A worked menu example

Six problems to look for in a salon price menu

The fictional nail-studio menu below contains six common problems. Each note explains what may confuse a client or reduce the return on the appointment, followed by a more practical alternative.

About the example: “Polished.” is fictional. The figures illustrate the calculations and are not an estimate for your salon.

Polished.

nail studio · the menu as it arrived

The six red marks are explained below.

Issue 01 — the menu leads with its cheapest service The first service introduces the salon at $25, even though that may not be the work it most wants to be known for. Change: lead with the signature service, then group the remaining options in a clear order.
Issue 02 — “from $45” A starting price does not tell the client what changes the final amount. That can create uncertainty at booking and surprise at checkout. Change: show named ranges, such as short, medium and long extensions, and confirm the price during the consultation.
Issue 03 — “Nail art: ask me!” Without a visible price or range, the additional work is agreed while the appointment is already under way. Change: state a starting price per nail or use named design tiers, then confirm the selection before the service begins.
Issue 04 — service duration and price do not appear to agree A two-hour service at $50 needs to cover labor, product and overhead across that full appointment. Change: use the hourly calculator with your own costs, then set the price and booking duration together.
Issue 05 — removal is included without checking its cost Removal uses appointment time and product. If it is included, that cost still needs to be covered by the main service price. Change: calculate the real time and either price removal separately or deliberately include it in a service whose price covers both steps.
Issue 06 — there is no clear maintenance option The menu does not explain when a client should return or which service is appropriate between full sets. Change: add a clearly named maintenance service and use a consistent rebooking question at checkout.

The “after” version

Want the rewritten menu as a usable template?

The corrected Polished. menu, before and after with all six fixes applied — plus the arithmetic behind one of the new prices, shown line by line.

Open the rewritten menu — free

Download the “after” menu as an editable file (.rtf)

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