3 tips to avoid non-paying nail clients

By Hannah Beth Clayton | 24 January 2026 | Business, Expert Advice, Feature

Nail mentor, Hannah Clayton, offers up advice for business owners dealing with clients not paying for treatments.

It happens more than nail techs like to admit: the famous words, ‘I’ll transfer it later‘, or a client standing up, grabbing their coat and walking out while you’re still tidying your nail desk. Then, you’re left chasing money you worked for and feeling like a debt collector – which isn’t in our job description!

Many nail pros rely on informal chats to receive payment, because you haven’t put policies in place before the client journey begins. You trust clients to pay later, and avoid awkward moments because you want to stay ‘nice’.

But imagine going into Sainsbury’s and saying at the till: ‘I’ll send over payment at some point, but for now, I’ll take this shopping home‘. You wouldn’t be allowed, so why is it different for nail businesses?

Here are three top tips to remember:

Build the payment into the appointment: it should happen before the client stands up, not after their coat goes on.
Use automation: online booking systems, card capture or payment links remove the need for uncomfortable conversations.
Consider your language: if clients don’t know when and how they’re expected to pay, they have an excuse to get out of it.

All it takes is phrasing like, ‘payment is taken at the end of your appointment‘, or ‘I’ll take payment now, then we’ll rebook you‘.

Ask yourself this: if you were employed, would your employer allow customers to walk out without paying? Of course not. Being self-employed means you are responsible for enforcing the rules, no excuses.

Now is the perfect time to tighten your rules, remove grey areas and stop chasing money you’ve earned. Send an email to all clients about the situation if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Make 2026 the year that you stop seeing yourself as a hobby. I’m here to help and am offering 10% off my coaching calls for the month of February. Just quote ‘SCRATCH’ when booking at www.studiobyhannahbeth.com

Hannah x