What to Know Before You Start Selling Press-On Nails

Press-ons let you sell your art to people who will never sit in your chair. A set you make this week can ship to a buyer in another state, and a design that sells well can sell again and again. But a press-on business works differently from a nail appointment. Here's what to think through before you start.

Do you have the time?

Every set takes hours to make, plus the work around it: answering questions, packing and shipping. If your chair is already full, you'll need to decide where those hours come from.

Ready-to-ship or custom?

Ready-to-ship sets are made ahead, and buyers get them fast. Custom sets are made to each buyer's sizes and design, which takes longer and is priced higher. The choice changes how you work, how you price and how you market.

Who is going to buy?

Your clients already know your work. Your followers have seen it. Strangers need more convincing. Knowing who your first buyers are shapes everything from your designs to where you sell.

Are you ready for sizing and shipping?

In the chair, you size the client yourself. With press-ons, the buyer does it, and sizing is where most press-on problems start. Shipping, returns and customer messages become part of the job too.

Can you price it so it's worth it?

A set priced only to cover supplies means you're working for free. Your price has to cover your time, your materials and your profit.

If you've read this far and you're still in, Press-On Payday walks you through the whole thing: what you need to start, what to sell, how to price your sets, where to sell, how to get buyers, and how to make your first sale.

Not sure which income stream fits you? Take my free quiz, Nail Tech, What's Your Next Money Move? It's 8 quick questions, and you'll get your next step in a short video.