How to Open a Nail Salon in the UK and What Are the Costs

A nail salon is a niche within the beauty business, built around manicures, pedicures, nail art and polish treatments. 

When studying beauty in college, you may not have given much thought to admin and business structures. But as a nail technician, to open one, you need more than just technical skill. You need a broad understanding of insurance, licenses and compliance rules, on top of business nous around hiring staff, marketing, pricing and managing cash flow. 

There are a lot of practical steps involved in how to open a nail salon in the UK and this guide will help you avoid the mistakes that catch new nail business owners out.

Why Opening a Nail Salon Can Work in the UK

Having your nails done is something that people do habitually – it’s a wear-and-tear situation, often around two to four weeks, before they need attention again. This gives a well-run salon a fairly predictable base of booking and steady cash flow compared to relying on chance walk-ins alone. It can also increase the lifetime revenue generated from acquiring one new customer, meaning marketing efforts can have a greater ROI.

The hairdressing and beauty treatment industry is worth around £5.7 billion, while beauty as a broader industry (e.g., including products, manufacturing) contributed over £28 billion to the economy and employed well over half a million people. 

Nail industry growth is harder to pinpoint, but customers search for local nails more frequently today than ten years ago. The graph below shows the UK search volume for “nail salon near me” for that period.

As we can see, seasonality affects interest, with peaks in December and summer (30% to 45% swings).

There is a slight downtrend over the past few years, with natural nails being a microtrend, but such trends are often cyclical, and it may also be distorted by the novel post-pandemic boom.

What Permits Do You Need to Open a Nail Salon in the UK?

There is no UK-wide licence for opening a nail salon. Nail salon licensing is done locally and each council has its own rules. 

London is typically seen as more tightly controlled, with nail salons often falling under “special treatment” businesses that need a premises approval or Special Treatments Licence. Use the GOV.UK licence finder to help.

Example: Tower Hamlets Council charges £732 for a new or renewed Special Treatments Licence application, and £150 to add a therapist

Meeting these nail salon legal requirements is much easier done before signing a lease. 

Keep in mind to:

• Confirm with the council if you need a special licence or premises approval. 
• Check the planning use of an address, especially if it was previously a shop.
• Ask about signage rules and window displays.
• Ask about waste collection requirements for acetone, cotton pads, etc.

Confirming what permits do you need to open a nail salon is the first thing to do, and the council holds the answers.

How to Open a Nail Salon in the UK Step by Step

Step 1: Choose the Salon Model

Your options are to be home-based, mobile (going to the customer’s home), renting a chair in someone else’s salon, and having a fixed high street salon. These are roughly in ascending order of overhead costs.

Home-based nail businesses are some of the cheapest. A portion of your home utilities bill may now be tax-deductible, no petrol costs, freed-up time, potentially less money spent on child-care. 

A mobile nail technician setup is similar, but add in the commuting costs and loss of some time and tax efficiency.

Ultimately, a high street salon is likely needed for its visibility if you don’t have a large existing client base. 

High-street salons have two main types:

• High-volume salons have an assembly-style layout (e.g., 5 technicians in a row). They’re fast, functional, walk-in heavy, and task-oriented. You’re not going to get to know your customers too well. The service price tends to be competitive, and scaling potential is strong.

• Boutique studios are more custom, specialised, and with smaller teams. Prices may be slightly higher, but customers may stay on the chair for longer. You can get to know your customers, they may be more loyal, and it’s often the better choice if you’re gifted at nail art or customer service.

Renting a chair seat can be a middle-ground option where you may share some clients, interact, and enjoy the lifestyle of working among others. 

Step 2: Research Local Demand

Consider the two types of nail salons (high volume and boutique) and write all of them down in your scouted location. See which types are operating at the highest capacity, how many there are of each, and check the reviews on Google Maps.

Nail salons are rarely specialised. If you’re incredible at nail art, this may be a focus of your marketing, though it may not be viable to sell just nail art. Differentiation is important though when 1,000 new beauty salons and nail bars open each year, so if you have one service you’re particularly good at, research if this is less saturated.

Step 3: Build the Business Plan

The numbers within your business plan will mostly centre around the average customer payment and the average number of customers per day. Assuming full capacity and not factoring in enough changeover time (e.g., cleaning) between customers is a mistake here. Look at nearby competition for guidance and begin estimating forecasted revenue and costs.

No-shows are common, while the seasonality must also be factored in. The goal is to calculate how many treatments you need to complete to break even and what your forecasted profits are. It’s not a target, but a realistic projection.

