How To Write a Nail Salon Business Plan: Tips + Template

Starting a nail salon without a business plan is like painting nails without a base coat—risky, messy, and unlikely to last. Whether you’re diving into ecommerce or opening a brick-and-mortar space, a strong business plan sets you up with a realistic vision of success and a plan to get there.

If you’re dreaming of opening your own nail salon, take the time to define your goals, analyze your competition, and plan for all the behind-the-scenes logistics that keep a business running smoothly. Here’s a nail salon business plan template—plus a detailed business plan example to help you visualize success—to make the whole process a bit easier. 

Elements of a nail salon business plan

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Services offered
• Market analysis
• Marketing plan
• Logistics and operations plan
• Financial plan

Any successful nail salon business starts with a thorough plan. Here’s what to include, from your big-picture vision to the minute details:

Executive summary

Your executive summary is the opening section of your business plan—it’s your foot in the door, the space where you’ll hit the highlights of the rest of your vision. Include details such as your salon’s name, location, core service offerings, and target market—but know that you’ll get into all this more thoroughly later. Summarize your business strategies and financial objectives. This portion of your plan is a snapshot of the rest of your salon business plan, so consider writing it after completing the other sections. 

Company overview

While the executive summary offers a high-level snapshot of your entire business plan, the company overview dives deeper into the heart of your nail salon—its mission, vision, core values, and legal structure. Describe your business’s theme or specialty, whether it’s a high-end luxury spa or an affordable neighborhood nail salon that focuses on efficiency.

Essentially, you want readers to understand your nail salon’s competitive advantage. Are you offering eco-friendly products? Do you specialize in airbrush nail art? Your advantage might simply be that you’re opening a nail salon in a neighborhood that isn’t currently served. Use your unique selling proposition to describe the defining appeal of your brand, and briefly summarize the experience you plan to create and how you’ll attract and retain customers.

Identify the nail salon owners (you, of course, but will you have partners?). Specify whether the business structure is a sole proprietorship (an unincorporated business owned by one person), partnership (an unincorporated business owned by two or more people), a limited liability company (a business that allows its owners some legal protection from debts and liabilities), or some other type of business. 

Services offered

Detail the full range of nail services offered at your salon. You’ll likely include classic options like basic manicures and pedicures, as well as more specialized services, such as Gel-X, acrylic extensions, dip powder nails, and intricate nail art. Mention any additional salon services, such as paraffin treatments, cuticle care, aromatherapy, or massages. If you plan to sell nail care products—such as nail polish, hand creams, or at-home manicure kits—add that information here, too. 

Market analysis

To ensure your business idea is viable, conduct a thorough market analysis of your competitors. Provide a review of other nail salons, pinpointing what they do well and where there’s room for differentiation, whether it’s pricing strategies or exclusive nail art designs. 

Do market research on your target customers too, identifying their preferences and spending habits. By plotting out where existing salons already are in your city and where your target audience lives, you’ll determine an optimal location for your salon. Look for underserved areas with high foot traffic, such as shopping centers and business districts without any beauty industry services.

Marketing plan

Your nail salon marketing plan explains how you will attract and retain customers. Outline how you’ll use digital marketing efforts—such as utilizing social media platforms and effective search engine optimization tactics—to build brand awareness. Local SEO will be particularly valuable since it helps interested clients in your geographic area find your salon on search and map apps.

Consider including loyalty programs or referral discounts. You might also host in-salon events or collaborate with other local businesses to attract new clients. And speaking of collabs, there’s nothing like effective influencer marketing to send an influx of nail aficionados your way. 

Logistics and operations plan

Detail the daily operation requirements of running your salon, from sourcing high-quality nail salon equipment and tools—UV dryers and all that—to maintaining strict hygiene standards to appointment management. Outline staffing needs, including licensed nail technicians, a receptionist, and possibly a salon management team. (Although, at first, it might just be you.)

Implement an inventory management system and find a reliable stockist to ensure you never run out of essential supplies. Last, but not least, detail how you plan to set up online booking and a point-of-sale system that allows customers to use a variety of payment methods.

