommendations.

Membership and Loyalty Programs

Encourage repeat business:

• Membership Options:  Create a membership program offering monthly services at a discounted rate, such as one manicure and one pedicure per month.
• Loyalty Rewards:  Develop a digital loyalty program where customers earn points for every dollar spent, redeemable for discounts on services or products.

Strategy Timeline

Finally, design a detailed timeline that specifies crucial milestones for the nail salon’s launch, marketing activities, customer acquisition, and strategies for expansion, ensuring the business evolves with strategic focus and clear objectives.

The Management section focuses on the nail salon’s management and their direct roles in daily operations and strategic direction. This part is crucial for understanding who is responsible for making key decisions and driving the salon towards its financial and operational goals.

For your nail salon business plan, list the core team members, their specific responsibilities, and how their expertise supports the business.

The Financial Plan section is a comprehensive analysis of your financial projections for revenue, expenses, and profitability. It lays out your nail salon’s approach to securing funding, managing cash flow, and achieving breakeven.

This section typically includes detailed forecasts for the first 5 years of operation, highlighting expected revenue, operating costs and capital expenditures.

For your nail salon business plan, provide a snapshot of your financial statement (profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement), as well as your key assumptions (e.g. number of customers and prices, expenses, etc.).

Make sure to cover here _ Profit and Loss _ Cash Flow Statement _ Balance Sheet _ Use of Funds

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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

The foundation for a successful nail salon starts with a great plan. This sample nail salon business plan, thoughtfully prepared by the experts at PlanBuildr.com, provides the roadmap you need to turn your vision into reality.

With over 20 years of experience crafting business plans, this plan highlights market opportunities, offers operational insights and lays out clear financial projections.

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.

🌍 Upmetrics is now available in

• Sample Business Plans
• Beauty Salon & Fitness

Nail Salon Business Plan

Want to start a profitable business venture?

So, if you’re the kind of person whose nails are always on point and possess the right blend of creativity to make others look and feel fabulous, it’s time to enter the world of grace and glamor.

The beauty industry is the most thriving place for innovative minds. In 2022, the global nail salon market was valued at $11.00 billion and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2023 to 2030.

That’s a lot of money being spent on nail care. From French manicures and perfect pedicures to striking gel nails, people are going gaga over this beauty & fashion trend.

So, starting a nail salon business might be a money-making move for you. But before that, you have to make a solid business plan for a nail salon.

Surprisingly, our nail salon business plan will help you create your own business plan that leaves a mark on potential investors or partners.

Let’s dive in and uncover the secrets to turn your passion for nails into a successful business!

Key Takeaways

• Highlight your nail salon business, its ambiance, services, mission statement, and business goals in your business plan.
• Draft an effective executive summary section that overviews your nail salon business plan and attracts angel investors or partners.
• Conduct detailed market research to understand beauty industry trends, consumer preferences, and target customers.
• Research and analyze your direct and indirect competitors to determine where your business stands against other salons.
• Outline your operational plan and provide details about staffing needs, inventory control, and customer satisfaction.
• Prepare a realistic and strategic financial plan to assess startup costs and secure funding resources for a nail salon business.
• Effectively promote your brand by developing a comprehensive sales and marketing plan.

Why Write a Nail Salon Business Plan?

In reality, every established or upcoming business requires a well-crafted business plan. It is not just a document; it’s a dynamic tool that offers a roadmap for financial projections and business decisions.

Like any other business, a nail salon business greatly benefits from having a well-thought-out business plan.

Whether you’re seeking to secure a loan or attract new investors, a detailed business plan is a must. It presents your salon’s expenses & revenue potential and outlines the profitability for potential investors.

An actionable business plan lays the foundation for a nail salon, outlining business strategies, goals, marketing plans, service offerings, funding needs, and steps to enhance your credibility.

Not only that, for sustained growth, it serves as a reference point for effectively tracking progress, reassessing business goals, and adapting to changing market demands.