Step 4: Register the Business

Around 60.5% of those working in UK beauty are self-employed. 

Operating as a sole trader keeps administration relatively simple, as most people only need to file a Self Assessment tax return each year. However, the introduction of Making Tax Digital places greater emphasis on more frequent reporting through MTD-compliant software. 

An accountant is recommended regardless, but much more so for limited companies. If you decide to incorporate through Companies House, you will pay Corporation Tax on profits instead.

Now is the time to open a business account, such as the myPOS free e-money account. This separates finances from personal money and its multicurrency IBAN can help save on fees when ordering overseas supplies.

Step 5: Check Local Permits and Premises Rules

Contact the local council before committing to a premises. They can confirm the unit’s planning classification, whether your business can operate from the site, and which permits or licences you may need. This licence finder can help with the initial checks, but you should also pay close attention to the property’s planning use class. 

In England, many nail salons fall under Use Class E. However, some councils may treat them as sui generis rather than standard retail premises. In these cases, you may need to apply for a change of use before opening. 

Step 6: Secure and Prepare the Salon Space

Choose a site that reflects your local research and has a layout suited to your services. A high-volume nail bar may need a large, open-plan area, while smaller salons may require more clearly defined treatment spaces. Plan the layout carefully, with enough room for waiting areas, workstations, storage, staff facilities, and customer access.

Ventilation also needs close attention. Acrylic dust and fumes from nail products can cause headaches, wheezing, and other health problems when exposure is not properly controlled.

A slightly more expensive premises may offer better value if it requires less renovation. You must also comply with COSHH regulations, which require businesses to prevent or reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous substances, including volatile organic compounds found in many nail care products.

Step 7: Buy Equipment and Products

Start by prioritising health, hygiene, and safety. Skin contact with cleaning chemicals and nail products can cause dermatitis, while poorly cleaned tools can spread bacterial and fungal infections. Gloves, disinfectant wipes, single-use items, and other protective equipment should therefore come before decorative stock. 

Suppliers such as Naio Nail and Sweet Squared offer professional gels, acrylics, polishes, and nail art products. Both also provide safety data sheets for their ranges, which can help you assess hazards and follow safe handling procedures. 

Avoid buying every colour and product at once, as excess stock can tie up working capital. Begin with a broad but affordable selection, then place larger orders for the shades and products that sell most often.

Use your previous experience, customer requests, and social media trends to judge which products are likely to be most popular.

Step 8: Set Up Payments, POS and Bookings

The payment process should be quick and straightforward. A cash-only setup can create unnecessary friction, especially when customers must leave the salon to find an ATM. 

myPOS offers several card machines for beauty and wellness businesses at different price points. The myPOS Go 2 may suit self-employed nail technicians who rent a chair and need a lightweight, affordable terminal. Using a separate payment device can also help show that the technician manages their own business. 

A high-street salon may benefit from a terminal that prints receipts and supports a higher volume of transactions. 

Around a third of salons experience one or two cancellations a week. To help resolve this, use a good booking software that sends out automated reminders. The myPOS payment link is also a useful way to collect a deposit upon booking, so there’s some (or all) guaranteed revenue either way. 

Step 9: Set Prices and Service Times

It’s a mistake to price services based on how much they cost you in terms of products (plus a fixed margin for profit). This is because time is the biggest cost factor in what the client is paying for. 

So a classic manicure may only cost £1.50 in materials, but it takes half an hour. If your nail technician is on £15/hour, that’s £7.50 cost in labour hours. That’s a total cost of £9.

On the other hand, nail art may “only” cost 50p, but it only takes 5 minutes, so that’s £6 in materials per hour if you hypothetically did 12 procedures.

It’s best to first understand your costs before knowing how to price treatments. 

Here are some loose estimates:

Service	Time	Materials	Labour (£15/hour)	Total Cost	Cost per hr of chair time + skill level
Manicure	30 min	£1.50	£7.50	£9	£18 + Basic
Gel manicure	45 min	£3.50	£11.25	£14.75	£19.65 + Medium
Pedicure	40 min	£2.50	£10	£12.50	£18.75 + Basic
Gel pedicure	55 min	£4.50	£13.75	£18.25	£19.90 + Medium
Acrylic infill	60 min	£4.50	£15	£19.50	£19.50 + High
Full set acrylic	90 min	£7	£22.50	£29.50	£19.65 + Very High

If you price treatments based on chair time, material costs, labour, and skill level, the table above suggests that a gel pedicure has the highest hourly cost. You will usually charge per treatment rather than per hour, but this calculation provides a useful starting point for setting prices and estimating margins.

