How to excel at being your own boss

Are you keen to take the leap into self-employment? Follow LILLY DELMAGE’S guide to setting up a successful solo business

For nail technicians working in salons who seek greater control over their careers, self-employment often feels like a natural next step. It offers professional and creative freedom, aiding in the pursuit of personal and financial growth. However, removing the comfort blanket of working as someone’s employee can feel like a big leap into the unknown.

Nina Nicholson

Salon environments typically offer financial security, a pre-existing client base, training opportunities and standardised hours. However, self-employment boasts its own advantages: ones that Lecenté lead educator, Nina Nicholson, realised early on. She comments: “I had known that I wanted to work as a self-employed nail professional since my teenage years. I sought the freedom to create, the joy of making my own decisions, and the opportunity to build genuine connections with clients. Working for myself meant being able to pour my heart and soul into my craft, and that was a feeling I craved!”

Nina has made her dream a reality, and owns a successful home salon business, Nina Nicholson Beauty, in Wigan.

Is self-employment for you?

Despite the opportunities brought about by self-employment, Nina stresses the importance of considering the inevitable hardships. “The unpredictability of income and the need to wear all the hats in the business is tough,” she reveals. “Still, for me, independence and fulfilment make every challenge worthwhile.” When considering the pros and cons, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have a business mindset?

• Can you stay disciplined?

• Do you have a suitable workspace?

• How do you feel about flexibility?

• Can you handle financial management?

• Are you comfortable marketing yourself?

• How will you navigate challenges?

Your business vision may include a busy appointment book, enviable product collections and a good work-life balance. These are important as motivating factors, however there’s groundwork to be done first. While starting a business may seem like a mission impossible, thanks to confusing legal advice, a lack of confidence and uncertainty about first steps – this article breaks down what you need to know into digestible and attainable chunks. Ready, set, self-employment!

The business blueprint: registration & tax essentials

Joanna Tompkins

Visualising your ideal client

Joanna Tompkins is the founder of business growth support communities, the Nail Business Success Club and Nail Tech Tribe, and scooped the Scratch Stars Nail Business Mentor Award in 2023. She identifies one of the biggest mistakes nail pros make when starting a business: “Most techs start backwards. They choose the services, business name, their branding and nail products before they think about who they want to service. Start by visualising your ideal client, and every decision afterwards should be centred around their needs.”

Registering your nail business

Once you have your ideal client in mind, it’s time to register your business. Most nail technicians set themselves up as a sole trader, granting them legal responsibility and control over their business decisions and finances.

A step-by-step guide to registering as a sole trader is available via the government website. Scan to view

Understanding Self Assessment

What is it & when to register

Self Assessment is a system used by HMRC to calculate and collect Income Tax. You are only required to register for it if, in the last tax year (from 6 April to 5 April), you, as a self-employed sole trader, earned more than £1,000. To determine whether you have met this threshold, record and calculate your income and expenditure as you go. Once you reach this amount, you must register by the following 5 October.

Deadlines for sending your Self Assessment tax payment

The deadline for sending the tax return differs depending on your method of submission. If doing a paper tax return, the deadline to submit is 31 October at midnight, while the deadline for online submissions is midnight on 31 January. This is also the deadline to pay the tax, regardless of submission method.

Claiming business expenses through Self Assessment

The Self Assessment system also allows you to deduct business expenses and reduce your tax bill. Allowable expenses include products, cleaning supplies, tools, equipment, insurance and travel requirements. Keep records of your spending, such as bank statements and spending receipts, so you can calculate your expenses accurately.

Glitterbels Diary & Accounts Planner

£14.99 inc VAT www.glitterbels.com Make your Self Assessment tax return easier by tracking your appointments, income and expenses using this booking and accounts planner. The notepad’s 365 pages are undated, so you have the flexibility to start using it – whatever the date!

Home-based working: Capital Gains Tax

If you use part of your home for business, you may be subject to Capital Gains Tax, if you later decide to sell your property. Scan the QR code to find out more

Ria-Jaine Lincoln

TOP TIPS: tracking finances

Award-winning accountancy and tax advisor for beauty businesses, Ria-Jaine Lincoln, aka The Beauty Accountant, shares advice for keeping track of finances:

1. “Introduce a process for tracking income and expenses.

2. Keep copies of all receipts and diaries, including online sales reports from bookkeeping systems.

3. Keep all tax references and gov.uk gateway logins in a safe place.

4. Keep business and personal transactions separate.

“Set one day per month as a ‘success day’, where you manage admin, such as keeping on top of your HMRC responsibilities and finances, assessing your business strategies, planning ways to aid your professional development and accounting for any upcoming training or event expenses that month,” Ria-Jaine continues. “Failing to keep on top of business admin is the fastest way to lose money as a small business owner. With late registration and incorrect tax returns, you will face penalties and likely miss out on tax relief from lost receipts.”

