Nail Tech Invoice Template: Services, Booth Rent and Tips
Nail tech and nail salon invoice template: bill manicures, gel and acrylic sets, nail art, bridal parties and booth rent, and record tips the right way.
Quick answer: A nail tech invoice template bills a client for nail services such as manicures, pedicures, gel, acrylic or dip sets, fills and nail art, plus products sold, travel for mobile or event work, any deposit paid and the balance due. Tips are recorded on a separate line only when the client chooses to add them. Salon owners also use invoices to bill booth rent.
Most nail appointments end with a quick card payment and a receipt, so many technicians never think about invoices. But as soon as you book bridal parties, photo shoots, mobile appointments, corporate events or rent a booth, you need a proper nail salon invoice: numbered, itemized and clear about deposits, products and tips. This guide covers what to include, how to handle tips and the no tax on tips deduction, a bridal party example, a booth rent example and the mistakes to avoid.
What is a nail technician invoice?
A nail technician invoice is a bill from a nail tech or nail salon to a client for nail care services and related products. Nail techs commonly invoice for:
- Events and bridal parties, often on location with a deposit.
- Mobile appointments at homes, offices, hotels or care facilities.
- Photo shoots and productions, billed to a brand, photographer or agency.
- Corporate wellness or pop-up events, billed to the company.
- Booth or suite rent, billed by the salon owner to an independent tech.
Hair stylists face many of the same questions. Our salon invoice template covers hair services and booth rent in more detail, and our makeup artist invoice template covers bridal beauty billing that often runs alongside nail bookings.
What should a nail salon invoice include?
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Business details | Salon or tech name, address, phone, email, booking link, license number if your state requires display |
| Invoice details | Invoice number, date, due date |
| Client | Name, phone, email; company name for corporate bookings |
| Appointment | Date, time, location (salon or address for mobile work) |
| Services | Each service per person: gel manicure, acrylic full set, fill, pedicure, removal |
| Add-ons | Nail art, extra length, shape, chrome, French tips, paraffin |
| Products | Retail items sold, such as cuticle oil or polish |
| Fees | Travel, early start, cancellation or no-show |
| Payments and tips | Deposit paid, tip added by client, balance due |
| Terms | Cancellation policy, payment methods, service guarantee (for example, free fix within 5 days) |
Nail service price list structure
Prices vary a lot by city, salon type and skill level, so the table below shows illustrative ranges only, to help structure your price list. Set your own prices from your time, product costs, booth rent or overhead and local demand.
| Service | Illustrative price | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Classic manicure | $20 to $40 | 30 min |
| Gel manicure | $35 to $60 | 45 to 60 min |
| Acrylic full set | $45 to $90 | 60 to 90 min |
| Acrylic or gel fill | $30 to $60 | 45 to 60 min |
| Dip powder | $40 to $65 | 45 to 60 min |
| Classic pedicure | $30 to $55 | 45 min |
| Nail art | $1 to $10+ per nail | Varies |
| Removal | $10 to $20 | 15 to 20 min |
A clear price list helps clients compare options and reduces surprises at checkout. To check that your prices cover product, rent and time, see our guide to profit margin.
Nail tech invoice example: bridal party
A mobile nail tech books a bridal party at the bride's home on the wedding morning. Prices are illustrative. Services are not taxed in this example state.
Invoice NT-2026-0094 | Event: Garcia bridal party | Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 7:30 am | Location: 12 Laurel Court | Issued: October 1, 2026 | Balance due: October 15, 2026
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bride: gel manicure with hand-painted accent nails | 1 | $75.00 | $75.00 |
| Bridesmaids: gel manicure, soft pink | 5 | $45.00 | $225.00 |
| Mother of the bride: classic manicure and pedicure | 1 | $85.00 | $85.00 |
| Travel fee, 18 miles | 1 | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Early start fee (before 8:00 am) | 1 | $40.00 | $40.00 |
| Total services and fees | $485.00 | ||
| Less deposit paid August 30, 2026 (non-refundable) | -$100.00 | ||
| Balance due by October 15, 2026 | $385.00 |
If the bride adds a $90 tip on the day, issue a paid receipt showing $385.00 balance paid plus $90.00 tip, rather than editing the service lines. That keeps tips separate in your records. You can build this invoice in the free invoice generator; our deposit invoice guide shows how to bill the $100 deposit first.