If you’re running your own nail salon or handling one, you need to write a compelling nail salon business plan that aligns with your salon’s vision and guides you cohesively toward it.

Now, let’s move forward to create a successful business plan without any further ado:

8 Key Elements of an Effective Nail Salon Business Plan

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Market and Competitor Analysis
• Salon Product and Services
• Salon Marketing Strategy
• Nail Salon Management Team
• Operational Plan
• Financial Plan and Forecasts

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the initial section of your business plan where you’ll make your first impression. So, provide a quick overview of your entire nail salon business plan.

Your executive summary should be clear, concise, and engaging as it attracts investors or readers to delve further into your plan.

Try to sum up your business idea in a complete and precise manner. Outline a few important topics, from objectives and core values to a coherent vision for your brand.

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.

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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 nail salon 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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Nail Salon Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Beauty Care Industry » Nail Salon

Are you about starting a nail salon business ? If YES, here is a complete sample nail salon business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a nail salon business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample nail salon marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for nail salons. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

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Why Start a Nail Salon?

The art of looking good is one activity nearly all women love to engage in. This is because of the fact that they do not like to be seen as shabby looking. This is one of the reasons why some women do not mind to go to any length to look and feel good.

One of the ways through which women try to look their best is by keeping their nails neat and attractive. They see to it that they have the right manicure and pedicure, as well as have the best of nail colors to look good. This is one also one of the reasons why several businesses surrounding the nails have come to stay.

Setting up as nail studio is one of the best things that could possibly happen to a budding entrepreneur, and this is because of the good returns on investment that is being encountered there. If you think that starting a nail studio is what you want to do, then care must be taken to do the adequate and needful research that will help you operate and launch out at the optimum.

Here below is a sample Nail Salon  business plan template, whose template you can comfortably adopt to build yours from start to finish.

A Sample Nail Salon Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

A nails salon or nails bar as some people like to call it, is a specialty beauty salon trade that primarily offers nail care services such as manicures, pedicures, and nail enhancements. It is also needed to know that in most cases, nail salons also offer skin care services.

There are around 200,000 nail salons in the united states of America. Those who are employed to offer the services of the nails are known as the technicians or manicurists.

Nail salons offer a variation of options for nail care. This includes acrylics, silk or fiberglass wraps, French manicures, polish, pedicures, etc. Some nail salons do not just stop at offering nail services, they also offer other beauty services like; facial treatments, waxing, and skin care.

Also, there are recognized qualifications that are required to be gotten, in order to be able to be granted licenses to the salons.

Research has shown that almost 40% of nail salon technicians in the US are Vietnamese women, and these women can be found mostly in California. These immigrants decided to start nail salon businesses in America after the Vietnam War.

The training required for nail salon work is small and inexpensive; the work does not require high level of qualification so far as you are able to communicate with your clients without difficulty. In the same vein, the amount of capital is not much compared with if you had to open some other businesses that needed a huge capital base.

2. Executive Summary

Fingers and Toes nail Studio is a classy nail salon that will be opened in New York City, America. We have chosen New York because we think that it would be an amazing opportunity to have the crème de la crème in the society and in showbiz visit our nail hub.

The business will be run as a standard nail salon coy, and we shall see it that all clients from old to young are given the very best of services. Our services will cover areas such as; manicure, pedicure, nail painting, nail fixing, nail trainings, as well as other added services that will also help boost our brand.

We are aware that businesses these days require diverse and sophisticated approaches. This is why we will be sure to be abreast with the creativity and trend which the trade is exposed to. We shall also be involved in the training of budding entrepreneurs who may want to venture into this industry.

Even though starting a nail salon might look really pretty easy to start,   we intend to bring in strict professionalism that will make up stand out.

Fingers and Toes nail studio is primarily focused to help its clients look their very best at all times. We would try as much as lies within our power to surpass the expectations of people. Our prices would also be very affordable; we do not want to scare our new clients away with our pricing.

