The best funding options for a nail salon are Merchant Fund Express, if your salon takes cards and deposits its sales consistently, because it decides based on those deposits; equipment financing for pedicure chairs, manicure tables, lamps and ventilation systems; an SBA microloan if you need up to $50,000 to open or upgrade a small salon; an SBA 7(a) to buy an existing salon or do a big remodel if every owner is a citizen or national; and a line of credit for product inventory and slow months.
In a nail salon, what helps most with approval is that your sales show up in your account: card payments, processor deposits and deposited cash. Below we walk through each option and what funders review.
Key takeaways
- Card processor deposits are the best proof of a nail salon's sales.
- Pedicure chairs and ventilation are best financed with equipment financing.
- SBA microloans go up to $50,000 and are made through community nonprofits.
- Our recommended funder reviews sales and deposits, accepts FICO from 500 and often decides in 2 to 4 hours.
- If you rent out stations (booth rental), your income is the rent, not each tech's sales, and funders read that differently.
- Deposit cash sales: what is not in your account does not count toward approval.
How we chose these options
We compare every option on fixed criteria: speed, minimum time in business, minimum credit, acceptance of ITIN or no-SSN owners, documents, amounts and collateral. We do not give ratings or scores. SBA facts come from SBA.gov, checked October 2026; anything we could not confirm is left out. The full method is in how we rank business funding options.
This list is just for nail salons. If you run a full-service beauty salon, also compare the best loan options for beauty business owners. For a step-by-step guide to funding your salon, read business loans for nail salons.
The best options for nail salons
- Merchant Fund Express (recommended funder). It reviews your sales and deposits, not just your credit, which favors salons that take nearly everything by card. It handles $5,000 to $5,000,000, accepts credit from FICO 500, often decides in 2 to 4 hours and, in most cases, does not require collateral. It also offers Spanish-speaking support and accepts applicants with an ITIN, no SSN needed. It fits remodeling, buying inventory, covering payroll in a slow month or opening a second location.
- Equipment financing. Whirlpool pedicure chairs, manicure tables with downdraft extraction, UV or LED lamps, autoclaves and ventilation systems. The equipment backs the debt, so approval is often simpler. Ask the dealer for a quote that includes installation.
- SBA microloan. Community nonprofits lend up to $50,000 with SBA funds for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures or equipment; the average is around $13,000. Many offer coaching. A good option for a tech moving from renting a chair to opening her own salon.
- SBA 7(a) loan. For buying a salon that is already running, a full remodel or buying the building. It usually costs less if you qualify, though it is slower and requires tax returns. Since March 1, 2026, 100% of owners must be U.S. citizens or nationals.
- Line of credit. For buying polish, acrylic, gel and retail products in bulk, or covering the quiet months. You pay interest only on what you use.
Comparison table
| Option | Best used for | Speed | What matters most | Collateral |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant Fund Express | Remodel, inventory, payroll, second location | Decision often in 2 to 4 hours | Sales and deposits; from FICO 500 | Not required in most cases |
| Equipment financing | Pedicure chairs, tables, ventilation | Days | The equipment and your credit | The equipment |
| SBA microloan | Opening or upgrading a small salon | Weeks | Plan and the organization's requirements | Varies by organization |
| SBA 7(a) | Buying a salon or a major remodel | Weeks or months | Taxes, financials, citizenship | Depends on the amount |
| Line of credit | Inventory and slow months | Days to weeks | History and credit | Depends |
What funders look at in a nail salon
- Card processor deposits. They are the cleanest proof of your sales. If you use Square, Clover or another processor, keep the monthly reports handy.
- Deposited cash. Many clients pay cash. If you do not deposit it, those sales do not exist to the funder.
- How your techs work. If they are employees or on commission, your sales include every service. If they rent stations, your income is the rent. Funders read those differently, so explain it.
- Licenses. Salon and individual tech licenses with the state cosmetology board, kept current.
- Your lease. How many years you have left matters, especially if you plan to remodel.
- Current debts. Equipment payments, business cards or other funding.