How should nail techs handle tips on invoices?
Tips are voluntary payments the client decides on. For tax and record-keeping purposes, keep them distinct from what you charge:
- Do not build tips into service prices or add them automatically. A mandatory gratuity or party fee is a service charge, which is income but not a tip.
- Record tips on their own line on the receipt or payment record, whether paid in cash, by card or through an app.
- Employees must report tips to their employer, and the salon handles payroll reporting.
- Self-employed techs and booth renters report tips as business income.
For 2025 through 2028, the federal "no tax on tips" deduction lets eligible workers deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips a year. Manicurists and pedicurists, including nail technicians, are on the IRS list of occupations that customarily and regularly received tips. For self-employed techs, the deduction cannot exceed net income from the business, income phase-outs apply, and service charges do not count. See the IRS guidance on the One Big Beautiful Bill provisions and our guide to no tax on tips for the self-employed. Tips are still subject to self-employment tax for independent techs. This is general information, not tax advice.
A practical habit: at the end of each day, total your tips by payment method (cash, card, app) and log them next to your service totals. If you are a booth renter, that daily log, together with your invoices and payment processor reports, is the evidence you would rely on to support both your reported income and any tips deduction.
Booth rent invoice for nail technicians
Many nail techs work as independent booth renters: they rent a station or suite from a salon, set their own prices and keep their own clients. The salon owner invoices the renter for rent and any extras. A simple monthly example (illustrative):
Invoice BR-2026-11 | From: Polished Studio LLC | To: Tara Nguyen, independent nail technician | Period: November 2026 | Due: November 1, 2026
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Station 3 booth rent, weekly | 4 | $225.00 | $900.00 |
| Shared front desk booking service | 1 | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Gel polish restock purchased from salon | 1 | $120.00 | $120.00 |
| Sales tax on products, 7% | $8.40 | ||
| Total due November 1, 2026 | $1,078.40 |
Some points to get right on booth rent:
- Keep it a real rental. If the salon sets the tech's prices, hours and clients, the tech may legally be an employee, whatever the paperwork says. Our guide to W-2 vs 1099 workers explains the factors.
- 1099-MISC for rent. A booth renter who pays rent in the course of business may need to file Form 1099-MISC for the salon owner when rent paid reaches the reporting threshold ($2,000 for payments made in 2026; see our 2026 1099 threshold guide), unless an exception such as payment to a corporation applies.
- Local rules. Some states require booth renters to hold their own establishment or booth rental license through the state board of cosmetology.
How to invoice photo shoots, events and corporate bookings
Nail work for brands, photographers and companies looks more like freelance creative work than a salon visit. The client is usually a business, payment often comes after the job, and the invoice has to fit their accounts payable process.
- Bill by time or by day. A half-day or full-day rate for a photo shoot is common, with overtime per hour after the agreed call time. List the call time and wrap time.
- Itemize kit and supplies. Press-on sets, custom nail art prepared in advance, or products bought for the shoot can be billed as separate lines.
- Corporate pop-ups. For a wellness day, bill per guest served or per hour per technician, plus travel and setup.
- Get the PO and billing contact before the job, and print the PO number on the invoice.
- Set terms. Net 15 or net 30 is common for businesses. Send the invoice the same day as the job so the clock starts.
Because these clients pay later, you are carrying the cost of your time and products until payment arrives. Set aside money for taxes from each payment; our guide to quarterly estimated taxes for freelancers explains how self-employed techs budget for them.
Example lines for a beauty brand shoot: "Nail artist, half-day rate, Oct 21, call 9:00 am, wrap 1:00 pm", "Custom hand-painted press-on sets prepared for 3 models", "Overtime, 1 hour, approved by producer" and "Travel and parking, downtown studio". Each line is easy for the producer to check against the call sheet.
Do nail salons charge sales tax?
In most US states, personal care services like manicures and pedicures are not taxable, but some states and localities do tax them, and retail products are generally taxable. Itemize services and products separately, apply tax to the correct lines and check your state's rules. Our overview of sales tax on services by state is a starting point, and the sales tax calculator can confirm the math.
