Should I buy an existing nail salon or open one?
Buying gives you clients, trained technicians and a fitted-out space from the first day, along with the habits, equipment age and reputation that come with them. Opening gives you a clean start but no clients and a team to find. The right path depends on how much of the existing business you would want to keep.
Both paths end with you running a nail salon. The difference is what you start with. A buyer takes on something already working, with its strengths and its problems. A person who opens a new salon builds each piece on purpose, and waits for the clients to arrive. Neither path is easier; they ask for different kinds of effort.
What an existing salon gives you
You may inherit a client base, regular bookings, technicians who already know the work, and a space with pedicure stations and ventilation in place. That head start is something a new owner would otherwise have to build. But confirm that clients stay with the salon and not with one person. Ask who is expected to remain after the sale, and in what role.
What you also inherit
You inherit the reputation, good or poor, along with working habits you may want to change and equipment of uncertain age. Online reviews are a useful early read. An inspection of the stations, plumbing and ventilation will tell you what may need replacing soon. Our nail salon buying guide goes through the steps.
What opening your own asks of you
- Finding and fitting out a space that suits the services you plan to offer
- Hiring and training technicians, and building a client list from nothing
- Waiting for the business to settle into a steady pattern before it carries you
- Choosing your own suppliers, booking system and pricing
How to weigh them
Ask what you would change about a salon you could buy. If the answer is almost everything, opening may suit you better. If the answer is very little, compare how long each route would take you. A lender or advisor can help you compare the setup work and cash needs of each path. Your lawyer can confirm which public-health requirements apply to a nail salon.
Related reading
15 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Buying
- GuideHow to buy a nail salon in Canada
- Expert answerShould I buy an existing barbershop or start one?
- Expert answerBuying an esthetics studio vs starting one
- Expert answerShould I buy a dog grooming business or start one?
- Expert answerWho owns the clients when I buy a hair salon?
- Expert answerWhat salon equipment should I inspect before I buy a salon?
- Expert answerWhat should I do in the first month after buying a hair salon?
- Expert answerFranchise salon or independent salon: what changes when you buy one?
- GuideBuying a hair salon in Canada
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- Expert answerWhat am I buying when I buy a brow bar or threading salon?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 02Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)GovernmentNail Salon
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 04Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernment4 key steps to plan your cash flow in the coming year
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