Opening a nail salon cannot be improvised. Find in this article all our advice to launch this professional activity. From the market study to the business plan via the marketing plan, we detail all the steps to follow before you start. Follow the guide!
Perform market research for a nail salon
The first step in opening a nail salon is to conduct a market study to validate the existence of a business opportunity in the planned location.
For this, you will need to study in detail:
- Industry trends: what products and services are in vogue?
- The profile, consumer expectations, and buying habits: what is the profile of the typical customer? His budget?
- The existing offer on the market: who are your future competitors? What services do they offer?
Nail market: trends and projections
In this mixed context, beauty professionals tend to group by sector: tanning, slimming, manicure, etc.
Imported from the United States in the 70s, this activity allows in a few minutes, at a lower cost, most often without an appointment, to show off perfect hands with more or less sophisticated nails: from the classic manicure to real works of art referred to as “nail art.”
Nail salons subject to changing regulations
Nail salons are the subject of all the attention of the legislator who seeks to rule on the level of qualification necessary to exercise certain services delivered by nail salons.
According to the UPCOM, the nail technician carries out the embellishment and extension of the nails of the hands and feet by using techniques of well-being and comfort without a medical purpose, when the nail stylist carries out aesthetic treatments called manicures and beauty of the feet.
However, the DGCCRF (Direction Générale de la Consumption, de la Concurrence et de la Repression des Frauds) considers prosthetic nails are an aesthetic treatment. It also alerts us that too many nail salons do not comply with the regulations.
It can nevertheless be noted that:
- nail prosthetics (false nails) can be practiced by a person who does not hold a CA but who has completed a qualifying training course of a minimum of 105 hours (the CCP – Certificate of Professional Competence)
- nail styling can only be exercised by the holder of a CAP, preferably completed by a Certificate of Professional Competence
Opening a nail salon: independent or franchise?
While opening an independent nail salon is possible, in this context of changing regulations and uncertainty, opting for a franchise can be a reassuring option.
Indeed, launching your nail salon in a network will undoubtedly bring you peace of mind since you will adopt a proven concept and benefit from the advantages specific to the franchise: the notoriety of the sign, suppliers already identified, and economies of scale.
Finding a location for your nail salon
The next step to opening a nail salon is finding your business’s location.
The geographic location is one of the major factors in the development of your store and its turnover. The decision should, therefore, not be taken lightly.
Of course, the final location of your nail salon will depend on your business positioning. For example, a chic nail salon with services at relatively high prices will do well to be located in the city center, and why not in an upscale neighborhood? On the other hand, a nail salon that emphasizes low prices and speed will be more likely to see its shop not empty in a mall.
The area required for your premises will also depend on your concept. For example, a luxurious nail salon, with appointment booking and large leather armchairs facing an individual desk, will require more space than a more affordable nail salon, with a common counter and simple bar stools for customers to settle in.
What legal structure to open a nail salon?
Opening a nail salon involves setting up a business and the choice of famous legal status.
In particular, you will have to choose between: micro-entrepreneur, sole proprietorship, possibly limited liability, simplified joint-stock company (SAS) or limited liability company (SARL).
Be careful. The choice of legal status is not without consequences since it will impact both the organization of the company, but also the social regime of the manager and the tax regime of the company.
It is, therefore, not a decision to be taken lightly. Quite the contrary!
To help you choose the most appropriate legal status for your nail salon, refer to our guide to legal status.
The human and material needed to launch your nail salon
To evaluate your projected budget in the business plan of your nail salon, you will have to quantify the human and material needs necessary for opening your business.
The material requirements needed to open a nail salon
Opening a nail salon requires having substantial equipment. In addition to the essentials of any commercial premises (computer station, bank card terminal, etc.), you will need to furnish the place (counter, armchairs, tables, decoration, lighting) to make it a warm space where you can feel good.
You will also need to provide the necessary equipment specific to your activity: a UV lamp to dry the varnish, stock of varnish, solvent, foot and hand cream, etc.
The staffing needs of a nail salon
When developing the provisional budget, also plan for any hiring for your nail salon.
Be careful to respect the regulations on the training and diplomas necessary to exercise this professional activity. If possible, we recommend that you favor people with experience or, failing that, a real passion for the job.
Additional services essential to the opening of your nail salon
Opening a nail salon requires the use of essential ancillary services.
In particular, you will need to ensure your shop, possibly plan to outsource the cleaning if you or your employees do not take care of it and provide the services of a chartered accountant to help you with management (bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, etc.).
Before committing to your suppliers, do not hesitate to ask for quotes from several professionals and then compete.
The marketing plan for a nail salon
Next step in creating a nail salon: is the marketing plan. This is about thinking about the communication actions to be taken to acquire and retain your customers.
There are many options available to you here, including:
- Distribute flyers to let you know the inhabitants of the neighborhood
- to advertise, in particular via the regional press or the municipal newspaper
- Set up a loyalty program and encourage referrals
- to create a website to present your services and your products, and why not buy some of your products or make an appointment online
- Communicate on social networks to keep your customers up to date with your news (new varnish colors available, the anniversary of your store, for example) and current promotions
Depending on your commercial positioning, you will prefer one or the other of these examples. In any case, planning the actions, you intend to carry out to quantify their cost in your estimated budget is important.
The business plan of a nail salon
The nail salon business plan makes it possible to verify that the company is financially viable, at least on paper, before launching. It is also essential for seeking financing since banks and potential investors will systematically request it.
You can use online business plan software if you’re new to writing business plans and aren’t sure how to do it.
Using specialized software has several advantages:
- You are guided in writing by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
- You can draw inspiration from business plan templates already written
- You easily make your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the accounting aspects for you
Finding funding to launch your nail salon
Opening a nail salon as a franchise requires a personal contribution of around $20,000. nd a total investment of around $100,000 (the entire franchise).
If you and your associates do not have this sum on hand, do not panic, there are other sources of financing than the equity of the director(s).
You can turn to your bank to take out a loan to finance part of the equipment or even use crowdfunding. Don’t lose sight of the various business start-up assistance schemes that often provide financial, administrative, and strategic assistance.
You can, of course, use one or other of its financing levers or combine them.
You can find more information on the different means of financing available to you in our guide to financing the creation of a business.
TIP: If you want to have a best business plan for a plan then hire a business plan consultant.
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