Financial plan

Provide a comprehensive breakdown of your financial plan, including startup costs and expected revenue. Include initial expenses, such as your business license, a lease or rental deposit for your salon space, furniture, and equipment. Detail ongoing costs like nail technician wages, rent, marketing efforts, product restocking, insurance, and utilities. 

Then, list your potential revenue streams, considering services competitively priced and product sales. If you require a loan or other external funding, specify the amount needed and how it will be allocated. Incorporate key financial projections, including an income statement, a profit and loss statement, a cash flow statement, and a balance sheet. 

Nail salon business plan example

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Services offered
• Market analysis
• Marketing plan
• Logistics and operations plan
• Financial plan

To give you an idea of how your own business plan will look, consider this example of a business plan for a hypothetical eco-friendly nail salon in Austin, Texas:

Executive summary

Evergreen Nails will offer eco-friendly nail salon services in Austin’s South Congress District. The salon addresses growing consumer demand for sustainable beauty options. With a 1,500-square-foot space in a location with high foot traffic, Evergreen Nails projects a first-year revenue of approximately $351,000 from 350 monthly clients. Startup costs of $65,000 and monthly expenses of $23,300 necessitate a $75,000 loan, with profitability expected by month 18.

Company overview

Evergreen Nails is a modern, environmentally friendly nail salon designed for wellness-minded and eco-conscious clientele in Austin. Our salon uses only cruelty-free, non-toxic products and prioritizes sustainability in every aspect of our nail care services and salon space—from reclaimed wood furniture to reusable and compostable tools. 

Founded by Isabella Rivera, a licensed nail artist with more than 10 years of nail technician and salon management experience, Evergreen Nails will operate as a limited liability company (LLC), allowing for flexible growth and legal protection. 

Our mission is to set a new standard in nail care that harmonizes beauty with sustainability, offering guilt-free glam that is good for the planet. 

Services offered

Evergreen Nails will offer our eco-minded clientele a variety of sustainable nail care services to match their budget and style preferences. 

Signature services:

• Eco-friendly manicures ($40) and pedicures ($50): Our signature manicures use water-saving techniques and organic, non-toxic nail polishes from Habit, Sienna, and Gitti.

• Waterless manicures and pedicures ($30): Skip the soak—save water and treat yourself with this eco-friendly service that includes cuticle care, nail shaping, and a swipe of non-toxic polish.

• Green gel manicures ($60) and pedicures ($70): Shine on with a long-lasting gel look—minus the harsh chemicals. This non-toxic gel is cured using LED light, making it gentler on your skin and nails while using less energy than traditional UV lamps.

• Natural nail extensions ($75): Get the length you love—without the plastic. These biodegradable, plant-based extensions are a sustainable alternative to acrylics that look great and feel even better.

Specialty services:

• Botanical nail art ($15–$40 add-on): Add a touch of nature to your nails with intricate designs made from biodegradable glitter and plant-based pigments. Choose your own custom look or go local with art inspired by native Texas plants like bluebonnets, red yucca, and coneflowers.

• Seasonal organic treatments ($20–$30): Treat your hands and feet to the freshest ingredients of the season. These rotating scrubs and moisturizers are made with locally sourced goodies from SoCo Farmers Market—because your skin deserves farm-to-spa care.

• Detox treatment ($30): Hit reset with this clay-based treatment that draws out toxins and leaves your hands and feet feeling soft, smooth, and totally refreshed.

Retail:

• Nail polishes ($10–$20): Organic, non-toxic nail polishes from Habit, Sienna, and Gitti.

• Scrubs and lotion ($15–$30): Seasonal plant-based scrubs and lotions from local farmers and artisans from the SoCo Farmers Market. 

• Other accessories ($10–$30): Biodegradable nail files and reusable nail-care kits.

