Most nail techs work on commission: you keep a percentage of what you bring in, and the salon keeps the rest. It's a fair system, as long as everyone's numbers match. Keeping your own record is the easiest way to make sure they do.
What to write down every day
- Every service: the client, what you did and the price.
- Every tip, and how it was paid: cash, card, Venmo, Apple Pay or Zelle. Card tips often reach you later, sometimes with a fee taken out.
- Shared tips, if you split with another tech.
- Your hours, if any of your pay is hourly.
Know how your split is calculated
Ask your salon owner how deductions work. Supplies, product or card fees can come out before the split or after it, and that changes your take-home. For example, with $1,000 in services, a 60% split and $50 in deductions:
- Deductions after the split: $1,000 × 60% − $50 = $550
- Deductions before the split: ($1,000 − $50) × 60% = $570
Compare at the end of each pay period
When you get paid, check the total against your own record. If something's off, you have the details to ask about it calmly.
Make it a one-tap habit
NailGap keeps a Service Log on your iPhone, adds tips by payment type, and works out commission or hourly pay with your owner's deductions in the right order. Analytics show your best months and top clients, and you can export a report at the end of the year. Everything stays on your phone.