How to create a nail tech invoice step by step
- Confirm the booking: date, time, location, number of clients and services.
- List services per person, with add-ons such as nail art on separate lines.
- Add products sold and apply tax to them where required.
- Add travel and early start fees for mobile or event work.
- Credit the deposit and show the balance due date, usually before the event.
- Leave tips off the invoice unless the client adds one when paying; then record it on its own line.
- Add terms: cancellation and no-show policy, service guarantee, payment methods.
Common mistakes on nail salon invoices
- Adding a "gratuity" automatically and calling it a tip. It is a service charge.
- No deposit for events. Bridal parties book your whole morning; protect it.
- One line for a whole party. Itemize by person so the payer can split costs.
- Mixing products into services, which makes tax wrong.
- No written cancellation policy. Without it, no-show fees are hard to collect.
- Booth rent without an agreement. Put rent, period, due date and late fees in writing.
A clear nail tech invoice template keeps services, products, deposits and tips separate, which makes clients comfortable and keeps your tax records clean. Create one for your next bridal party or booth rent with our free invoice generator. It is free, needs no sign-up, and builds a PDF in your browser that you can download and send to clients.
Frequently asked questions
Do nail technicians need to give clients an invoice?
For a walk-in client paying at the chair, a receipt from your point-of-sale system is usually enough. Invoices become important for bridal parties, events, photo shoots, corporate bookings, mobile appointments and any client who pays later or asks for a document for reimbursement. Booth renters and suite owners also invoice each other for rent and products. Use a numbered invoice whenever money is owed rather than paid on the spot.
Can nail techs use the no tax on tips deduction?
Manicurists and pedicurists, including nail technicians, appear on the IRS list of occupations that customarily and regularly received tips, so qualified tips can count toward the federal deduction of up to $25,000 a year for 2025 through 2028. Self-employed techs are limited to their net income from the business, and income limits apply. Mandatory service charges are not tips. Check irs.gov or a tax professional for your situation.
Should tips appear on a nail salon invoice?
Tips can appear as a separate line if the client adds them when paying, but they should never be built into the service price or added automatically. Keep them separate from services and products so your records show what was a voluntary tip and what was a charge. An automatic gratuity or party fee is a service charge, not a tip, for tax purposes.
What is a booth rent invoice for nail technicians?
A booth rent invoice is a bill from a salon owner to an independent nail tech who rents a station or suite, usually weekly or monthly. It lists the rent period, the rent amount, any agreed extras such as products bought from the salon, and the due date. The tech then sets their own prices and collects from their own clients. Both sides should keep the rental agreement on file.
Does a booth renter have to send the salon a 1099?
A business that pays rent in the course of its trade may have to file Form 1099-MISC for the landlord when payments reach the reporting threshold, which is $2,000 for payments made in 2026. So a booth-renting nail tech may need to issue a 1099-MISC to the salon owner, rather than the other way round, unless an exception applies, such as payments to a corporation. Confirm with the IRS instructions.
Are nail services subject to sales tax?
In most US states, personal care services such as manicures and pedicures are not subject to sales tax, but a few states and some cities tax them. Retail products you sell, such as polish, cuticle oil or nail kits, are generally taxable. Itemize services and products on the invoice so tax is applied only where it belongs, and check your state rules.
How should I charge for nail art?
Many techs charge nail art per nail, per set or by time, with tiers such as simple (dots, lines), detailed (hand-painted designs) and 3D or charms. Showing nail art as a separate line from the base service helps clients understand the price and helps you track which add-ons sell. For complex designs, quote the price before you start rather than on the invoice afterward.
Can I charge a fee for no-shows and late cancellations?
Yes, if your policy is clear before booking, ideally accepted in your booking app or in writing. Common approaches are a deposit that is forfeited for no-shows, or a fee such as 50% of the booked service for late cancellations. Bill it as a separate line or a short cancellation invoice, and apply your policy consistently.
Invoice Creator Editorial Team
Guides on invoicing, cash flow and small-business finance from Invoice Creator, operated by Next Software Development Company. Content is reviewed for accuracy against the fields our own invoice generator produces.
Try the invoice generator