Sick of commuting? Tired of working for other people? Distressed about day-care arrangements? If so, you may be one of millions of Americans who are discovering that working at home full-time suits their particular needs. You may be one of a growing number of nail technicians who like the idea of redesigning their garage, basement, or spare room into a full-service salon.

But before you hold a yard sale to get rid of all the junk that’s clogging up the garage to make room for some plush mauve carpeting, think long and hard about whether working at home will make life easier- or harder.

To help you decide, NAILS interviewed several technicians who shared the advantages and disadvantages of opening and operating a home-based salon.

THE FINISHING TOUCH, FORT DEVENS, MASS., CHERYLL GRAYBILL, OWNER

“When clients come here for the first time, they expect me to take them into my kitchen where I’ll haul out a portable nail kit or something.” says Cheryll Graybill.

“So when they walk into my separate salon area and experience the professional decor, they’re really surprised and excited.”

Graybill decided to open a home-based business when neighbors told her they wished there was a nail salon on the army base where she lives. A licensed technician, Graybill found the idea appealing because it would allow her to be home for her two boys.

But before choosing her plum, black, and white color scheme, Graybill checked with the base post commander, housing director, and her husband’s unit to make sure she could open a home-based business on the base. She was able to meet all local and state regulations because she had a separate room to devote to clients and a separate adjoining bathroom.

“I wanted to create a relaxing atmosphere that wasn’t too feminine,” she says, “because several of my clients are men- although they often sneak over here in the evenings so no one sees them”

Tapping into a specialized clientele of army personnel, as well as the civilian nurses and doctors who work at the base hospital, Graybill never has any problems attracting clients. “Word -of-mouth is my best advertisement,” she says. “I make sure my clients are satisfied and spread the good word by concentrating on education and service, which are my two main objectives when I take care of a customer, whether it’s the first or fiftieth time. A home-based business allows me the flexibility to indulge and pamper clients.”

Instead of the usual 45 minutes or one hour that most technicians schedule for their clients, Graybill devotes at least an hour and a half to each person. She likes taking the time to cater to her patrons’ individual needs and whims, like playing their favorite music, helping them on and off with their coat, and walking them to their car.

“Too many technicians are always rushing,” she says. “They’re so into making money that they don’t take the time to massage a customer’s hand or to explain what products they‘re using and why. I’ve had clients come to me from other salons and tell me they want a manicure when what they really want is a silk wrap. My clients like the fact that I take the time to educate them.”

Home-based doesn’t mean homebound: Graybill constantly attends nail show and network with other salon owners and technicians. She is an active member of the National Nail Technicians Group (NNTG). She also made room in her home salon for a variety of high-quality products. “Retail is 25% of my business,” she says. “I sell a lot of files, polishes, lotions, buffers, natural nail care products, nail glues, and pedicure products.”

Although some people claim that home businesses are run by non-professional technicians who take money away from other salons. Graybill says it’s an unfair assumption. “Professionalism is based on attitude- not whether you work in a slick city salon or at home. Manufacturers and distributors treat me with as much respects as any other salon owner. They sense my enthusiasm and love of the industry, and they know I invest most of the money I make back into my business to help it grow. I may be a small salon, but I offer as much high-quality service and as many products as any other shop. To my clients, my services are equally – if not more – valuable than any of my competitors.”

About the only disadvantage Graybill sees to working at home is that some clients assume she’s on 24-hour call. “I’m usually booked one to two weeks in advance,” Graybill says, “but there are always those clients who call and ask, ‘Can you take me tomorrow at 10 a.m.?’

These clients will do anything to wriggle their way into your schedule and make you feel guilty if you say no. But to survive at home, you have to learn how to be firm, yet polite, and let clients know their boundaries, So now , when a client asks me to squeeze her in , I say ‘I’m sorry, I’m already booked, How about such and such a time?’ And I hold firm. In a few cases, this has resulted in clients running to other salons in desperation, but they always come back to me – usually complaining about the rushed service they received at the other shop. So ultimately I’m forgiven- and appreciated.”

CALIFORNIA NAILS, ST. CHARLES, ILL., JUDY FRANCK, OWNER

When Judy Franck discovered that a number of her clients yearned for a salon that opened at 5 a.m. and closed at 9 p.m., she decided to accommodate them by starting her own business.

Franck had toyed with the idea of opening a home-based nail salon when she’d moved from California to Illinois several years ago. At that time she’d spent several months searching for a house that had a basement with a separate entrance and its own bathroom.

But before she left the salon behind her, Franck contacted local and state officials to ensure her house met zoning and other legal requirements. “The only question they asked was whether I had enough parking,” she recalls. “But when I explained that I never have more than a few clients visiting at one time, and that my double carport provides ample off-street parking, there was no problem.”