Scan the QR code to watch Scratch’s interview with Ria-Jaine, which details information about Self Assessment, upcoming tax changes for self-employed businesses, the Making Tax Digital scheme and business tips.

“Failing to keep on top of business admin is the fastest way to lose money as a small business owner.”

Legal, financial & operational considerations

Home-based or mobile tech?

Whichever way you choose to work, consider the following:

Permissions & licensing requirements

Home-based techs:

• Contact your local council, home insurer and mortgage provider or landlord to ensure you have the necessary permissions to run a business from home.

• Licensing requirements will vary depending on your local council.

• Major alterations to your home, such as constructing a garden salon or transforming a garage, may require approval from your local planning authority.

• You may be subject to business rates. To check, contact the Valuation Office Agency in England and Wales, your local assessor in Scotland or Land & Property services in Northern Ireland.

Mobile techs:

• Track travel expenses, including petrol, vehicle mileage, parking fees and tolls, and remember to add these to your Self Assessment.

Insurance

Insurance is crucial to protect your business against financial loss. Business insurances are usually allowable expenses, which can be deducted via Self Assessment. Research these insurance types to find the ones suited to your business:

• Public liability insurance. This protects your business if a client gets injured or their property is damaged because of your business’ activities (including cuts, slips, allergies and polish spills).

• Product liability insurance. This covers you if you supply a product that causes damage or injury.

• Professional indemnity insurance. This protects you from claims that your advice or service caused harm, such as incorrect aftercare advice.

• Treatment liability cover. This ensures you are protected if a client claims your service caused them injury or illness.

• Equipment and stock insurance. This covers your products, tools and equipment, should they be damaged, lost or stolen.

• Car insurance for mobile techs. Inform your car insurer of business use and ensure you’re covered for travel-related business risks.

Choosing payment options

Kirsty Brown

Kirsty Brown , owner of Paintbrush Nails in Callander, Scotland, scooped the Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year award 2024. She advises: “Don’t rush into choosing payment options: read the small print and look at fees.”

Joanna Tompkins adds: “Take as much of the payment upfront as you can. Pre-payments are becoming the norm now, which means you’re going to attract the best clients who won’t mess you around or cancel last minute.”

Ria-Jaine Lincoln advises against bank transfer methods. She says: “Relying on customers to bank transfer is risky and can leave you waiting for payment, or worse, chasing for money owed to you.”

Setting prices

“As a sole trader nail tech, you can only take on so many clients, so you need to price at a premium to be able to make money,” says Joanna Tompkins. “Techs tend to underestimate their costs, and raising prices can be difficult, so start as you mean to go on. In the current financial climate, I do not recommend that nail pros charge under £40 for a basic builder gel manicure.”

Kirsty Brown adds: “It is pointless to look at what others in your area are charging and copy that, as your costs will be different. You need to add up the cost of all the materials you use in a service, work out how much time it takes you, and what your hourly rate needs to be to make a reasonable living.”

Mobile techs must consider ‘lost time’. This refers to the unpaid time when unpacking, packing up and travelling between clients. To account for this, charge an additional amount for locations outside of a specific radius.

Nina Nicholson has found financial management apps to be useful for keeping track of finances and determining prices. She says: “I can factor in the cost of supplies, my time and training to ensure I’m not selling myself short.”

“Techs tend to underestimate their costs, and raising prices can be difficult, so start as you mean to go on.”

Creating your ideal nail environment

Interior design

If working solo from a home salon or rented space, your aesthetic allows your creativity to flow – from colour palette and furniture, to display units and personalised touches. Kirsty Brown notes the importance of considered choices: “Your home salon needs to represent your personal style, rather than follow trends. You will end up spending a lot of time in the space, so you need to feel happy and comfortable.”

Furniture inventory

Pink is a popular choice for salon décor, promoting a restful, pretty space.

Glitterbels Deluxe Single Nail Desk £640 inc VAT www.glitterbels.com

REM Glam Lux Unit With LED Light £1,089 + VAT www.rem.co.uk

If a spa-like, serene ambience is your goal, opt for neutral hues.

REM Monaco Nail Table with Light £1,113 – £1,765 + VAT www.rem.co.uk

Hara Canto Nail Bar £450 + VAT www.astonandfincher.co.uk

Minimising fumes & dust

Kirsty Parker

The nature of nail services means nail techs are constantly exposed to dust and chemical vapours, which can cause health concerns. This is an experience that two-time Scratch Stars Educator of the Year finalist, Kirsty Parker, can relate to. She says: “When working in a salon, I always left with a headache and a dripping nose, and I still suffer with sinus problems years later.” After relocating to her home salon, she decided something needed to change: “I started to experience high levels of anxiety about exposing myself, my clients and my children to dust and chemicals.” Kirsty invested in a fume and dust extraction system from VODEX, which she claims changed her life. She notes: “I can’t imagine working without VODEX products. The air and my desk are so much cleaner.”

