Joanna Tompkins

I’m a fully booked nail tech. What do I do next?

By Jo Tompkins | 23 May 2024 | Business, Expert Advice, Feature

Nail Technician At Desk

One of the most baffling things I see happening in the nail and beauty industry is independent pros boasting of fully booked diaries – but then closing them to new clients out of fear. 

This fear is of overwhelm, losing it all and of what others might think of them, or what they personally think is acceptable to earn.

In the Nail Business Success Club, we speak a lot about work-life balance: the importance of setting boundaries, not overworking and avoiding burnout. However, closing your books after all the effort you have put in to get your business to where it is should not be an option, and many techs are leaving £1,000-£2,000 a month on the table because of two reasons: fear and money mindset.

You’ve had success, and it’s now time to get the rewards for all the hard work you’ve put in, not shut it off!

In the Nail Business Success Club, we teach the Fully Booked Advantage Strategy, which is to be used once you are at least 80% fully booked. It means that rather than closing your books and thinking you’ve hit your income ceiling because you don’t want to work any more hours, you keep your doors open and continue to raise your prices every few months. 

You’re in demand, so rather than hiding away, we teach a strategy that means you can continue to raise your prices. This may cause some clients to drop off who do not want to pay higher prices, but in their place, you’ll attract new, enthusiastic clients who value your experience and services. Plus, they’ll buy more retail items and book luxury upgrades. 

Nails Nail Tech Painting

This strategy may sound controversial, but I see many techs being held back by their long term clients. I know we can become really close to our clients and feel like we owe them for being loyal to us – but if you would like to earn more, then changing your thought process around this can be really beneficial to your personal development and bank balance. 

Most techs don’t do this though, as it’s easier to just close their books, as the fear of losing what they already have and appearing greedy is just too much. This is why learning about strategy and mindset is important. You might be telling yourself that your clients are different, that you already raised your prices this year or that you’re already the most expensive in your area – but that doesn’t matter. 

I have helped so many techs to earn £1,000 a week, working 3-4 days a week, and they all started with those thoughts. By opening up to receive coaching and mentorship by me, as well as joining communities such as the NBSC and working on your personal development and new business strategies, your mindset and fear will shift. 

We need to start shifting the mindset that to earn more, we must work harder. It just isn’t true. In fact, all of the techs I’ve worked with that earn £1k+ a week say their business is actually less stressful now than what it was when they were earning a lot less.

If you’re 80% fully booked or more, it’s time to leverage that success! You have put so much time, money and heart into your business and you deserve to get paid incredible money that not only pays your bills, but allows you to save for the future, go on holidays or whatever it is that you love to do.

Join us in the Nail Tech Tribe Facebook group and follow us on Instagram for more top tips on how to grow a successful nail and beauty business as a sole trader.