Adding Nail Services

tangirl · 05-30-2002, 09:20 AM

We've decided to add nail services to one of our locations. We called a local high school that has a cosmotology department. The high school sends over students that are about to take their state board exam or that have just passed the exam.

You can set this up several ways.

1. Bring the nail tech in as a independent contractor. The tech pays rent for their table. You provide them with electricity and water. They provide all of their other supplies such as nail polish, acetone, etc.

2. Bring the nail tech in as an employee. This means that you keep the profits from their services. But, you must provide all supplies including, polish, acetone, etc. This also means that you have to pay payroll taxes on them.

BooBop · 05-30-2002, 09:33 AM

I also did this and it has been a mess. Nail tech #1 was an employee who went to school and then we set her up a station. Didn't charge her rent for 6 months so she could build her business and kept her on our payroll as a parttime employee. She didn't work at building her business and then when we told her that it was time to start paying rent, she left and went somewhere else.

Tech #2 seemed to be a sensible lady, 50 yrs old. Turns she is lazy and doesn't show up half the time and doesn't work on building her clientale either. She was paying us on commision and that was a big mistake on my part but wanted to let her get built up. Last week was time for her to start paying a flat weekly rent. Hasn't been to work all week.

Come next week I will pack her stuff up if she doesn't this weekend while I am gone.

Kimmee · 05-30-2002, 09:44 AM

Well I have had a good experience with mine.

I rent the space to my person. It is the back room of my salon which has a private door so that her customers get her one on one and my customers never have to deal with the smell. The nice part is her rent covers half of my lease each month! She buys her own supplies and I sell her her tanning lotions at a discount so that she won't resort to going to the beauty supply and purchasing them. I provide the electricity phone and we alternate on buying the bathroom supplies -- paper towels and tissue since her customers use them.

She is a mother with 3 children and she works a part-time job with K-Mart in the corporate offices. She pays her fee each week on Saturday and she has her hours posted in the back. She worked out her schedule to accomodat MY salon hours and she leaves her appt book up front when she is not here so I can put her appts down.

She does a wonderful job and also does pedicures ~~ which these are to die for!

I paid to get her certified so if I need to go and run and get a kid from school sick or to get cleaning supplies ~~ I do allow her to tan for free because she brings me many customers as she does my nails for free so that I can advertise for her... for years she did nails for another salon that had tanning! Her prices are VERY resonable and she always comes when she says she will.

I am hoping she will be here for a long time... I actually like her company and if she were to leave I might be hesitant to try again after hearing the horror stories!

BooBop · 05-30-2002, 10:19 AM

I wish I had one like yours Kimmee.

My problems are my own fault. I have been to kind to my techs. I didn't stand firm on what I expected. Should I get another it will be written in STONE

I am a softy that is why I have to carry that big stick around. To Knock Some Sense In My Head!

Kimmee · 05-30-2002, 10:24 AM

Mitzi,

I am a softy too and it gets me in some binds sometimes... but I had to be firm with this decision only because I am new and I need to be able to be here next season...

Have it in stone... write up a contract... BE STRONG!!!

Tell them they might end up on the WRONG side of Tennessee if the cross you...LOL

tangirl · 05-30-2002, 06:27 PM

Make sure to be firm and put something in writing. Make sure to specify exactly who pays for what.

Like Kimmee said, the nail tech could end up paying your rent. Ours do! They are also a great referral.

BooBop · 05-30-2002, 06:33 PM

LOL Wrong side of Tennessee and my big stick.

terryberry · 06-01-2002, 03:10 PM

Having been in the nail industry for over 15 years, I think you guys could use some help in this department. I've had two combo tanning/nails salons for the last 10 years.

I you have a TANNING salon, and are looking to add nails, NEVER, hire someone new and/or without a clientele. Most decent nail techs out there will only work on booth rental once they are established. If you are looking to add a boost to your revenue with nail services, I suggest the following:

1. Make sure you find someone with a large following, that way they will CONTRIBUTE to YOUR business.

2. A new tech is bad in a tanning salon because they usually cannot afford to pay for awhile, and therefore end up COSTING YOU MONEY!!

3. Because they are working for you in a tanning salon, they will not build their clientele as quickly as they would in another environment, and they WILL LEAVE!!

4. They will then end up becoming frustrated and therefore will frustate you.

5. Make sure they are separate enough to not bother your tanners.

6. Make sure that they buy everything including their desk.

7. Don't give them "free" rent for a while to get started. It doesn't work, they will only take advantage. You don't get a break with your landlord when you have a slow month.

What you need is someone who is just looking for space to rent, and can be an asset to your business, someone who does not need the "backbone" of a conventional salon, to support their business. Most tanning salons are not successful adding nails because they don't know enough about the nail industry to hire the right individual.

My setup allows me to cover my ENTIRE overhead and to never worry during slow season. It can be done, but just like a tanning salon, a little knowledge is key in making it work.

Malibu_Stacey · 06-02-2002, 09:41 PM

Great advice here terryberry. I have had the same nail tech for 2 years and things work very well however there are many problems that can arise when having a nail tech in your salon. It is great extra income but you also need extra patience I think.

Stacey

BooBop · 06-05-2002, 04:57 PM

Thanks terryberry, Looks like I broke every one of your rules (suggestions) LOL I guess that is why I have had bad luck with the nail techs.

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05-30-2002, 09:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
tangirl Join Date: Jul 6 2001 Posts: 2,184 Rep Power: 8	We've decided to add nail services to one of our locations. We called a local high school that has a cosmotology department. The high school sends over students that are about to take their state board exam or that have just passed the exam. You can set this up several ways. 1. Bring the nail tech in as a independent contractor. The tech pays rent for their table. You provide them with electricity and water. They provide all of their other supplies such as nail polish, acetone, etc. 2. Bring the nail tech in as an employee. This means that you keep the profits from their services. But, you must provide all supplies including, polish, acetone, etc. This also means that you have to pay payroll taxes on them.

