Nail Salons Revenue Benchmarks
The average nail salons business in the United States generates $253K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 31,981 nail salons businesses in the U.S., employing 122,646 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $26K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Nail Salons Business Actually Do?
Businesses providing manicure, pedicure, artificial nail (acrylics, gels), and nail-art services. Also frequently offer waxing and eyebrow services.
Who buys: Predominantly female consumers on a 2–4 week service cycle for gel/acrylic maintenance.
Average Revenue
$253K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$66K
per year
Total Businesses
31,981
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$20K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$26K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
9.6
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Nail Salons Charge?
Nail salons charge per service with tips typically 15–20%.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Basic manicure | $20–40 |
Gel manicure | $35–65 |
Basic pedicure | $30–55 |
Spa pedicure | $45–90 |
Acrylic full set | $45–90 |
Nail art (per nail) | $3–15/nail |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete nail salons business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a nail salons business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the nail salons industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $41K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $96K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $27K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $14K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $55K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $20K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
15.3%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.36%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.18%
annual
Businesses Closed
13,322
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Nail Salons Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
53 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a nail salons business do?
- Businesses providing manicure, pedicure, artificial nail (acrylics, gels), and nail-art services. Also frequently offer waxing and eyebrow services. Predominantly female consumers on a 2–4 week service cycle for gel/acrylic maintenance.
- How much do nail salons charge?
- Nail salons charge per service with tips typically 15–20%. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average nail salons make per year?
- The average nail salons business generates $253K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $20K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many nail salons businesses are there in the US?
- There are 31,981 nail salons businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 122,646 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a nail salons business?
- Startup costs for a nail salons business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the nail salons industry?
- The average employee in the nail salons industry earns $26K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The nail salons industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (15.3% entry vs 11.4% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 55% of nail salons businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 13,322 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the nail salons industry earns $26,331/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 32,997 establishments employing 147,206 people, the typical business has about 4 employees. Most businesses in this industry are small operations — often owner-operated with minimal staff.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The nail salons industry has grown 70% since 2000 (from 73,946 to 125,871 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Nail Salons revenue with other industries: