JuicyLucy
Well-Known Member
Judging by a few recent threads, when it comes to gel polish/UV colour coats, it would appear that lots of people on here do not understand how to work out cost per service. They assume that expensive brands cost loads more to use than cheap brands and they price their services to reflect this incorrect assumption. They incorrectly assume they are making the same amount (or more) as techs using expensive brands but charging sensible prices.
Clearly your initial layout for a cheap brand is going to be less, but the difference between cost per service is such a small amount that its not worth worrying about. Certainly the brand you use should have hardly any affect how much you charge clients.
Using round figures as an example and not actual prices:
Say, "Brand X" costs £20 for each 15ml bottle of topcoat, basecoat and colour coat.
Say, "Brand Y" costs £5 again for each 15ml bottle of topcoat, basecoat and colour coat (a quarter of the price of "Brand X").
Most brands that do 15ml bottles say you can do around 100 sets from a bottle of basecoat, 50 sets from a bottle of colour and 80 from topcoat.
So...
"Brand X" would cost 85p in basic product costs
"Brand Y" would cost 21p in basic product costs
a difference of only 64p per set.
Your prep and finishing product costs are the same for both brands.
Your overhead costs are the same for both brands.
If you are mobile, your traveling costs are the same for both brands.
Your time used is the same for both brands.
So techs charging a low amount because they are using cheap products are actually only saving 64p a set. However, they are charging their clients (on average) between £5-£10 less than techs using premium brands.
What these techs are actually doing is giving their time away cheaply and not making a decent profit or living. Or, if they are charging the correct amount, they are cheating their clients by unnecessarily using a cheap brand.
You are deluding yourself if you think you are saving money or making more profit by buying and using cheap non professional products.
Clearly your initial layout for a cheap brand is going to be less, but the difference between cost per service is such a small amount that its not worth worrying about. Certainly the brand you use should have hardly any affect how much you charge clients.
Using round figures as an example and not actual prices:
Say, "Brand X" costs £20 for each 15ml bottle of topcoat, basecoat and colour coat.
Say, "Brand Y" costs £5 again for each 15ml bottle of topcoat, basecoat and colour coat (a quarter of the price of "Brand X").
Most brands that do 15ml bottles say you can do around 100 sets from a bottle of basecoat, 50 sets from a bottle of colour and 80 from topcoat.
So...
"Brand X" would cost 85p in basic product costs
"Brand Y" would cost 21p in basic product costs
a difference of only 64p per set.
Your prep and finishing product costs are the same for both brands.
Your overhead costs are the same for both brands.
If you are mobile, your traveling costs are the same for both brands.
Your time used is the same for both brands.
So techs charging a low amount because they are using cheap products are actually only saving 64p a set. However, they are charging their clients (on average) between £5-£10 less than techs using premium brands.
What these techs are actually doing is giving their time away cheaply and not making a decent profit or living. Or, if they are charging the correct amount, they are cheating their clients by unnecessarily using a cheap brand.
You are deluding yourself if you think you are saving money or making more profit by buying and using cheap non professional products.
