Pricing is one of the hardest — and most important — decisions for anyone who lives off their own art. Charging too little burns you out; charging without a method drives clients away. Here's a simple path to a fair, sustainable price.

1. Start with your real costs

Add up everything that comes out of your pocket to deliver a service:

  • Materials per appointment (polish, gel, disposables).
  • Fixed costs spread out (booth rent, power, internet, tools).
  • Fees from cards and platforms.

Without that number, any price is a guess.

2. Value your time

Decide how much you want to earn per hour — not per service. A 2-hour full set must pay for 2 hours of your time, not "a list price." Multiply your target hourly rate by the average time per service and add it to your costs.

Minimum price = service costs + (your hourly rate × hours spent)

3. Stop competing on price alone

When you compete to be "the cheapest," you attract the client who leaves over a $1 difference. Authority comes from experience and results: punctuality, work that lasts, care that makes people feel welcome. That justifies a higher price — and builds loyalty.

4. Raise prices without guilt

Raising prices is scary, but delaying costs more. Give notice, highlight what changed (more skill, better products), and start with new clients. The ones who value your work will stay.

5. Track the numbers

You only know if your pricing works by watching revenue and average ticket over time. Logging every appointment — and reading the monthly report — turns guesswork into decisions. That's exactly why AUREN exists: scheduling, payments, and reports in one place, so you price with data, not fear.