Remember to include the full time required for each appointment, including preparation, service time, and clean-up between customers.

Step 10: Hire and Train Staff

Staff should be recruited with four main things in mind:

• Technical ability
• Hygiene standards
• Customer service skills
• How their strengths complement the existing team

ALevel 2 or Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Nail Services, such as a qualification awarded by VTCT, is a common hiring requirement.

Consider the role you need the new team member to fill. You may need a highly skilled technician for services such as full acrylic sets, someone to manage demand for simpler treatments such as manicures, or an all-round technician who can provide the full treatment menu. The National Hair and Beauty Federation also offers employment guidance and contract templates for salon owners.

You can train a promising candidate, but previous salon experience may provide greater confidence in their hygiene practices and treatment standards. Ask shortlisted candidates to complete a practical assessment so you can evaluate their technique, cleanliness, customer care, and working habits before making an offer.

Step 11: Launch the Salon

Nail services already have broad appeal, which makes a soft launch a practical way to introduce the salon. Invite friends, family, and a small group of local customers to book discounted treatments before the official opening.

Start with a private session so the team can test the booking process, treatment timings, payment setup, and overall customer experience. This gives you time to identify any problems before welcoming a larger group.

Once the salon is running smoothly, you can host a wider launch event to build local interest. Complimentary refreshments can help create a welcoming atmosphere, but keep the focus on service quality, customer comfort, and collecting useful feedback.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Nail Salon in the UK?

If you’re asking how much does it cost to open a nail salon in the UK, the answer depends entirely on the model you choose. 

Below are some estimates of nail business costs:

Cost category	Home-based/mobile salon	Rent chair/small studio	High-street salon
Premises & fit-out	£0 to £10,000 (e.g., building an annex)	£0 to £15,000	£10,000 to £50,000
Equipment & tools	£1,000 to £5,000	£2,000 to £5,000	£5,000 to £10,000
Initial stock	£500 to £2,000	£500 to £3,000	£2,000 to £5,000
Insurance	£250+	£250+	£250+
licencing/permits	£0 to £750 depending on council	£150 to £450	£150 to £450
Estimated total	£1,750 to £18,000	£2,900 to £23,450	£17,400 to £65,700

So, how much does it cost to open a nail salon? It depends, but it can be as little as £2,000 if you’re doing treatments out of your own home (or theirs). But for a typical high street salon, £20,000 to £40,000 is typical, depending on size and location.

How to Keep the Salon Safe, Clean, and Compliant

How to Keep the Salon Safe, Clean and Compliant

Poor hygiene can damage a salon’s reputation and put clients at risk. Bacterial and fungal infections can spread through contaminated tools, towels, surfaces, and equipment. Clear cleaning procedures should therefore form part of every treatment.

Start with anything that comes into contact with the client. Use fresh towels for each appointment and clean the workstation before the next client arrives. Files and buffers should be single-use, while reusable metal tools must be cleaned and disinfected between treatments. Sterilise them where the tool and treatment require it.

Salon safety also includes chemical and airborne hazards. Acrylic liquids, acetone, gel polish removers, and similar products may fall under COSHH requirements. Acrylic dust can also affect respiratory health, especially when ventilation and dust extraction are poor.

Complete a COSHH assessment for each hazardous product and keep the relevant safety data sheet on file. These records should explain the risks, safe handling procedures, required protective equipment, and action to take after accidental exposure.

To remain ready for inspection, make the following tasks part of the daily routine:

• Clean work surfaces and process tools between every client.
• Use fresh towels and single-use items for each treatment.
• Keep COSHH assessments and safety data sheets up to date.
• Store insurance and staff training records securely.
• Train staff to recognise irritation, infection, and damaged nails.
• Record cleaning, equipment checks, and product reviews.

Hygiene and safety procedures must be followed throughout the day, not only when the salon is quiet. A written routine helps staff maintain the same standard during busy periods and provides clear evidence that the salon manages risk properly.

How to Market a Nail Salon Locally

Local marketing has two parts. The first is building a recognisable brand. The second is promoting that brand through local channels and relevant beauty trends.

Start with the brand. Define the salon’s tone of voice, colours, graphics, and visual style. These elements should match the physical space and remain consistent across social media, printed materials, and other customer touchpoints. For example, a salon with a Malibu-inspired interior could use palm tree graphics and similar colours in its online content. A reusable library of images and templates will help maintain consistency and save time.

Once the brand is established, focus on local visibility. Keep the Google Business Profile complete, add recent photos, update business information, and ask clients for reviews. Build partnerships with nearby businesses, such as wedding dress shops, and place leaflets where they will reach relevant customers. Post regularly on social media, take part in local Facebook groups, and test sponsored posts aimed at people in the area.