To create a unique salon setting, Franck painted a large mural of her favorite stretch of California beach on the walls. The result is a relaxing atmosphere where clients feel like they’re at the ocean getting their nails done while dolphins, mermaids, and sunbathers laze around under a ceiling of blue sky and puffy clouds.[PAGEBREAK]

Another portion of the basements was sectioned off into a waiting area where clients can enjoy coffee and donuts while relaxing on a comfortable wicker couch and chairs. For clients who like to bring their children, Franck turned an adjoining room into a family center complete with Nintendo, a desk for coloring and a couch with soft cushions perfect for building a fort. She even installed a hot tub that clients can use, with a tight lid to prevent accidents when it is not in use. “I wanted to create a professional atmosphere,” Franck says, “yet one that was personal, private, and catered to my clients’ needs.”

Franck’s career women clients can now schedule early morning appointments and come dressed for work or in their pajamas. Young mothers can hold and feed their baby in their left hand while Franck manicures the nails of their right hand. Other clients appreciate the privacy and quiet. “When you work at home you can really personalize services,” she says, “and make your client feel special.”

To attract additional people to her residential address, Franck named her business California Nails, and advertised in local papers. “People would schedule appointments to find out what ‘California Nails’ were,” she says. “Of course, they were the same as Illinois nails but the name encouraged customers to come.”

After a few months, Franck had gained enough clients through word-of-mouth that she no longer needed to advertise. Since opening her salon, her client base has swelled to more than 250.”I have to turn people away now,” Franck says. “But what’s nice is I refer them to other local technicians whom I’ve helped build a clientele.”

Besides being able to arrange appointments according to her six-year-old son’s schedule, Franck has earned a lot more money since deciding to work at home. “I can write off part of my house and I don’t pay rent on a separate space, so my overhead is really low,” she says, “yet my quality is high so my prices are the same as in any other salon.”

Franck says other advantages of being home-based include being home when her son is sick and referring and sharing customers with her husband, who owns his own painting business. “We’ve developed good working relationships within the community,” she says, “and those ties benefit both of us.”

Combining her home and work environments has its disadvantages also: people call on her day off, she works longer and later hours than she used to, and she has clients who feel so relaxed that they forget to bring their checkbook. “There have been a few times when I’m too nice, and some people take advantage of that,” she says. “When you work at home, you have to learn to set boundaries and be assertive if someone crosses the line.”

But like other home-based salon owners, Franck says the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. “What I love best about working at home is that I’m my own boss and can design my schedule to get the most out of my career and family,” she says. “Right now, I work four days a week, from 5 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. Most days, I work straight through with only 15 minute breaks to drop my son at school, pick him up, or start dinner. It’s really hectic, but then I take three days off to recuperate and be with my family. Where else could I earn a living and have that flexibility?”

GLAMOROUS HANDS BY ANGELA, ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., ANGELA GOMEZ, OWNER

Angela Gomez has built her home-based nail salon into such a success that her husband recently went to school to get his license so he could work with her. “Even though she works at home, Angela is always going to shows to compete and to keep up on what’s going on in the industry,” says her husband, Leo. “When she decided to attend a Las Vegas show a few years ago, I went along with her so I could gamble. But when I lost all my money in about 20 minutes, I started wandering around the nail show and became interested in what was going on.”

When Leo returned from the show, he took a good look at Angela’s business and realized it has more than doubled since she first opened more than five years ago. “When Angela first told me she was going to leave the salon she worked in to start her own business, I thought she was taking a big risk, “Leo says. “But now that I’m a nail technician working in the salon, I can see how Angela’s clients prefer a home-salon atmosphere. Her service is more personalized and clients are more relaxed. They feel free to let their hair down and be themselves. Clients can also bring their kids with them and not have to worry about them breaking something. With Angela, clients also have the flexibility of scheduling appointments during early morning and late evening hours when most salons are closed.”

Besides offering clients better customer service and more flexile hours, one of the reasons Angela wanted to work at home was so that she could work appointments around her two daughters’ schedules. “Our house was too small to incorporate a business,” Angela says, “but when my parents, who live five doors down from me, heard my idea, they immediately offered to turn their garage into a salon. I was skeptical, afraid I’d be in their way. But they convinced me it would work out. It was the best decision I ever made.”

Double French doors mark the separate entrance into Angela’s salon. Soothing posters grace walls textured with a tint of pink, along with trophies, certificates and numerous other awards Angela has won in nail competitions.

Mauve carpeting, black leather reclining lounge chairs, and an oak manicuring station lend a professional air to the salon, and a strong ceiling fan sucks fumes out the window to keep the area well-ventilated.

Angela also has a separate bathroom, an area for refreshments, and a separate office and supply area. Leo is now creating his own work area for his specializations: airbrushing, pedicures, and reflexology.

“There are so many advantages to working at home,” Angela says. “Your overhead is lower, you don’t have to waste time traveling to and from work, you have the flexibility to set your own hours, you make a lot more money and if a client cancels, you’re free to use the time constructively.”

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