Market analysis

Evergreen Nails will fill a market gap by offering eco-friendly nail services in the South Congress neighborhood. Consumers are increasingly factoring sustainability into their purchase decisions and are even willing to pay a premium for it. And while much of the beauty industry is rising to meet this demand, few nail salons prioritize planet-friendly practices. 

Most of Austin’s nail salons focus on either budget-friendly services or a luxury experience. There are two purported eco-friendly salons, but the closest competitor to our South Congress location is three miles away and does not have a strong internet presence. Within the busy South Congress neighborhood, there is only one other nail salon, but it does not offer sustainable services. 

One of the most popular shopping districts in Austin, South Congress has excellent foot traffic. Many stores, a farmers market, walkable streets, and a good connection to public transportation all attract an eco-conscious clientele to the area.

Marketing plan

Evergreen Nails’ branding will feature a clean, nature-inspired aesthetic with a color palette of soft greens, warm woods, and fresh whites. Our logo will be a tasteful illustration of a hand with leaves as nails to illustrate how natural our products and services are. 

Digital marketing strategy:

• Website: Mobile-optimized website highlighting our sustainability commitment, service menu, online booking, and an educational blog about eco-friendly beauty practices. 

• SEO: Use our website, especially our blog, to locally optimize for keywords such as “eco-friendly nail salon Austin” and “non-toxic pedicure.”

• Social media: Create and maintain Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook accounts that show off nail art, offer a look at behind-the-scenes sustainability practices, and provide educational content about toxic ingredients to avoid. Boost well-performing posts as needed. 

• Email marketing: Send out monthly newsletters featuring our latest blog posts and any seasonal discounts or services.

Customer acquisition and retention:

• Referral program: Our “Green Friends” program gives both new and existing clients $5 off of any services over $40 for every referral. 

• Loyalty rewards: Our “Evergreen points” system rewards customers for buying products and services, following and tagging us on social media platforms, and posting reviews on Google and Yelp. These points can be redeemed for discounts on services. 

Local outreach:

• Community partnerships: We will sell scrubs and lotions made by local farmers and artisans and collaborate with other eco-friendly businesses, offering cross promotions and special discounts for shared customers. 

• Environmental initiatives: We will host monthly community clean-ups with service discounts for volunteers. 

Logistics and operations plan

Facility design & Equipment:

• 1,500 square foot space with four manicure stations, four pedicure stations, and a small retail area near the front desk

• Energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the salon

• Low-flow water fixtures and water recycling systems

• Energy Star–certified equipment, including nail dryers and sterilization equipment

• Ventilation system with HEPA filters

Daily operations:

• Open six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Cowlender for online booking and automatic appointment reminders

• POS system through Shopify

Staffing:

• 4 full-time licensed nail technicians trained in sustainable practices

• 1 full-time receptionist/salon manager

• 1 part-time marketing and social media manager

• 1 owner to manage operations and step into other roles and needed

Vendors:

• Establish primary partnerships with wholesale distributors or eco-friendly products

• Build partnerships with local artisans for unique skincare items

• Bulk ordering to reduce packaging waste and transportation emissions

• Quarterly inventory audits to minimize waste and optimize ordering

• Green Salon partnership to manage waste 

Financial plan

Startup Costs:

• Lease deposit and buildout: $25,000

• Furniture and fixtures: $15,000

• Equipment and sanitation: $10,000

• Product inventory: $7,000

• Marketing and branding: $5,000

• Licensing, legal, and insurance: $3,000

Total: $65,000

Ongoing Monthly Expenses:

• Rent & utilities: $4,500

• Payroll: $15,000

• Product restocking: $2,000

• Marketing: $1,000

• Insurance & software subscriptions: $800

Total: $23,300/month

Year 1 Financial Projections:

• Monthly clients: 350 (average spend $75)

• Monthly revenue: $26,250 from services, $3,000 from retail

• Year 1 gross revenue: $351,000

• Break-even expected: Month 18

Funding Needs:

Seeking a $75,000 small business loan to cover startup costs, initial inventory, and working capital. Repayment plan structured over five years.