VODEX SalonAIR® 1001 from £768 inc VAT www.vodex.co.uk

VODEX FileOWAY® Desk Top Capture Accessory £POA www.vodex.co.uk Use in conjunction with the SalonAIR® Extraction Unit to aid the removal of airborne dust particles and chemical vapours from nail treatments.

Scan to watch Scratch interview Kirsty about her VODEX products and how they work within her home salon space.

Jade Thornhill

Kit tips & picks

“When starting out, don’t overspend on products,” advises Ria-Jaine Lincoln. “It can be tempting to buy the latest gel polish collection or glitter bundle, but start with the core products that you need and build your colour range as you grow. “This makes it easier for clients to choose nail colours or art, and is rewarding when you get to treat yourself to a new colour or product.”

What’s in my mobile salon kit?

Peek inside the kitbag of Jade Thornhill, Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year finalist 2024 & Bio Sculpture manicurist from Rochester, Kent:

• “Portable table: My clients love being able to sit comfortably on their sofa with the table in front of them, and it eliminates the risk of damage to their dining tables from product spills.

• Clean set of tools and dust extractor filter for each client: This means I don’t need to clean them when on the move, which can be challenging.

• Anti-bacterial wipes and/or spray: These are for spraying down my table, arm rest, lamp and dust extractor when I’m packing away my kit.

• Small bin bags: I use these to take rubbish and my towels away with me.

• Long extension lead: This is for environments where power outlets are limited.”

A helping hand with health, safety & hygiene measures

Physical safety pointers

Home-based salon owner, Nina Nicholson explains: “My safety always comes first. When working from my salon, I share my schedule with close friends or family.” For those working from different locations, Joanna Tompkins reveals: “I always make sure someone else knows where I am, I contact friends or family when leaving each mobile appointment and ring every new client before going to their location. Remember to always trust your gut and if you don’t feel comfortable, make an excuse and leave.”

Jade Thornhill adds: “You could also offer a small discount or incentives to clients that refer their friends. That way, you won’t be travelling to the homes of complete strangers.”

Coco Hocken

Hygiene help

“Correct hygiene protocol is the cornerstone of a successful, professional and trusted nail business,” explains Coco Hocken, marketing lead for Renscene Ltd, producer of BARBICIDE® disinfectant products. “Without stringent hygiene regimes and proper tool and surface disinfection, there is the risk of bacterial, fungal and viral infections spreading.”

BARBICIDE® Surface Spray £POA + VAT. Available via wholesalers nationwide.

To prevent this, Kirsty Parker offers up advice: “I make a bag for each client containing their files, buffers and orange wood sticks. Everything is single-use to ensure cleanliness. Also make sure you have written a health & safety policy, keep an accident log up-to-date and always have a first aid kit to hand.”

Nigel Rouse

“Mobile pros are just as responsible for maintaining high levels of hygiene as those who are salon-based,” notes Nigel Rouse, owner of disinfectants supplier, Mundo Professional. “Mobile techs could consider disinfectant or sanitising skin wipes rather than sprays or gels, to minimise the risk of product spills.” >>

The GelBottle Inc SalonSafe™ Biocide Tool & Surface Disinfectant (1L) £12.95 + VAT www.thegelbottle.com

Mundo Sanitising Skin Wipes £5.95 + VAT www.mundoproducts.co.uk

Building a business buzz

With your setup complete, focus on building and maintaining a client base through marketing techniques. “Everything you do as a self-employed nail tech should be strategic – including the services you promote,” says Ria-Jaine Lincoln.

Grow your email list

“Start to build your email list early on – and don’t be scared to sell your services,” Ria-Jaine continues. “If you struggle with this, you need to start being prescriptive. Consider how you can solve a problem for your ideal client and share this with them.”

Instagram.com/haileybieber

Social media: the dos

“I recommend a combination of still images, videos and stories on your social media profiles,” shares Joanna Tompkins. “Include client testimonials and experiences, your availability, problem-solving posts, connection posts and collaborate with other local businesses to expose yours to a wider local audience.”

Additionally, ask clients to post their fresh manis or pedis on their Instagram stories and tag you. This is an organic way to expose your business to potential clients in the area, and generates content for you to reshare on your account. Just remember to the credit your client for the image!

Nail enthusiast A-listers, Hailey Bieber and Sydney Sweeney, have both posted their manicures by tech, Zola Ganzorigt, directing their followers to her nail account.