Tips your techs receive by card pass through your account but are not your sales. Keep a clear record so nobody mistakes them for your revenue.
Paperwork to have ready
- Business bank statements for the last three to six months.
- Monthly card processor reports for the same period.
- Salon and tech licenses, plus business registration with its EIN.
- Your lease, with its expiration date.
- Equipment or remodel quotes, if that is the use of funds.
- A list of current debts with each payment.
With that package, most funders can give you an answer faster and a more precise offer.
What to finance first if you want to grow
Many salons ask for money for everything at once. It is better to rank priorities by what returns to your register fastest. These examples are a guide, not a rule:
- More stations where you already have demand. If you turn clients away on Saturdays, another pedicure chair can pay for itself with those appointments.
- Ventilation and comfort. A good extraction system improves the air for your techs and clients and helps with inspections. Check your state and city rules.
- Storefront remodel. An attractive entrance and professional photos bring in new clients, but take longer to pay back.
- Second location. Only when the first one runs without you there all day.
If your goal is renovating, our guide to a business loan for nail salon renovations helps you plan the budget.
Moving from renting a chair to opening your own salon
Many techs start by renting a station in someone else's salon and, after a few years, want their own. It is a big jump and worth preparing for. While you rent, open a business account in your name, deposit every payment there and report your full income. When the time comes, you will be able to show your own sales history, not just your experience.
For the first location, start with the essentials: a few well-equipped stations, good ventilation and a full book. You can grow later with funding based on the sales you have proven. A microloan or equipment financing is often a good first step, because neither requires years of salon history.
Common mistakes when financing a nail salon
- Not depositing cash. It is the most common mistake and the one that cuts the approved amount most.
- Buying expensive chairs with short-term working capital. Equipment that lasts years is better financed over a matching term.
- Remodeling with little time left on the lease. If you have only a few months left, negotiate the renewal before investing in the space.
- Forgetting slow months. In many salons, January and February are quieter. Choose payments you can cover then too.
- Stacking funding. If the payment is already tight, work on lowering it, not on adding another.
- Signing without checking payment frequency. A daily payment can feel very different from a weekly or monthly one, especially if your sales cluster on weekends. Ask before you accept.
To fill the chairs you are financing, a simple website with online booking and photos of your designs goes a long way.
Which one fits your situation
- Your salon takes cards and you want to grow fast: Merchant Fund Express. Apply for free and see your offer without affecting your credit.
- You need chairs, tables or ventilation: equipment financing.
- You are opening your first small salon: an SBA microloan.
- You are buying an existing salon and every owner is a citizen or national: SBA 7(a).
- You need flexibility for inventory: a line of credit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a nail salon loan with low credit?
Yes, it is possible. Our recommended funder accepts credit from FICO 500 and reviews your sales and deposits, which favors salons that take cards. Equipment financing is also more flexible on credit because the equipment backs the debt. What helps most is depositing all of your sales, including cash.
How do I finance pedicure chairs?
Most often with equipment financing: the dealer gives you a quote, the funder pays the seller, and you repay in installments. Because the chairs back the debt, approval is usually simpler. Ask whether installation and plumbing are included in the amount financed.
Can I open a nail salon with a microloan?
Yes, if the project is small. SBA microloans go up to $50,000 and can be used for equipment, furniture, supplies and working capital. The organizations that make them usually ask for a business plan and many offer coaching. Having your license and experience as a tech helps.
Do tips count as sales for a loan?
Normally they should not, because they belong to your techs. If card tips land in your account and you then pay them out, keep a clear record so the funder can see how much is salon revenue and how much is tips. That way your numbers read correctly.
Does the salon need to be in my name to get a loan?
The funder will ask for details on the owners and the registered business. If the salon is in a relative's or another partner's name, that person will need to be part of the application. Keep your state registration, EIN and licenses under the same business name.
How long does it take to get a nail salon loan?
A sales-based funder like Merchant Fund Express can decide in hours. Equipment financing usually takes days. Microloans and SBA loans take weeks. If you are remodeling on a fixed date, start the process early and have your quotes ready.