Becoming an independent nail artist! A thorough explanation of the basics of opening your own business, including the necessary funds and paperwork! | 2025

Hello!

"I want to work at the times I like!" Have you ever thought about opening a nail salon as a way to fulfill that wish?

While the freedom to work is appealing, many people are worried about the preparations and risks involved.

This time, to help alleviate such concerns, we will provide a clear explanation of the basic information you need to know when opening a salon!

Furthermore, we will introduce the appeal of working at "EVERNAIL," a nail tip specialty store, as an option for working in the nail industry while reducing the risks and hassle .

This content is perfect for people who want to work freely while also feeling secure , so be sure to read to the end!

Daily Salon Management

The daily routine of the salon is as follows:

Treatment for customers

The core of our salon operations is, of course, treatment .

In addition to treatment, you will also need to manage reservations, communicate before and after treatment, and in some cases handle complaints.

Making a good impression on first-time customers is an important first step in gaining repeat customers .

Treatment preparation and cleanup

Hygiene must be strictly observed and all equipment and facilities must be cleaned after each use.

It's also important to use limited space efficiently.

For example, using a nail desk with storage and a compact light will make preparation and cleanup smoother 🛍️

Reservation management and other administrative tasks

Please be aware that when registering your store on a major booking site, a certain percentage of the treatment fee will be charged as a commission .

There are apps available that allow you to make customer reservations, manage reservation schedules, and communicate with customers all in one place, so be sure to take advantage of them!

Promotional activities

Posting on social media platforms like Instagram and blogs, as well as campaign announcements, are essential for running a salon today.

How you take photos and the hashtags you choose are also important.

For example, by clearly communicating your area and characteristics , such as "#naildesign" or "#homesalon_city", you can more easily attract new customers in the neighborhood!

Inventory management

You will need to check your gel and parts inventory and replenish as necessary.

Be sure to purchase additional parts early, especially those used for popular designs!

Plus, by incorporating trendy items, you can always create a fresh look.

It's important to estimate the number of customers and popular designs .

Income and expenditure management

You need to keep track of your sales and expenses and prepare them for your tax return .

Opening a salon means you are self-employed, so make sure you have the right knowledge to pay taxes.

Tax evasion will definitely be discovered , and saying "just this year..." won't work! Rather than paying late fees, it's better to get the procedure done in a good mood from the start.

By using accounting software , you can file your tax return properly even if you don't have detailed knowledge! 💻

Salon opening costs

There are initial costs involved in opening a salon. Below are the main costs and their approximate costs.

Nail salon location and rent

The most important thing when opening a salon is the location!

Properties that are a 10-minute walk from the station lack the ability to attract customers, and properties in good locations have high rents, making it difficult to rent.

To keep rents a little lower even if the property is close to the station, we recommend an older property where only the bathroom has been renovated !

However, there are many properties that do not allow stores or salons , so be sure to clearly communicate the purpose when looking for a property!

Initial cost: 1 million yen and up *Depending on area

(Deposit, key money, and brokerage fee are equivalent to 3 to 6 months' rent)

If you want to keep rent and other costs down, you can use a spare room in your home, but it can be time-consuming and costly to do the interior DIY .

Peelable wallpaper, floor sheets, lace curtains for windows, door makeovers, etc.

50,000 yen and up

*Assuming one room

*If you purchase a new door or replace it, it will cost about 300,000 yen per door.

Equipment costs

Nail desk, chair, light, treatment equipment, etc.

100,000 to 300,000 yen

If you also want to have foot nails done, you will need a sofa with raised legs, a foot rest, a foot bath, etc.!

50,000 to 100,000 yen

Lights and treatment tools are consumables and need to be replaced every few months to several years.

Qualification acquisition costs

Costs for obtaining certification for nail technicians and gel nail technicians

Approximately 50,000 to 100,000 yen

In addition to the minimum qualifications, obtaining beauty qualifications such as personal color diagnosis and bone structure diagnosis will differentiate you from other salons.

Advertising expenses

Posting on salon booking sites, social media advertising, business cards, signboard creation, etc.

100,000 yen and up

Other expenses

Consumables, tea and towels for customers, etc.

10,000 to 20,000 yen

Estimated total price: Approximately 1.6 million yen . Varies depending on service and grade!

List of procedures required to open a salon

To open a nail salon, you need to follow the steps below:

Funding

Many people will need to take out a loan to cover the initial costs of running a salon.

The important document for obtaining a loan is the business plan

Fill in the following information:

・Motivation for starting business

What do you want to achieve in your salon?

・Where to purchase what and how much

How much and what services will be provided?

How long do you expect it to take to become profitable?

The amount of the loan will vary greatly depending on the content of your business plan, so it's important to gather information and get feedback from experienced people.

Submitting a business start-up notification (to the tax office)

You will need to submit a business start-up notification to the tax office and register as a sole proprietor.

This will allow you to file a blue return, which will also help you save on taxes ! 💰

Submission fee: Free

Get the business start-up notification form from the National Tax Agency website and fill it out!

You can submit the completed business start-up notification in three ways: by taking it to the tax office, by mail, or online.

The deadline for submission is within one month of starting the business.

Submission of business start-up declaration (to each prefecture)

It must be submitted in the prefecture where the business will be started.

The deadline for submission is determined by each prefecture , so be sure to check it carefully.

Notification to the government (health center, fire department)

Nail salons are not considered beauty businesses, so they do not need to file a business opening notification with the local health center.

However, as a business, you will need to submit a notification of commencement of use of fire-prevention objects !

The deadline for submission is, in principle , 7 days before the building begins to be used . .

