9 Ways to Boost Your Revenue as a Nail Tech
When growing your nail business, some strategies may seem obvious, such as learning the latest techniques, scheduling more appointments, and offering extra services. . But sometimes you need to overturn conventional wisdom, or at least approach it differently. Here, backed by technology that really works, we come up with nine unexpected yet highly effective ways to increase your profits and grow your business.
1. Limit your list of services.
There is a common misconception that offering multiple services increases your earning potential. However, not all services bring the expected profit. For example, how much money are you really making from providing Polish translation services? “They’re a waste of time, and I don’t have enough money to take care of them,” said Jill Wright, a Nail Tech and Nail Tech events coordinator from Bowling Green, Kentucky. menu options. Randomly booking a 15-minute polish creates hard-to-fill slots if customers cancel, which often happens because it looks like customers will have to wait longer, Wright said. Skip appointments as quickly and cheaply as possible. at home. Unfortunately, short, empty time slots can’t be filled with pedicures, full sets, or fillers. “So I had to turn down more business and lose revenue,” Wright said. “These 15-minute slots add up to over a year and cost us dearly!” Instead, stick to the service you do well and be relatively flexible with your hours so cancellations and gaps don’t disrupt your schedule.
2. Work hard to get.
Just as important as the tools used to manage schedules is how the technology handles customer bookings. “Be aware of the language you use when you make your appointment,” says Celine Cumming, a manicurist at Angel Nails in Middletown, Delaware. Never pretend you’re open 24/7 and customers can have any time slot (even if that’s true). “Business means you have needs, and people are attracted to needs and are willing to pay more for them,” she said. Wright agrees. She calls this approach the “fake it till you make it” strategy. Before Wright had an increasingly comprehensive book, he offered clients two dating options. If no appointments go through, you’ll tell the client that you’ll add them to your waitlist and call or text them as soon as the appointment starts, even if their reservation is full or empty. “Then I’ll give it about two hours and then call the client back with the good news that there’s an opening they’d like. Clients are always excited and grateful.” Of course, make sure not to overdo it so you don’t turn off the client. Think you’re too busy for them! “It’s a balancing act,” Cummings said.
3. Book customers yourself.
Of course, clients appreciate the great effort you’ve made to attract them, and you want to create demand, but once you’ve established that, it’s best to leave appointment scheduling to your clients. But the time it takes to rearrange your books and the resulting impact on your schedule is simply not worth it. Allowing customers to book themselves through an online scheduling service can maximize your schedule and free up time to generate revenue. “You’ll have more time with clients and less paperwork throughout the day,” says Andrea Beight, owner of Chickettes Natural Nail Design Studio in Cleveland. The online booking service also reduces missed appointments by sending email and SMS reminders to customers. Some services even keep credit card information on file, which means you can finally enforce your no-show and late-cancellation fee policies worry-free. When booking a client by phone or in person at the end of an appointment, be sure to enter the appointment into the electronic system to ensure your schedule is accurate and to take full advantage of all the benefits this service has to offer.
4. Don’t explain price increases.
Charging more fees might seem like an obvious way to make more money, but it’s a daunting task for most tech companies. “If I could go back to the beginning, I would never act like I was uncomfortable,” says technician Darlene Donovan.
