The longest year of my life was spent working as a mobile nail technician. One of the most fulfilling and difficult experiences of my career was that one. I gained a lot of knowledge via trial and error, and if I had to do it all over again—which I doubt I will—I would know much more about the dos and don’ts.

So now that you’re about to start your trip into mobile technology, you’ll have a head start thanks to the many mistakes I’ve already made. Lucky!

Let’s start off on a high note because working in mobile technology truly did put me in a great position when I relocated to a new nation. I had the advantage of reaching clients who salon owners would never see for a variety of reasons since not many people offer mobile services. In order to spread the word, I employed many of the strategies I discussed in my earlier essay, “40 ways to get clients through the door and keep them.” The old appointment book quickly filled up once people learned that there was a mobile tech in town, and I soon had to turn people away since there simply wasn’t enough time in the day.

Now, the people who need mobile nail services do so for a good cause. Age, having children with you, disability, or simply having trouble being available because of their employment or other commitments are some of them. You, the technician, will face a unique problem with each of these versions.

Before you get started, you must decide what you are ready to compromise on. Start off on the right foot because unexpected challenges will drive you crazy and give you headaches.

1. Exceptional clients

Be ready to work with customers that rely on you for social contact. When you visit them every two weeks to do their nails, it’s like all their Christmases arrived at once for some elderly folks who hardly ever leave the house. I’ve had customers who talked so much and showed such interest in my life that I began to wonder whether they truly just wanted the company and weren’t even really interested in getting their nails done. Therefore, I allotted a little additional time for these patients so that their session wouldn’t be rushed and that they would feel mentally satisfied after their therapy. This just meant arranging them towards the end of my workday so that I wouldn’t have to leave immediately.

2. Children.

Don’t misunderstand me. I adore children, and I’ve even been able to keep my own alive for eight years. Children, however, might be difficult to deal with when you are focused on making a flawless set of nails. Many people who desire mobile services do so since they do not desire to bring their children to a salon. I fully comprehend. Decide what you’re willing to put up with and be extremely clear with the client about your expectations. I advise scheduling an evening appointment if you need to visit someone with kids so the adorable little ones are in bed.

If you’re unable to work evenings, you can inform your client that you need them to have a second adult present to watch the kids because the treatment won’t halt to meet their requirements. Have this as a firm, long-standing rule since you don’t want children exploring your stuff, running up and down on mum’s lap, or loitering around the table when you have open chemicals just begging to spill. Why do I know that?

I didn’t have a rule about kids, and it goes without saying that some kids behave incredibly well while receiving treatment. However, they frequently made my job more difficult than it had to be. So, if I had to repeat everything.

3. Disabilities

Because they are physically unable to travel to a salon due to their impairments, some clients choose mobile services. They might need to sit in a special comfy chair if they have a back ailment that prevents them from sitting for extended amounts of time. They may have breathing issues, which makes it challenging to breathe in a salon. When they schedule an appointment, I advise sending along a brief consultation questionnaire so you can get more information and get ready for what the appointment will entail. Try not to put yourself in a tough scenario where you’re sitting cross-legged for the entire treatment or having all the windows open in the winter which will make it uncomfortable if you do take on a client with unique requirements.

4. Availability

For me, 7 o’clock was one of the most well-liked appointment times. Even though it’s late and nobody wants to be doing nails at that hour, I was open until 10 p.m. three evenings a week because I wasn’t going to turn away customers. I recognize that those who work may find it challenging to take care of their nails between the hours of 9 and 5. I only had evening appointments on the day that I had them. This gave me the opportunity to organize my personal affairs or work on business administration during the day. I was able to take into account everyone else’s availability without jeopardizing my sanity because of this. Or I may just be lazy.

5. Pets, unclean residences, and room for your equipment

Some people own animals. During three-hour appointments, the client’s dog would constantly bark. This is one of my pet peeves, so if or when I schedule mobile appointments in the future, I won’t put up with it. Ask the customer whether they have pets, and if they do, let them know that you need them to be locked up quietly while you treat them. The same principle holds true for cats because they frequently leap up on patients during treatments.

Most people keep their homes somewhat clean. But on sometimes, a client will arrive who hasn’t vacuumed or dusted in days. This is difficult because of the dust and animal fur.

If you run into this issue, I recommend politely suggesting that your customer tidy up the area before your next appointment by removing as much pet hair and dust as they can to shorten the treatment duration. Saying this while replacing a nail because of foreign impurities will be quite beneficial. Charge them for your additional time and any more products, such as buffing a hair out and reapplying Polish, if they refuse to accommodate in the future.

6. Access and parking.

Ask your customers if there is a place where you may park your automobile outside of their home. Always check Google Maps to confirm your location and obtain a general idea of where you’re going. Do a drive-by during the day so you can locate a property more easily if you’re visiting there for the first time and the appointment is in the dark and at night. I’ve been looking for a client’s house for 45 minutes in the dark while traveling through rural areas. That was a lesson I had to learn. Additionally, it’s important to determine how many flights of stairs you’ll need to haul your belongings up and assess your willingness to do so.

7. Repairs

You may occasionally encounter a customer who wants a repair. I provided free fixes within 72 hours of the procedure. It is annoying to travel to the client’s home and set up merely to fix one free nail. But in my opinion, it’s simply one of the benefits of being mobile. I billed 5 pounds for the call out cost and 2 pounds for each nail repair if it took more than 72 hours.

8. Lighting.

If you don’t have enough room or aren’t ready to buy a light. Find out from your clients if there is adequate lighting in the space where you will be working. Nails cannot be made in dim lighting. not very excellent ones.

9. Electricity.

At EVERY SINGLE MOBILE APPOINTMENT, I used a multi-extension lead. Ask the customers if there is a free plug socket that you can use; you will need one of them.

10. Cleanliness and organization.

When you are mobile, it is much more difficult to plan for appointments. Without hiring a donkey to transport it, it is impossible for you to bring all of your equipment. To prepare your bag, ask clients to provide you a photo or a brief description of the nails they want. Avoid wasting time digging through your backpack for items by keeping everything organized and simple to find.

Between clients, everything must be sterilized or sanitized. You can either have a container of barbicide in your kit or take enough fresh files and clean tools to complete all of your appointments that day. After each treatment, wash your equipment with soapy water, and then leave it to soak while you go to your next client. To sanitize your files/tools between clients, you can also use filecide or a similar program.

I guess that’s all there is to it. As you go, you’ll discover a lot. Each customer will impart knowledge upon you or inspire gratitude for something I have said here. It can be difficult to be mobile, so don’t undercharge and don’t let anyone push you around.