As a matter of fact, we plan to lower our pricing so that we can gain good grounds within our startup period. We plan to hire the best hands in the city of New York to help us drive our business.

This is one of the reasons why we do not mind to pay our employees well because we know that we are striving for a goal and that is the goal of gaining loads of clients. In addition, much more than just satisfying our clients, we also want to see new entrepreneurs empowered by us, as they emerge to start their own nail salon business.

We shall also be involved in the sponsoring of various programs that are hosted in the locality which we are located. Shows like fashion shows, hair exhibitions, entertainment shows, amongst many others. This is o that we are able to give a good account of ourselves as we launch out.

3. Our Products and Services

We shall be known to offer strict professional nail services at all times. This is so that we do not deviate from our core. Here below are some of our business offerings;

• Fixing of artificial nails
• Training of budding entrepreneurs
• Sale of nail accessories
• Sale of women accessories

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to provide our teeming clients with the best of nail services, such that is hard to experience in New York. We strive to achieve this with our overly trained nail attendants and the ambience which our salon has to offer.
• Our mission is to provide professional and creative service to our clients- thereby meeting their beauty needs at all times.

Our Business Structure

At Fingers and Toes, we know that having a solid structure will make us drive our nail business really smoothly. Therefore, we will build a firm business structure that can support the growth of our business. We will ensure that we hire competent hands to help us build the business of our dream.

Below is the business structure that we will build Fingers and Toes Nail Salon

• Chief Executive Officer

Salon Manager

• Accountant/Cashier
• Front desk officer
• Nail manicurist 1
• Nail manicurist 2
• Sales attendant

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Office

• Responsible for providing direction for the nail salon.
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall salon strategy.
• Responsible for building a strong customer care system.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the business.
• Reports to the board
• Coordinates training programs for budding entrepreneurs.
• Handle all paper documents for the coy.
• Identifies training and development needs for the employees through job analysis, appraisals and consultation
• Designs job descriptions
• Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of HR Policies, Procedures and Processes
• Facilitates and coordinate strategic sessions.
• Works directly with the chief executive officer
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Serves as internal auditor for the company

Front Desk Officer

• Receives Visitors / clients on behalf of the organization
• Receives parcels / documents for the company
• Handles enquiries via e-mail and phone calls for the organization
• Distribute mails in the organization
• Handles any other duties as assigned my the line manager

Nail Stylist 1 and 2

• Sees to it that the   client gets exactly what they wanted.
• Creates styles that are creative
• Gives clients a lifetime experience for patronizing

6. SWOT Analysis

Fingers and Toes nail salon has engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and beauty to assist the firm in building a solid consulting firm that can favorably compete in the highly competitive consulting industry.

Part of what our team of business consultant did was to work with the management of the firm in conducting a SWOT analysis for Fingers and Toes Nail salon. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Fingers and Toes nail salon.

Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team – made up of the Vietnamese women that can go all the way to give our clients value for their money. We are well positioned and we know we will attract loads of clients from the first day we open our doors for business.

As a new nail salon in the area we have decided to operate from, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market; that is perhaps our major weakness.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities in the nail salon industry can be said to be very promising despite the high level of competition that abounds. One of the opportunities is the fact that there are loads of people that engage the services of manicurists, and we will strive to be the leading ones.

Some of the threats that we are likely going to face as a nail salon operating in the United States are unfavorable government policies, the arrival of a competitor within our location of operations and new trends in trade that often affect patronage.. There is hardly anything we could do as regards these threats other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for our good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

Quite a number of distinct trends have emerged in recent times in the nail beauty industry which is why nail salons are positioning their organizations to attract all and sundry. As a matter of fact, this is one of the things that makes most nail studios to spruce up their creativity level so that they

In this type of business, one of the things that could possibly make one stand out from the competitive crowd is having a top notch customer service. If possible there is the need to place a follow up calls to all clients from time to time. Those who are known to engage in such exercises have come to know that they attract more and more clients as the days go by.

