Shoestring Salon

If you have been dreaming of going into the nail salon business and feel ready to break into the competitive industry, you may be wondering how you are going to pay all the start-up costs. Between procuring a site for your salon and purchasing all the necessary equipment, the expense of starting a salon can be steep. And with the economy in decline, it is extremely difficult to obtain a business loan unless you have a stellar credit record.

It will be difficult to start up a nail salon, but with careful planning and hard work, it can be done. Obtaining space for the salon does not have to be expensive. The silver lining in the terrible economy is the ability to rent a commercial space for a reasonable price. Or if you can't afford to rent or lease a space, you can always set up your nail salon at home and move into a store once you've got a few regular customers.

The real concern regarding start-up expenses is not in paying the rent-no it is procuring the nail salon equipment. If you want to treat your customers to a quality manicure, you are going to need to purchase the higher-end nail salon equipment. This includes brands such as Belvedere, Collins, Pibbs, and Kaemark, all of which are rather expensive. You have the option of purchasing less prominent salon equipment, but it will probably result in low quality treatments and a damaged reputation that could take years to shed.

A better option is to purchase used nail salon equipment. Quality nail salon equipment can last dozens of years, but salons, in the hopes of looking modern, get rid of what they deem "unfashionable" equipment. You can snatch up barely used nail salon equipment for a fraction of the price! Some great pieces of used nail salon equipment to look for are shampoo chairs, used styling cabinets and even reception desks!

If you're just getting started in the salon business, don't waste your time and money on brand new equipment. Getting the top brands of used nail salon equipment will help you start up a quality salon business without breaking the bank.