How to become a Nail Technician

Owning a nail salon or being a nail technician is a great business to operate, especially because getting a manicure is a weekly habit for many people. As a nail technician, it’s easy to get started with minimal overheads, the option to work from home and flexible working hours. If you’ve been considering a career as a nail technician, then check out our suggested steps below, so you can start shellacking in no time at all.

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‍Step 1: Obtain your Certificate III in Nail Technology

To become a nail technician, you’ll need to complete a nail technician certificate such as the Certificate III in Nail Technology or a Diploma of Beauty Therapy. There are various TAFE organisations that offer this certification. To pass, you will need to complete written and practical assessments. Once you have completed the course, you’ll have all the necessary skills to do nails.

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‍Step 2: Complete an apprenticeship

Now that you have completed your training, you are ready to do an apprenticeship. By working at an existing salon, you can build up the experience and skills to eventually run your own business. Working with other nail technicians and handling different clients will give you the opportunity to learn the trade and develop your soft skills. Being able to talk, educate, and help your customers is just as important as doing quality nails.

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Step 3: Create a business plan

Before starting your own venture, you’ll want to have to invest time in preparing a business plan. A business plan should set out your strategy, target market, projected costs and revenue, and consider your plan for equipment and hiring. A business plan, if done right, will help you prepare for the realities of running a business and make sure you have adequate budgets to make your business a success. As a result of your business plan, you may decide to raise funds to support your growth ambitions.

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‍Step 4: Start your nail salon

Now the real fun can begin. After building your experience and a client base, you can branch out and start your own venture. The first thing to complete is to confirm your business name and brand. You can take a quick business name quiz to help you decide. From there, you can register for an ABN and open a business bank account. Finally, you’ll need to decide where you want to operate from. Many nail technicians start their business by working from home, but you can easily find a high traffic shop front across many main roads or lease a shared space with other beauty providers.

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‍Step 5: Manage the finances

Whilst everyone hates doing it, keeping on top of your finances is very important. With a platform like Thriday, you can sign up online in minutes after you have set up your ABN. Thriday includes a business bank account*, Visa Debit card*, invoicing, receipt scanning, payments and tax. As an all-in-one platform, Thriday eliminates a lot of the time that business owners waste on financial admin. If you love doing nails, but hate reviewing boring spreadsheets, then Thriday is the perfect tool for you.

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Starting a nail salon in Australia requires training, an understanding of regulations regarding health and safety standards in a good business plan. With proper preparation and research beforehand, anyone can start a successful nail salon business.