Broader nail and beauty trends can then guide individual campaigns, offers, and seasonal content.

You can stay on top of trends by using Google Trends. This graph shows the search volume comparing gel nails (blue), acrylic nails (red), nail art (orange), and manicures (green). 

Around 86% of those working in hairdressing and beauty are female, and you can get feedback on new trends when interacting with clients. Within your customer service chit-chatter, try to weed out who is here because they always come for the same routine treatment, and who is here off the back of what they’ve seen going viral online or celebrity trends. This information can dictate social media efforts, pushing popular treatments and nail art to new audiences.

How to Keep Margins and Cash Flow Healthy

Let’s look at how your margins are calculated, as this may inspire ideas on how they can be improved. 

First, work out your cost of goods sold. 

COGS = Product costs + labour cost + disposables/sterilisations

Basics manicure COGS = nail polish (30p) + base coat & top coat (30p) + cuticle oil (15p) + hand cream (15p) + disposable file/cotton/wipes (40p) + sterilisation supplies (20p) + 30 minutes labour (£7.50) =  £9

Gross profit (£16) = revenue (£25) - COGS (£9)

Gross profit margin (64%) = gross profit (£16) / revenue (£25) * 100

So can you improve these margins? Some things to consider when cutting COGS:

• Buy consumables in bulk if you have the storage space.
• Reduce product waste (measure instead of free-pour).

Clearly, margins are quite rigid, with little room for cost-cutting. You could consider upselling to improve revenue or increasing costs if your treatments are excellent quality, but ultimately, you may need to focus on maximising capacity. This means working on being busy with fast customer turnover.

Sometimes, profits aren’t the issue, but cash flow is. Not being able to make rent or debt repayments can spiral into serious issues, even if you are ultimately profitable at the year-end. 

Keep cash flow healthy by:

• Getting paid faster. The instant settlement from myPOS means you can spend your takings immediately after the revenue is received.
  
• Accept a broad range of payment types, including mobile wallets, contactless payments, and payment links.
  
• Take deposits to reduce no-shows.
  
• Regularly review your costs and the myPOS reporting features.

When the gross profit margin is similar across all salon types, you may achieve a higher net profit margin with a home-based business or chair rent, because fixed costs (e.g., rent) is lower. 

Of course, revenue and profits overall may be lower, but the higher margins can be less stressful.

Accept card payments and grow your business with myPOS Go 2

Learn more

Conclusion

Nail salons are a tried-and-tested business model in the UK. Google Trends data shows appetite remains strong across decades, while prices and gross margins remain steady and visible. 

With rents and utilities high across the UK compared to ten years ago, net profits have taken a hit and home-based businesses may help offset that. 

But no matter the salon type you go with, the basics remain true: compliance and hygiene are key, while repeat visits are one of the greatest assets of nail salons.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a UK nail salon need a special treatments licence?

It depends on the local council you’re operating in. London boroughs often need a Special Treatments Licence for manicures and pedicures, while some areas outside of London have no such special treatments licence. Check the GOV.UK licence finder and ring your local council.

What insurance should a UK nail salon arrange before opening?

Most salons need a public liability insurance and treatment liability insurance (it may be requested from the landlord, for example). When hiring, employer’s liability insurance becomes a legal requirement. Basic salon insurance can be around £250 a year, though business buildings, equipment and stock cover may be worth considering.

When does a home nail salon need planning permission?

This depends on whether the business use creates a material change from the home’s residential (C3) use. Some councils then cover them under the general commercial use class, some class them as salon sui generis, which may require a change of use application. Check each specific unit you’re scoping out with the council to be absolutely sure.

How should salon owners manage COSHH records for nail products?

Every salon should have a written COSHH assessment that covers products like acrylic liquid and acetone, along with a safety data sheet for each. These records must be reviewed when a new product range is introduced, and can be kept physically in a space that is easy to access.

What ventilation is needed for acrylic nail treatments?

Acrylic work needs good airflow to manage the dust and fumes. Local exhaust ventilation at each station works well (e.g., desk-mounted extractor). City of Wolverhampton Council guidance recommends extractor hoods or downdraught tables in busier nail bars. Different councils have different requirements. Generally, volatile organic compounds should be kept with the lid on when not in use and the wider premises should have sufficient ventilation.

When should a nail salon register for VAT?

You should register for VAT once your taxable turnover hits £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period (registration should happen within 30 days of it hitting the threshold). This is the same for most business types.