05-30-2002, 09:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
BooBop I love Derf!! Join Date: Apr 5 2001 Posts: 9,497 Rep Power: 13	I also did this and it has been a mess. Nail tech #1 was an employee who went to school and then we set her up a station. Didn't charge her rent for 6 months so she could build her business and kept her on our payroll as a parttime employee. She didn't work at building her business and then when we told her that it was time to start paying rent, she left and went somewhere else. Tech #2 seemed to be a sensible lady, 50 yrs old. Turns she is lazy and doesn't show up half the time and doesn't work on building her clientale either. She was paying us on commision and that was a big mistake on my part but wanted to let her get built up. Last week was time for her to start paying a flat weekly rent. Hasn't been to work all week. Come next week I will pack her stuff up if she doesn't this weekend while I am gone.

05-30-2002, 09:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kimmee Join Date: Jan 10 2002 Posts: 426 Rep Power: 7	Well I have had a good experience with mine. I rent the space to my person. It is the back room of my salon which has a private door so that her customers get her one on one and my customers never have to deal with the smell. The nice part is her rent covers half of my lease each month! She buys her own supplies and I sell her her tanning lotions at a discount so that she won't resort to going to the beauty supply and purchasing them. I provide the electricity phone and we alternate on buying the bathroom supplies -- paper towels and tissue since her customers use them. She is a mother with 3 children and she works a part-time job with K-Mart in the corporate offices. She pays her fee each week on Saturday and she has her hours posted in the back. She worked out her schedule to accomodat MY salon hours and she leaves her appt book up front when she is not here so I can put her appts down. She does a wonderful job and also does pedicures ~~ which these are to die for! I paid to get her certified so if I need to go and run and get a kid from school sick or to get cleaning supplies ~~ I do allow her to tan for free because she brings me many customers as she does my nails for free so that I can advertise for her... for years she did nails for another salon that had tanning! Her prices are VERY resonable and she always comes when she says she will. I am hoping she will be here for a long time... I actually like her company and if she were to leave I might be hesitant to try again after hearing the horror stories!

05-30-2002, 10:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
BooBop I love Derf!! Join Date: Apr 5 2001 Posts: 9,497 Rep Power: 13	I wish I had one like yours Kimmee. My problems are my own fault. I have been to kind to my techs. I didn't stand firm on what I expected. Should I get another it will be written in STONE I am a softy that is why I have to carry that big stick around. To Knock Some Sense In My Head!

05-30-2002, 10:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kimmee Join Date: Jan 10 2002 Posts: 426 Rep Power: 7	Mitzi, I am a softy too and it gets me in some binds sometimes... but I had to be firm with this decision only because I am new and I need to be able to be here next season... Have it in stone... write up a contract... BE STRONG!!! Tell them they might end up on the WRONG side of Tennessee if the cross you...LOL

05-30-2002, 06:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
tangirl Join Date: Jul 6 2001 Posts: 2,184 Rep Power: 8	Make sure to be firm and put something in writing. Make sure to specify exactly who pays for what. Like Kimmee said, the nail tech could end up paying your rent. Ours do! They are also a great referral.

05-30-2002, 06:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
BooBop I love Derf!! Join Date: Apr 5 2001 Posts: 9,497 Rep Power: 13	LOL Wrong side of Tennessee and my big stick.

06-01-2002, 03:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
terryberry Join Date: Nov 5 2001 Posts: 155 Rep Power: 8	Having been in the nail industry for over 15 years, I think you guys could use some help in this department. I've had two combo tanning/nails salons for the last 10 years. I you have a TANNING salon, and are looking to add nails, NEVER, hire someone new and/or without a clientele. Most decent nail techs out there will only work on booth rental once they are established. If you are looking to add a boost to your revenue with nail services, I suggest the following: 1. Make sure you find someone with a large following, that way they will CONTRIBUTE to YOUR business. 2. A new tech is bad in a tanning salon because they usually cannot afford to pay for awhile, and therefore end up COSTING YOU MONEY!! 3. Because they are working for you in a tanning salon, they will not build their clientele as quickly as they would in another environment, and they WILL LEAVE!! 4. They will then end up becoming frustrated and therefore will frustate you. 5. Make sure they are separate enough to not bother your tanners. 6. Make sure that they buy everything including their desk. 7. Don't give them "free" rent for a while to get started. It doesn't work, they will only take advantage. You don't get a break with your landlord when you have a slow month. What you need is someone who is just looking for space to rent, and can be an asset to your business, someone who does not need the "backbone" of a conventional salon, to support their business. Most tanning salons are not successful adding nails because they don't know enough about the nail industry to hire the right individual. My setup allows me to cover my ENTIRE overhead and to never worry during slow season. It can be done, but just like a tanning salon, a little knowledge is key in making it work.

06-02-2002, 09:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
Malibu_Stacey Join Date: Jun 18 2001 Posts: 832 Rep Power: 8	Great advice here terryberry. I have had the same nail tech for 2 years and things work very well however there are many problems that can arise when having a nail tech in your salon. It is great extra income but you also need extra patience I think. Stacey

06-05-2002, 04:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
BooBop I love Derf!! Join Date: Apr 5 2001 Posts: 9,497 Rep Power: 13	Thanks terryberry, Looks like I broke every one of your rules (suggestions) LOL I guess that is why I have had bad luck with the nail techs.

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