There are several documents required, so please contact the fire department in the jurisdiction where your salon is located.

Also, in relation to fire safety notifications, there is one thing to be aware of regarding the interior design ...⚠️

Curtains and materials used in the interior of the store must be flame- retardant .

If the standards are not met, you will definitely have to correct them later, so be sure to check the standards carefully from the beginning and plan your interior construction and layout!

Opening a business account

To manage your income and expenses, set up a separate account for personal use.

Permits required for business

If you are renting your home, you will need to check the terms of your contract and, in some cases, get permission from the management company or owner.

There are many cases where there are rules prohibiting the entry of an unspecified number of people , so be sure to check early.

Switching personal insurance cards, etc.

When you start your own business, you become a sole proprietor (self-employed), so you will need to change your health insurance .

If you were originally a company employee, you may have joined a health insurance association or the Japan Health Insurance Association.

Generally, when you become self-employed, you will need to switch to National Health Insurance ! (You can also choose to continue your original health insurance voluntarily or add your family members as dependents.)

Starting a business requires a lot of capital , and going through all the necessary paperwork can be quite a burden...

Reasons for salon closure:

It would be sad if your own shop went out of business after such a short time.

Find out the reasons for business closures and prepare for the risks!

The main causes are as follows:

Lack of customer attraction

•Sluggish profits

•Operational burden (customer service, inventory management, etc.)

Lack of competitiveness in technology and services

Lack of customer traffic and sluggish profits are major obstacles.

Using major reservation sites is effective for expanding sales channels, but if you don't attract repeat customers, you'll end up with a system where you make a small profit by selling a large number of items (due to the numerous first-time coupons, etc.)

Aim to increase repeat customers by setting a fair price ! 🔁

Costs of closing a salon

If you decide to close your business, you may incur the following costs:

•Facility disposal costs

Disposal costs for unused inventory

•Rental contract termination fees

•Advertising contract termination fees

The amount depends on the contract and the amount of items to be disposed of, but it may be quite a large amount .

Consider selling your equipment at second-hand shops or second-hand goods sales sites to reduce disposal costs!

Documents required when closing a business

・Notification of business closure (to the tax office)

・Business Discontinuation Declaration Form (for each prefecture)

・Notification of cancellation of various contracts

The rate of independent salons going out of business after one year

The nail salon industry is difficult to continue in, with a turnover rate of 50-80% after one year, even for staff members.

60 % after 1 year

90 % after 3 years

95 % after 10 years

The current situation is that new salons are opening one after another and then closing down...

While opening a salon is a nail artist's dream, it can also be a very risky decision .

Secrets to running a successful home salon 🎉

To run a successful home salon, it's important to remember the following points:

Acquiring repeat customers

Salons with many repeat customers will enjoy stability. While offering first-time discounts, try to take advantage of special offers for subsequent bookings .

SNS posting campaign

This is highly recommended as it not only increases customer repeat rates but also helps you acquire new customers!

Differentiation from other salons

For example, by making design suggestions that utilize personal color diagnosis and bone structure diagnosis, you can provide a service that makes customers think, " I have to come to this salon! "

Options to avoid the risks of opening a nail salon✅

If you want to open a salon but don't want to fail, or if you want to gain experience first, we recommend working at EVERNAIL .

The appeal of working at EVERNAIL

⭐️Saturdays and Sundays off OK

⭐️No customer service, no complaint handling

⭐️ You can work up to 3 times a week!

This is EVERNAIL's greatest strength!

Isn't this just too charming?

EVERNAIL is looking for nail artists to help promote the brand!

Work flexibly with a 24-hour full flex system!

EVERNAIL has a full flexible work system that allows you to work whenever you want!

The minimum number of working days is three days a week . You can decide the number of working days and working hours according to your schedule, so you can work efficiently.

Side jobs allowed

EVERNAIL allows side jobs and other businesses , so it's recommended for those who want to create and sell nail tips themselves or open a nail salon!

A reward system that is directly linked to results makes your efforts visible!

For nail technicians working at nail salons

"My salary doesn't increase even if I improve my skills"

"Long overtime but low pay"

I'm sure there are many people who have this problem.

At EVERNAIL, your salary increases depending on the number of designs you can create and deliveries you make, so your contribution and technical ability are clearly reflected in your salary .

It's great because it suits both those who want to work hard and those who want to work at a relaxed pace!

Fair compensation with no assumed overtime

Did you know that nail tip production is considered home-based work and often pays less than the minimum hourly wage?

Even if you work at a nail salon, the job information may seem to offer high pay, but in reality, the hourly wage is much lower than you expected due to assumed overtime! The salary during the trial period is very low! This is a common story.

EVERNAIL offers a clear salary structure and also provides overtime pay!

Your hourly wage will not decrease even during the trial period, so you can work with peace of mind.

Improving your technical skills will lead to a career

EVERNAIL is the perfect environment for those who want to improve their technical skills and become independent .

At a salon, if the customer says it's OK, then it's OK, but at EVERNAIL, the chief nail artist carefully checks the design with a professional eye .

At first glance, this may seem strict, but since EVERNAIL's appeal is that it can be used repeatedly , we are thorough in maintaining high standards that will truly satisfy our customers.

In this environment, your technical skills will improve dramatically!

You can also gather information about going independent from excellent senior nail artists and nail artists with experience in going independent!

With the flexibility that only a venture company can offer, your career will steadily flourish as the company grows.

summary

Opening a salon involves risks, but you can increase your chances of success by gaining the skills and experience beforehand!

You can also choose to spend your important preparation time at EVERNAIL 💅

Why not start a new career? Check out the official page URL for details!