How to Start a Nail Salon Business in 2026
A practical, no-fluff guide for nail techs ready to go solo. We'll walk you through every step — with the actual links you need.
So you want to start your own nail business? Good call. The nail industry is booming, and there's never been a better time to be your own boss.
Whether you want to rent a booth, work from home, or open your own studio — this guide will show you exactly what you need to do. No vague advice. Just the steps, the costs, and the links.
Let's get into it.
What We'll Cover:
- 1. Get Your Nail Technician License
- 2. Decide Your Business Model
- 3. Register Your Business (LLC or Sole Prop)
- 4. Get Your EIN (Tax ID)
- 5. Open a Business Bank Account
- 6. Get Business Licenses & Permits
- 7. Get Insurance
- 8. Set Up Your Space & Equipment
- 9. Set Up Booking & Payments
- 10. Startup Costs Breakdown
Get Your Nail Technician License
Before anything else, you need to be a licensed nail technician. Every state requires this — no exceptions.
What you'll need:
- •Complete a state-approved nail technician program (usually 300-600 hours)
- •Pass your state's written and practical exam
- •Apply for your license through your state's cosmetology board
Where to Apply:
Each state has its own board. Here are some common ones:
- • California: barbercosmo.ca.gov
- • Texas: tdlr.texas.gov
- • Florida: myfloridalicense.com
- • New York: dos.ny.gov
- • Other states: Google "[your state] cosmetology board"
Cost: $50-150 for the license application, plus $5,000-15,000 for nail school.
Time: 3-9 months for school, depending on full-time vs part-time.
Decide Your Business Model
You've got three main options as a solo nail tech:
Option A: Booth Rental
Rent a station inside an existing salon. You pay weekly/monthly rent and keep 100% of what you make.
Cost: $200-800/month depending on location
Option B: Home-Based Salon
Set up a nail space in your home. Lower overhead, but check local zoning laws first.
Cost: $2,000-5,000 setup
Option C: Your Own Studio
Lease your own commercial space. More expensive but full control.
Cost: $10,000-30,000+ to start
Our recommendation for beginners: Start with booth rental. Low risk, immediate income, and you can build your client base before going fully independent.
Register Your Business
Even as a solo nail tech, you should register as a business. You have two main choices:
Sole Proprietorship
- • Simplest to set up
- • No separate legal entity
- • You're personally liable
- • Cost: $0-50
LLC (Recommended)
- • Protects personal assets
- • Looks more professional
- • Better for taxes long-term
- • Cost: $50-500 depending on state
Where to Register Your LLC:
- • DIY: Your state's Secretary of State website (cheapest)
- • California: sos.ca.gov
- • Texas: sos.state.tx.us
- • Florida: sunbiz.org
- • Easy option: Use LegalZoom or ZenBusiness ($99-299)
Get Your EIN (Tax ID Number)
An EIN is like a Social Security number for your business. You'll need it to open a business bank account and file taxes.
Get Your EIN (It's Free!):
Apply directly on the IRS website — it takes about 5 minutes and costs nothing.
Link: irs.gov/ein
Warning: Don't pay anyone to get you an EIN. Some websites charge $50-100 for this free service. Always go directly to irs.gov.
Open a Business Bank Account
Keep your business money separate from personal money. This makes taxes way easier and looks professional.
You'll need your EIN and LLC documents to open an account.
Good Banks for Small Businesses:
- •Chase Business Complete: Free with $2,000 balance
- •Bank of America: Good if you already bank there
- •Bluevine: Online bank, no fees, no minimum
- •Relay: Online, free, great for small businesses
Get Business Licenses & Permits
Beyond your nail tech license, you may need additional permits depending on your location:
Common Permits You May Need:
- •General Business License: From your city/county ($50-100/year)
- •Seller's Permit: If you sell products (free in most states)
- •Health Department Permit: For nail salons (inspection required)
- •Home Occupation Permit: If working from home
Get Insurance
You need insurance. Period. If a client has an allergic reaction or you damage their nails, you're protected.
Insurance You Need:
- ✓General Liability Insurance: Covers accidents and injuries ($200-500/year)
- ✓Professional Liability: Covers claims about your work
Where to Get Insurance:
- • Hiscox — Great for solo beauty pros
- • Next Insurance — Fast online quotes
- • The Hartford — Well-known provider
- • Beauty Insurance Plus — Specialist for beauty industry
Set Up Your Space & Equipment
Your equipment list depends on your services, but here are the essentials:
Basic Equipment Checklist:
- ☐Nail table with lamp ($100-300)
- ☐Client chair ($50-150)
- ☐Your chair ($50-100)
- ☐UV/LED lamp ($30-100)
- ☐Nail drill ($50-200)
- ☐Gel polish set ($100-300)
- ☐Acrylic supplies ($100-200)
- ☐Sanitization supplies ($50)
- ☐Tool sets & brushes ($100)
- ☐Ventilation/dust collector ($50-150)
Set Up Booking & Payments
Make it easy for clients to book and pay you. You need:
Booking System Options:
- •Square Appointments: Free for individuals, includes payment processing
- •Vagaro: Popular in beauty industry ($25/month)
- •Booksy: Good for independent techs
- •TalkToCalendar: Free booking page + AI phone answering
Payment Processing:
- •Square: 2.6% + $0.10 per tap/swipe
- •Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 for online payments
- •Venmo/Zelle: Free for personal use (check terms for business)
Startup Costs Breakdown
Here's what you're looking at for a booth rental setup (lowest cost way to start):
Booth Rental Startup Costs:
Already have your license? You can start for under $2,000.
Quick Tips for Success
- ✓Build your Instagram before you launch.
Post your work consistently. This is how most nail clients find techs.
- ✓Get reviews from day one.
Ask every happy client to leave a Google review.
- ✓Set up automatic booking.
Don't rely on DMs — make it easy for clients to book online.
- ✓Track your expenses from day one.
Use an app like Wave (free) or QuickBooks to make tax time easy.
Ready to Start Your Nail Business?
Set up your free booking page and never miss a client call — even when you're doing nails.
Get Your Free Booking Page