Guest blog: nail techs – it’s time to start charging what you’re worth
Samantha Sweet, co-founder of distributor Sweet Squared, discusses why using the best products means charging for the best, and why it's OK to say no when it comes to offering friends and family discounts.
I hear of talented nail technicians charging less than £25 for a gel manicure (such as CND Shellac) and I just don't understand it for the life of me. Why use the best systems on the market and then charge the least for it?
As a business owner, you invest in your product, education and time, only to charge £20 or less for the finished result? It's madness.
Be confident in your skills and prices
In my opinion, it's irrelevant where you live or who “down the road” does it cheaper.
You have invested time and money in your training and if you’re confident that you're doing a great job and using the system correctly (including the lamp), then do yourself justice and charge the correct amount for the treatment.
Don't forget the extras
If you use extras in treatment, such as glitters or stamping products, then be sure to charge for those too. This is a business and you must treat it as exactly that.
Friends shouldn't automatically receive a discount and as your nearest and dearest they should (and will, trust me!) respect that you're running a business. You must charge for your services.
Remind yourself that you’ve paid for the product used in treatment and spent an hour with a paying customer – not just one of your good friends.
I pay full price for my nails and I tip on top. Why? Because the girls are running a business and I don't see why they should offer me any favours.
Stop compromising
It's time to stop compromising and charge exactly what you're worth. The nail industry is no longer a “cottage industry” and these crazy cheap and unprofessional prices make us look like we don't know what we're doing.
I’m proud of what our skilled technicians have learned and gone through to become seasoned professionals. So please, start charging what you're worth!
Samantha Sweet is co-founder and co-director of Sweet Squared (S2), which she runs with her husband Samuel Sweet. The company distributes professional brands including CND, Lecenté, Moroccan Tan and Waxperts.