Instagram.com/sydney_sweeney

Social media: the don’ts

Ria-Jaine acknowledges social media as a helpful tool in reaching new clients, but notes the importance of targeting the ‘right’ ones. “Nail techs should focus on posting locally, as opposed to going viral. Attracting 100 local clients is better for business than 1,000 followers from miles away, who are unlikely to book an appointment due to distance.”

Joanna Tompkins shares a similar warning on attracting the wrong audience, stating: “Nail techs often don’t know enough about marketing a small local business and end up creating social media content that attracts other nail techs, rather than clients. Self-employed nail techs need to make sure people within the local community know that their business exists. It’s impossible to get fully booked if no one knows you’re there.”

The social media solution

To ensure that mobile techs’ social media content reaches potential clients, Jade Thornhill suggests posting to area-specific online groups. She comments: “I post into Facebook groups in areas that I am going to travel to, and tag locations on Instagram posts for people to find me.”

Additionally, feature your location in your social media bios and use location-focused hashtags in captions, such as #[x]basednailtech and #[x]basednails, to make it clear where you are based. Printing leaflets and posters to pin up in local village halls, notice boards and shops can also help your business get recognised within the community.

Guildford-based salon, Nails On Point Surrey, includes its location in its social media username, hashtags and added itself to the Surrey location page.

Instagram.com/nailsonpointsurrey

Client retention tips

Nina Nicholson shares advice for keeping clients returning: “You need to not just provide beautiful treatments, but make each person feel special. I remember details about clients’ lives and make every appointment a personalised experience. Consistency in quality and clear communication are key, and I make sure clients know I value them beyond just their appointments.”

Ria-Jaine Lincoln adds: “Make sure new clients’ experiences are so good that they want to book their next appointment before they leave. Review your figures and use your numbers to help dictate which services and offers you should be promoting.”

Balancing business & wellbeing

Building a business solo can make separating work and life boundaries difficult, and can segregate you from building industry connections. Here are some tips to ensure good boundaries, and to help you maintain relationships with fellow pros.

Ensuring a work-life balance

Fiona Fox, owner of Ulu Beauty, Dorset, a Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year finalist 2024, shares the challenges of home-based working: “Blurring the boundaries between your job and home tasks can lead to the feeling that work is consuming your life. This can cause resentment, burnout and impact your mental and physical health, as well as personal relationships.”

Fiona Fox

Community groups & networking

Combatting loneliness “Self-employment can feel lonely sometimes,” reflects Nina Nicholson. “What helps me is reaching out to others in the industry: joining online groups, going to meet-ups and surrounding myself with like-minded pros. Staying connected with people who understand the journey makes a huge difference.”

Nail Tech Tribe & Nail Business Success Club Joanna Tompkins explains the inspiration behind Nail Tech Tribe and Nail Business Success Club: “They were created to help sole trader nail techs get fully booked and earn up to £5,000 a month while working part-time.

“By joining, members will make faster progress in their businesses and enhance their chances of success. They’ll learn how to stand out from other nail techs, attract the right clients, price their services effectively, market and sell their work, and continue growing after becoming fully booked – without working harder.” Access to a group chat allows for tech-to-tech networking.

Joanna adds: “I also offer a Model Magnet Mini Course for techs who have finished training, but aren’t ready to charge full price. This course helps them book their first ten models, gain photos and testimonials and most importantly, build confidence.”

Scratch Stars Awards The annual Scratch Stars Party is not just an ideal environment to meet like-minded nail techs and celebrate success within the industry. The competition prior to the event offers the invaluable opportunity to grow your business and gain credibility. The Home Nail Salon of the Year and Mobile Nailist of the Year categories recognise self-employed maestros dominating the industry, exposing finalists and winners to hundreds of thousands of techs and potential clients – and you could be next!

Entry opens on 1 February.

Find out more via www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/scratchstars

Scan the QR to join the Nail Tech Tribe

To find out more about the Model Magnet Mini Course, scan here

Scratch Stars Awards 2024 judging day: nail techs put their skills to the test.

Fiona’s home salon, located in her garden.

Software pick: JENA

Jean-Michel Chalayer

Created to help solopreneurs save time and establish work-life boundaries, the JENA booking system offers businesses SEO-optimised, professional websites with 24/7 booking options. Founder, Jean-Michel Chalayer, explains: “Your clients can book when it suits them, and you get your free time back. Our pros tell us they save up to an hour every day just on booking admin.”

Andrea Lee of @andpausebeauty, a nail tech and JENA user, shares her experience: “JENA frees up my time so I can focus on other aspects of my business. I spend more time growing my social media platforms, practicing my skills, attending courses and restocking products.”

Get inspired!

Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year 2024 winner, Kirsty Brown,

unlocks the doors of her garden-based studio, Paintbrush Nails.

Stella accepting her award at The Scratch Stars Party in July 2024.

Take a peek at Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year 2024,

Stella Angelova’s mobile kit and setup.