When I first started my journey in the beauty industry 30 years ago, I quickly realized that beauty school doesn’t prepare you for the reality of running a business. Despite taking multiple courses over the years, I always found myself returning to the methods I developed on my own. These strategies didn’t just help me grow my business—they allowed me to provide for my family as a single mother.

Through years of trial and error, I’ve learned what it truly takes to build a thriving nail business—from perfecting techniques to mastering the business side of things.

Here are few things you DON’T learn in Beauty School

1. Client Retention Strategies

• Beauty school focuses on techniques, but it doesn’t teach you how to turn first-time clients into loyal, repeat customers. Building relationships and providing exceptional customer service are key to long-term success.

2. Pricing & Profit Margins

• Setting the right prices is more than just covering costs; it’s about understanding profit margins, taxes, and expenses. Beauty school rarely covers how to price your services for sustainability and growth.

3. Marketing & Branding

• Social media, website design, branding, and marketing strategies are often a mystery. Learning how to market yourself online and establish a personal brand is crucial, but it’s rarely covered in depth.

4. Time Management & Scheduling

• Being a beauty professional isn’t just about doing great work; it’s about managing your time effectively. Whether it’s booking clients, balancing personal life, or handling last-minute cancellations, time management is a skill you learn through experience.

5. Financial Management

• From managing business expenses to understanding taxes, bookkeeping, and saving for future investments, financial management is essential. Beauty school doesn’t teach you how to create a budget or manage cash flow in your business.

6. Dealing with Difficult Clients

• Not every client will be a perfect fit. Beauty school doesn’t teach how to handle challenging or demanding clients, set boundaries, or even handle complaints professionally.

7. Legal & Insurance Issues

• Things like liability insurance, business licenses, and legal contracts are critical in running a beauty business but aren’t typically covered in beauty school.

8. Self-Care & Preventing Burnout

• Beauty professionals often work long hours and face physical demands. Beauty school doesn’t teach you how to manage the physical and emotional toll that the industry can take. Maintaining your well-being is just as important as maintaining your business.

9. Networking & Collaboration

• Building relationships with other beauty professionals or potential clients is essential for growth, but many miss out on the power of networking. Understanding how to collaborate with others for mutual benefit isn’t something you typically learn in school.

10. Sales Skills

• Selling products or upselling services is a huge part of running a successful beauty business. Learning how to sell in an authentic, non-pushy way is an essential skill that beauty school rarely covers.

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