To start your own nail business, you need to get licensed, create a solid business plan (including market research and finances), choose a business structure, register your business, secure insurance (especially public liability), set up your workspace (home, mobile, or salon) with quality tools and hygiene, and market yourself effectively on social media and locally.
Starting a home nail business in Australia requires the right tools, products, and setup. Investing in quality gel polishes, professional tools, and a hygienic workspace will ensure your success. With dedication and the right products, you can build a thriving business right from your home!
Successful, well-managed salons might expect 15% to 45% margins [5]. So, if monthly revenue for a nail salon ranges from $20,000 to $80,000, with margins of 5-10%, owners can expect to net between $18,750 and $75,000 in profits per year (or $1,560-$6,250/month in actual profit).
So here are the seven things you must start setting up to get started doing business as an independent nail tech:
Depending on the types of services you plan to offer within your nail salon, it's likely that you'll need to obtain specific permits and licensing.
If you are just doing a few nail sets for friends in your living room, you probably don't need to register yourself as a business. But, if you are ready to start growing into a fully profitable nail technician, you will need to keep track of your earnings and ensure you declare them for tax.
To start small, you can start with as little as Ksh100,000 and keep re-injecting your profit as the business grows. Depending on your price list and the services you offer, a nail salon can make you between Ksh 10,000 to Ksh. 15,000 on a fairly busy day.
You can earn a substantial income as a nail technician once you learn how to get a license to do nails at home. Best of all, you can earn a healthy income while setting your own schedule without having much overhead. Fortunately, getting a nail license at home isn't hard at all.
For $70 nails, a tip of $10.50 to $14 (15-20%) is standard, but you should tip more ($15-$17.50+) for detailed art or exceptional service and slightly less (around $7-$10) if the service had issues, with the final amount depending on your satisfaction and the technician's effort.
Regardless of what kind of business you want to start, you'll need to get the right supplies and equipment, including a curing unit, nail table, lamp, facemask, gloves, disinfectant solutions like barbicide or acetone, files, buffers, and more.
Workers exposed to chemicals found in glues, polishes, removers, emollients and other salon products may experience negative health effects such as asthma and other respiratory illnesses, skin disorders (e.g. allergic contact dermatitis), liver disease, reproductive loss, and cancer.
For a $40 nail service, you should tip $6 to $8 (15-20%) for good service, with $8+ for excellent service, complex designs, or extra care, and $5-$6 if the service was just okay, as cash is often preferred and tipping reflects quality and effort.
To make $1,000 fast in Australia, focus on immediate income streams like selling unwanted items (clothes, tech) online, using gig apps for food/grocery delivery or ridesharing (Uber, Didi), and offering local services (cleaning, pet sitting, handyman) on platforms like Airtaskie or local Facebook groups, while also leveraging your skills for freelance work (writing, VA) or even selling products at local markets for quick cash.
Yes, $5,000 can be enough to start many types of businesses, especially service-based, online, or micro-businesses that require low overhead, but it depends heavily on the industry; while sufficient for ventures like virtual assistance, cleaning, or dropshipping, it's insufficient for capital-intensive businesses like restaurants or retail stores. Success with $5,000 requires focusing on lean strategies, minimizing costs, prioritizing marketing and customer acquisition, and starting with a basic version of your product or service to test the market.
Yes—offering professional nail services without the proper certification is considered illegal in most Australian states. Penalties: You can face significant fines from local councils, be forced to shut down your business, or even be banned from operating entirely.
Like most other services, a tip is not included in the overall price and is to be added at the end if you so please. As with many service industries, it's recommended to tip about 15 to 20% of the total bill.
Gel or acrylic nails:
The minimum tip clients typically leave at a nail salon is 15%. However, for extra services or specialty designs like gel or acrylic nails, the recommended tip is 20%.
You're never obligated to tip someone when they've provided you poor service or if you've had a rude interaction with them.
The answer is No. It is not always illegal. Suppose your local government allows it (your county and/or city). In that case, there are some particular and strict guidelines you must abide by.
The most flattering nail shape often depends on your fingers and nail beds, but Oval and Almond are universally praised for elongating fingers and slimming wide nail beds, creating a classic, elegant look, while the Squoval (square + oval) offers a soft, low-maintenance, universally flattering balance for everyone, says this blog post from OPI, OPI. For longer fingers, Square or Coffin add balance, while shorter fingers benefit from the lengthening effect of Oval or Almond, notes Rumbie.
Becoming A Nail Tech Is A Great Side Hustle
If you're a single parent, student, or just working a full-time job, you can earn anywhere from $20,000 – $40,000 on top of your other job, depending on how many hours per week you invest.
Payroll: The Profit Killer
Payroll is almost always the biggest cost in a salon. For this one: Stylists' wages/commissions: $38,000. Front desk/admin: $6,000.
You can make money with a nail salon if you price services well, balance your menu (gel, enhancements, nail art), drive strong rebooking, and keep rent, labor, and product costs in check. Many owners target 15–25% net profit once the business is steady.
Here's a roundup of nail school must-haves to help you learn and earn your nail tech license!