What to consider when starting out as a mobile nail tech

Does working for yourself and tending to clients in the comfort of their own home tickle your fancy? If so, there are a number of steps to consider before you jump head first into the world of mobile tekking.

Firstly, you need to begin deciding what services you will offer and the appropriate training you need to complete in order to do so. Once you have decided on a service menu that meets the needs of your clients, its time to put on a business hat and decide on pricing structures, marketing, the geographical areas that you’re wiling to travel and organise a kit that is lightweight enough to carry while holding everything you need for each treatment.

“Being a mobile tech is a relatively low investment option for both new and existing nail techs,” says Helen Burton-Ward, CND education ambassador. “It’s ideal for those starting out or looking to transition into a new career and gradually build up a client base, without the shock factor of starting full time from scratch.

“Although the overheads are lower than running a salon, there are a few things that you need to consider when working mobile. My biggest struggle when going from salon based to mobile was with time. How much time do I leave between clients? What if I run late? How do I fit everyone in? Managing your time efficiently really is key when running a mobile business. Some tips are:

1. Try to plan your journey as much as possible. Booking clients in advance helps you manage your planning as you can assess what areas you will be in day-to-day and plan around this accordingly.
2. Work efficiently! Get your set-up/pack down to a fine art. This will save you valuable time throughout the day. It’s also important to be firm but fair – do not attempt to ‘squeeze in’ extra services if your day is already back to back. The extra money looks attractive but its not worth being potentially late to other clients and exhausting yourself. Working mobile is physical – be kind to yourself!
3. Make allowances and be prepared. For example, in rush hour, allow more travel time and if kids are off school, allow more treatment time.

“Being prepared for every solution is invaluable to a mobile nail tech. You never know what you may be faced with so have all of the essentials to hand. I always keep a box fully stocked with essentials in my car boot just in case.

As well as perfecting time management, having a tight grasp of your costs is imperative to running a successful mobile business. “You need to work out the running costs of your car including miles per gallon, extra wear and tear and potential increased insurance and then work out how much you would need to charge for each treatment to make each trip worthwhile,” says Liz Richards.

“It may be that you can work from a salon one or two days a week and be mobile based for the rest of the week. This can be beneficial because being in one place, such as a salon, gives you the ability to do more clients in the day; while being mobile gives you the flexibility of working around your family and other commitments.”