In addition, no matter how bad the economy may be, people still fund or rather still deem it very important to have their nails done. This simply means that there would be more money coming into the coffers of those who operate the business, even though the economy bites hard at the people.

8. Our Target Market

The target market which we are all out to serve are primary the female folks. This is because of the fact that they are the ones who will leave no stone unturned in seeing that they look their best. Whilst some may do this to continue to be attractive to their partners, yet others cannot just do without looking good.

As such, our target market cuts across all sectors. Also our nail salon will have a variety of practice areas to help budding nail manicurists grow. Our target market cuts across women of different class and people from all walks of life, local and international organizations as well.

We are coming into the industry with a business concept that will enable us work with the highly placed people and celebrities in the country and at the same with the lowly placed people and smaller businesses.  In other words, our target market is the whole of the United States of America and subsequently other parts of the world. Below is a list of the people and organizations that we have specifically designed our services for;

• Females in the Banks, Insurance Companies and other related Financial Institutions
• Females in Businesses and Entrepreneurs
• College students

Our competitive advantage

A close study of the beauty and nail industry reveals that the market has become much more intensely competitive over the last decade. As a matter of fact it is becoming really tough to break even in this market because of the number of people who are in it.

However, we are also aware that this hasn’t deterred people from breaking even and smiling to the bank. This is one of the reasons why we have added other services that are beauty related; this is so that we do not miss out in any way.

Fingers and Toes nail salon may be a new entrant into the business beauty industry in the United States of America, but the management staffs and board members are considered gurus. They are people who are core professionals and licensed and highly qualified beauticians in the United States. These are part of what will count as a competitive advantage for us.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry meaning ;that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

It is the wish of every business to generate income at all times and our nail salon is one of such businesses. Fingers and Toes Nail Salon is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the beauty industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis and sign retainer – ship with most of our clients.

Hence, there are several ways through which we plan to make this money at all times. Fingers and Toes nail salon, will generate income by offering the following services;

• Fixing of acrylic nails
• Fixing of French nails
• Sale of other female accessories
• Training people of the art of nail care and fixing
• Home services in all the aspects listed above

10. Sales Forecast

There will always be a need to do some business and sales forecasting as a business. This is because of the drive4 it gives one to achieve it. In the same vein, Fingers and Toes nail salon has several sale projections that we will be all out to achieve. For as long as there are female folks in New York, we know that we will be able to reach our sales goals in no distant time.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in the U.S. and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow the business and our clientele base beyond New York City, New York to other states in the U.S. and even the global market.

We have been able to critically examine the beauty market and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to startups in New York.

Below is the sales projection for Fingers and Toes Nail Salon. It is based on the location of our nail salon and the wide range of other addendum services we will be offering;

• First Year-: $80,000
• Second Year-: $200,000
• Third Year-: $500,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We mindful of the fact that there is stiffer competition amongst nail salons in the United States of America; hence we have been able to hire some of the best business developer to handle our sales and marketing. Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of the organization.

We will also ensure that our excellent job deliveries speak for us in the marketplace; we want to build a standard beauty business that will leverage on word of mouth advertisement from satisfied clients (both individuals and organizations).

Our goal is to grow our nail salon to become one of the top 20 salons in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategy that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in the U.S but in the world stage as well. Fingers and Toes nail salon is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to organizations and key stakeholders in New York and other parts of the U.S.
• Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and radio station.
• List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of clients.
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our in house consultants and other brand and publicity specialist to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market.

We are set to take the consulting industry by storm which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our beauty based business. Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Fingers and Toes Nail salon business;

• Place adverts our consulting firm on both print and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant TV shows and radio programs
• Maximize our firm’s website to promote our business
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook ,Twitter, LinkedIn, Badoo, Google+ and other platforms (real estate online forums) to promote our business.
• Offer Pro Bono services as part of our community social responsibility via fashion shows, beauty exhibitions and what have you.
• Brand all our official cars

12. Our Pricing Strategy

One of the ways through which we know that we will be able to get more clients within a short period of time is when our pricing is on the moderate level. Being on the moderate level means that we are able to maximize profit in a ways that doesn’t put holes in the pocket of pour clients.

