How much does it cost to start a nail salon in the UK?

Many nail technicians considering starting their own business struggle to find out how much does it cost to open a nail salon - and end up really frustrated, as it seems that there is no unequivocal answer. There are just too many variables to consider - for example: are you buying an existing business that needs renovation or establishing everything from scratch? What’s the location? How many stations are you going to have? Do you already have some equipment or do you have to purchase everything- from tool sanitisers to towelettes? Are you going to provide hand services selectively, or are pedicures on your menu as well? Costs of starting a nail salon can vary so radically, that without the knowledge of one’s circumstances, it’s simply impossible to give a categorical answer. But there is no reason to worry - the Booksy team is here to help you estimate how much do you need to open a nail salon in your situation. Keep reading to find out! Moreover, if you are just considering opening your own nail salon, we encourage you to start by reading our detailed guide on how to start your own nail business in 10 steps!

Nail salon opening costs

These are the initial, one-time costs, absolutely necessary to establish a nail business.

Licenses

How much does it cost to start a nail salon business from a legal point of view? In the UK, the licensing rules may vary slightly depending on the council to which you are subject to. For the most part, to perform nail services, you have to obtain a Massage and special treatment premises licence. The exact cost of the license depends on the council in the area your business is based in, ranging from around £250 to £450. Moreover, you have to extend your license every year (more about it later). Licensing authorities will need to check that you’re appropriately qualified and, where applicable, that your premises are suitable. When in doubt, simply approach the relevant authorities in your area - they are there to guide you. The licensing issue doesn’t end there. Remember, that you need licenses for additional things (such as playing music) as well. However, not all of them are associated with fees - again, check with your local authorities to find out the exact rules in your area.

Insurance

To start a nail salon, it’s crucial to obtain public liability insurance, treatment liability insurance and employer’s liability insurance (a necessity if you hire staff). In addition to that, it’s good to have business buildings insurance, business equipment insurance and stock insurance - for more details, check our take on choosing nail business insurance in the UK. Again, the cost will vary drastically, depending on numerous circumstances, such as your location, range of services, predicted turnover and so on. For small businesses, the prices start at around £250 per year for the most basic insurance - exactly how much you will have to pay when you decide to open your nail salon depends on how many aspects of it you will want to cover.

Legal and consulting fees

Professional help is always a good idea. You may consider getting advice on issues like preparing employment contracts and/or renting agreements, negotiating your lease or going through all the necessary licenses and premises. Such fees are usually quite expensive - you should be prepared to pay at least £150 per hour for these services (although oftentimes this cost pays off tenfold).

Physical location, building improvements and remodelling

The opening nail salon cost is largely dependent on the estate conditions. If you are looking to lease, then most probably you will be responsible for a security deposit and a couple of months of rent upfront. You can rent a reasonably sized space for around £20,000. Purchasing a similar property will cause the cost to rise significantly and building from the ground up will be the most expensive option. Then you have to add all the costs connected to remodelling - if you are taking over an existing business, there may be little to no renovation necessary. However, if you are starting from scratch, you have to prepare at least another £15,000 for the needed improvements, decor and furniture (professional nail equipment not included).

Salon equipment

When you think about how much does a nail salon cost to open, you need to take into account your range of services, as manicure desks are significantly less expensive than pedicure chairs. Nail technician desks start around £150 while it’s rare to find a solid pedicure chair for less than £1,000 (assuming you are aiming for new equipment - used ones are usually much cheaper). For more details check our article on nail salon equipment and furniture.

Initial supplies

You can’t start operating without the first round of supplies. From nail files and tweezers to cotton swabs and towels, the numbers add up quickly. How much supplies you’ll need to open your nail salon depends on the size of the business, but at the very least you will spend about £5,000.

Computer and POS system

In order to accept modern forms of payments, including credit and debit cards, you have to get set up with an Internet connection and point-of-sale system. You also have to be able to print receipts. A point-of-sale (POS) system includes a touchscreen display (could be a tablet), cash drawer, receipt printer, barcode scanner and card machine. Depending on the provider and level of the hardware, the cost of a POS system is about £1,000-£1,500 plus a software subscription plan of £30-£120 per month.

Salon software

Nowadays the costs of running a nail salon can be significantly reduced by investing in advanced salon management software. Some of them can even work as your 24/7 receptionist. The best one for your nail salon is Booksy, which provides you with digital, personalised customer records, simple yet intuitive appointment book, SMS and email communication, automatic appointment reminders, detailed statistics on your salon’s performance, online booking and much more. You should definitely give it a go and see what difference it makes!

Operating cash

Finally - you have to have some money on hand. How much? To start a small nail salon, you will need at least £500.

Nail salon running costs

When asking “how much does it cost to open a nail salon”, we often forget that the issue doesn’t end with the initial costs. As soon as you establish your business, you will immediately start paying recurring penalties - while the profit will not come as fast. This is why you have to be prepared for:

Accounting costs
Mortgage and/or lease payments
Insurance
Rent
Taxes
License extension
Subscriptions (eg. software)
Internet expenses (including web hosting and domains)
Credit card processing fees
Salaries and wages
Maintenance and repairs
Supplies
Utilities
Costs of cleaning

Overall, there is no such thing as a definite answer to the big “how much does it cost to open a nail salon” question. You need to take into consideration multiple variables, think about the range of services you are going to offer, the type and condition of the estate you are going to be operating at, and so on. At the very least, you have to be prepared for roughly about £50,000 of the initial cost. Remember that some costs can be reduced, or at the very least - postponed for the times when you will actually have profit from your operating. You don’t have to begin with a wide range of services - begin with the basics and expand as you go, observing the current trends and actual needs of your clients. Not every piece of your equipment or furniture has to be new - you can find second-hand items of high quality, although it requires doing thorough research and having a good eye. Finally, choosing software that has you covered in multiple fields is a true money saver - with Booksy you don’t even have to employ a receptionist. Moreover, by sending automatic appointment reminders and running advanced marketing campaigns you significantly boost customer experience and therefore increase your chances of developing your salon quickly and seeing real profit much sooner.