As such, we are looking at lowering our price a bit below that of our competitors, so that we can gain good grounds in the market and become a household name and a force to reckon with. This is very important because when our pricing becomes too high, the clients may have the options of switching over to our competitors and we do not want that to happen in any way.

So, we are poised to keep our fees below the average market rate for all of our clients by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to newbies and clients who have some special occasions like Birthdays.

This means that for clients whose special days we remember, we will invite them over to the salon on that special day and then offer our services for free to them. We will also make sure that we do not lower our quality in any way because we are offering these services for free.

We are also aware that there are some clients that would need regular home services, as well as need some consultancy and advisory services and assistance on how they can launch their own nail salon business, we will offer flat rate for such services that will be tailored to take care of such clients’ needs.

• Payment Options

We know too well that we will be dealing with different types of clients, and that is one of the reason why we shall have different payment options to cater to all and sundry. At Fingers and Toes nail Salon, our payment policy will be all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them.

Here are the payment options that we will make available to our clients;

• Payment by via bank transfer
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft
• Payment with cash

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans with little or no itches.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

Starting a nail salon trade can be cost effective; this is so because on the average, you are not expected to procure any expensive machines and equipment .

Basically what you should be concerned about is the amount needed to secure a standard office facility in a good and busy business district, the amount needed to furniture and equip the office, the amount needed to pay bills, promote the business and obtain the appropriate business license and certifications.

Basically, this is the area we are looking towards spending our start – up capital on;

• The Total Fee for incorporating the Business in New York – $750.
• The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license – $2,500
• The Amount needed to acquire a suitable Office facility in a business district 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) – $40,000.
• The Cost for equipping the office (computers, printers, fax machines, furniture, telephones, filing cabins, safety gadgets and electronics et al) – $2,000
• The Cost of Launching your official Website – $600
• Budget for paying at least two employees for 3 months and utility bills – $30,000
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,500
• Miscellaneous – $1,000

Going by the report from the research and feasibility studies, we will need about $150,000 to set up a small scale but standard consulting firm in the United States of America.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Fingers and Toes Nail Salon

Fingers and Toes Nail salon is going to start as a private business that will be solely owned by Ms. Laura Arty. She will be the sole financial of the firm, but may likely welcome partners later which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of her start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 (Personal savings $40,000 and soft loan from family members $10,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $100,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

It is easier for businesses to survive when they have steady flow of business deals / customers patronizing their products and services. We are aware of this which is why we have decided to offer a wide range of nail beauty services to both big and small clients.

We know that if we continue to deliver excellent nails and general beauty services, there will be steady flow of income for the organization. Our key sustainability and expansion strategy is to ensure that we only hire competent employees- like the very experienced Vietnamese ladies.

We will create a conducive working environment that will add to the wealth of experience that our team has. In the nearest future, we will explore the options of either merging with other beauty related businesses in the industry, in order for us to increase our market share.

We know that if we implement our business strategies, we will grow our nail salon business beyond New York City, New York to other states in the U.S in record time.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the start – up capital from the founder: Completed
• Applications for Loan from our Bankers: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with key players in the industry: In Progress

Nail Salon Business Plan Template & Guide

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Nail Salon Business Plan

If you want to start a new nail salon or expand your current nail salon business, you need a business plan.

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and salon owners create business plans to start and grow their nail salon businesses.

Download our Ultimate Nail Salon Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Nail Salon Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your nail salon as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business’ goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes nail salon market research to support your plans.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan for a Nail Salon?

If you’re looking to start a nail salon or grow your existing nail salon you need a solid business plan. A detailed business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your nail salon in order to improve your chances of success. Your nail salon business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

What Are the Sources of Funding for a Nail Salon?

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for nail salons are bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your nail salon’s business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a nail salon business.

The second most common form of funding for nail salons is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

If you’d like to quickly and easily complete your business plan, download Growthink’s Ultimate Nail Salon Business Plan Template and complete your plan and financial model in hours.

How to Write a Business Plan for a Nail Salon

Your business plan should include 10 key sections as follows:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of nail salon you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a nail salon with existing customers and revenues that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of nail salons.

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the nail salon industry. Discuss the type of nail salon you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your nail salon’s marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of nail salon you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types:

• Nail salon focusing strictly on nails
• Nail salon offering other salon services (hair, skin)
• Nail salon offering products
• Combination of the above types

In addition to explaining the type of nail salon you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on your business. Include answers to questions including:

• When and why did you start your nail salon business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include sales goals you’ve reached, new store openings, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the nail salon business.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the nail salon industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards a new type of hair or nail service, it would be helpful to ensure your plan included offering such services.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the nail salon industry research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your nail salon business plan:

• How big is the nail salon business (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your nail salon. You can extrapolate such as figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your nail salon plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: college students, sports enthusiasts, soccer moms, techies, teens, baby boomers, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of nail salon you operate. Clearly baby boomers would want a different atmosphere, pricing and product options, and would respond to different marketing promotions than teens.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most nail salons primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify your indirect and direct competitors and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other nail salons.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from you that aren’t direct competitors. This includes products (nail polish, nail files, etc.) they can purchase from supermarkets and other retailers both offline and online. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone in your target market frequents a nail salon on a regular basis or at all.

With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other nail salons with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be nail salons located close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What services do they offer?
• What products do they offer?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to stand outside your competitors’ locations and ask customers as they leave what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide superior nail salon services?
• Will you provide superior nail salon products?
• Will you provide nail salon services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you make it easier or faster for customers to acquire your products?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a nail salon business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product: in the product section you should reiterate the type of nail salon that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific services you will be offering.

Price: Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the menu items you offer and their prices.

Place: Place refers to the location of your nail salon. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your nail salon located next to a heavily populated office building, or gym, etc. Discuss how your location might provide a steady stream of customers.

Promotions: the final part of your nail salon marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Making your nail salon’s front store extra appealing to attract passing customers
• Developing and marketing your website
• Social media marketing (advertising and organic posts)
• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local bloggers and websites
• Partnerships with local organizations
• Local radio advertising
• Banner ads at local venues

Also think about your nail salon’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP), which should answer why customers should choose you over other nail salons. Make sure your USP is reflected in your marketing.

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your nail salon such as serving customers, procuring supplies, keeping the nail salon clean, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 1,000th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch a new location.

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Management Team

To demonstrate your nail salon’s ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in the nail salon business. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in nail salons and/or successfully running retail and small businesses.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement: an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 20 customers per day or 50? Will your average price point be $50 or $100? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets: While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your nail salon, that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100.000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement: Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. For example, let’s say a company approached you with a massive $100,000 nail salon contract to provide nail salon services to their employees. Let’s assume the contract would cost you $50,000 to fulfill. Well, in most cases, you would have to pay that $50,000 now for supplies, employee salaries, etc. But let’s say the company didn’t pay you for 180 days. During that 180-day period, you could run out of money.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a nail salon:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of equipment like chairs, washing equipment, etc.
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Licenses and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your nail salon’s design blueprint or location lease. Putting together a business plan for your nail salon business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the nail salon business, your competition and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful nail salon business.

How Do I Download a Free Nail Salon Business Plan PDF?

You can download our nail salon business plan PDF template and use our sample nail salon business plan to help you write your own business plan.

If you are looking for the quickest and easiest way to complete your business plan, Growthink’s Ultimate Nail Salon Business Plan Template has numerous features not available in the free template including its financial projections template which automatically calculates your complete five-year financial projections including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how our professional business plan writers can create your business plan for you.

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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.

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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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